Chapter – 33
“Sis!”
It was Calvin, appearing unexpectedly—he should have been at the Knight Order.
“Sis, I—”
My younger brother, spotting my friends, bowed politely.
“So Stella and Pony are here too. Long time no see.”
“Oh, Calvin. You’ve become quite handsome since the last time I saw you.”
For once, Stella didn’t tease him. Usually, she would click her tongue at him for trailing behind Merina all the time.
“By the way, Calvin, today’s a weekday. What are you doing here? The Knight Order dorms only allow outings on weekends, don’t they?”
Calvin hesitated for a moment, and then Stella and Pony excused themselves, saying they would come back later.
After giving them a polite nod, my brother sat down in one of the chairs my friends had just vacated.
Though he still looked a little youthful, seeing him in the Knight uniform made him appear fully grown. When he wore a serious expression, he even looked like a proper male protagonist.
But what he said next was not something a male protagonist should ever say.
“I’ve decided to leave the dorm.”
“…What?”
“I’m leaving the dorm and will stay at home.”
“Why?”
My voice rose slightly at my brother’s sudden announcement.
“You were staying at the dorm to save travel time between the mansion and the imperial capital.”
And staying at the dorm also made it convenient to visit Merina on weekends. Because I often clashed with Merina, our parents disliked her. Calvin, liking Merina, stayed at the dorm to avoid conflicts with our parents.
“You can just train a bit more by sleeping less.”
“Why did you suddenly make this decision?”
“I want to protect you, sis.”
What?
“After what happened at the hunting grounds, I heard everything when you returned home. You’re too kind and end up getting scolded, so I want to stay by your side and protect you.”
Calvin… I’ve probably protected you far more than you’ve protected me.
I thought he was joking, but he was more serious than ever. Fatigue started to creep in.
“Calvin, I appreciate it, but I can handle my own affairs. You should focus on yours.”
“Is it because I’m weak? Wait, I’ll soon become stronger than the Captain!”
After hesitating briefly, my brother added quietly:
“And I don’t want you to get too close to the Captain.”
“Sorry, but I can’t agree to that, little brother.”
“Why? Because you like him?”
“Hmm… about that. At first, I thought I was attracted to him as a man, but over time, he started feeling more like a dependable older brother.”
I corrected my earlier pretense of being interested in Lexian. Of course, I still care about Lexian immensely, but I can’t show it openly, can I?
Thinking he wasn’t being a trustworthy younger brother, Calvin’s face looked as if he had been slapped hard.
“Also, Captain Lexian might visit the Levian mansion sometimes.”
“Why? Also, sis, since when did you start calling the Captain by his first name?”
“Well, for quite some time now.”
Cracks appeared on Calvin’s otherwise perfect face. He looked very displeased, though I couldn’t figure out why.
“Calling each other by first names even though you’re not engaged—won’t that ruin your reputation?”
“I told you, Calvin. We’re like siblings. The social circles already know, so it’s too late for you to object now.”
And yet, you call Merina by her first name. I muttered internally while outwardly trying to calm Calvin.
“And Calvin, Captain Lexian might visit the Levian mansion sometimes, so just be aware.”
“Why ‘our mansion,’ Captain?”
“Lexian recommended training to improve my basic physical strength because he’s concerned about me. He said he would drop by sometimes to check how I’m doing. Even Father approved.”
Hearing that Father agreed, my brother slumped down from the chair. His face showed a sense of betrayal.
“I… will train extremely hard. I won’t lose to anyone!”
Calvin leapt up and shouted, then swiftly left my room.
“What’s gotten into him all of a sudden?”
Had he been provoked by Lexian or the Crown Prince? There was no major incident at the time, so maybe he saw Merina on a date with another man.
The Crown Prince of the Empire, Jacques Liegret, remained silent the entire way back to the palace.
He couldn’t stop recalling the sight of Rosia with blood on her forehead.
How oppressive must she have thought I was to try to apologize while in such pain?
“Ah… maybe I started it first.”
Ever since seeing her at the hunting grounds, he had been worried by her pale expression. He had decided to visit her, and seeing Rosia after so long made him wonder if she had been truly resting—she still looked unwell.
When concern for the bruise on her neck that the scarf couldn’t fully hide arose, his hand moved on its own to remove the scarf.
Originally, he intended to politely ask about the injury, but why did he act so hastily?
Even at the hunting tournament, he had never intended to aim arrows at Rosia, yet he didn’t understand why he acted differently this time.
Why did he always behave roughly toward Rosia? Whenever he saw her, he felt compelled to speak sharply and cause some harm.
He found his own behavior strange.
“Haah…”
Getting out of the carriage on his way to the Crown Prince’s palace, Jacques ran into someone.
“Hello, Your Highness, Crown Prince.”
Merina, with her bright blonde hair, smiled warmly at him.
Poor Merina, always at the mercy of the cruel Rosia Levian. Such a gentle woman needed someone’s help—perhaps him, for example.
“Long time no see, Merina.”
Jacques smiled unconsciously, then suddenly frowned.
That woman is the sister of the one who took my mother’s place. Why am I greeting her so warmly?
His mood sank instantly.
“Is the palace your home? Why do you come and go so often?”
“I—I came to see my sister.”
Merina blinked in surprise at his sudden change in tone.
Her golden eyelashes fluttered, her delicate shoulders trembled, yet for some reason, Jacques found her appearance irritating.
“Your Highness, have I done something wrong? You seem very upset.”
“Would seeing you ever make me happy?”
Merina’s eyes widened in shock, but the Crown Prince’s sharp words didn’t stop.
“How dare you be the sister of the woman who claimed my mother’s place.”
“Th-that…”
Merina covered her mouth with her hand, tears welling up in her eyes.
Jacques immediately felt guilty for being too harsh. He shouldn’t treat such a kind, gentle girl this way.
“Ahem… I spoke too sharply.”
“Did something upset you? Did you meet Lady Levian, or…?”
“Yes. I saw her.”
“So that unsettled you?”
Perhaps. No, he actually felt guilty toward Rosia Levian. Surprising someone already in pain and causing her head injury—if the marquis family complained, he wouldn’t have any excuse.
“Your Highness dislikes Lady Levian, right?”
Merina smiled reassuringly, as if saying he should dislike Rosia. Jacques felt uneasy at that whisper.
Still, he didn’t want to upset Merina, so he suppressed the rising anger within him.
“By the way, Merina, where are you coming from?”
“Huh?”
“At the end of this path is the Peony Garden. You didn’t go there, did you?”
“Yes… I was just resting there and heading back…”
The moment he heard her explanation, his patience snapped.
“Do you have any idea that I issued a strict order forbidding entry to that garden, cherished by my mother?”
“I-I didn’t know.”
Merina always offered excuses whenever she caused trouble, and usually, all ten men around her would forgive her with a smile.
But today, Jacques was different.
“I forbade you to go there, yet you disobeyed me. You’re banned from entering the palace for the time being.”
“Your Highness!”
Merina called out in surprise, but Jacques left with a cold expression.
Logically, he should forgive her—but strangely, he felt that punishing her was the right thing to do.
“Damn it.”
Jacques washed his face quickly and walked briskly, trying to forget his complicated emotions.
