Michael heard Irel's words and was speechless.
Could it be that the problem lies in the fact that she is the youngest child and weak since childhood, so she has been pampered like gold and pearls? Apparently his younger sister had grown up too much, to the point of losing her sense of reality.
Receiver wishes to marry a Masaka! It feels like watching a sheep crawl into a wolf's cage. He felt ridiculous, pitiful, and painful as if his heart was torn apart.
"How long have you known that name? Could it be that... you love that Masaka?"
Michael asked dumbfoundedly. Immediately, from behind the door, a weak but decisive answer rang out.
"I told you. It was love at first sight."
“I'm completely crazy.”
"Who doesn't go crazy after falling in love?"
If she wasn't good at speaking, she wouldn't be so obnoxious. Irel refused to give up a word, responding clearly, as if he had learned it somewhere. Thanks to that, Michael felt hotter blood rushing to his brain than ever before exercising.
"He's Masaka, Rel!! He only has the intention of squeezing your life out, he's a parasite!! What do you like about him?!"
"Face."
"…What?"
"Handsome. Don't you know that men just need a face?"
[Ting! Michael's favorability has decreased by 4 points.]
This time, even Michael - who always loved his sister - couldn't stand it. He really went crazy. So frustrated, he almost punched the door open.
As the eldest son of the Marquis of the Border Family, Michael was ten times more confident in swordsmanship than in verbal combat. That's why, thinking of logical words to refute Irel's stubbornness made him freeze.
Ah, who said that? Girls, like boys, are accompanied by the punishment "don't hit." It was at this moment that Michael deeply sympathized with that statement.
"Older brother."
Irel dropped the stubborn tone from before and spoke in a calmer tone.
“I've always kept it a secret, but it's time to accept it.”
“Accept what?”
“The truth is that you are a Receiver.”
That sentence made Michael speechless. For the first time in her life, Irel told herself the truth that she was a Receiver.
Their family's arrival at the Main Shrine was purely coincidental. It had been a long time since they had seen their father Calver, who was on the Frontier to guard against the growing Kitan horde. So the whole family visited Calver together.
The rare reunited family had a brief period of harmony. And on the way home, Louisa suddenly remembered that her children were at the age to think about marriage, especially Michael, the eldest son.
A mother's heart is the same everywhere. For the sake of children, there is nothing you cannot do, even if you have to believe in superstitions or rumors. So, on the way home, Louisa wanted to stop by the Main Temple to ask for blessings for her children's marriage.
But instead of blessings, what she received was shocking news: her daughter was a Receiver.
The whole family was shocked. Especially Irel, the insider. She turned pale like a death row prisoner about to go to the gallows, then collapsed on the spot.
In a coma, she had a high fever and was unconscious for three days and three nights. By the time she had recovered enough to be able to ride in a carriage, the family had reached an agreement behind the scenes. They decided not to mention this, so that the poor youngest sister wouldn't have to suffer any more shocks.
But what if it was Irel who started the conversation? While Michael was confused and silent, Irel continued to say:
"This is just the beginning. Soon, other Masaka will also come to you."
"There's no need to think so negatively, Rel. I told you, right? You're not alone. We'll always protect you so nothing happens, just do what you want."
Michael frantically tried to calm her down, as if he had never been angry. Even though she only heard his voice, Irel felt her brother's efforts, so she smiled sadly.
"I know. I'll always thank you."
I wish everything could be resolved with just effort. If so, there would be no more injustice in this world.
The Elorance family has forever guarded the Border, a lineage of martial generals with strong descendants. Just looking at Michael standing outside the door, I know that he is a strong man, not inferior to Varkan. But even ten Michaels combined could not defeat Varkan, or even that brat Mirdal.
That is the reality of those who are not chosen to be Masaka.
Even if she said these words, Michael would not accept it easily. To him, Irel is someone who needs to be protected, and showing weakness in front of his sister is impossible. He will be arrogant to the end, just to reassure his sister.
‘Then he will die.’
No way. That is absolutely not allowed to happen. Fortunately, Michael is not the only person who knows how to act arrogant for the person he loves.
