I Accidentally Saved The Male Lead’s Brother Chapter 166

Not long after becoming Charlotte Lannia, she had decided to embrace her new reality and live as Charlotte.

However, a part of her heart had always held onto lingering regrets.

What if Min Eunha wasn’t truly dead? What if she were merely in a coma? Could she someday return to Korea?

These thoughts surfaced sporadically, gnawing at her whenever she thought she had moved on.

Though she had told herself she was fine, the truth was she wasn’t. She had been lying to herself all along.

Deep inside, as she had drunkenly confessed to Carcel once, the inability to say a proper goodbye had weighed heavily on her.

But in her dream, she had seen her mother again.

She had eaten her mother’s cooking, apologized for her behavior, and bid her farewell, telling her to be well. Most importantly, she had introduced Carcel to her.

Even if it had been a mirage born from lingering regrets, she had been able to release all the pent-up emotions she had carried in her heart.

And now, she could finally let everything go.

Teresa listened to Charlotte’s story with a gentle smile before placing her fingertips on the foreheads of both Charlotte and Carcel.

“Before I leave, let me bestow my blessing upon you two.”

A warm light flowed from her hands, spreading a soothing warmth through their bodies.

“May your days be filled with nothing but happiness.”

“Thank you, Lady Teresa,” Carcel said, bowing his head.

Teresa, having fulfilled her duty, stood to leave. Before exiting, she leaned toward Charlotte and whispered teasingly,

“I’ll be waiting for good news.”

A mischievous smile—uncharacteristic of her usual demeanor—played on Teresa’s lips.

After she left, Charlotte and Carcel exchanged wide-eyed glances before Charlotte broke into laughter.

“The priestess has a playful side, doesn’t she?”

Carcel, however, did not laugh. Instead, he gently cupped Charlotte’s face in his hands and began planting kisses on her.

First on her tear-streaked eyes, then her elegant nose, her cheeks, and finally her lips.

The sound of each soft kiss echoed in the room, and with each one, Charlotte’s face grew redder.

Finally, Carcel laid them both down on the bed, holding her close to his chest.

Lying against his firm chest, Charlotte let out a soft sigh before mumbling,
“By the way, what do you think Theo is doing right now?”

“Considering the silence, I’d wager he’s taking a nap.”

“I want to see Theo. He must’ve cried a lot.”

Hearing her whisper, Carcel immediately rose from the bed.

“I’ll go bring him.”

Watching his retreating figure, Charlotte unconsciously clenched her hands, her fingernails pressing into her palms.

The sensation reminded her of something undeniable—this was her world now, the place she would live for the rest of her life.

At last, she had fully bid farewell to Min Eunha.

***

“Theo!”

The moment Carcel opened the door, Theo came bounding into the room. Before Carcel could stop him, the boy scrambled onto the bed.

Charlotte caught him in her arms, holding him tightly. Her tears, which had just dried, began to well up again.

“I’m here, Theo.”

“Huaaaah!”

Theo buried his face into her chest and wailed loudly. Charlotte gently patted his back, her own silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

According to Teresa, Charlotte had been unconscious for a total of seven days—five spent alone and two more shared with Carcel.

During that long week, how much must Theo have worried?

Imagining the child trembling in fear and crying in her absence filled her with both sorrow and guilt.

An innocent child should only ever experience happiness, yet Theo had spent his days in misery.

Charlotte poured her feelings of remorse into the hug, holding Theo as tightly as she could.

Theo wriggled in her embrace, trying to get comfortable, before wrapping his short arms around her waist as if never wanting to let her go.

The familiar warmth of the child brought a sense of peace to her heart. Theo’s unique scent—part sweat, part the sweet smell of milk—was as comforting as ever.

Charlotte gently rubbed his swollen, tear-streaked eyes.

“Theo, stop crying. Crying too much will make your head hurt.”

But her own tears hadn’t stopped yet, so her words lacked conviction.

Theo glanced up at her face before pouting again.

Charlotte glanced toward Carcel for help, but he seemed as powerless to intervene as she was.

Instead, he quietly approached and enveloped both of them in his arms, sandwiching Theo between them.

