I Accidentally Saved The Male Lead’s Brother Chapter 144

Carcel, who had returned to the duchy with Charlotte, headed straight to his study. Chase and Ain, summoned earlier, were already waiting for him.

As the two attempted to greet him, Carcel stopped them with a gesture and handed Ain a bracelet.

It was the same bracelet Penelope had worn when she attempted to unseal his memories.

The gem embedded in the bracelet was ominously cracked, reminiscent of the necklace found on the dead cat in Theo’s scorched room.

“This is…”

“It appears to be a magic stone. Investigate its nature immediately.”

“Understood.”

“Also, contact Lord Randru and Lord Morris. Tell them to come to the capital as soon as possible.”

“Yes.”

Carcel watched Ain leave the study, his thoughts swirling.

On the way back to the estate, he had debated whether to tell Randru everything about the incident.

Ultimately, he decided to disclose the truth to him.

It wasn’t that Carcel fully trusted Randru. However, he believed in Randru’s loyalty to the Heinst family.

Although he had kept the truth about Edgar hidden, Randru was still someone who would act for Theo and the Heinst family’s benefit.

Moreover, restoring Edgar to the world required Randru’s power. Convincing him was crucial.

“And…”

Carcel tapped his desk before turning his gaze to Chase.

“Investigate Viscount Lister.”

“What aspects should I focus on?”

“His recent activities over the past few months, his connection to Penelope Ohen, and…”

Carcel’s eyes sharpened, and he spoke each word deliberately, as if biting into them.

“…whether there is any link between the Lister family and the now-extinct Petrian family.”

He clenched his fists tightly. His nails dug into his palms, but he was too enraged to feel the pain.

If Viscount Lister was indeed the culprit targeting Theo’s life, Carcel would never let him go unpunished.

***

The next morning, Charlotte secretly wrote a letter addressed to the High Temple, specifically to Teresa.

The letter expressed her desire to meet and discuss the recurring use of her powers as a Compatible and the two instances of coughing up blood.

The best solution was to avoid using her powers altogether. However, with Carcel resolved to risk his life to capture their enemies, she couldn’t just stand by.

She wanted to find a way to mitigate the aftereffects of using her powers. If anyone could help, it was Teresa.

But what if there’s no solution?

If there were, Teresa would have done something proactive rather than simply warning her not to use her powers.

Charlotte shook her head, banishing the negative thoughts.

“For now, I’ll refrain from using my powers until I meet Teresa,” she decided.

After sealing the letter with the Heinst family’s crest, she handed it to Emma.

“Emma.”

Emma’s expression tensed at the resolute look on Charlotte’s face.

“Can you send this letter without going through the Heinst family’s usual channels? It’s addressed to the High Temple.”

Emma’s face tightened further at the mention of the High Temple.

“Miss, why the Temple…?”

“It’s nothing serious, so don’t worry too much. I just want to prepare something for Carcel in secret.”

Perhaps thinking Charlotte was planning some kind of surprise event, Emma’s expression softened. She nodded without further questioning and left the room.

Charlotte sighed in relief as the door closed.

“Now, all that’s left is Penelope.”

Would Penelope become an ally?

“If not an ally, at least she shouldn’t let herself be used by that man anymore.”

Charlotte was lost in her thoughts when Carcel appeared.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes!”

Charlotte quickly followed him out of the estate. Their destination was, of course, the Ohen barony.

Perhaps because of yesterday’s goodwill, the servants of the Ohen household greeted them with great respect. As a result, they easily met Penelope.

“It’s a pleasure to formally meet you, Your Grace, and Lady Lannia. I am Penelope Ohen.”

In the morning sunlight, Penelope’s face looked even paler than before. Up close, her blue veins seemed almost visible beneath her translucent skin, and her lips were a bloodless shade of violet.

Charlotte felt a pang of sympathy. Penelope seemed like a pawn being discarded by Viscount Lister.

