PAMPERED

120 Why is she so competitive?

The library was quiet with only the sound of pens scribbling on the papers resonating. Penny pursed her lips, scanning her brothers. They were all busy with their own work while she was just pretending. Penny was diligent in school and in her free time, she would study advanced

– more like a relearn of what she already practiced and applied in her first life.

lessons Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

–

I thought they’d want to skip today’s lessons to give Nina some time.‘ She mentally shrugged off the thought, thinking they simply wanted to focus on their studies for now. They’d have plenty of time on summer break‘

Not thinking about it anymore, Penny tried to focus on the lesson plan she needed to work on. Slater was surprisingly diligent, and she only had a hard time at the beginning of their sessions.

Knock Knock

The quiet and peaceful atmosphere in the library was disrupted by a knock. All four of them turned their heads at the door, seeing a maid take a step in.

“Miss Penny, your cousins are here,” she announced with a smile.

Penny’s brows rose as her round eyes looked wider. “Yugi and Yuri?”

“Yes, Miss Penny.”

“Oh! They came too!?” Without a second thought, Penny excitedly jumped out of the chair and sprinted toward the door. Despite her wide size, her movements were so agile that she reached. the door in less than a few seconds.

The maid chuckled and followed Penny, closing the door to let the young masters continue their study.

“Why is she so excited?” Slater muttered, pouting. “It’s just her cousin. She isn’t like that to us.“)

Atlas also kept his gaze fixed on the door. He couldn’t articulate or even process what he felt while watching Penny jump out so excitedly at the mention of a cousin. But what he was sure of was that he didn’t like the feeling. +

“Penny is really close to her cousins,” Hugo, who already met the twins, explained. “The three of them grew up together, so they were like siblings to her.”

Like siblings to her…

Slater and Atlas shifted their attention to Hugo, their displeasure apparent.

Seeing their reaction, Hugo smiled subtly. “I know the feeling, because this was what he felt when he heard it the first time. “But Butler Jen explained that she’s with them for thirteen years and she’s only with us for months. So, it’s understandable.”

“Anyway, I want to greet them here. Good thing I have extra snacks in store,” Hugo continued, pushing himself up from his seat. “I will finish that later.”

After saying his piece, Hugo casually walked out of the library as if he had some sort of leverage in joining Penny and the twins. When he left, Slater awkwardly veered his gaze to Atlas.

12:04

120 Why is she so competitive?

“First Brother, are you still going to study?” he asked.

“They’re not my cousins, and Penny needs some time with them. I’ll let them be. Atlas then continued to study.

Just when he thought Slater was the same, the latter slowly got up.

D

“Where are you going?” Atlas slowly looked up, watching his third brother tilt his head a little to the side.

“I’m going to introduce myself to Penny’s cousins.”

“I thought you don’t like them?”

“Well, Penny likes them.”

“I thought you didn’t like Penny?”

Slater bit his tongue and sucked his inner cheeks, saying. “I never said that!” before he fled to avoid more questions. 1

It was true Slater disliked Penny the moment he found out Nina wasn’t their sister. He was already attached to Nina and in his heart, they were siblings. However, the more Slater g know Penny and the more he thought of what Penny was doing for him without even asking him

to anything in return, Slater was humbled.

He realized he judged Penny too soon. So, even if Slater was ashamed of being called a big brother or that he couldn’t properly think or act on how to make amends, he thought he should. learn from the twins. After all, they were with Penny for years, and if he befriended them, he might know how to make her happy.

Meanwhile, Atlas, who was left in the library, stared at the shut door.

“Those kids…” he shook his head, acting like an old grandpa, and continued with his studies. Everything was peaceful for him for the next thirty minutes. He even forgot that he was alone since he was used to it. But thirty minutes came and he could hear voices from the window. Initially, he ignored it, but the voices continued to sound louder and livelier.

“What are they doing?” he grumbled and pushed himself up to close the window. “Why are they so loud, as if there’s a party in there?”

As Atlas reached for the window, he saw his siblings and another two kids cheering for Penny. His face contorted, studying what they were doing.

“Is Penny… having an eating race with Mouse?” he scrunched up his nose, watching Penny eat so fast her movements were like on a fast–forward while the mouse was munching this large peanut just as fast. “How did they come up with this?”

Yuri was also a participant, but she was obviously the loser of the game.

Atlas shook his head, closing the door to silence the noises they were making. But when he

turned his back on the window, he arched a brow and turned around, peeking at them again.

“I wonder who will win between them?”

12:04

23

C

120 Why is she so competitive?

“Mouse, don’t let Penny beat you!” Yugi cheered, rooting for Penny’s mouse. “Just eat faster! Come on!”

If the mouse could talk, it would surely cry! It was already chewing faster than it used to and the pressure was too great.

How could its master do this to it!? The mouse was just a mouse! Why was she so competitive?!

While everyone was busy in the garden, Nina stood by the door with a bitter smile. Slater simply called her to join them while Hugo straight–up ignored her greeting. Though this sight filled her with anger and jealousy, she was reminded of her agenda today.

Nina discreetly walked away from the garden and headed to Penny’s room.