VOLUME 1

Chapter 3.Welcome to the World of the In-Laws? Heaven?

‘So cute!’

Adelia’s heart raced when she first met the princess.

She really loved the original novel.

She liked the emperor, Lucian, and the prince, but her favorite was, of course, the heroine, Ariana.

Though she had the red eyes that were a symbol of the imperial family, her droopy eyelids and lovely pink hair were completely different from the other imperials.

Moreover, her plump cheeks and youthful face, characteristic of a child, were so cute that she wanted to bite them.

If God made Lucian into the epitome of a chaste handsome man, then the princess seemed like the word ‘lovable’ turned into a person.

Adelia bent down to match the princess’s eye level. She curled her eyes slyly and smiled coquettishly.

“Hello. My name is Adelia Vita. I’d be happy if you could call me sister or Adelia.”

“Yes, sister… Sister Adelia.”

When Adelia deliberately smiled with her eyes, its impact was significant.

Ariana nodded, as though she was enchanted. The lobes of her ears that were peeking through her hair turned red.

With her mouth half-open, she looked at Adelia with a dazed face.

‘How can someone be this beautiful?’

Her silver hair shimmered like a fine thread, and her blue eyes, reminiscent of the ocean, had a mesmerizing charm.

Ariana, who had a handsome father and brother, was completely smitten too.

Ariana clasped her hands and twisted her body.

“I’m Ariana Flos Decra. Nice to meet you, sister…”

Ariana smiled shyly, twirling her eyes beautifully. The word ‘sister’ made her mouth sweet.

Adelia held her heart with mixed feelings.

‘I didn’t expect to get nervous around a seven-year-old.’

That cute smile was dangerous in many ways. It was harmful to the heart and even added a murderous intent to Lucian’s gaze beside her.

She deliberately ignored the intense murderous intent directed at her.

Her heart was racing even more than when she first met Lucian.

She had the urge to hug the princess and shower her with kisses right away but barely managed to restrain herself.

But she couldn’t hold back her disloyal thoughts.

‘Princess. Let me charm you. Please fall for me.’

The plan to quietly observe the original story went into the trash can.

Not seeing such a cute creature ever again would be a waste of life. Since she entered her favorite novel, getting close to the heroine was natural.

Planning to become close friends over two years and stay friends for a long time, she smiled even more brightly and sweetly spoke.

“You’re even cuter and lovelier than I heard.”

“Hehe…”

Ariana smiled shyly, blushing.

Although it was a compliment she always heard, it felt different coming from such a beautiful woman.

As the princess showed interest, Adelia immediately threw out bait to gently lure her in.

“So, Princess. I stopped by Eileen Patisserie on my way here. Would you like to have some with me?”

“Eileen Patisserie? Yes! I love their desserts.”

Ariana’s eyes filled with joy.

Refusing the desserts from Eileen Patisserie, the most famous and delicious in the capital, was out of the question.

When Adelia extended her hand, she eagerly grabbed it.

“What do you like the most? I find their strawberry croissant the tastiest.”

“I like the chocolate muffin. The whipped cream on top is just too…”

The two held hands and chatted happily as they entered the room.

Lucian, suddenly left alone, looked at them with an incredulous face.

“I told her to be cautious of all men…”

Should he have warned against women too?

Lucian murmured quietly in prayer and followed them. His mouth dried out and an inexplicable anxiety overwhelmed him.

If overprotective meant being wary of all men around his sister, he never thought he’d have to be wary of women too.

Lucian pressed his throbbing forehead.

“Would you like to join us?”

“…Sure.”

Regardless of the shock, Lucian wasn’t one to miss an opportunity to be with Ariana.

Ariana, Adelia. And Lucian joined for tea time. Even the maids bringing the tea glanced over curiously at them.

Simple tea was served on the table. The dessert to accompany it was taken out from Adelia’s space.

On a four-tiered plate were piled up sweet desserts.

“Wow…”

Ariana opened her mouth wide and rounded her eyes.

The ‘Eileen Patisserie’ logo stamped on the plate caught her eye.

The desserts made by the palace chefs were really delicious, but Eileen Patisserie’s desserts were truly heavenly.