At Carcel’s nod, the family physician accompanying them began examining Penelope. His gentle demeanor, much like when he had first met Charlotte, was reassuring.

After a short while, the physician delivered his assessment.

“There are no major issues. It seems she overexerted herself preparing for the New Year’s ball. I’ll prescribe some medicine. With a few days of rest, she should recover fully.”

Charlotte and Carcel exchanged a glance. This was a prearranged signal—a coded language between the three of them.

“Overexertion” was a euphemism for mana depletion, confirming that Penelope had indeed attempted to unseal Carcel’s memories the previous night.

At Carcel’s second nod, the physician left the drawing room, leaving the three of them alone.

Charlotte hesitated, unsure of how to begin.

Penelope seemed equally at a loss, her eyes darting nervously. The kindness from Carcel and Charlotte felt excessive for a mere acquaintance.

After some deliberation, Penelope finally spoke.

“I heard that Your Grace and Lady Lannia kindly escorted me home after I collapsed yesterday. I’m late, but thank you. And thank you for today as well. I haven’t had the chance to find a physician in the capital yet, so I hadn’t been examined.”

“It’s nothing. Someone would have helped even if it weren’t us,” Charlotte said before glancing at Carcel. She decided to speak up on his behalf.

“But, Lady Ohen… do you really not remember what happened yesterday?”

Penelope’s actions in attempting to unseal Carcel’s memories were self-explanatory. It had been an attempt to make him lose control and set the Imperial Palace ablaze.

It was a horrifying prospect. Even if it wasn’t her will, the fact that Penelope showed no reaction suggested she had no memory of her actions.

True to this assumption, Penelope replied with a troubled expression.

“No, I don’t remember.”

“How far back do you recall?”

“I remember preparing to attend the New Year’s ball. Oh, and faintly, I think I remember arriving and dancing. But after that, everything is blurry.”

Penelope massaged her temple as if trying to jog her memory.

“I remember telling Viscount Lister that I was heading to the lounge, but after that… I don’t know.”

She grimaced in frustration.

“I’m sorry. I tried to remember, but nothing comes to mind. The last thing I recall is saying I was going to the lounge. Then, the next thing I knew, I saw you and His Grace in the carriage.”

Her perceptive nature quickly picked up on the gravity of the situation.

“Did I… do something to you both?”

Charlotte was taken aback.

Most people would ask, ‘What happened to me?’ But Penelope’s question—‘What did I do to you?’—was uncommon.

Could she truly be as kind as the heroine described in the original story?

Even so, Charlotte couldn’t let her guard down completely. Unsure of how to respond, she looked to Carcel.

He took her hand and spoke in her stead.

“What is your relationship with Viscount Lister?”

The directness of his question caught Penelope off guard, but she answered dutifully.

“He recently approached my father, expressing interest in investing in our family’s business expansion.”

“Business relations, then…”

“Yes. He also mentioned he didn’t have a partner for the New Year’s ball and asked if I could accompany him. I felt uneasy about it, but my father encouraged me to go. He said we needed connections in the capital.”

Charlotte interjected.

“So, there’s no special connection between you and Viscount Lister? Not as lovers, for instance?”

Penelope recoiled as if the idea was repugnant. Her reaction was far stronger than anything she’d shown before.

“Lovers? That’s absurd.”

Why such an extreme reaction? Charlotte thought.

“Why does the idea bother you so much?” she asked, unable to hide her curiosity.

“Well…”

Penelope glanced at Carcel uneasily, then sighed.

Charlotte sensed her hesitation and elbowed Carcel lightly.

“Carcel, I’d like to speak with Lady Ohen alone for a moment.”

Carcel immediately refused.

“I’ll stay here.”

“Please,” Charlotte said with a smile.

Reluctantly, Carcel rose from his seat.

“Very well. I’ll wait in the corridor. Call for me if anything happens.”

“Nothing will happen. Don’t worry.”

Even after saying this, Carcel hesitated. Only when Charlotte gestured firmly for him to leave did he sigh and step out of the room.