Ch.150Unexpected Cohabitation (2)

The Rheinland family home is relatively close to Stellarium.

Therefore, Seti frequented both places like her own front yard. She needed to check on her secret funds hidden from her brother, and she also had to diligently prepare to become the head of the family.

Above all, the Academy dormitory bed was uncomfortable.

It was better for relieving fatigue to stretch out and sleep at home.

As usual, Seti stopped by the main house and headed to her room.

But.

There was an unexpected visitor.

“…?”

No, could this even be called a visitor?

What on earth was this white creature sprawled on her bed, wriggling around?

For a moment, she didn’t feel any sense of discomfort because they had the same hair color. At first glance, it was like meeting a doppelgänger.

By the time her frozen thoughts started working again,

“Hey, you bastard!”

She was already cursing.

The doppelgänger—no, Zernya—looked at her. Her eyes were blank and dazed like someone who had just woken up.

Seti crumpled her expression like a piece of paper.

“What the fuck are you? What are you doing here, huh?”

“Huh?”

“I’m asking why you’re here. Do you want to die?”

“That’s not it, I…”

“Don’t answer. Let me figure it out.”

Her deliberation didn’t last long.

“Ah, I see. You tricked the android at the entrance to get in, right? You’re really determined to mess with me and brother Eidel. Yeah, you’re really committed.”

“No.”

“What do you mean no? Hey, this is breaking and entering. I’m going to report you.”

“It’s not breaking in, I got proper permission…”

“Will you get out of my room?”

“Huh?”

Zernya’s face turned to bewilderment.

“This was your room?”

“Ha! You’re really shameless. Of course it’s my room, whose else would it be? You white-headed idiot!”

Zernya hurriedly got up from the bed and apologized.

“I’m sorry! I, I didn’t know…”

“Oh really?”

She seemed to know she had crossed a line as she immediately bowed her head. It didn’t feel too bad. To think that the high-and-mighty Adelbein would bend her waist… No. That’s not the point.

“Sorry my ass.”

Seti felt like she was burning up inside. It was because of her secret funds. The bed where Zernya had been lying contained money that she hadn’t told anyone about.

When it came to money matters, Seti became infinitely sensitive.

Immediately after, a barrage of curses as violent as physical blows struck Zernya’s ears.

“You’re completely out of your mind. You’ve really messed up now. Out of all the reception rooms, you barge straight into my room and what do you say? You didn’t know? You’re sorry? Are you seriously trying to play innocent?”

It had been almost two years since she’d unleashed such a fierce tirade. Well, there hadn’t been much reason to get angry during that time. At most, having some money extorted by her brother was the only thing worth getting upset about.

Even that had involved a reluctant agreement. Eidel never spent money frivolously. Yes, things had been relatively quiet lately.

So the important thing now wasn’t him.

She needed to get rid of this woman first.

Seti hurled harsh curses and scared the living daylights out of Zernya.

Zernya, who couldn’t win against Seti in a war of words to begin with, gradually shrank back until she completely sank.

She had no will to fight, so she didn’t even talk back.

In the end, just as Zernya, who had been thoroughly cursed out, was about to leave the room.

“What’s going on?”

Eidel came running, having heard the commotion.

Color returned to Seti’s previously frowning face.

“Hey!”

It had been a while since she’d seen her brother.

Though there were annoying aspects to what he did, he was still the rising hero of the Federation, and they had a love-hate relationship.

“Brother!”

Seti waved her hand enthusiastically, secretly glad to see him.

However, briefing him on what had just happened took priority over a proper greeting.

“Brother, look at this woman? I don’t know how she got into our house, but she came into my room and brazenly…”

“You mean Zernya? Father and I brought her.”

“Huh?”

Seti’s expression turned stupid.

Eidel’s subsequent explanation was as bitter as bellflower jam.

What happened at the Spirit Shrine. How Zernya would be staying here for the time being because of it. All of this was information that Seti found difficult to process at once.

“What kind of nonsense parade is this?”

“Come on, don’t be too hard on Zernya.”

“Brother, are you really crazy?”

“I’m perfectly sane.”

What is this? Some kind of hidden camera prank?

All kinds of thoughts crossed her mind.

Or maybe it was a dream. She had been very tired lately because of entrance exams. Maybe that’s why she was having this nightmare.

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I didn’t know…”

“President, no need to apologize. Sonia must have made a mistake. I’ll ask her to reassign your room.”

