chapter 22…………………………………………….
“So then…”
“Make sure you find all the materials today and head home after that.”
A younger sibling is still a sibling, and work is work.
Besides, judging by the fact that he’s looking up materials on biological transplantation, it’s obvious. Even though April’s condition has improved a lot thanks to me, she’d want to prepare everything she can on her own.
The subordinate, who first brightened at my instruction to leave, quickly turned pale and kept glancing at me, but there was nothing I could do.
I had intruded on the conversation between the two, but Barrack had no intention of letting anyone leave, so it would have been ridiculous for me to force it.
“What are you doing, not leaving?”
I shook my head briefly while looking at the two subordinates, who were now pouting.
They probably didn’t expect April, my younger sister, to be more sensitive than usual.
“…Yes.”
It wasn’t until the quiet thud of the door closing with their exaggerated pout that I finally spoke.
“This is exactly why those rumors spread.”
“What?”
Judging from his expression, he had no idea how the rumors about him circulated, so I just shrugged my shoulders.
He seemed oblivious, and there was no need to be kind enough to explain.
Barrack was the kind of person who easily makes enemies. The only reason he was still alive, for now, was probably because of his abilities.
“So.”
I stood up from my seat and strode over to his desk.
The moment I tried to lift the papers he had shoved into a corner, Barrack snatched them away quickly.
“What did you come here for?”
His eyes were burning with barely contained intensity.
He asked, a wry smile twisting on his lips, while rolling the restraining bracelet still on his wrist.
“I have something to ask.”
“If you have something to ask, ask it quickly and leave. I don’t want to waste my time talking to someone like you.”
“Have you heard anything from April about His Highness Perphone?”
“You…!”
Barrack, who had been sitting, suddenly stood and grabbed me by the collar.
Being yanked forward, I found his eyes mere inches from mine.
At first, I expected his emotion to be anger, but looking into his eyes up close, it seemed more like anxiety than rage.
“Don’t even think about doing anything foolish.”
He whispered, probably worried someone outside might overhear.
I grabbed his hand that was clutching my collar and slowly caressed the wrist with the restraint bracelet.
He probably had no idea how ridiculous and amusing it was that someone who could easily sever a wrist with a thought was struggling in front of me like this.
“If you want me to behave, you can’t act like this.”
“…What?”
When I stepped closer without a hint of fear, Barrack faltered.
In my memories of Barrack Hill Rise, I was still the tearful, fragile girl desperate to gain his favor.
“You’re acting so arrogantly that it makes me want to do something reckless. How do you expect me to handle that?”
“Do you want to die!?”
I let out a short laugh at the rising pitch of his voice.
“What if someone outside hears you raising your voice like this?”
“….”
“If you don’t want to see me do anything foolish, just answer my question honestly.”
“Damn it!”
He pushed me roughly but finally released my collar. I adjusted my clothes with both hands.
“Have you ever talked about His Highness? April likes His Highness, doesn’t she?”
“I’ve never said anything about His Highness. There wasn’t anything strange to mention anyway.”
Apparently, she hadn’t spoken to anyone about the broken engagement.
Honestly, when I first heard about the broken engagement, I expected she would have immediately informed the ducal family to expedite the royal marriage.
April’s silence was unusually suspicious. It suited her less reckless side better, actually.
Was there another reason she hadn’t spoken? I tilted my head, and Barrack’s brows furrowed deeply.
“What did His Highness say to you?”
I shrugged and replied nonchalantly.
“Nothing much.”
If April hadn’t wanted to tell her younger brother Barrack, I had no intention of revealing it either.
Some secrets are more fun when revealed later.
“How did she get along with others?”
Knowing that would help me adjust my approach.
I lightly ran my fingers across the well-kept titles on the shelves in the study.
From the large-scale Kyra manufacturing methods to treatises on the binding of souls through alchemy, everything was neatly organized.
“Nothing much… if I had to say, it seems she fought with Demian.”
“Demian?”
I closed my eyes briefly at the familiar name.
Demian Dinya Valstein.
The only heir of the ducal family.
The name of my academy classmate made me momentarily stop breathing.
The tension at hearing Demian’s name wasn’t just nostalgia—aside from Alicia, he was the only person who knew my secret.
“Why with him?”
Before I was expelled from the ducal mansion, we were in similar situations, so we had a sort of camaraderie.
Our relationship had been fairly good…
“He came by once after you left the ducal mansion.”
“….”
“After that, we drifted apart.”
He frowned lightly.
I had come to Barrack to clear up doubts, but instead, my curiosity only grew.
“Why?”
“I wouldn’t know that.”
He approached, snatched a book I was holding, and quickly returned it to the shelf.
“If you’ve asked all your questions, get out of here.”
“…Useless brat.”
“What? Did you just say that!?”
Now he’s completely lost his voice, apparently.
“I said ‘useless brat,’ that’s what I said.”
With Barrack stomping behind me, I left the office.
So, he’s grown distant from Demian as well…
What on earth has April been up to?
“How has she been?”
Adonis, having escorted April to Barrack’s office, stopped walking mid-hallway.
Looking back along the path, April’s long beige hair was completely out of sight.
Only then did Adonis frown.
He cautiously held the handkerchief April had given him to his mouth.
The metallic taste in his mouth made him scowl openly.
He had taken countless wounds wielding a sword, yet the injury inside his mouth felt worse than any sword cut.
The reason? His father, Count Vetriche, had slapped him simply because he opposed him.
He had no idea why he thought his own lack of skill was the reason Adolf’s swordsmanship didn’t improve.
Perhaps he was chosen as a scapegoat because someone needed to blame him.
Adolf’s lack of improvement was truly due to his own negligence.
“It’s that girl who keeps Adolf from reaching his potential.”
“They didn’t even let him practice out of curiosity.”
The voices of the older family members, pointing fingers and whispering, rang loudly in his ears.
“You were here. My brother was looking for Lord Adonis.”
April’s words were meant to get him away from her father, not the truth.
“Count Vetriche? Why is your cheek like that?”
Upon arriving at the east building with the crown prince, Lerbian noticed him touching his cheek.
“Oh, nothing. I just hit the wall.”
“How does one hit a wall so hard their cheek swells like that?”
Clearly a lie.
Lerbian didn’t press him for the truth. They weren’t close enough to argue, and the only person in the royal family who could have done this was Count Vetriche.
Lerbian clicked his tongue, worried, and looked at the calm-faced Adonis.
He seemed to think Adolf’s failure to shine was Adonis’ fault, but in reality, it wouldn’t have mattered even if Adonis weren’t there.
“But, Lord Lerbian,”
I stopped Lerbian, who was quickening his pace.
“Did you happen to see Princess April today?”
“I did. His Highness invited her today.”
“….”
“Why do you ask?”
The words lingering in my mouth were difficult to bring out.
