Little Tyrant Doesn't Want to Meet with a Bad End Chapter 4: Push and Pull on the Dining Table

It's time to go all out!

Inside Marquess Carter's study, Roel’s hand instinctively went to the emblem adorning his chest. His expression was grave, akin to a Pendor Knight preparing for a pivotal battle.

Today marked the adopted Alicia’s inaugural day at the Ascart House, a significant occasion for her. However, due to his past life's memories, Roel had already fumbled their first encounter.

Sigh! What a massive regret! Why was I so slow to react back then? With my looks, even if I couldn't win her over instantly, I could have at least left a positive impression!

Roel observed the reflection of the black-haired, gold-eyed boy in the glass, then playfully pinched his somewhat chubby yet comely face. He reaffirmed his self-assessment.

Yep, I'm good-looking.

And based on the game's character portraits, my parents' genes are quite stable. I'm destined to become even more handsome as time passes.

Perhaps it’s my imagination, but after donning this emblem, I feel a bit more... appealing?

The young boy poked at the silver emblem with his finger, bolstering his courage for the impending confrontation.

He may not have impressed Alicia initially, but salvaging the situation was still possible. With this item's aid, he would certainly enhance Alicia’s affection for him and nip the impending doom in the bud!

But first, Roel felt he should test his newfound resolve on someone.

"Anna, you must have been waiting for me for quite some time. Are you tired?"

The study door creaked open, and a charming young boy practically leaped into the arms of the maid standing by the entrance, gazing up at her with wide, innocent eyes.

"Young Master? Is something wrong?"

The maid responsible for Roel’s daily care stared in astonishment at the boy clinging to her leg. She was taken aback by his sudden display of affection.

Roel Ascart had a rather infamous reputation for his spiteful pranks. Having lost his mother at a young age, his father, Marquess Carter, spoiled him excessively, unable to bring himself to punish or reprimand the boy. He saw it as a way to compensate for Roel’s lack of maternal love.

This environment was perfect for nurturing the archetypal arrogant young master, as the nine-year-old Roel exemplified. While clever enough to restrain himself before his father and other nobles, those intimately familiar with him knew of his darker side—how could they not, having been frequent targets of his malicious deeds?

None of the Ascart House servants dared to voice their concerns openly, yet they harbored a deep unease about this little tyrant eventually becoming their lord and even the ruler of their territory.

Anna, in particular, was contemplating early retirement before this tyrant matured further, purely for her own peace of mind.

Consequently, it was understandable that such a notorious tyrant’s sudden shift in demeanor would cause ripples of apprehension. Was this merely a spontaneous act, or was there a more sinister scheme brewing beneath the surface?

As a seasoned professional, Anna maintained a smile, though her heart pounded with wariness.

Meanwhile, Roel continued to execute his plan.

"Ah, it’s nothing really! I was just reading a storybook, and it said that children like me would be gobbled up by werewolves in the Charon Forest. I don’t want to be eaten, wah—"

The black-haired boy’s voice trembled. His face contorted in fear, and tears streamed down his cheeks like rain, impossible to stop even with his own hands.

This display sent a jolt of fear through Anna. She quickly knelt to wipe away young Roel’s tears.

"Young Master, it’s alright. Those are just tales," Anna soothed with a helpless sigh, catching a whiff of the 'Ruminating Incense' burning in the study. "It must be the effect of the magical item the Old Master uses to stay awake. Don’t worry; the werewolves of Charon Forest would never dare to approach the Ascart House."

"Is... is that true?"

"Yes, it is true."

Anna met the earnest gaze of the young boy before her and instinctively stroked his soft cheek. A surprising thought surfaced in her mind: this tyrant actually possesses a rather endearing side.

"Anna... I apologize for scolding you yesterday."

"Hm?"

Before Anna could even process this bewildering turn of events, another bombshell landed in her lap. The maid’s eyes widened in disbelief: could this arrogant young master actually be capable of apologizing?

"I was wrong yesterday. And all the times before. I'm sorry *hic* for always scolding and hitting you all."

“No no, young master, you are still young! It is normal for children your age to be mischievous; we have never blamed you for it!” Anna swiftly consoled the little boy, who was consumed by self-reproach.

Simultaneously, a notion surfaced in her mind: could it be that our young master has matured, and he is about to become a decent person from this point onward?

“Anna, I will never act that way again. Can you forgive Roel?”

The young boy gazed at the maid, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. The silver emblem affixed to his chest shone brilliantly under the sun’s rays. Faced with such a Roel, Anna felt her heart soften incrementally, and without conscious thought, she found herself nodding.

“Of course!”

“That’s wonderful... Ah!”

Roel, who had been pouring all his emotional energy into enacting his plan, suddenly cried out, causing Anna to blink in confusion.

The instant Anna agreed to forgive Roel, the young boy perceived a verdant light emanating from above Anna’s head, forming a sequence of characters.

(Affection Points +150!)

Astonishing! It is genuinely possible to earn Affection Points in this manner, and in greater quantities than initially anticipated!

Roel tightly clenched his fists in agitation, a spark of hope igniting in his eyes.

Heh, I will be able to accumulate Affection Points far more rapidly than gold coins!

Experimentation: success!

Alicia, I am truly coming for you now!

————————————

“L-Lord Brother, I wish you a pleasant afternoon.”

