Fortunately, just like Mom said, the orphanage was a decent place.
They didn’t send Noah, who was relatively easier to adopt than me, anywhere else. They allowed us to grow up together. Except for the mandatory prayers, it was good.
Until that day.
The day before my birthday, and the day we were supposed to hang out downtown with friends. Being an annoying 8-year-old, Noah had been more disobedient and demanding lately. He wanted a lot, he was moody a lot.
He complained about wanting to go back to Mom, how he wanted a mom too. So I was pretty irritated that morning.
Then Noah kept urging me to come home early to play. I, 15 at the time and enjoying my friends, forgot about my promise with Noah and returned to the orphanage late.
And… there was a fire at the orphanage.
[Noah… Noah…!]All the other children had evacuated, but Noah was nowhere to be found. Particularly, the flames in our shared room were intense. I wanted to run in, but couldn’t.
Outside the orphanage, I called for Noah desperately. He couldn’t be in there. He just couldn’t.
Noah would’ve… definitely come out already. Like always, he would be hiding somewhere to surprise me.
[Noah…]Although my heart pounded anxiously, I forced myself to ignore it. But… the only child who died in the fire… was Noah.
They said the fire was caused by Noah lighting candles.
Noah had been saving up the Choco Pies they gave on special occasions for months to make a cake. And put candles on it.
To celebrate my birthday. Unable to find a proper birthday candle, he lit a large candle and fell asleep. That was the cause of the fire.
[I…]I failed to protect my sibling. No, I killed him.
I even bought the small game console Noah wanted. I had to hug him tightly and say I was sorry for being late, but I didn’t.
The crumpled paper in the hand of a lifeless child that read, “I love you, sis,” made me more desperate.
Memories with Noah, lost in the fire as if to erase his very existence, guilt left in my mind. As time passed, I forcibly suppressed those guilts. But whenever I saw Sasha, I thought of Noah.
[Sis…]“Noah…”
Tears welled up at the sound calling my name. When I was one, when my mother abandoned me, I vowed never to abandon this child.
But I did. I abandoned the heart of Noah, who had been waiting for me.
“Are you alright?”
That was the moment.
My eyes, which seemed like they would never open, were suddenly lifted at the sound of the abrupt male voice.
“Ah…”
Then, the incongruent sceneries appeared before me. Only then did I remember that I had become Isabella in the novel.
“Judging by your eye movement, you seem alright.”
“Where is this…”
“This is your room.”
I slowly looked around. It was the chamber in the palace given to me by the Emperor. Why was I here when I was clearly inside the carriage?
“You fell asleep in the carriage and couldn’t wake up. Even after arriving at the palace, you didn’t wake up.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Since you’re to be the Empress, nobody dared touch you. Ultimately, the knights came to me with a report, and I arrived.”
Why did I feel relieved hearing that emotionless, unpleasant voice? I even felt like this place was safe.
“Did Your Majesty personally bring me here?”
“Me? No. I detest even touching a woman.”
“Oh. I thought I was going to be touched for a moment.”
“Yet, I did give the order.”
Did I do well? Was that expression that flashed for a moment my delusion?
“Ah, yes.”
A moment of silence flowed between us. Normally, one would say, ‘You’ve woken up, so I’ll leave.’ Why was he silently staring at me for so long? Did I do something wrong?
“But…”
“Yes?”
“Hmm, who is that man?”
“What man?”
“Never mind. Take some rest.”
The Emperor, who had been speaking incomprehensible words, finally rose from his seat.
“I heard you’ve been exerting yourself.”
“Ah, I suppose climbing up and down the stairs was tiring.”
“Seems like your stamina is worse than a child’s. Collapsing here and there.”
Wow, this Emperor, I tell you. Want to try climbing those stairs? It’s bound to knock you out. Though, Isabella’s stamina was quite poor to begin with.
“Yes, yes.”
“Go out and get some exercise. I brought you here to be the Empress, not to hear you complain.”
“Are you worried about me?”
“I’m saying this because I don’t want to deal with the paperwork. Otherwise, the aides will never stop talking.”
Top Celebrity Younger Brother Bears Her Child (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: Forced to live stream romance with a top celebrity in a female-dominant world.
Yan Jin transmigrated into a brothel, with a fellow transmigrated junior beside her.
Hearing the obscene words coming from outside, the unfortunate junior covered his ears tightly, his cheeks flushed red, and whispered to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I will definitely help you escape.”
“Don’t worry, I will definitely defend your chastity.” Yan Jin looked at the flawless and delicate features of the unfortunate junior and gently comforted, “Because we have transmigrated into a female-dominant world.”
※※※
Top celebrity Yu Shu suddenly fell into a coma during a concert.
Research scientist Yan Jin fainted in the lab after working overtime.
Two people with no connection were rushed to the same hospital.
Three days later, neither of them had woken up.
Suddenly, the entire nation discovered that a live streaming app had been forcibly installed on their phones.
Upon opening it, they heard the two discussing how to escape from the brothel.
The entire internet was in an uproar.
After the two successfully escaped from the brothel, Yu Shu’s fan group rushed to make a banner and sent it to the hospital overnight.
“Big sister bravely took action to defend the chastity of our idol!”
※※※
When Yu Shu was diagnosed with pregnancy, Yan Jin stared at his belly for a long time.
Covering his stomach, he muttered gloomily, “If you don’t like it, I’ll go get an abortion.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Yan Jin hugged Yu Shu and said softly, “I just feel like I’m not human.”
Yu Shu comforted Yan Jin, “I was already an adult when we got together.”
Yan Jin hesitated, “But you won’t be of legal marriageable age even after giving birth to the child.”
At the same time, a flood of bullet comments appeared in the live streaming room that the two couldn’t see.
[Although it’s inappropriate, I also want a young and handsome boyfriend to have my child.]
①Male pregnancy (highlighted)
The female lead is five years older than the male lead, and the male lead is already an adult when he appears.
