I Accidentally Saved The Male Lead’s Brother Chapter 167

“What’s going on here?”

Jake’s voice boomed as he entered the room.

Before Isaac, who followed him, could scold him, it was Carcel—who had hardly left Charlotte’s side—who reprimanded him first.

“Sir Jake, there’s a patient here.”

Jake blinked in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected Carcel to chastise him.

He glanced between Carcel and Charlotte before clicking his tongue.

“Who do you think you’re intimidating with that tone?”

Despite his words, Jake’s voice lowered to an almost whisper-like volume.

Charlotte, moved by seeing her second brother after so long, reached out her arms toward him. Her eyes quickly filled with tears.

She thought to herself, I’ve been crying so much these days, as she murmured,

“Come here, Jake.”

Jake quickly approached her bedside but turned his head away.

“What kind of family hugs each other like that? Keep that kind of affection for your duke over there.”

Though his words were gruff, his eyes glistened with unshed tears, and he took a deep breath before turning his back on her.

Watching her brother retreat in silence, Charlotte sniffled quietly.

Jake and Isaac had waited anxiously outside the estate during her ordeal, unable to enter because of the magical barrier Lionel had erected.

Frustrated and desperate, Jake had swung his sword repeatedly at the barrier, his palms splitting open from the force.

Fortunately, Ain and Morris had quickly treated their wounds, leaving no scars behind.

Even so, Charlotte felt uneasy when she saw their bandaged hands.

She could only imagine how they must have felt upon seeing her unconscious form afterward.

She’d even heard that Jake had grabbed Carcel by the collar in a fit of rage.

After Isaac and Jake learned the full context, they begrudgingly stayed patient, awaiting word from Carcel.

Still, Charlotte knew how deeply her brothers must have worried for her, just as much as Carcel or Theo had.

“I’m sorry for worrying you,” she said softly.

“Who said I was worried?”

“I’m really okay now.”

“I didn’t—”

Jake turned back toward her suddenly, his face streaked with tears. His red eyes glared at her momentarily before he turned away again, his small sobs audible in the quiet room.

Isaac, ever composed, patted his brother’s shoulder a few times before stepping closer to Charlotte.

He didn’t display the same dramatic emotions as Jake, but his reddened eyes betrayed how much he had worried.

Isaac had always been this way—quiet but deeply caring.

He must have been fretting endlessly while keeping everything bottled up inside. If she could see his heart, Charlotte imagined it would be burned black from worry.

She reached her arms out to him, and he hesitated briefly before giving her a brief, warm hug. His embrace was both comforting and tender.

“Are you alright now?” he asked.

“Yeah. I still need a bit more rest, but I’m feeling much better. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“Don’t be. As long as you’re alright, that’s all that matters.”

With that, Isaac stepped back, offering her a faint but reassuring smile.

Jake, nudged in the ribs by Isaac, reluctantly hugged her next. His embrace was just as warm, though his tone remained gruff.

“How are you supposed to get by when you’re this frail?”

“I’m not frail. I told you, I’m fine now.”

“Still…”

Jake’s concern lingered as he glared at Carcel.

Isaac, though silent, didn’t stop him, hinting that he shared similar sentiments.

But Carcel had done nothing wrong. If anything, he had risked his life to find and save her.

While her brothers didn’t yet know the full story, their suspicion toward Carcel left Charlotte feeling unsettled.

Placing her palm in front of Jake’s eyes, she gently scolded him,

“Stop it, Jake. Carcel worked tirelessly to save me. He doesn’t deserve any blame.”

Jake’s face contorted in disbelief. His eyes, mouth, and even his nostrils seemed to widen in shock.

“Charlotte, how could you say that to me?”

“Jake…”

“Are you really choosing love over family? You’ve known us for over twenty years, and yet the duke—who you’ve known for less than a year—matters more to you?”

“That’s not what I meant—”

Charlotte tried to explain herself, but Jake wasn’t ready to listen. For a while, he continued to glare at Carcel as though he were a mortal enemy.

However, his anger didn’t last. Glancing at Carcel’s affectionate gaze toward Charlotte, Jake sighed heavily and placed a hand on her head.

Though his hand tousled her hair roughly, his touch was surprisingly gentle.

“If this is what you want, who am I to object? Just live well.”

“Jake…”

“Before it gets too late, send word to our parents. They’re waiting to hear about you. Let’s go, Isaac.”

Jake pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before leaving the room.

For the first time, Charlotte thought her older brother’s broad shoulders looked surprisingly small.

****

After Lionel’s downfall, tales of the Petrian and Heinest families spread across the empire.

The 17-year-long feud between the two noble houses became a favorite topic for gossip.

Meanwhile,  Randru sought to atone for his past mistakes by restoring Edgar’s memory.

Since most of the Heinest servants had left after Edgar’s death, having lost their memories, only a few people still remembered him.

Among them was Irina Renner.

“I had no idea…”

Irina wept like a child, collapsing into Carcel’s arms.

Carcel glanced at Charlotte, who nodded encouragingly, before awkwardly patting Irina’s back.

Honestly, I’d be better at this, Charlotte thought, watching his stiff and robotic gestures with a sigh.

Carcel was utterly hopeless when it came to comforting others.

But Irina didn’t seem to mind. She continued to sob into his chest, her tears soaking his coat.

“Edgar was always so kind to me. How could I have completely forgotten him until now?”

Charlotte remembered what Carcel had told her about Edgar and Irina.

Without any sisters of his own, Edgar had doted on Irina like a younger sibling.

Unlike Carcel, who was reserved and aloof, Edgar had been warm and affectionate, and Irina had adored him as an older brother.

Before Edgar’s death, Carcel had spent most of his time confined to his room, so Irina had barely interacted with him.

Even though it wasn’t her fault, Irina clearly felt immense guilt for having forgotten Edgar.

It’s not my place to tell her not to feel guilty, Charlotte thought.

Words wouldn’t ease Irina’s burden, and Charlotte felt it wasn’t her place to interfere.

Instead, she silently waited for Irina to cry herself out.

When Irina finally stopped sobbing, she wiped her face and Carcel’s damp coat with her hands.

“I feel so embarrassed,” she said, her flushed cheeks adding a touch of sweetness to her sorrowful expression.

Charlotte guided her to sit beside her, while Carcel—catching on quickly—asked a maid to prepare refreshments.

For a long time, Irina shared her memories of Edgar, some of which Charlotte had never heard before.

“Edgar used to talk about taking us all on a picnic once Carcel recovered. He suggested the beach in Heinest or perhaps the countryside near the capital. I never imagined we’d never get the chance…”

There were heart-wrenching stories…

“Edgar always spoke so fondly of Carcel. He called him a wonderful brother and said he cared for him deeply.”

…and touching ones, too.

Carcel listened intently to every word, his expression solemn. Whenever his lips tightened into a thin line, Charlotte would gently caress his hand, silently offering comfort.

Eventually, Irina excused herself, saying she needed to return to Theo.

Left alone, Charlotte intertwined her fingers with Carcel’s and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Your brother was truly a remarkable person.”

“He was. Far more than I deserved.”

Carcel’s gaze fell on a pendant split into two pieces, his voice tinged with melancholy.

Charlotte, watching the sorrow etched into his face, hesitated before speaking.

“Carcel…”

“Yes?”

“About Edgar’s headstone… I’d like to restore it myself.”

“No.”

Carcel’s response was immediate and firm, his grip on her hand tightening.

Charlotte knew exactly why he was so opposed—he was afraid she would exhaust herself again.

But this time, she was certain it would be different.