Arc 5 Ch-03
63
Chapter
Brothers and sisters
2025
After a few conversations, I’d started to get a sense of His Highness Julius’s personality and way of thinking. I could tell he wasn’t a bad person. He was fully aware of his role as royalty and acted accordingly. I didn’t know what he was like when he was engaged to Angie, but he didn’t seem like the kind of person who would become a tyrannical ruler. Still, his compatibility with Angie had been poor, and Olivia’s presence as the Saintess had complicated things. When your opponent is a good person, you often end up being painted as the villain—especially when that opponent is the kingdom’s savior. Even a duke’s daughter like Angie had been at a disadvantage.
Because of their broken engagement, the marriage proposal between Angie and me came about. I don’t want to be the kind of lowlife who revels in others’ misfortune, but I’m only alive today because Angie is by my side. I can’t thank her enough for that. Ugh, it makes me sound like a villain. Rejoicing over my wife’s broken engagement with her ex-fiancé? That’s pretty despicable. He’s a handsome, strong prince; I’m the second son of a poor noble family, with a scarred face and a reputation as a coward. It’s obvious who a girl would normally pick. I’m not even in the same league.
Times like this make me jealous of my parents’ love marriage. Despite being forced into a political marriage with Zora, they’d been together for over twenty years and had officially become a couple, looking truly happy. Julius and Angie’s engagement had fallen apart due to political motives as much as incompatibility. There’s no guarantee the same won’t happen to me and Angie. Divorce and remarriage for family interests are common in noble society. I don’t know what the Redgrave house was thinking when they arranged our marriage, but the possibility of them forcing a divorce always looms. With this kidnapping incident, they could use my inadequacy as an excuse to take Angie back. Just thinking about it depresses me.
Enough. Dwelling on this won’t solve anything. I’ll eat breakfast at the manor and go back to sleep. Yesterday’s exhaustion is making me imagine the worst. Forcing a conclusion, I quickened my pace.
Back at the manor, the servants were bustling with morning preparations. I’d either sneak back to my bedroom to avoid getting in the way or spend the time until breakfast with my wife and kids—a small luxury I deserved. But my modest wish was snatched away when a thick arm grabbed me from the side. I looked at the hairy, muscular arm and knew instantly who it belonged to. Only one person in our household had an arm like that.
“What’s up, Dad?”
I was about to enjoy a happy morning surrounded by my beautiful wife and adorable kids, followed by a lazy nap until noon, maybe cuddling with Angie. I glared at my father for ruining his son’s dreams, but he didn’t care. His face was tense, sweat beading on his forehead. Something was wrong.
“Where were you?”
“Just taking a morning walk.”
“Come with me. Now.”
What did I do? I’ve got plenty of things I could be blamed for, but nothing to get scolded over… right? Despite my unease, he dragged me down the hall with brute strength. His desperation made me sense something serious had happened.
“Is something wrong with Angie?”
“She’s fine.”
“Did Jenna or Finley’s condition worsen?”
“They’re perfectly healthy.”
“Did His Highness Julius or his group complain?”
“No complaints so far.”
“Then let me go! I just want to lounge in my bedroom.”
“Just come! Things are bad!”
I was overpowered and dragged to my parents’ bedroom. This was the same routine as when I used to get lectured as a kid. I had a bad feeling about this. Dad frantically knocked on the door and shoved me inside. What the hell was going on?
Inside, Mom and my brother were there, and the scene was a bit odd. Mom was clearly furious, her eyes narrowed, while my brother was kneeling on the floor, shrinking into himself. Unlike me, he usually obeyed our parents, so he got scolded less often. I sat in a chair to hear them out. I couldn’t do anything without knowing what had happened.
“What’s going on, you two?”
No one answered. Someone, explain! My brother looked pale, Mom was inexplicably angry, and Dad was groaning with a grim expression. I’m not some legendary figure from a book who can read people’s faces and deduce the situation.
“This child! How could you—ugh, you!” Mom’s voice was a tearful wail, like she was confused and didn’t know what to do.
“Calm down, Ruth. He’s reflecting on it,” Dad said, trying to soothe her, but it wasn’t working. The more he tried to calm her, the angrier she got.
I approached my brother, who was kneeling. He seemed to be the cause. “What did you do, Nicks?”
“…I don’t want to tell you.”
