Chapter 17
“Huh!”
The stiff expression vanished from Grandfather’s face. A smile took its place, and soon he began laughing out loud.
“Hahaha. Indeed, you’ve truly grown up. Yes, with this kind of resourcefulness……”
Grandfather fiddled with his beard.
“Combined with that man’s abilities, the Altzveit family’s power will last forever. Blood can’t lie, after all. My blood flows in you too.”
Seeing Grandfather’s proud expression brimming with delight, all I could think was that he’d bought it completely.
I just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, Grandfather didn’t try to keep me any longer, and I headed for the door of the study.
The problem was that the moment I grasped the doorknob to leave, a satisfied voice rang out from behind me.
“Show it to me once the loaned money comes in.”
Those words felt like a death sentence.
Cold sweat trickled down as I opened the door and closed it behind me.
‘Crazy! I tried to get rid of one problem and ended up with another!’
I left Grandfather’s study and made it back to my room. Ignoring the maids who asked what was wrong, I flopped onto the sofa and covered my face.
“All of you, out.”
The maids filed out, and I was left alone in the room.
I couldn’t hold back any longer and just collapsed onto my back.
‘What else was I supposed to do?’
I swallowed hard. The scenes from Remute Territory flashed through my mind once more.
People groaning everywhere, those too weak to even wipe the dirt from their own faces, children staring up at me with pleading eyes—even they had bandages wrapped around their heads.
……I couldn’t just leave those people without helping them.
Sure, I’d possessed Charlize’s body, but I wasn’t planning to live as some heartless villain.
‘The problem’s already happened, so let’s focus on finding a solution.’
For now, Grandfather had only said to show him once the loaned money came in. So how was I going to procure it?
The moment I dipped into the private funds allotted to Charlize, Grandfather would find out without fail.
And once it came out that I’d deceived him, he’d force the engagement to be broken off.
Death ending after that.
Did Charlize have some secret stash hidden away?
……Probably not.
Charlize wasn’t the type to make money.
She just spent lavishly what she had. Thanks to that, she’d been a symbol in high society—like a celebrity everyone wanted to emulate. But that didn’t help me now.
No, there has to be some way……
I was lost in thought when it happened.
“……Huh?”
The space in front of me rippled. I’d seen this once before.
Soon, someone leaped desperately through the darkly wavering void.
“Duchess!”
It was someone I’d seen once.
Noah.
The book’s male lead and the aide to Charlize’s brother, the tyrant emperor. He was a sub-male lead too.
The moment he saw me, he dropped to one knee in greeting.
For some reason, his face looked extremely urgent.
“……I’m deeply sorry to barge in like this. It’s an emergency, so I’ve come without regard for propriety.”
“No, I’m more curious about how you even appeared……”
I muttered in surprise, but the sub-male lead—looking so frantic—didn’t seem to hear as he pressed on quickly.
“May I explain later? Please come with me.”
“Why?”
Noah bit his lip hard. Panic flickered in his dark eyes.
In the book, he’d been remarkably calm, so seeing him like this was strangely fascinating.
“……His Majesty is rampaging again.”
But those next words left me no choice but to go.
I glanced up at him.
“Please bear with it just a little longer, even if it’s uncomfortable.”
At the moment, I was cradled in Noah’s arms. He’d said traveling like this was much faster.
I wondered how much of my fluttering blue hair they’d seen by the time we arrived at the imperial palace.
……Come to think of it, why should I even care if that guy was rampaging?
The thought only hit me after we got there.
But Noah had followed up by saying people might die, so I probably would’ve come anyway.
What was I supposed to do when I was the only one who could calm that brother of mine right now?
‘Not like I don’t have my hands full just surviving……’
Noah spoke from above me.
“……I didn’t think you’d really come, but I’m truly grateful.”
His words echoed in my ears, but I couldn’t focus on them.
It was because of the sight that greeted us the moment we entered the audience chamber.
‘Gasp, what a disaster……’
The conference room was a total wreck.
The massive table meant for meetings hadn’t just been split in two—it was shattered beyond repair. Shards of glass from broken vases littered the floor.