Comforted by Carcel’s solid embrace, Charlotte alternated between laughing and crying.

“Don’t sleep anymore, Sister,” Theo declared in a sniffling voice after his sobs subsided.

He likely feared that if she fell asleep again, she wouldn’t wake up.

Charlotte kissed the crown of his damp head and nodded.

“Alright, I won’t.”

Though it was impossible to never sleep, she wanted to reassure him in the moment.

Theo wasn’t satisfied with just that. He sniffled once before announcing boldly,
“I’ll stay and protect you, Sister!”

“Really?”

Charlotte chuckled as Theo clung tightly to her waist, wrapping his little legs around her.

She had no idea what kind of trouble his words would bring.

***

Four hours later, Theo sat next to her, nodding off. His eyes were half-closed, and his head bobbed downward.

When his chin finally drooped onto his chest, he jerked awake, shivering.

“Sister!”

Throwing himself into her arms, he cried out,

“You can’t sleep!”

It was the fourth time this had happened. Charlotte sighed softly as she patted his back.

He needs to sleep.

Theo had meant his earlier declaration quite literally. He had refused to leave her side and insisted on keeping his eyes open to ensure she didn’t sleep.

If she so much as dozed off, he would shake her arm and cry, Sister! You can’t sleep!

Carcel tried to admonish him, but Theo’s quivering, teary eyes made it impossible for him to continue.

Feeling a mix of pity and affection, Charlotte humored the boy, staying awake to play with him.

But as night fell and bedtime approached, Theo began to doze off.

Eventually, unable to resist, Charlotte lay down with Theo in her arms. He fell asleep almost instantly, his soft snores filling the room.

Carcel, watching from the side, rose from his seat.

“You won’t get proper rest with Theo here. I’ll take him to his room.”

Charlotte gently patted Theo’s back and shook her head.

“No. If he wakes up, he’ll cry.”

“But—”

As if to prove her point, Theo mumbled in his sleep,

“Sister…”

“See? I told you.”

Triumphantly, Charlotte tucked Theo under the blanket and grinned.

“I’ll take care of him, so you go get some rest.”

“I’d rather stay. Just in case.”

“I’m fine now, you know that. Besides, you look worse than I do. You’re the one who needs rest.”

“…”

As expected, Carcel said nothing in response.

Frustrated, Charlotte shifted over, patting the empty space beside her.

“If you’re going to stay, lie down here. I heard from Emma that you’ve barely eaten or slept. Even you can’t go on like this without collapsing. Lie down, or go to your room. Before I get mad.”

She expected Carcel to hesitate, maybe even retreat to his room. Instead, he climbed into bed without a second thought.

Feeling the mattress sink under his weight, Charlotte blinked in surprise.

“Carcel…?”

Unfazed, Carcel extended his arm, guiding her to rest her head on it.

His arm, muscular and firm, wasn’t the most comfortable pillow, but it offered an odd sense of security.

“Didn’t you tell me to lie down?”

He spoke with calm confidence as he wrapped his other arm around her waist.

Though his expression remained composed, the tips of his ears had turned a deep shade of red.

Noticing this, Charlotte chuckled softly and snuggled closer.

Their noses brushed together, and the proximity reminded her of a rainy autumn night long ago.

Carcel lowered his face toward hers. Feeling his warm breath on her lips, Charlotte closed her eyes.

Just then,

“Sisterrrr,” Theo mumbled in his sleep.

Carcel froze, mere millimeters away.

“Don’t… sleep…” Theo mumbled again before drifting back into a deep slumber.

Charlotte and Carcel both burst into laughter.

It was just like that night—everything, down to the smallest details, felt the same.

Well, almost everything. This time, Carcel didn’t hesitate.

After glancing briefly at Theo, he leaned in again.

Charlotte didn’t resist. She closed her eyes, meeting him halfway.

Their lips touched, a kiss full of warmth and longing.

As their breaths mingled, Charlotte smiled against his lips.

She didn’t need to open her eyes to know that Carcel was smiling, too.

It felt as if everything had finally fallen into place—a peaceful day, just like any other, yet infinitely precious.