Chapter 34: Go for it, Brother-in-law 11

Night Feather was stunned for a moment after being rebuffed, then sneered, "I heard you call my brother 'brother-in-law.' What is the meaning of that?"

Xi Ning sneered back, "Your brother loves my sister, and I am willing to have him as my brother-in-law. What’s the problem?"

Night Feather was taken aback again. He looked her up and down, then said with a look of disdain, "Is the Pervade family so fallen that you’re trying to latch onto my brother’s coattails?"

"It’s your brother who loves my sister, do you understand? Rain falls, brothers get married, sisters wed. It’s none of your business! If you have nothing else to do, move aside; I want to read." Xi Ning picked up her book again and began to read, putting on a show.

She couldn't be bothered to trade barbs with a supporting male character; she would simply ignore his attitude.

"You!" Night Feather was furious, his handsome face flushing red. It must be said, being Slan’s brother, even his blush followed the same pattern—starting from the cheeks, turning from pink to a rosy peach. It was quite cute.

But Night Feather certainly didn't have Slan’s good temper. He snapped, "You’re just a second daughter who can't even use magic. What’s so special about you?"

*Pfft.* He was a second son himself, destined to be a "second" for life. Being able to use magic wasn't that impressive—what a blockhead!

Xi Ning shouted toward the door, "Molly!"

Called so loudly, Molly had no choice but to enter. She curtsied slightly, "Miss Su Yun, how may I assist you?"

"Young Master Night Feather is heading to the royal palace soon and needs to rest. Show him out!" Xi Ning stated politely, giving him some face, then lowered her head to continue reading.

Seeing Night Feather holding back his anger and Xi Ning’s cold indifference, Molly could only lower her head and curtsy, not daring to say the words to send him off, though her posture made the intention clear enough.

Night Feather seemed to swallow a breath of air. With a cold sneer, his figure vanished in an instant.

Xi Ning rolled her eyes internally and raised her middle finger. Could he not use a door? Playing with teleportation magic inside the house—he should be careful he didn't botch it and end up in a kitchen cauldron.

Every new person added to her life increased the possibility of the plot shifting. Moreover, Night Feather didn't seem to like her; after all, his brother, whom he relied on, had fallen in love with another woman and was going to marry her. He probably felt uncomfortable, as if the love that belonged to him was being shared.

Fortunately, this young master was heading to the palace soon. The sooner he left, the better. This damn rain had to stop tomorrow.

***

"Knock, knock, knock~" The sound of a carriage came from outside.

Xi Ning looked out the window. A carriage had stopped at the entrance, and a person wearing a rain cloak descended, supported by a maid.

A woman! Xi Ning frowned slightly. Usually, only a lady would require a maid's assistance to disembark.

"Molly!" she called out, dropping her book and heading toward the door.

Molly, being a clever person, followed immediately.

Before they reached the hall, she heard a young woman with a voice like a silver bell say with a hint of coquetry, "Cousin Slan, it’s been a long time."

A voice came softly from above Xi Ning’s head, indifferent and laced with sarcasm: "You left just last month."

Xi Ning looked up and nearly collided with the nose of Night Feather, who had appeared behind her.

"Hey, watch it!" Night Feather stepped back, one hand covering his high, prominent nose that had nearly been bumped, and the other gripping the staff he never left behind.

Xi Ning’s mind wandered, wondering if Night Feather, Slan, and other mages took their staves with them even when they slept or bathed.

"Cousin, I’m afraid I’m going to cause you trouble again this time." When the woman spoke, she dragged out her nasal tones. Although her voice was pleasant, it sounded a bit affected. But most men fell for this, liking the nasal tone of a "loli."

"It is an honor to have you visit, Cousin Elsa; there is no such thing as trouble." Slan’s words were impeccably polite, though that very politeness made them sound formulaic.

"Thank you, Cousin!" The cousin named Elsa seemed not to notice, remaining as affected as ever, enough to make one’s skin crawl.

As the voices drew closer, Slan and Cousin Elsa appeared.

By now, Elsa had removed her rain cloak, revealing a black mage’s cardigan robe. The front edges and cuffs were embroidered with a series of clover family emblems, proving she was the head of her family.

Beneath the robe, she wore a low-cut black tight-fitting top, outlining her slim waist and ample bosom in an incredibly alluring way. Below that was a long black skirt with a high slit on one side; as she walked, a flash of her fair, long leg would occasionally peek out. She held a staff, but it was only half her height, and the gem at the top was relatively small.

***

Xi Ning hurriedly searched the original owner’s memories for information on Elsa.

Elsa Lyxin Xifei F. Antilia.

She was indeed a supporting female character; her name was long, but not as long as the protagonist's.

She was the eldest daughter of the Antilia family, which had six younger brothers and five younger sisters. It wasn't that her mother was particularly fertile, but that her father had married seven wives in succession.

The Antilia patriarch was handsome and dashing, but he had a flaw: he fell in love with every woman he saw. Regardless of her background—even if she were a commoner—as long as she was beautiful and caught his eye, he would fall for her. Once he fell in love, it was with earth-shattering intensity, totally forgetting that his previous wives had once been loved just as passionately and devotedly. The most disgusting part was that his new love became the apple of his eye, while the old one was completely ignored, sometimes even becoming an enemy.

As a result, his wives met various fates: one died in childbirth, four were driven to death by the jealousy of the new lovers, and others divorced him.

There were twelve children from seven mothers. Fortunately, while the father was ruthless to his women, he was not a tiger that ate its own cubs; he treated all his children equally and raised them well.

This cycle of romantic farce only ended when the man died in a war against dark forces ten years ago. Otherwise, the number of his children might have been even larger.

Elsa’s mother was the father’s first wife, an alchemist, and had held the position the longest, but she was eventually "blown up" by the second wife, a mage. Many potions required magic, so most alchemists had a knack for it, though they lacked the raw power to be pure mages. Judging by Elsa’s staff, she had some strength—at least better than her siblings born to the three commoner mothers who lacked any magical aptitude.

*An alchemist,* Xi Ning mused, raising an eyebrow.

She could tell at a glance that this was a supporting character designed to disrupt the relationship between the leads and tempt the male lead. But such a seductive, treacherous woman could very well steal the male lead and become the ultimate winner in life.

Moreover, given that Elsa’s "supporting character" level was quite high, Xi Ning internally sounded the alarm.

Seeing Su Yun with her maid and Night Feather standing on the stairs, Elsa frowned slightly, though she dismissed the girl as young and non-threatening.

Seeing everyone present, Slan paused. "Let me introduce you. This is Miss Su Yun Pervade of the Pervade family. And this is my cousin, the head of the Antilia family, Miss Elsa Lyxin Xifei F. Antilia."