But what I couldn’t tear my eyes from was the male lead, the tyrant—my brother—gripping his sword.
Roxidian had it aimed at someone who looked like one of his subordinates.
‘Ah, no, don’t!’
I hurriedly clutched the necklace around my neck.
“……Mommy.”
At the same time, light seeped from the necklace.
The golden glow I’d seen before undulated like threads, linking to Roxidian.
That was the moment our eyes met.
“……”
I swallowed under his beastly gaze. But only for a moment. Clang.
The sword hit the floor with a deafening crash.
“My little sister.”
I’d barely blinked a few times before he was right in front of me.
His black hair and red eyes startled me. Mommy, when did he get here?
“Lize, did you come to see your brother?”
“……Creepy.”
“Creepy? Hearing that makes your brother a little sad.”
“……”
The same brother who’d been about to thrash his own subordinate moments ago—this was even creepier.
Of course, I was the one who’d changed him, but it was still a transformation I couldn’t get used to.
“Thanks for helping me. You came to help your brother, right?”
“……That guy isn’t dead, is he?”
“Huh? No, no. He’s fine, fortunately.”
That didn’t seem like something to say so breezily.
“Your brother won’t do anything you hate. Ah, or should I kill him?”
“No, no!”
The tyrant brother’s expression toward me was nothing but gentle. Like some thoughtful, kind older brother straight out of a fairy tale or dream.
“I’ll do anything if Lize wants it.”
Of course, that coquettish demeanor didn’t suit his fiercely savage looks at all.
“Our Lize is so kind, too.”
Roxidian grinned at me.
For a split second, that bright smile reminded me of my real brother who’d died, making me freeze.
In that instant, Roxidian’s face twisted in disgust.
“Ah, damn…… Blech.”
I knew it immediately. He’d snapped out of it.
Back to the real Roxidian.
Now in his usual state, he dragged a hand down his face and let out a sigh.
“Ah, I want to die. I feel like I’m gonna puke……”
“……That’s what I was going to say.”
“Huh?”
“……Your Majesty.”
I trailed off under his murderous glare.
“Is there no better way than this crap?”
“How should I know?”
I was just as curious. How had I ended up as the only one who could calm this brother’s madness—and why did I have to witness this every single time?
If he was going to act sweet, why not stay sweet? He didn’t even try to hide that blech face when he snapped back, and it made my stomach churn right along with his.
I glanced toward the spot behind my brother.
Fortunately, the man he’d tried to kill had already passed out earlier.
Noticing my gaze, Roxidian confirmed it: that guy was out cold.
“Your Majesty, are you alright?”
“You? You’re the one who brought her here?”
The moment my brother returned to normal, Noah strode forward.
Under that terrifying glare, Noah managed an awkward smile.
“But…… there’s no other way, is there?”
“Even so, bringing her to a place this dangerous—ha…… Fine. Whatever.”
Roxidian ruffled his hair and muttered something ominous under his breath—probably a curse.
In the meantime, Noah turned to me.
“Duchess, are you alright?”
“As you can see?”
I hadn’t been in any danger. All I had to do was grab the necklace and call out “Mommy,” and it was over.
I’d seen it twice now, but if this was some split personality, the transformed Roxidian wouldn’t hurt me.
He’d just act like a thoughtful, gentle brother instead.
“……Can’t we keep that side around a little longer?”
“What?”
“Gasp, you heard that?”
I quickly looked away.
Just then, the subordinate who’d passed out opened his eyes.
I wondered if he remembered me yelling “Mommy!” or the tyrant turning all cutesy, but he seemed too terrified to recall everything.
“I-I remember the Duchess coming……! Y-you saved me!”
He only remembered that I’d shown up and simply assumed I’d saved him.
This guy was one of my brother’s closest knights, an elite—and having him look at me with such gratitude didn’t feel half bad.
Yeah, you’re alive thanks to me, so repay the favor later.
Thinking that, I flashed a bright smile and gave a little wave.
The knight’s grateful face promptly turned beet red.
Oh, Charlize’s beauty really is something else.
“Enough of that. Get out.”
“Y-yes, Your Majesty!”
Even as he was told to scram, the knight retreated with a face full of loyalty.