“It’s obviously your fault. Dad and Mom fighting is rare.”
“Even I have things I don’t want to tell family.”
“Lord’s authority. Spill it.”
This kind of talk could strain our brotherly bond, but the situation called for it. As a lord, I’m stressed about managing the domain; at home, I’m stressed about family drama. Where’s my peace?
“…I think I’m going to marry Dorothea-san.”
“That’s great news!”
So, my brother’s getting a wife. The Bartfort family is a barony, while the Roseblade family is an earldom. The rank gap is notable, but with the kingdom short on men, there are more opportunities for advancement than before. If things go well, he could climb the ranks. Support from the Roseblade house could reduce our reliance on the Redgraves, sparing Angie any guilt. Plus, Dorothea-san and the earl seem fond of Nicks, so he won’t be mistreated. A good relationship with your spouse is crucial, noble or commoner.
“What’s the problem?”
“This child forced himself on Dorothea! Taking advantage of a girl he’s dating! How did you turn out like this?!” Mom shouted.
“…What the hell, Nicks?”
“I didn’t force myself on her! She forced herself on me!”
“But you slept with her, right? Nicks, in these cases, whatever a man says, he’s seen as the bad guy,” Dad said.
“What do we do? She’s from an earldom. If they find out their unwed daughter was touched, who knows what kind of retaliation we’ll face?” I added.
“That’s why I’m freaking out!” Nicks yelled.
“Would offering your head get their forgiveness?” I asked.
“With Angie’s ducal family mediating, maybe, but it’d still be tough,” Dad replied.
“I’d rather avoid that,” Nicks said.
“Are you sure Dorothea-san came onto you? Not just your lonely imagination?” I pressed.
“When I woke up this morning, this was on my bed.”
Nicks pulled something black from his pocket—a collar. A leather collar with metal embellishments. No matter how you looked at it—top, bottom, or sideways—it was undeniably a collar.
“Dorothea-san was wearing this collar.”
“Sorry, what? Need a hospital?”
“I’m sane!”
Crazy people always think they’re sane, so I don’t trust him. Locking up my deranged brother for mental illness—what a pitiful fate for me. Why does the universe keep throwing hardships my way?
“Seriously, what do we do? It won’t escalate to full-on war, but they’ll probably demand compensation.”
“Because of Zora’s crew, Dorothea-san and Deidere were attacked. It’s no surprise they don’t trust the Bartfort family,” Dad said.
“They lost knights during the attack. If they pursue responsibility, we’ll have to meet their demands,” I added.
While Mom cried, we three men desperately tried to think with our limited wits. All we could imagine was a bleak future. Noble disputes are about wealth. You gather evidence, hire skilled lawyers, go through multiple trials, and maybe get a verdict. Sometimes bribes sway the outcome, so you can’t skimp on money. It’s not just money—time, too. Lawsuits from one generation often get settled in the next. All that effort for compensation, public scorn, or a laughable reputation.
“Why’d you do it? You knew it’d be trouble,” I said.
“ I was drinking… and things had been building up…” Nicks mumbled.
“Just control yourself! If you can’t, go to a brothel!”
“If I went to a local brothel, it’d spread like wildfire!”
“Still better than this!”
“And, well, when a beautiful woman like her comes onto you, it’s hard to resist… It was the first time someone wanted me like that.”
“The tragedy of an unpopular guy. You should’ve married a commoner from our old domain or here.”
“Our situations are too different, Dad. There weren’t any noble girls at the academy willing to marry into our house.”
“Was it her chest? Did her chest sway you?”
“Don’t look at Dorothea’s chest with those lecherous eyes! You’ve got Angelica!” Nicks shouted.
“Obviously! I only get turned on by Angie’s chest!” I retorted.
“You lot! Stop spouting nonsense!” Mom yelled.
Thwack! Bonk! Crack!
Mom’s fists came down, and our heads rang like instruments. It hurt.
“Honestly! Why are all the men in this family such shameless perverts?! It was the same with us, but for Leon and Nicks to recklessly go after women without thinking of the consequences?!” Mom fumed.
This is bad—somehow, the fire’s spreading to me. Nicks glared at me accusingly.
“Leon, you’re lecturing me when you did the same thing? Acting all high and mighty?” he snapped.
