Chapter 17
I had been curious myself — noble families always needed an heir, or so I’d heard.
If I was the duke’s only adopted daughter, then who would be the successor?
It was only yesterday that I finally realized I wouldn’t be sent back to the orphanage.
I hadn’t had enough time to think deeply about it, but vaguely, I had wondered.
If Father truly loved only Beasirta, then perhaps he wouldn’t marry another woman just for the sake of having an heir.
But since the country’s at war, he’ll definitely need one.
I imagined other nobles would pressure Father to remarry, or at least adopt someone new.
And apparently, the matter had been resolved in the latter way.
Well, that’s adult business anyway.
I was just happy our family was growing.
“…You said he’s my older brother?”
“Yes, my lady. You’ll be having dinner with him this evening. The Duke will also be present.”
Dinner?
It was still early morning. Waiting until evening felt unbearably long.
“Can’t I greet him before then?”
At my question, Sarina hesitated. Her eyes were still swollen, the faint traces of tears visible beneath them.
After a short silence, she forced a smile.
“If that is what my lady wishes.”
I smiled brightly. It wasn’t the right time to ask why she’d been crying — there were other maids around.
Better to smile now, to help her forget whatever sadness lingered.
I decided I’d ask her later, when it was just the two of us.
“Then, make me look pretty.”
I was happy enough just to eat dinner with Father and my new brother, but more than anything, I wanted to leave a good first impression when I greeted him.
For a brief moment, Sarina froze — then, as if catching my excitement, she smiled more naturally and bowed her head.
“I’ll do my best.”
The maids, including Sarina, began bustling about.
Just like yesterday, when I’d worn riding clothes for the outdoor lesson, dozens of dresses were laid out before me.
They debated seriously.
“Everything suits her so well — what should we pick?”
“This is why I keep saying we need to hire a personal dressmaker for the lady.”
“I’ll get approval from the head maid today.”
“Do that.”
After much discussion, they finally settled on a blue dress with a large, beautiful ribbon.
They curled my bangs slightly to make me look cuter and braided a small section of hair to the back for a mysterious touch.
I fiddled with the big ribbon at my waist.
“…Thank you, everyone.”
The girl in the mirror looked lovely — even to me.
The maids smiled proudly at their handiwork.
I have a brother now.
I wanted to look my best.
It felt like I’d already given him a piece of my heart before even meeting him.
What did he look like? What kind of personality did he have? What was his name, and what did he think about?
Whoever he was, I already liked him simply because he was my brother.
Whatever he was like, it didn’t matter — because he was family.
My heart pounded.
Today’s escort knights were Terra and Logue.
“Where are we headed, my lady?”
“To meet my brother.”
Before anyone else could answer, I spoke first.
“Oh my.”
Terra looked at me with interest.
“You mean the new young master’s room, my lady? Allow me to take you there immediately.”
Logue sounded even more excited as he replied.
I didn’t yet know my way around the ducal estate, so I followed closely behind him.
From behind, I heard Terra’s faint chuckle.
I was nervous and thrilled — maybe even more than when I’d first met Father.
Back then, I’d been terrified I might be sent away.
Now, meeting my brother, I wasn’t afraid at all.
At least this time, I knew for certain I wouldn’t be abandoned — and that certainty gave me courage.
Thank you, Khan.
When Khan came to see me tonight, I’d make sure to thank him.
“This is the room, my lady…”
Logue stopped, his voice trailing off.
I looked up at him, then ahead.
A crowd of servants was already gathered before the tightly closed door.
Their expressions were grim.
“Um… what’s going on?”
“Ah, my lady.”
When I asked softly, a pale-faced servant hesitated, unsure how to explain.
A maid beside him finally spoke in a heavy tone.
“The young master refuses to take his medicine… He insists he’s going home…”
The explanation was confusing, but when I looked at the bowl she held — filled with red liquid — I understood a little.
Medicine? Is he sick?
If he was saying he wanted to go home, then he probably wasn’t from an orphanage like me.
From the tension in the air, I could tell — my brother was dangerous.
Every servant who had gone into that room looked pale as a ghost.
My eyes met a maid’s. She looked like she was about to cry.
“I just tried to talk to the young master because I was worried, but…”
Why were they all so scared?
Her face was ashen, as if she’d seen a monster.
I pressed my lips together.
“I’ll…”
My voice trembled slightly.
“I’ll take it in.”
He was sick, but he still needed to take his medicine.
That was the only thought in my mind.
The maid hesitated, then slowly handed me the bowl.