“How about this new product?”

“It’s delicious. But it’s a new product?”

“Ah… I own the company.”

“What?”

Ariana dropped the fork she was holding in surprise.

Then Adelia gave her a new fork with a smiling face.

“It was supposed to be a secret. You’ll keep it, right?”

“Uh… Of course!”

The princess clenched her fists as she spoke.

Her appearance resembled a tiny squirrel, naturally bringing a smile to one’s face.

“Was that secret so easily shared?”

Lucian asked with curiosity.

Despite sending her threats of murder and blackmail over three years, she never even showed her face, but now she’s talking so easily.

“Because she’s the princess, I trust her.”

“Trusting someone you’ve just met is too careless.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve kept it well hidden until now. Your Highness, try this too. It’s less sweet and should suit your taste.”

Adelia placed a green tea cake in front of him, not particularly concerned.

He, who didn’t enjoy sweet foods, only drank the bitter tea in front of him without touching the dessert.

“Wow! This is so delicious!”

“Right? But let’s stop here for today. Eating too many snacks in a day isn’t good for your health. If you want more, I’ll bring it to you anytime.”

“Sister, you’re the best!”

The power of delicious snacks is indeed great.

The person who gave the delicious thing is a good person. It was a somewhat childlike logic, but a pretty person is also a good person.

‘If you marry my brother, we’re family! Sister Adele and I are family!’

Just the feeling that her family has increased. Without knowing, her affection for her grew rapidly.

She had forgotten all the worries about whether she would hate her when she heard that the Crown Princess was coming.

To Ariana, Adelia was such an ideal person.

‘They’re getting along unexpectedly well.’

Last night. He casually talked to the princess about the contract. She seemed a bit worried, but if there was a problem, he thought about making sure they wouldn’t meet.

He was also worried that Adelia, who might have been abused by her parents, would be jealous of Ariana.

But far from jealousy, she only showed how much she cherished Ariana. Just like how he and his family cherished Ariana.

Their eyes met while she was talking and laughing with the princess.

“Aren’t you having some?”

“I don’t really think about snacks.”

“It’s delicious though…”

When Ariana said this with a slightly sullen expression, Lucian reluctantly put a small piece in his mouth.

“…It’s delicious.”

He didn’t often express that something was delicious. Food was always supposed to be delicious, and he wasn’t particularly fond of desserts.

It was the first time a dessert, which he considered just a lump of sugar that sweetens the mouth, felt delicious.

‘There was a reason why Ariana liked the food here.’

It wasn’t too sweet, the texture was soft, and the subtle green tea scent was exquisite.

As someone who usually didn’t touch desserts, he finished the plate, and Adelia’s lips gently curved up.

‘Of course. That dessert was made for you.’

Chocolate muffins for Ariana, green tea cake for the Crown Prince.

The standard for Adelia’s business was the imperial family. By making goods and food for the people who use only the most expensive things, possess only the rarest things, and eat only the delicious things that would satisfy the imperial family, the quality hit the top mark.

Their tastes were all mentioned in the original work, and since Adelia also had good taste, her business went smoothly.

“How about we eat together when I bring new products?”

“I’d love to!”

The princess jumped up and down with both hands raised. Her tiny feet swung through the air without touching the ground.

Adelia’s lips softened at the adorable sight.

Can any creature be this cute?

Every single one of her actions was so cute and lovely that it made her want to give all the snacks to her.

The way she stuffed her chubby cheeks with muffins and chewed reminded her of a squirrel.

‘I just want to hug her once. I want to touch those squishy cheeks too. But would it be too much since we’ve just met?’

Adelia fidgeted with her hands placed on her lap as she looked at the princess.

Her reason told her to approach slowly, but her instinct commanded her to reach out to those tempting cheeks immediately.

A fierce battle between reason and instinct took place in her head.

Adelia licked her lips and chose her words carefully. Soon after, a smile hung on her hesitating lips.

“If you liked the muffin, Princess, would you grant me one wish?”

“What is it…?”

The princess looked at Adelia with eyes sparkling, asking her to say anything.

Her blue eyes under the silver hair curled up as though she was wagging their tails charmingly.

* * *