“Hey, you.”
Irel hid her complicated mood, deliberately speaking in a lively voice.
"I've been thinking a lot about how to live as a Receiver."
"Huh?"
Michael was both relieved because his sister's voice was happier, but also found it difficult to understand. Irel waited for him to ask again, then quickly began to persuade.
“Have you ever heard this saying?”
“Which sentence?”
“I'd rather be a servant... no, I'd rather be a servant than work in a rich house.”
“Why are you suddenly talking about servants?”
A noble to the core, Michael frowned because he couldn't keep up with the conversation. Irel quickly held back the words he had just uttered, before he lost concentration.
"Listen to me. In short, the important thing is that the servant also wants to work for a large and promising family. Do you understand this?"
“Um.”
Michael blinked a few times, then responded somewhat slowly. Remembering that knights also wanted to swear allegiance to famous families, he easily accepted Irel's words.
"So, I have also decided. Having become a Receiver, I must take this opportunity to capture the strongest Masaka."
Irel did not miss the opportunity and quickly declared. Michael was completely trapped into the plan she had built from the beginning, feeling frustrated.
"Oh my god, Rel! Just because of something like that, I...!!"
"What do you mean by something like that? I'm serious."
Irel's voice, which until now had been as chirpy as a baby bird, suddenly sank like deep water. Even though it sounded like a joke, she knew. Her mission is “Stop the destruction!” not yet completed.
‘That means there are still dangers to overcome.’
In the first place, she hadn't even achieved the task of increasing Varkan's favorability to 80. Therefore, it was not strange that the situation could reach a disaster at any time.
It was like she was walking unsteadily on high heels, on a thin layer of ice called Varkan's capriciousness.
Just a little mistake and everything will become irreversible. Therefore, she must find a way to attract Michael to her side.
“…You have no idea what happened to me. Right?”
“What do you mean?”
Michael asked in surprise, shocked by the unusual atmosphere. He knew Irel had been detained in Varkan's mansion for several days, but didn't know why.
Even if he asked Beatrice - who went out with her - it was useless. Beatrice trembled, locked herself in her room and did not respond to communications, not sure what happened.
He had intended to personally go and ask, but after hearing that Kitan had appeared there, Michael accepted. A noble lady facing the monster Kitan for the first time is understandably frightened.
But that's not the truth. Irel sighed, recounting everything that day happened. Especially the actions that Beatrice and Mirdal arranged.
“Oh my god. This is so…”
Michael is shocked to learn the truth so late. He didn't expect that Beatrice, Irel's long-time friend, could do such a thing. He knew her younger brother was a Masaka from before, but because the relationship between the two brothers was inherently bad, he didn't care much.
“That's when I realized it, brother.”
Irel declared in a calm tone, towards his stiffened brother.
“If you don't choose for yourself, you will forever be led by others.”
Just looking at the dream she saw is enough to understand. The 'real' Irel could only hide behind her family, hesitating until the last minute.
‘Then she lost everything and regretted it.’
If you're strong, it's okay. But for the weak, there is always the risk of being swallowed up at any time, indecisiveness in choosing is just a luxury. Over the past few days, Irel has absorbed that cruel truth.
"So, I will choose Masaka Varkan. This is my decision."
This time, Michael was also speechless. After a moment of thinking to accept everything, he stammered and asked:
“Rel, you… the reason you want to marry Masaka Varkan is…”
“No, it's not.”
Irel quickly denied. No matter how rationally she persuaded Michael, he would not support a loveless marriage.
“The fact that I chose Masaka Varkan was, of course, partly because of his power… but as a result, I fell in love with him.”
She deliberately ended the sentence in a sweet voice. Michael was silent. Clearly he was considering whether what she said was true or false. Therefore, Irel felt the need to add more specific details to his lie.
"I told you. When I was almost dragged away by Masaka Mirdal, he was the one who saved me."
Falling in love with a prince who appears in time to rescue you from danger is not unusual. Especially in a romance game for women.
"So please support my decision. I need that man."
Irel noticed that Michael's mind was wavering and immediately pleaded with an unprecedented earnest tone.