He’s My Real Brother, Duke Chapter 139

The woman wasn’t frightened. Instead, she was thinking about the Empress. 

 

Ever since the Emperor’s fall, she had been to the Crown Prince’s palace again and again, asking to see the Emperor herself. 

 

But had she seen something in the Crown Prince’s palace that she shouldn’t have?

 

One day, the Empress began to look very frail. 

 

When the Princess worriedly went to visit her, the Empress looked as if she had made up her mind about something.

 

— ‘Just this once, you will persuade my son. To stop what he is doing.’

 

— ‘…I accept your order.’

 

— ‘If you cannot persuade him, then do not provoke him any further.’ 

 

The Empress clenched her teeth as if resolving something. 

 

She clutched the holy artifact in her hands, the rosary, but even so, her face was not at peace, but full of regret.

 

— ‘I am the mother of a crown prince, but I am also the mother of an empire. I must prevent any more senseless sacrifices.’

 

— ‘…’

 

— ‘The time has come for me to reap the seeds I have sown, and for the world to know the truth.’

 

Though what exactly the Empress was thinking, she couldn’t tell. 

 

The Crown Prince narrowed his brow in disgust as the Princess’s eyes gleamed sharply.

 

“What kind of arrogant thoughts are you thinking, giving me such an unappetizing expression?”

 

Even the rascal in the book wouldn’t say something like this. This was the noble Crown Prince’s demeanor. 

 

The Princess bit her lip and hastily pulled away from the Crown Prince’s hand. 

 

The Crown Prince curled up one corner of his mouth and smirked.

 

It was a look of defiance, as if he knew that the princess would not dare to challenge him, nor would she dare to speak to him.

 

“Then… I’ll leave you to it.”

 

He was right. For now, neither the Empress nor the Princess could stop his rampage. But…

 

— ‘A Viscount’s daughter. You look quite good. You shall call me father from now on.’

 

The Emperor was not a good man at all, even if he was…

 

It was too soon for him to die. Besides…

 

‘You look like my dead daughter, my child, and I will be good to you.’

 

— ‘I was merely adopted for the purpose of arranged marriage…’

 

— ‘You’re my daughter, duly adopted.’

 

To the Empress who embraced her.

 

A little blood trickled from her bitten lip. But she braced herself, even among the knights who surrounded her. 

 

She would not bow helplessly before the power of the Crown Prince. Whatever the Empress had in mind, she was ready to follow.

 

💫

 

Deep into the night.

 

Knox and I decided to enjoy a late-night picnic. We lay side by side on a picnic mat far from the knights’ barracks, stargazing.

 

Even in the far reaches of the North, the stars were out, and the sky was littered with pure white stars that looked like star candy.

 

“On nights like this, when there are so many stars, you have to make a wish.”

 

Of course, it was a lie. But Knox used to listen to anything I said as if it were the most important truth in the world.

 

He did the same now, his expression suddenly serious.

 

“So, Astel’s wish is…”

 

I interrupted, though, of course, it was revenge success!

 

“…The success of the plan, um, Knox?”

 

He was speechless for a moment. I stared at him obliquely with a questioning gaze.

 

“Don’t you have a wish?”

 

After a long silence, in which I squirmed and was just about to lie down, Knox spoke up cautiously.

 

“I’d like an arm pillow.”

 

It was a casual, spontaneous wish.

 

His tone triggered an old memory.

 

— ‘You have short arms, so I’ll give you an arm pillow!’

 

I marveled. I hid my admiration and gently rested my head on his arm, hiding my admiration. 

 

Likewise, I felt his strong arm behind my round head, saw his rigid sideways face, and smiled.

 

“I guess you’re really protecting me now…”

 

Knox nodded slowly, “I keep my promises.”

 

With a weak smile, I turned my face away from him, and looked up at the night sky again. Feeling the tickle of Knox’s gaze on the side of my face.

 

“If you have one more wish.”

 

“One more wish,” he said casually.

 

“I wish this moment could last forever.”

 

“Eternity…”

 

I mulled over Knox’s words, recalling the conversation we’d had during my brief visit to my brother’s barracks earlier in the evening.

 

— ‘Cassian, check this note.’