“Oh really? President? You two must be very close?”

“We recently cleared the air. We became friends.”

Eidel was sweating profusely trying to mediate between Seti and Zernya.

Of course, the situation was resolved with Seti just grabbing the back of her neck in exasperation.

***

“Sonia, this is unusual. You making a mistake.”

“I apologize.”

Sonia bowed repeatedly to Eidel and Seti. Eidel didn’t say anything. The actual victim was Seti.

“Sigh, it’s fine. Let’s just consider it bad luck and move on.”

“I appreciate your generous treatment.”

“The robot sure knows how to talk nicely.”

Seti chuckled. After checking, all her beloved secret funds were safe. Zernya had only been lying face down on the bed.

Yes, that’s fine then.

But still, she remained uncomfortable.

To understand Seti’s complex mental state, the current situation needed to be described.

First of all, it was dinner time.

Since she had come over the weekend, she could have a meal with her father and Eidel after a long time.

This in itself was a touching occasion. It had been years since she last sat at the same table with her parents. During that time, her father had been very busy with his work as a military doctor.

Things changed after Eidel completed his research on rebuilding the Aether Belt. Her father retired from being a military doctor. He seemed to have more leisure time than usual. Tranquility had come to the family.

Perhaps because of that?

“Seti, you’ll be taking the college entrance exam soon.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Hmm, work hard.”

Her father’s expression of affection, which had always been gruff, became a little more evident.

This was why Seti couldn’t curse even when Eidel raided her bank account.

If that’s the case, maybe?

Seti, who had coveted the position of family head, recalled what her birth mother had said.

– You must live up to expectations. We’re going to swallow up the Rheinland family.

Seti’s mother, Rezein, was from a branch of the Adelbein family.

Her eyes had almost lost their purple hue due to the mixing of various genes, but the distinctive white hair was inherited intact.

Silver hair. And, naturally, her gaze turned.

There was Zernya, nibbling on an onion while watching her reaction.

“Father.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Why is that person dining with us?”

“Oh my, Seti!”

“I’m sorry for being rude. No. But it’s strange. Isn’t this a family dinner? It’s weird, right? I, I’m sure I heard it that way?”

“Who told you that?”

“Brother Eidel did.”

Her father’s head turned toward Eidel. Seeming embarrassed, Eidel laughed it off with a “Haha.”

“It would be awkward to serve our guest separately when they’ve come all this way. Don’t you think so, Father?”

“Hmm.”

Her father nodded. Seti’s world collapsed with a thud. Zernya bowed her head with a shy smile.

Look at that crazy woman.

Since when did she start acting all coy and making a fuss?

Her appetite completely disappeared at this surreal scene. Seti put down her fork and gulped down water mixed with vitamin powder.

“Come to think of it, Miss Adelbein is family too.”

“Pffft!”

“Seti, there’s no need to be so uncomfortable with Miss Adelbein. Don’t you have the same family blood flowing in you? Though the relationship is distant, you’re relatives, so I hope you’ll treat her kindly.”

That’s right. When you think about it, Seti and Zernya share the same bloodline.

In fact, Seti has another surname besides Rheinland. Seti von Adelbein Rheinland. That was her full name.

The Rheinland identity was so strong that she had completely forgotten about it until now.

“Seti is one year younger, right? It would be nice if you called Miss Adelbein ‘sister.'”

What the fuck?

Such a curse rose to her throat, but she barely held it back.

This was in front of her father. With the family head selection coming up next year, she needed to act as cautiously as possible.

“Professor, please call me Zernya comfortably too.”

Zernya said with a friendly smile.

Seti felt like she was about to explode in real-time.

It was too contrasting with the image of her that she had known until now.

For a moment, she even wondered if she was being controlled by a Descartes-affiliated foreign spirit. According to the constellation’s response, that wasn’t the case.

Meanwhile, Eidel was thinking something similar to his father.

“I hope you two become friends.”

Eidel said, looking at Seti.

Zernya had become a new person. So Eidel hoped that Seti would clear up any misunderstandings and get along well with Zernya.

“She’ll be living here for at least a month. So I hope you can get along without getting too upset.”

Eidel said as he put a roasted onion in his mouth.

To Seti, it sounded like hell.

Become friends?

And even call her sister!

As her worries and anger deepened,

“Li-little sister?”

Zernya made the first move.

“Let’s get along well…”

At that gentle and fresh voice, Seti fled from the dining table.