It was afternoon, and Marquess Carter had departed to attend to other matters, leaving only Roel and Alicia in the expansive dining hall for their midday meal.

The moment the silver-haired young lady beheld her slightly elder stepbrother, she recollected the intimidating gaze he had directed at her. She felt a sense of dread towards him, yet she mustered her courage to offer a polite greeting. Roel responded merely with a nod.

Subsequently, with the assistance of the attending maids, Alicia was seated directly across from Roel at the long table capable of accommodating two dozen individuals. An air of slight awkwardness permeated the silence as they awaited the maids to serve the dishes.

The silver-haired young lady kept her head bowed, nervously fidgeting with the fabric of her skirt beneath the table. Periodically, she would cast a fleeting glance at Roel before swiftly averting her eyes once more, betraying the apprehension she harbored within.

Roel understood that Alicia was anticipating him to initiate conversation and disclose the reason for their shared luncheon.

Within noble households such as the Ascart family, when the patriarch, Marquess Carter, was absent, the children, including Roel and Alicia, would typically partake in their luncheons privately within their chambers. One rationale was to economize resources, while another was to uphold the solemn dignity befitting the head of the house.

However, as the Ascart family was not financially constrained, and Roel, as the sole heir, was immensely indulged, he possessed the prerogative to alter the venue for their luncheon as he saw fit.

The implication of this action, however, was perceived differently by Alicia.

The primary reason that materialized in Alicia’s mind for Roel summoning her in their father’s absence was that he intended to assert his authority and issue a warning. The world of nobility operated vastly differently from the ordinary world. Oppression was commonplace, even amongst the young, and the immaturity required to mask such oppression frequently led to acrimonious outcomes.

A substantial chasm existed between a daughter adopted from a baronial family and the sole son of a ducal house. It would be no exaggeration to state that Roel needed only utter a word to transform Alicia’s existence into a living hell, leaving her utterly defenseless against any retaliation.

What? Inform Marquess Carter about it, you ask?

Marquess Carter might be an impartial individual, and he might extend protection to Alicia, considering his prior association with her father. Nevertheless, what would transpire in Marquess Carter’s absence? The animosities among children often proved far more terrifying than adults could fathom; the mere intervention of an adult would do little to quell such disputes.

It was precisely like that time in the past...

A flicker of terror crossed Alicia’s crimson eyes as she recalled her past experiences. She raised her head to observe the young boy seated opposite her, and Roel’s diminutive form seemed to merge with the figures of the boys who had once subjected her to torment. This caused her to lower her head even further, as if an invisible force were dragging her down.

What she failed to realize was that the malevolent entity in her mind, Roel, was experiencing even greater nervousness than she was at that very moment!

Damn it! How am I supposed to win the affection of a seven-year-old child?

Roel, possessing twenty-nine years of life experience across two existences, sat slumped in his chair, lost in thought. He felt an overwhelming urge to run his hands through his hair in sheer frustration.

The reason he had invited Alicia to dine with him in the main hall was fundamentally straightforward—how could he possibly gain the favor of someone he had never even properly met?

Yet, as they finally sat facing each other, he found himself utterly speechless, the significant burden of making a good second impression weighing heavily on him.

"Hey, sis, let's get closer!"

"Tsk, that doesn't sound quite right either!"

After considerable contemplation, Roel ultimately opted for a more formal approach.

"Alicia, I apologize for not introducing myself earlier; I wasn't feeling quite myself then. My name is Roel, and from this day forward, I will be your stepbrother."

"Yes, Lord Brother."

"Please don't hesitate to inform me if you encounter any challenges within this household in the future."

"Yes, Lord Brother."

"Should you find yourself feeling bored, you are also welcome to visit my room."

"Yes, Lord Brother."

"..."

"What in the world was that? Are you a parrot?!"

Roel observed the young girl before him, who continued to echo his words with her head bowed, and a stark realization quickly dawned upon him—none of his attempts were resonating with her.

He wasn't fostering any warmth, and Alicia remained as aloof as ever. While polite and obedient, her demeanor created an immense distance between them.

"This child... why does her heart seem so guarded? It feels as though she has acquired a maturity far beyond her years."

"For children our age, shouldn't the simple act of asking someone to play be a gesture of goodwill and friendship? I had envisioned us walking hand-in-hand from the dining room, heading to the garden to play in the dirt together."

Having fumbled his initial attempt, Roel was left uncertain of his next move. Meanwhile, Alicia let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Maintaining distance through a veneer of courtesy was Alicia's method of self-preservation. Having endured bullying and harassment from boys due to her appearance, Alicia harbored no faith in human connections. Even if she managed to form a bond close enough for companionship, they would inevitably drift away out of fear, stemming from her peculiarity. It was only a matter of time before this fear mutated them into oppressors.

"Yes, this is acceptable."

The young girl thought to herself, clutching her skirt tightly.

A heavy silence permeated the dining room. Roel felt utterly powerless against the heavily fortified Alicia until the servants eventually entered, proceeding to lay out the cutlery.

"AH!"

As the meticulously crafted cutlery was gently placed before them, Alicia suddenly emitted a yelp of surprise, leaving the servants bewildered. A flicker of recognition ignited within Roel's mind as a particular scene from the game resurfaced.

"Ah, right! She's afraid of this!"

"My opportunity has arrived!"