“Don’t lump me in with you! Angie was the one who brought up breaking off our engagement! Then she said she loved me, crying right in front of me! Anyone would be shaken if a beautiful girl confessed like that!” I defended.
“It was the same for me! I got back to my room, and there was a naked beauty in my bed, begging me to hold her! No one’s rationality could survive that!” Nicks countered.
“You should’ve resisted! As a person! As a noble! I planned to have a pure, proper relationship!” I shot back.
“Stop, Nicks. You’re entirely in the wrong,” Dad said.
“And you’re not exactly in a position to lecture your sons with your own history!”
“Stop, Ruth! Not in front of the kids!” Dad pleaded.
“I couldn’t escape when you came at me with that huge body, ignoring my condition! Do you know how much the neighbors laughed when I got pregnant right after giving birth?!” Mom shouted.
I don’t want to hear this. Family bedroom stories are the last thing I need. How do I escape this chaos? I was dizzy from the hellish scene, vaguely pondering a way out.
✧✧✧✧✧✧
When I entered the room, a bizarre lump sat on the bed. It growled like a beast and trembled occasionally, resembling a wounded monster. If this were a stranger, I’d leave it be until it woke, but since Father is worried, checking on her falls to me. Father’s bad habit is being too soft on my sister, despite his complaints. If he’d disciplined her behavior and tastes from the start, things wouldn’t have escalated this far. Complaining won’t help, though. Supporting my sister’s shortcomings is the duty of a capable younger sibling. To perfectly handle even disagreeable tasks is what makes a lady of the prestigious Roseblade family.
“Sister, Sister,” I called.
“…”
“Please come out of your room. Father’s so worried he’s about to call a doctor.”
“…”
“I don’t know what happened, but I have my suspicions. It’s in your best interest to comply.”
“…”
“Oh, and Nicks-sama, concerned for you, is on his way here.”
Whoosh!
The blanket flew up, and a black shadow darted around the room with beastly agility. Truly, the blood of the renowned Roseblade adventurers runs strong—her frail appearance belies her talent and resolve, unmatched by ordinary women. My sister dashed about, piling objects in front of the door, even trying to move the room’s mirror, bed, and wardrobe. At this rate, I’ll get trapped in here too. Time to stop her.
“Calm down, Sister. That was a lie.”
“A lie…?”
“Nicks-sama isn’t coming. The Bartfort family should be at their manor now.”
Though that’s only as of this moment. As my sister tried to curl up on the bed again, I hurriedly stopped her. After all, she was held captive by villains targeting the Bartfort family until yesterday. Rescued unharmed by the Bartforts and the four heroes accompanying His Highness Julius, the Roseblade family breathed a sigh of relief. Yet, the next morning, she locked herself in her room, refusing to see anyone. Father, concerned, tried to have her examined by the doctor he brought from our domain, but she stubbornly refused. Exasperated, he left me to persuade her and retreated to another room. Handling this is a bit beyond my capabilities.
“What’s wrong? You were acting like an excited little girl back in the Bartfort domain.”
“…Nicks-sama proposed to Father that we postpone our engagement.”
“Why would he do that?”
“He feels responsible for the incident. He likely blames himself for the loss of the Roseblade knights.”
Indeed, the attack’s ringleader was the former wife of Baron Bartfort. The main accomplice, though not blood-related, was once the Bartfort heir, so this could be seen as an inheritance dispute. It’s no surprise that the Bartfort family’s management skills are questioned when their betrothed was caught up in such a mess. It’s understandable that Nicks-sama, feeling accountable, would suggest delaying the engagement.
“When Nicks-sama came to rescue me, he looked so gallant ❤. In that moment, I felt it was fate. ‘Ah, I’m meant to marry this man’ ❤.”
“…Yet he requested to postpone the engagement.”
My words darkened her expression. Despite living together for over twenty years, my sister’s emotions now shift like a young girl’s. She never batted an eye at the many noble suitors in her academy days, but when it comes to Nicks-sama, she blushes and looks blissful. The Roseblade family rejoiced that spring had finally come for her, but it seems that spring passed too quickly.
“When Father told me, everything went dark.”
“It can’t be helped. Father can’t ignore the losses we suffered.”
“While the Bartfort family was busy, I snuck into Nicks-sama’s room to talk.”
I nearly said, “That’s not ladylike behavior,” but swallowed the words. Since meeting Nicks-sama, her boldness has outstripped anyone in our family.
