“You have competed for a long time to be chosen.”
My father-in-law's low voice echoed in my ears.
Swallowing nervously, I clenched my fingers until it felt like they would break.
The atmosphere was tense. The pheromones of highly excited alphas were swirling everywhere.
“The next head of the family will be chosen by the appointed mistress. Only the most outstanding male among you will be worthy of selection.”
In front of me knelt three handsome men, all blindfolded.
The first was Ian Driblyane, the head of the Empire's largest assassin guild, "Joker."
With a faintly insane smile on his face, he lifted his chin. Then, tilting his head slightly towards me, he appeared as if...
As if he would immediately unleash his assassin subordinates on his half-brothers if he wasn't chosen—
“Darling, if you're having a hard time choosing, should I leave you with only one option?”
“No!”
As expected!
I hurriedly and firmly denied it.
He was 100% serious. Ian was a terrifying man who would gladly leave himself as the only option and patiently wait for me to fall in love with him.
“I don’t mind whatever you do. Didn’t I clean up the mess when you hit the Pope on the back of the head?”
Well, that’s true, but...
Ian’s kind words made me flinch. It was the biggest accident I had ever caused.
‘But I didn’t know he was the Pope of the Holy Empire. Besides, who was the one cheering me on to hit him a few more times!’
Thinking about it like that made me feel a bit wronged. He must have egged me on back then on purpose.
“Hey, chubby. You’re going to choose me anyway, so why hesitate? Don’t waste time.”
At that moment, the second son, whose entire body exuded decadent beauty, growled.
Dante Driblyane.
The youngest member of the world-renowned knight order "Paladin," which only gathered Sword Masters.
He was now cracking his knuckles as if trying to suppress his anxiety. But why did it look like he might kidnap me and run off at any moment?
Usually, he was so disciplined and restrained, like a well-trained knight, but... in reality, Dante was impulsive and unpredictable.
‘And the youngest...’
While the other two had each spoken, I turned my gaze towards the still silent one.
‘I bet he’s smiling with his eyes even without looking.’
I could tell, even with the blindfold on. That kid would be staring right at me even at this moment. A thin cloth wouldn’t stop him from keeping his eyes on me. That’s just how he was.
Yuri Yerevan Helikoprion Driblyane.
The only crown prince of the Magic Empire.
He was notoriously persistent. Well, to be fair, none of the three were not persistent, but...
Among them, Yuri was exceptionally so! A level of persistence that required special attention.
“Noona.”
Yuri crawled on his knees and nestled his cheek into my hand.
“Yuri only listens to you, Noona.”
He wasn’t saying not to abandon him or threatening me about being tamed and then left.
He didn’t speak to me in such a way.
Always with a loving tone. An innocent demeanor and a gentle expression.
He acted like a cute young beast willingly handing me his leash.
Yuri then nuzzled his lips into the palm of my hand with his characteristic charm. My toes curled involuntarily, and I had to struggle to maintain my composure.
“It will be difficult, but since our blood is thick with beastly instincts, it can’t be helped.”
Finally, my father-in-law softly declared, gently wrapping his arm around my shoulder.
“Now, Florin. It’s time to choose your husband.”
Thump.
With a breath, my heart sank.
My heartbeat quickened.
‘Now... one of these three will be my husband.’
In this world, there are seven superior races said to be loved by the gods, granted special powers and statuses.
One of them is the Saber-Toothed Tiger Clan, the Driblyane.
Kings of beasts. Those blessed by the demon’s grace. The heart of the Magic Empire, a prestigious family with immense wealth and power comparable to the imperial family.
But more importantly… the Driblyane are the world’s top arms dealers.
In the original work, they were depicted as villains who sold weapons without hesitation, maintained wars, and profited from them.
‘Eventually, they met their demise in a family feud over the female protagonist, leading to their complete downfall...’
Now, I am to become the official mistress of this family.
It’s something I’ve waited a long time for.
“By the way, I don’t care who you marry. The conclusion is the same, as you’ll still be my daughter-in-law.”
