I Accidentally Saved The Male Lead’s Brother Chapter 155

“…”

“I never want to experience that kind of pain again. So please, listen to me this time.”

Charlotte couldn’t bring herself to agree or disagree.

Carcel gently took her hand, leading her further into the hidden space.

When he pulled away a blanket hanging on the wall, a small door was revealed.

“What is this…?”

“This door leads outside the estate.”

A wave of foreboding swept over Charlotte, and she gripped Carcel’s hand tightly.

“If I don’t return for a long time, take the valuables and leave through here. Everything you’ll need to travel to the fiefdom has been prepared.”

Though she had anticipated these words, they still hit her like a hammer.

Her voice trembled as she struggled to process what she had heard.

“You’re telling me to run away? To leave you behind and take Theo with me?”

“…”

“Answer me. Are you really telling me to abandon you and flee?”

After a long silence, Carcel reluctantly nodded.

“Yes.”

“I won’t.”

“Charlotte—”

Charlotte pounded her fists against his chest, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“How can you say that to me? How can you ask me to leave you behind?”

“I’m ensuring such a situation doesn’t arise. But in the unlikely event—”

“I don’t want to hear about ‘unlikely events’! If you’re going to ensure it doesn’t happen, then make sure it doesn’t! Why all these conditions?”

Her harsh words left Carcel momentarily stunned. He stayed silent, watching her swipe angrily at her tears.

“Don’t rub your eyes like that; it’ll harm your skin.”

“Is that really what you care about right now?”

Instinctively aware that anything he said might further upset her, Carcel remained silent once more.

Charlotte, still furious, couldn’t help but soften slightly at the gentle touch of his hand wiping her tears.

“Fine. If anything happens tomorrow, I’ll take Theo here and protect him no matter what.”

“…”

“But you have to promise me. Promise you’ll come back, no matter what.”

For a moment, Carcel said nothing.

“Carcel?”

When she called his name again, he finally gave a slow, reluctant nod.

****

The day of the engagement party arrived.

Despite it being her own engagement, Charlotte couldn’t bring herself to feel joyous. The ominous feeling that something might go wrong overshadowed any excitement.

Even as she got ready, her face remained tense, hardly befitting the occasion’s leading figure.

“Young Lady,”

Emma’s voice broke her thoughts as the maid carefully arranged her hair.

Charlotte, distracted, responded a beat too late.

“Hmm? Yes?”

“You seem very nervous.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Your face is so stiff.”

Fortunately, Emma assumed Charlotte’s nerves stemmed from the engagement party itself.

Charlotte went along with the assumption, nodding lightly.

“Yes, I’m a bit nervous.”

“Don’t worry. Today, you’ll be the most beautiful person here!”

Hazel, sorting through jewelry nearby, chimed in enthusiastically.

“Absolutely! We’ll make sure the Duke falls for you all over again!”

Their determined expressions made Charlotte momentarily forget her unease. She let out a small laugh.

“Thank you.”

At that moment, Theo approached, having finished his bath and still nibbling on a snack.

“Sister.”

“Yes?”

Theo puffed out his chest and pushed his round belly forward.

When Charlotte tilted her head in confusion, he proudly asked,

“Wanna touch Theo’s belly?”

She blinked, not understanding. Frustrated, Theo tapped his chest and repeated,

“Wanna touch Theo’s belly? Like this, like this.”

He even rubbed his belly with both hands to demonstrate.

Emma, watching the scene, giggled and offered an explanation.

“I think he noticed you seemed down, my lady.”

“Because I seemed down?”

“Yes. You always feel better when you touch his belly, don’t you?”

“Do I?”

“Yes, isn’t that right, young master?”

Theo nodded vigorously. Charlotte recalled past moments: when she was anxious about controlling her mana, when they were tracking down spies, or when Edgar’s memory unsettled her. Touching Theo’s belly had always comforted her.

“Well, maybe…”

“Yep!”

Charlotte reached out her arms.

“Theo, come here.”

“Okay!”

Theo climbed onto her lap and leaned lazily against her. Charlotte gently patted and rubbed his chubby belly.

Just as Theo had promised, the act calmed her nerves.

Theo giggled, squirming at the ticklish sensation, and Charlotte found herself smiling too.

“Sister, happy now?”

“Yes, much happier, thanks to you.”

Beaming with pride, Theo popped the rest of his cookie into his mouth.

“Now, young master, let’s get you ready as well.”

Emma took Theo’s hand and guided him to another seat.

When Theo reappeared in his matching formal attire, his hair slicked back, he looked like an entirely different child.

“Wow!”

He stared at his reflection in awe, patting his round cheeks.

“Sister! Theo’s a prince now!”

“Yes, you’re our little prince.”

Thrilled, Theo let out a triumphant squeal and spun around Charlotte.

At that moment, the door opened, and Carcel entered.

He wore his white-and-blue formal attire, the handkerchief Charlotte had embroidered tucked neatly into his breast pocket.

“Big Brother!”

Theo, delighted to see Carcel in matching clothes, ran to him and circled him just as he had Charlotte.

Carcel effortlessly lifted him into his arms.

“Are you ready?”

“Yep!”

Holding Theo, Carcel approached Charlotte.

“The preparations are complete. Shall we head out?”

“Yes.”

“Big Brother, put me down! I want to hold hands with Sister!”

Carcel set Theo down, and the boy eagerly grabbed Charlotte’s hand with one of his and Carcel’s with the other.

Standing between his two favorite people, Theo’s face lit up with pure joy.

The trio left the room hand in hand.

As they stepped into the hallway, they paused at the sight of someone waiting for them.

“Sir Randru.”

Carcel addressed him first.

Randru, looking uncharacteristically somber, bowed deeply.

“What is it?”

“I’ve come to answer the question you posed to me last time.”

“Very well. What is your answer?”

“Before I give it, there is somewhere I’d like us to go together.”

“Understood. Charlotte, please take Theo back to the room and—”

“No,” Randru interjected, straightening up and looking directly at Charlotte.

She flinched, taken aback by his unfamiliar expression. His usual kind smile was absent—not replaced by hostility, but by a calm, unreadable face.

“Lady Lannia and the young master should come as well.”

“Me too?” Theo’s innocent voice piped up.

Randru’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“Yes, young master.”

“Very well. Lead the way.”

The group followed Randru down the corridor.

They eventually arrived at the portrait room, where Robert stood waiting with a key.

“What is this about?” Carcel asked, his tone skeptical.

“Please, come inside.”

Robert opened the door, and Randru entered first.

He walked directly to the family portrait Charlotte had seen before—the one of the late Duke and Duchess with a young, hesitant Carcel.

The empty space where Edgar had once stood caught Charlotte’s eye.

“What is this about?” Carcel asked again, but Randru didn’t answer.

Instead, he pressed his hand against the blank section of the painting.

A soft light glimmered at the point of contact, and slowly, Edgar’s hidden image began to materialize.

“Wow!”

Theo clapped excitedly, while Charlotte stared in shock.

Carcel, jaw tight, watched in tense silence as Edgar’s likeness fully emerged.

Randru removed his hand and turned to Carcel, bowing deeply.

“This is my answer, Your Grace.”