It wasn’t heavy — but it was glass. If it shattered, it could cut someone.
If he threw it, it might even draw blood.
“My lady…”
“Wait—”
They all tried to stop me, but I gathered my courage and stood before the door.
Then, I opened it.
The room was dark.
But I saw him.
“…!”
The moment I did, my body froze.
Still — I didn’t want my first impression to be one of fear.
I forced my stiff legs to move, one small step at a time.
The closer I got, the tighter my chest felt.
I realized what it meant to be overwhelmed.
“…”
I couldn’t even manage a greeting.
The boy has lost his parents.
There was something… forsaken about him.
That dangerous aura — I recognized it right away.
Maybe because I knew what it was like.
That boy — no, my brother — felt dangerous just by existing.
The first impression was shocking.
His lips were slightly parted, blood-red. His breathing was rough.
Even though he said nothing, his silence screamed of grief and despair.
His eyes were piercingly intense.
He’s in pain.
He must’ve been strong once, but now he looked broken.
It felt like I’d seen a part of someone I was never supposed to witness — their most private, vulnerable moment.
A lion, loyal and proud, now collapsed after losing everything.
A lion robbed of all he owned — fragile yet full of contradiction.
He was crouched in despair, but I could already sense the explosive charisma waiting to awaken.
His presence pierced through the air like a blade.
A man who didn’t cry, yet seemed to be screaming.
I’d never seen anyone like that before.
“…”
I wanted to speak, to ask his name — but my mind went blank.
How… how could anyone endure that much pain?
It felt like seeing the lowest point of a great man.
The kind of despair so complete it almost brought relief.
Finally, I managed to breathe again.
How did I even move just now?
It wasn’t until I left the room that I could think straight.
I’d seen him, frozen in shock, yet he hadn’t driven me away.
When I offered him the medicine, thankfully, he hadn’t thrown it.
He’d stared at me for a long while before taking the bowl.
His eyes had looked like he was deciding whether or not to kill me — but I hadn’t looked away.
Even if something happened to me, I just wanted him to take that medicine.
And in the end, he drank it.
Then I’d practically fled the room.
Seeing Sarina again brought me back to reality.
“The young master recently lost both of his parents,” she explained softly.
“He was already thirty-seventh in line to the imperial succession — a distant relative of the ducal family.”
“His parents… passed away?”
“Yes.”
I hesitated.
“When did he become a young master here?”
“This morning. At an emergency family council, His Grace decided to adopt him officially. He already bore the same family name — he’s simply been chosen as the ducal heir now.”
My eyes widened.
From her tone, it sounded like my brother hadn’t even been consulted.
“This morning, they recovered the bodies of his parents. They’d been missing for exactly three weeks.
…I think it’s best you hear the details directly from him later, my lady.”
“So that’s why…”
That face of his — so full of anguish.
He must’ve been worrying since their disappearance three weeks ago, only to be told just hours ago that they’d been found dead — and then brought here immediately.
Still, those were just my guesses.
Sarina was right; I’d need to hear it from him myself.
“Good evening, Father.”
I greeted the Duke awkwardly.
“Yes, Adele.”
Father hesitated for a brief second, as if displeased about something, but said nothing.
I was barely keeping it together.
It was my first family dinner ever — I should’ve been happy, but sitting across from both Father and my new brother at that long round table made my head spin.
The chef kept bringing in new dishes.
“It’s been a while. Five years, wasn’t it?”
“…Six.”
The first time I heard his voice, I flinched.
It was low and rough, as though he’d been screaming for a week straight.
“I have no appetite.”
“That doesn’t matter. Eat.”
I nervously looked between Father and my brother.
Under the bright light, my brother looked different from earlier — cleaner, sharper.
But I could tell he was still on edge. One sharp look from Father, and he immediately obeyed.
He picked up his spoon and took a sip of soup.
From what I’d overheard, he hadn’t eaten all day — but Father’s single word was enough.
Father really is incredible.
Even in this tense moment, I couldn’t help but admire him a little.
It felt like peeking into a world of predators that lived by strict hierarchy.
I still didn’t know proper table manners, so I tried my best to imitate them both.
They moved with effortless grace — perfect in every motion.
I swallowed my soup and spoke, breaking the silence that hung over the table.
“Um… Brother. My name is Adele.”
Adele Alkibiades.
Saying the full name still felt strange, but I managed it.
Having Father there gave me the courage.
He glanced at me — reassuringly.
My brother froze, the knife still in his hand.
Blood from the cut steak pooled onto his plate.
“And you are…?”