“I got excited, took off my clothes, and lay on his bed, but I was so tired I fell asleep.”
“Don’t undress. Don’t lie naked in a man’s bed.”
“Then Nicks-sama returned. We talked, and things got heated.”
“…Tell me the specifics.”
“…I became one with Nicks-sama.”
At her words, I bolted for the door, but she grabbed me, and we fell to the floor in a tangle, rolling around.
“Don’t tell Father! Please!” she begged.
“That’s a separate matter! What do you take the Roseblade family’s pride for?!” I snapped.
“When you fall in love, an outdated family name doesn’t matter!”
“That’s too selfish! You’ve been protected by that name, yet you wag your tail at the Bartforts like a shameless stray!”
“I’m not that ungrateful! Please, help me!”
“That’s not how you ask for help!”
Our hair was disheveled, our clothes nearly torn, but we didn’t stop arguing. If anyone were outside, the noise might’ve prompted them to barge in. When we finally separated, we were both exhausted, panting heavily.
“Fine… I’ll keep it from Father for now…” I conceded.
“Thank you…” she gasped.
Guilt gripped my heart for prioritizing my sister’s selfishness over the Roseblade family’s honor. Looking up, I saw her smiling happily. I’d never seen her smile like this before. Her expressiveness—hardly human-like—was radiant, like a winter bud blooming in spring. Is this what falling in love does? As someone who views love and marriage as political tools, I can’t understand.
“But you were quite shaken when I said Nicks-sama was coming,” I noted.
“On reflection, I got scared… Sneaking into his bed like that? He’ll definitely hate me.”
“If you knew it was improper, you shouldn’t have done it. You’ll only hurt yourself later.”
“When I thought we’d part, I wanted at least one moment of affection. I never imagined it’d be that incredible…”
“How incredible?”
“It was like a connection of souls, a glimpse of life’s mysteries. I can see why such acts create life.”
Recalling the intensity, she shivered, exuding a sensuality that even flustered me, her sister. To cover my awkwardness, I continued the conversation.
“If you’re worried he hates you, meet him and find out.”
“No way! How could I face him?! If Nicks-sama hates me, I’d rather not live. I’d sooner join a temple, praying to God and the Saintess for the rest of my life!”
“Then marry him. Claim he took advantage of you, and the Bartforts will have to accept you.”
“I don’t want to marry him through such deceit! I want Nicks-sama to be happy!”
I was surprised. For my haughty sister to care so much about another’s happiness? Is Nicks-sama, the Bartfort heir, that remarkable? He’s somewhat fit but otherwise unremarkable, hardly seeming like the brother of the notorious Villainous Knight.
“If Nicks-sama is happy, I’m satisfied. If he’d let me stay by his side and love me even a little, that’s enough. I need nothing else.”
“You’d forgo marriage for that?”
“There’s nothing worse than being unloved by the one you love. I’d rather die than live with a Nicks-sama who despises me.”
What kind of man is Nicks-sama to captivate her so? Angelica, married to Leon Fou Bartfort, seems quite happy too. Perhaps the Bartfort family has a charm incomprehensible to others.
“But what will you do now, Sister? You can’t avoid Nicks-sama forever. You’ll have to talk eventually.”
“Ugh… What do I do, Deidere…?”
I’m the one who wants to know. I just hope Nicks-sama doesn’t treat her callously. Wouldn’t it be nice, just once, to meet someone I could love as passionately as she does? As I soothed my clinging sister, I gazed absently at the sun outside the window.
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Authors Note
┻━━━━━━━━━━┻
This is the continuation of the romantic comedy and adult-themed chapter.
Dorothea—or rather, the Roseblade family—holds an important position in this work, so this serves as a bit of foreshadowing.
Well, in the original novel, they got married and she was already pregnant, so this much should be acceptable, right? (Getting a little carried away here)
Starting from the next chapter, the tone will gradually become more serious, so consider this a breather.
As the author, I need to insert some love or erotica at key points to mentally reset myself.
P.S.
At the request of the client, an illustration was drawn as a thank-you.
Much appreciated.
“Otsukaresama” illustration: https://www.pixiv.net/artworks/116124518
I’d love to hear your opinions or thoughts—they’d really encourage me moving forward.
~~~End~~~