So there are countless choices~ you could, of course, carry on with your original plan.
'Then why bring up Lilia? Acting like I could actually help her?!'
Can't you?
'You're shoving me into the fire here!'
The butterfly's wings never stop fluttering. Your existence itself is already helping her.
Lift your head.
Allen.
Allen froze, sensing something, and slowly looked up.
By now, Zenith and Rudeus at the table had turned their eyes on him, and even Paul—with a look of shock, disbelief, and something like discomfort—had his gaze fixed firmly on Allen.
It was as if the weight of accusation itself had surrounded the so-called "outsider."
Allen's mouth opened as he met their eyes helplessly.
Clearly, his sneaky retreat from the table + conflicted expression + "as if he were prepared" demeanor instantly drew everyone's suspicion toward this extra character not part of the original story.
This extra boy—who didn't even look like a child, closer to ten in this early-maturing world, fully developed under a swordsman's training, even emanating a kind of masculine aura when using dōki. Not to mention… that strange interaction Rudeus once noticed between him and Mrs. Somar.
Am I right? The current situation is…
Allen, still stunned, accidentally said it out loud.
"…I'm the father again?!"
The room fell silent.
Lilia, who had kept her head down all this time, finally noticed something was wrong. She lifted her head in confusion and met Allen's hurriedly covered mouth.
Their eyes met.
The only sound was the flicker of the candle flame.
Turn the tide!
At this moment, among countless choices, the host used sheer personal charm to instantly suppress the original conflict, sparing Paul from groveling on the floor and losing all dignity as head of the family. You are Paul's god!
'Screw you!!!!!'
Allen's mind went blank.
At that moment, Zenith slowly stood, her eyes still dazed as she looked at him and gave a bitter smile.
"Allen… never thought you'd be the first to stand up."
Allen looked to Paul, who was staring back at him, completely at a loss.
Then Zenith sighed and stood.
The sound of the chair scraping across the floor was piercing in the quiet.
Slap!
A crisp sound rang out as Zenith—without even looking at Paul—smacked him across the face.
Paul clutched his cheek, stunned.
Zenith glared coldly.
"Paul, how much longer are you going to hide behind the children? Can't even muster the courage to take responsibility? Are you really still processing Allen's completely absurd excuse?"
Paul froze a moment before reality sank in.
'There's no way Allen's involved with Lilia. What the hell is wrong with me? Have I really panicked so much that I've forgotten what it means to be a man?'
His face turned downcast, and he was about to admit his mistake…
But then he heard Zenith's quiet, airy words.
"…Forget it. I see now your promises to me were just empty talk."
She turned and walked upstairs without looking back, the door slamming shut behind her. Only then did Rudeus come back to himself.
Lilia lowered her head again, not sure what to do. She'd braced herself for Zenith to yell, hit her, even throw her out. She didn't expect… this.
Paul buried his head in his hands, looking like his world had collapsed.
Allen, meanwhile, stood frozen in shock. The script had completely diverged from canon!
In the original, Zenith had called a family meeting, letting Rudeus mediate and convince her to accept Lilia. But now… she'd gone straight to her room?
Allen quickly reviewed the events and came to a conclusion: his impulsive confession had set off a chain reaction. Paul's confusion made him hesitate, Zenith lost patience with him, and this outcome.
And if she really was packing her things upstairs…?
Allen turned sharply to Rudeus.
"Rudeus! Do something! The madam's condition is bad!"
Rudeus hesitated, glanced at the despondent Lilia.
"…The only way is to pin it all on Father, then maybe she'll let Lilia stay."
Allen felt his temper flare. He kicked Rudeus off his chair, grabbed his collar, and growled.
"Are you crazy?! If you do that, she'll feel even more like the extra here! You think this is just a game? You're going to let her bear all this alone?! How's she supposed to handle it? Leave home?!"
Rudeus shrank under the pressure.
"But if we throw Lilia out now, she'll die out there… and Allen, aren't you good at pretty words? Think of something to make Mother stay!"
Lilia glanced at Paul, who was still tugging his hair at the table, her eyes dimming further as she murmured.
"I… should leave. This is the punishment I deserve. Please, at least…"
"Enough!!"
Allen's roar silenced them all.
He took a deep breath, glanced at the stairs, and thought.
'In the original, Zenith's acceptance came from seeing Rudeus value the family. But at its core, it's about the family's attitude. She couldn't bear to hurt them all. That's what needs to change.'
Allen's eyes hardened. He spoke quickly.
"Rudeus, do you really think your mother is ready to throw all this away? Or that she doesn't understand her husband at all?"
Paul looked up, stunned.
Allen pressed on.
"She can't. You know it, I know it. And you don't want Lilia kicked out and dead in the snow, so you're trying to find someone to blame, anyone to direct her anger at. You think that'll fix it, right?"
Rudeus faltered.
Allen leaned closer, his tone sharp.
"That's wrong. Paul is the one at fault. Not Zenith. Not Lilia. You have no right to make that choice for her!"
Paul tried to speak but Allen slammed the table, silencing him.
He looked at them all and continued.
"Paul cares about keeping the family together. Rudeus cares about sparing Lilia. Lilia wants to be punished. All of you are thinking only of yourselves. Not one of you has thought about Zenith. Is that really okay?"
The three of them froze.
Allen held up his hand, counting off his fingers.
"Paul and Lilia, you need to do five things."
"One: set aside your selfishness and think from her point of view."
"Two: go upstairs, kneel, and beg her to let you speak."
"Three: tell her how you feel about this family, what kind of home you want it to be."
"Four: ask for her forgiveness and make your promises for the future."
And he curled the last finger, staring at Rudeus.
"Five: put the choice back in her hands. Let her decide, because she's the one who was hurt. That's respect."
He swept his gaze over them.
"Make her feel loved and valued. That's how you save this family, not by forcing her to swallow her pain while you all get what you want. Who really did wrong here?!"
Allen's voice cut like a whip, then he turned cold, looking at Rudeus.
'That's it. Now to steer it back to the original outcome.'
He pointed at the stairs.
"Go. Before she finishes packing."
Rudeus met his eyes and let out a small laugh.
'Same old Allen. Pretty words, huh?'
Then he sobered, turned to Paul and Lilia, and said in a soft but firm voice.
"Let's go, Father. Lilia."
(End of Chapter)
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