“Father, what if my choice isn’t the right one?”
“Then the Driblyane will be doomed. Don’t worry.”
Excuse me, but that’s not very reassuring...!
I felt dizzy from lack of sleep lately. I sighed and hesitated for a moment.
It’s extremely difficult to put an end to relationships. I want to run away, but as the daughter-in-law of the Driblyane family, there’s one thing I haven’t learned, which is how to retreat.
I only know how to bite back.
Well, I am a beast too.
‘Really, when I first transmigrated, I never thought I could create such a future.’
I’ve been so busy trying to prevent the Driblyane from collapsing like in the original work.
And it’s not over yet.
The real war of the original’s latter part is just beginning.
To protect the family from the clutches of the female protagonist, who is deeply loved by this world, my choice is—
“Father, I...”
When I finally parted my lips and a word slipped out. I was recalling a long time ago.
The first time I met my father-in-law was in a winter when I had transmigrated seven times
* * *
‘Damn, an unfamiliar ceiling!’
Like all protagonists in transmigration novels, I knew immediately upon waking up that this was a transmigration. Unlike most other transmigrators, I wholeheartedly welcomed it.
‘Wow, this is a luxurious bedroom that looks like it could bite into a diamond spoon!’
Taking a quick look around, I inwardly cheered.
‘Oh, God, thank you. Thank you. This must be what it meant to have a breakthrough in my life...!’
My last memory was of trembling with anger at a runaway truck while flipping it off. I died cursing and swearing, but it turned out to be a transmigration truck!
Since I didn’t have much to regret in my previous life, I was rather pleased. My body felt a bit stiff and uncomfortable, but so what? It must be because I was a baby.
I brushed it off and relished the happiness.
‘The bedroom even smells nice.’
Is it a childcare story?!
If it’s an opportunity to start everything anew, like in childcare novels, that’s even better.
Why they call it a childcare novel instead of a baby tycoon story, I don’t know, but whatever it is, the important thing is I was ready to embrace this transmigration with open arms.
‘What’s my status? Am I royalty? Or at least nobility?’
On the ornate dressing table, which looked like something a queen might use, a golden leopard was engraved. Above the large window, there was a stained-glass window with hollyhock flowers carved into it, and the room was filled with well-maintained plants.
Elegant green couches and blue porcelain collections.
Walls lined with... family portraits...?
‘Hmm, it seems more like a middle-aged noblewoman’s taste rather than a baby’s.’
It must be my mother’s room!
With ten years of reading romance fantasy novels under my belt, I was confident in my observations.
Jackpot!
‘Now I can live surrounded by people who celebrate every breath I take, declaring every day a national holiday because the young lady has breathed!’
Oh, the joy.
I am Kim Aram. My parents passed away early while exploring remote areas, leaving me to live with relatives at thirteen. Since then, I’ve lived trying not to be a nuisance, striving not to be hated, and avoiding causing trouble.
Fortunately, with my strong genetic liver, as soon as I became an adult... I got a construction equipment operator’s license and became independent.
At first, the older men were very territorial, but I was so friendly, taking after my parents, that it wasn’t hard to fit in.
‘Ah, looking back, it was an interesting life.’
No regrets, though.
‘Is this some sort of reward for not downloading anything illegally and making proper payments?’
Recalling the purchase history on my KakaoPage app, I sniffled.
Childcare novels... long live!
“The hollyhock flowers have bloomed beautifully, Mother.”
“Oh my. It seems like a sign that you’ll return safely from the battlefield again.”
Uh, excuse me? Why are you handing me a watering can?
A few seconds later, I was sweating coldly. Something was definitely wrong.
‘Why am I not a human?!’
Plop.
With my scream, a beautiful flower petal fell.
Later, as I transmigrated repeatedly, I found out that this place was inside the 19+ dark and depraved novel The Fallen Saint and the Beasts of Madness.
In this steamy reverse harem with beastmen, where the protagonists engaged in explicit acts in more than half of the scenes, I had become...
A tree owned by a noblewoman.
Argh, someone send me back!
