TVWD 33

Chapter 33.

“Sister!”

It was Calvin, who should have been at the Knights’ Order.

“Sister, I—”

Noticing my friends, my younger brother gave a polite bow.

“Stella and Pony are here too. It’s been a while.”

“Oh my, Calvin. You’ve grown handsome since I last saw you.”

For once, Stella didn’t tease him. She used to click her tongue whenever she saw Calvin following Merina around.

“More importantly, Calvin, it’s a weekday. What are you doing here? Aren’t knights only allowed to leave the dormitory on weekends?”

When Calvin hesitated, Stella and Pony said they’d come back later and quietly left the room.

After bowing to them, my brother sat down in the chair they’d just vacated.

He still looked a little boyish, but in his knight’s uniform, he was very much a grown man. His serious expression even gave him a faint air of a story’s male lead.

But what came out of his mouth was something no male lead should ever say.

“I’ve decided to leave the dormitory.”

“…What?”

“I’m going to move out and live at home instead.”

“Why?”

My voice rose a little at his sudden announcement.

“You stayed in the dorm because commuting between the mansion and the capital wasted too much time.”

And because it was easier to meet Merina on weekends that way.

My parents disliked her, since she and I often clashed.

Calvin liked Merina, so he stayed at the dorm to avoid conflicts with our parents.

“I can make up for lost time by cutting down on sleep and training more.”

“What made you decide this all of a sudden?”

“I’ve decided I need to protect you, Sister.”

…What?

“After what happened at the hunting grounds, and from what I’ve heard… You’re too kind, and people keep taking advantage of you. So I’ll stay by your side and protect you.”

Calvin, I’ve protected you way more times than you’ve protected me.

I thought he was joking, but he was dead serious. A wave of exhaustion hit me.

“Calvin, thank you, but I can take care of myself. You should focus on your own work.”

“Is it because I’m weak? Just wait — I’ll get stronger than the Commander soon.”

He hesitated for a moment, then added in a small voice,

“And… I don’t think you should get too close to the Commander.”

“Sorry, little brother, but that’s one wish I can’t grant.”

“Why? Because you like him?”

“Hmm, about that… At first, I thought I was attracted to him, but as time passed, it started feeling more like having a reliable older brother.”

I corrected the misunderstanding from when I had pretended to be interested in Lexian.

Of course, I still had mountains of interest in him, but it wasn’t something I could show openly.

Calvin looked like he’d just been hit on the back of the head — maybe he felt he’d failed as a dependable little brother.

“And, Calvin, from now on, Lexian might visit the Levian estate from time to time.”

“Why? And since when do you call the Commander by his name?”

“Let’s see… for quite a while now, actually.”

A crack appeared on Calvin’s perfectly composed face. He looked very displeased, though I couldn’t understand why.

“You’re not even engaged. Won’t people talk badly about you for calling each other by name?”

“I told you, Cal. We’re like siblings. The entire social circle already knows — it’s a bit late for you to start worrying.”

And you call Merina by her name too, don’t you?

I muttered inwardly and soothed him aloud.

“Anyway, Cal, just so you know — Lexian might come by our estate occasionally.”

“Why would the Commander visit our mansion?”

“He said he was worried about me and suggested I build up my basic stamina. He’ll be stopping by now and then to check on my progress. Father approved it too.”

At the mention of our father’s approval, Calvin slid down in his chair, looking utterly defeated — betrayal written all over his face.

“I’ll… I’ll train so hard that no one can beat me!”

He jumped up, shouted that declaration, and stormed out of my room.

“What’s gotten into him?”

Did Lexian or the Crown Prince say something to provoke him?

Nothing major was happening at the moment, so maybe he saw Merina out with another man.

Crown Prince Jacques Rigrid of the Empire was silent all the way back to the palace.

The image of Rosia bleeding from her forehead wouldn’t leave his mind.

How oppressive must he have seemed for her to bow and apologize, even while she was injured?

“Ah… I guess I started it.”

He’d noticed her pale complexion during the hunting event and had been concerned.

That’s why he’d decided to visit her while she was resting — but when he saw her, she still looked sick and exhausted.

Worried about the bruise on her neck that her scarf hadn’t quite covered, he’d wanted to ask politely if she was all right.
But instead, his hand had moved on its own — and he had snatched her scarf away.

He had meant to speak gently, but somehow he’d acted rashly.

Just like during the hunting contest — he had never meant to aim his arrow at her, yet somehow, he had.

He couldn’t understand why he always became rough and reckless only with her.

Every time he saw Rosia, he lost control, lashing out as if he needed to hurt her.

It made no sense — even to himself.

“Haa…”

Jacques stepped out of the carriage and was heading toward the Crown Prince’s Palace when someone appeared before him.

“Hello, Your Highness.”

It was Merina — her golden hair shining as she smiled brightly at him.

Poor, gentle Merina, always at the mercy of that cruel Rosia Levian. A pitiful woman who needed someone’s help…

Someone like him, perhaps.

“It’s been a while, Merina.”

He smiled faintly — but then his expression hardened.

This woman was the sister of the one who had taken his mother’s place.

So why had he greeted her so warmly?

A heavy wave of disgust washed over him.

“Do you think the imperial palace is your home? Why are you here so often?”

“I—I came to visit my sister.”

Merina blinked in confusion at his sudden coldness.

Her golden lashes fluttered, her delicate shoulders trembled — yet for some reason, Jacques found the sight unbearably irritating.

“Your Highness, did I do something wrong? You look very displeased.”

“Do you think I’d have any reason to be pleased when I see you?”

Her eyes widened, but Jacques wasn’t finished.

“You’re the sister of the woman who stole my mother’s palace.”

“T-that’s…”

Merina covered her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes.

Jacques immediately felt a stab of guilt. She was gentle and kind — he shouldn’t have spoken so harshly.

“Ahem. I may have been too sharp.”

“Did something upset you, Your Highness? Perhaps… seeing Lady Levian?”

“Yes. I saw her.”

“Ah, that must be why you’re unsettled.”

Was it? No — if anything, he felt guilty toward Rosia Levian.

He’d frightened an ill woman and even made her hit her head. The Levian family would have every right to file a complaint.

“But Your Highness dislikes Lady Levian, don’t you?”

Unaware of his thoughts, Merina smiled in relief — as if reminding him that he ought to hate Rosia.

That tone — that assumption — somehow made Jacques’ skin crawl.

Still, he didn’t want to scare her again, so he swallowed his irritation.

“Anyway, Merina, where are you coming from?”

“Huh?”

“The path you took only leads to the Peony Garden. You were there, weren’t you?”

“Yes… I was resting there.”

The moment she said it, Jacques’ patience snapped.

When she nervously began to ask if something was wrong, he let out a short, mirthless laugh right in her face.

“That garden was my mother’s favorite place. I gave strict orders that no one was to enter it.”

“I-I didn’t know…”

Merina’s excuse was the same one she always used after causing trouble — and ten times out of ten, men would just forgive her and smile.

But not today.

“I told everyone to stay out, and yet you ignored me. You’re banned from the palace until further notice.”

“Your Highness!”

Merina called out in shock, but Jacques turned away with an icy expression.

He should have forgiven her — it would’ve been the proper thing to do.

So why did it feel good to punish her?

“Damn it.”

Running a hand over his face, Jacques walked away quickly, trying to shake off the turmoil in his mind.