 

— ‘Huh?’

 

— ‘And remember to swing this hourglass at the time of day when the moon breaks out of the clouds.’

 

— ‘What’s this hourglass… a traveling… magic tool?’

 

— ‘Yep. You must stay awake tonight, for revenge, mark my words.’ 

 

— ‘Just do as you say, and swing the hourglass. Got it.’ 

 

And with that, I closed my eyes and opened them, snapping out of my reverie. Knox, who was quick on his feet when it came to things, spoke up.

 

“I have news you might be interested in. They say there’s going to be a Bounty on your head in the capital soon, and it’s meant to turn against you.”

 

“So they’ll be coming for me soon, then.”

 

“Yes, but before that…”

 

“…Yes, but first, let’s make my plan come true.”

 

At my words, Knox’s eyes fell and opened. He muttered in a very hesitant tone.

 

“I, I don’t want to put you in danger. There must be another way.”

 

I spoke up softly, “The only way is this.”

 

“…”

 

After a moment’s hesitation, I blurted out my next words.

 

“Well, what if this is the last day we’ll ever be together…”

 

“I’m not talking about anything ominous.”

 

He lifted his index finger and held it to the corner of my mouth. He meant to stop me from speaking, but my mouth remained agape, so he unintentionally touched the slippery lips.

 

I gingerly nibbled his fingertip and pulled it away.

 

“It’s just, if it does… I don’t think I’ll ever forget tonight.”

 

With that, I watched Knox lightly close one eye. A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.

 

‘Yes, I guess I really do like him.’

 

Just as he was about to purse his lips, I glanced to the side and muttered.

 

“I really like you.”

 

His breath inhaled lightly at my sudden confession. I quickly kissed his cheek, then slowly pulled my lips away.

 

And that was it. Before I could gauge his reaction, the sweet dream was over.

 

There was a slight breeze, and I could feel a strong sense of movement that even I, a mere mortal, could recognize.

 

“…They’re here.”

 

Perhaps the surrounding warlocks had cast some sort of binding or enchantment.

 

I tore my gaze away from Knox and slowly pushed myself to my feet. 

 

The warm, cozy, midnight picnic atmosphere was no more. I could hear the grass rustling, and my body felt lightly languid. 

 

Perhaps someone had cast another black spell to prevent us from escaping.

 

I reminded him as I lowered my eyes to meet Knox’s.

 

— ‘If Cornwall or the Crown Prince tries to kill me, don’t rebel.’ 

 

— ‘Don’t revolt?’

 

— ‘Stay still. Please.’

 

— ‘I refuse.’

 

Unusually, he pleaded with me, but I shook my head resolutely. We argued for a while, but Knox never gave in to me.

 

‘Although I was kind of relieved to hear it was part of the plan.’

 

Just in case. I blinked at him and continued.

 

“So…”

 

You’d saved my life by ending your own.

 

Today, like we promised…

 

“You’ll do me a favor, won’t you, Knox?”

 

“…That favor.”

 

A rare look of distress appeared on his face.

 

“I promise.”

 

I did as he did, pressing my index finger firmly over his lips.

 

“Because it’s for the best.”

 

Knox’s jaw tightened at my firm words. 

 

At that moment, a group of men in stifling robes made of tightly woven black threads that don’t show through at all surround the picnic mat we’re sitting on.

 

Compared to their twenty-something figures, we are alone.

 

A little nervous, I lean my head against Knox’s shoulder and catch my breath.

 

Finally…

 

“You look like you’re having a little fun, what can I say?”

 

With a line that sounded like a third-rate villain, the man in front of me removed his robe. He looked pleased, but with a twisted grin.

 

“Oh… finally surrounded, I see.”

 

The old man’s face was unfamiliar to me, as if he’d been altered by voodoo, but I knew enough to recognize him as Cornwall. The way he glared at me was all his own.

 

Straightening my back, I glared at him and said, “You’re here to kill me, aren’t you?”

 

He shook his head, baring his yellowed teeth. D-Day, the day he’d been counting all this time, had arrived.

 

Crown Prince and Cornwall, Knox and I. The day when one of our two factions would be utterly destroyed.