He’s My Real Brother, Duke Chapter 163

A strike that summoned the last of his strength.

 

In the distance, he heard someone running toward him, calling Astel’s name, but it was too late. 

 

Oscar was confident that his hand would find Astel’s heart.

 

And then it happened. The wolf that had been crouching low rose and swiped at Oscar with its front paws.

 

It wasn’t a fatal blow, but it was enough to misdirect the knife he held and send him sprawling to the ground.

 

“No, ack!”

 

With a dull groan and a dull thud, Oscar’s body collapsed to the floor. His limbs stiffened as if by magic. Then his knees twisted downward and buckled.

 

Oscar bit his lip tightly, just before the knife slipped from his hand.

 

With all his willpower, he slashed at the wolf’s front paw with the knife in his hand. It was an unprepared swing, but strangely enough, the wolf didn’t dodge.

 

Tap, tap, tap—

 

The cut was deep, and blood spurted out. It dripped to the grass below.

 

It was as if the wolf had intended to be cut, but it didn’t matter.

 

But it was strange. When the wolf saw the blood, it pressed down on Oscar’s muzzle and let out a strange howl. Like it was muttering something.

 

Then a short black whirlwind formed around Oscar, who rolled to the ground and struggled.

 

And then, when it cleared…

 

A shout of horror erupted from those who had been gaping at the sudden turn of events.

 

“Oh, my gosh! 

 

“That’s him, that’s Oscar!”

 

Oscar stiffened like a bug.

 

The wolf must have worked its magic. The way he’d gotten rid of Pellen’s skin guise.

 

Oscar chuckled at the realization that his identity had been blown, but then looked momentarily dumbfounded.

 

A long howl came from the silvery wolf that had been looking down at him so arrogantly.

 

It was just an ordinary wolf howl, but it struck Oscar with a strange sense of dread.

 

The others panicked, and even Astel clutched the tablecloth in alarm.

 

A pure white light enveloped the wolf’s surroundings.

 

It was a blinding light that made everyone in the room squint, including Astel.

 

And then…

 

When everyone opened their eyes.

 

A shadowy figure appeared beyond the light.

 

“…”

 

It was a soundless, silent appearance. But a vibrant atmosphere overwhelmed the room.

 

People held their breath and stared at the figure that appeared through the light.

 

Black hair flowing in the wind, blue eyes like a wolf’s, strong shoulders, and an imperturbable countenance.

 

It was the Duke of Anais.

 

The Duke I thought was in the Fulun Mountains!

 

The Tea Party’s situation was one twist after another, and no one could say a word.

 

The Duke tore his cold gaze away from Oscar, who remained rigidly glued to the floor.

 

Then, in an instant, he turned to Astel affectionately.

 

“I’ve come to save you, Astel.”

 

“… Your Grace?”

 

Astel blinked and replied, a thin smile tugging at the corners of his lips. But Astel’s reaction was anything but pleased.

 

“You’re hurt, hand and all.”

 

Blood dripped from the Duke of Anais’s hand, perhaps from the attack he’d taken as a wolfhound.

 

“It hurts.”

 

It was nothing, of course.  He hadn’t even realized he was bleeding.

 

But he was supposed to look pitiful…

 

He glanced at Cassian. The man who had come over and stood beside Astel was staring at him with a forlorn expression.

 

The Duke’s stern expression twitched weakly, and he spoke with emphasis.

 

“A lot.”

 

“…”

 

Cassian didn’t answer, just sucked in a breath.

 

But unlike the relatively indifferent Cassian, the impact of his use of the word ‘hurt’ was greater than expected.

 

Astel’s complexion instantly flared, and she clenched her fists in determination.

 

“I’m going to kill him.”

 

She paused for a moment, looking as cute as a squirrel after being robbed of an acorn.

 

The pause in their conversation was punctuated only by Oscar’s strained groan.

 

“I’ll kill him.”

 

As if he’d forgotten, the Duke looked down at Oscar with a languid air.

 

Glancing at the knife lying in the grass, Oscar smirked.

 

“Soon you’ll be dead too. The knife is poisoned… co, cough.”

 

Oscar, who had been laughing with all his might, as if he were telling a great secret, coughed up blood.

 

The Duke of Anais hadn’t heard the rumor that Oscar was immune to poison. The Duke stared at Oscar as unimpressed as a bug, then shook his head.

 

“Yes.”

 

He grasped Oscar’s jaw with a hand covered in blood from a poisoned knife.

 

“You’ve been quite helpful, so I’ll let you go as painlessly as possible.”

 

Already stiffer than the dead, he couldn’t even struggle… but…

 

For a moment, the Duke of Anais’s eyes narrowed slightly.

 

So hideous. It was a sight too repulsive for Astel to bear.

 

“…Before that.”

 

And so he slammed Oscar to the ground again. There was a grunt from the near-death Oscar, but it didn’t matter.

 

The Duke roughly untied the cravat from around his neck. He used it to shade Astel’s eyes.

 

“You shouldn’t see anything unpleasant.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Astel nodded as hard as she could.

 

The Duke chuckled lowly and glared at Oscar, who had fallen back to the floor.

 

Each of the assembled nobles squeezed their eyes shut in horror.

 

The next moment was obvious. Duke Anais twisted and snapped Oscar’s stiff neck.

 

That was the last of Oscar, the lowly traitor.

 

💫

 

Thanks to Cassian, the situation was swiftly and precisely cleaned up.

 

Oscar’s body was wrapped in a pure white cloth and sent to the imperial palace for disposal.

 

The Silver Fox family’s head of household carried Oscar’s body with them.

 

Oscar’s futile campaign of rebellion was quickly put to rest within minutes.

 

But there were many nobles in attendance. 

 

Those who had barely managed to hold on to their sanity in the face of the sudden turn of events, such as the Young Lords and Young Ladies, refused to leave.

 

“My God.”

 

“I, I was at the scene of the traitor’s execution.”

 

The young ladies, who had grown up like plants in a greenhouse, continued to gossip.

 

But the parents who were supposed to be overseeing their daughters were in no position to intervene now.

 

They, too, were eagerly gossiping about the Duke of Anais’s newest accomplishment.

 

“His Highness, the Duke of Anais…”

 

“…You heard him, he came to the rescue.”

 

“The wolf was the Duke… earlier, wasn’t it?”

 

“How could this happen!”

 

Cassian went around to each table, apologizing for the earlier incident to those who were still gossiping and those who looked like they were about to faint.

 

He also told them that the hunt would be rescheduled for a later date and asked them to return.

 

Cassian’s request for a return visit was met with nods and smiles from all the nobles.

 

They were not disappointed. In addition to a tea party they’d never forget, they had also seen the close bond between House Vietry and the Duke of Anais.

 

Feeling the Duke’s magnificence once more, the nobles ebbed and flowed away.

 

The garden grew quieter by the minute. Assessing the situation, Ricardo and Citer took Rune, Belle, and the jaguar cubs to the manor’s playroom.

 

Astel, Cassian, and Knox were the only ones left.

 

“Are you okay, did you get hurt?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

Though I’m blindfolded with a cravat, so I don’t know how Oscar died.

 

My brother stares at me for a long moment, checking my body for any signs of injury, then falls silent.

 

It was during this silence that Knox spoke up.

 

“You want to see me humanized, I think that’s what you said, is that right?”

 

“…That.”

 

Cassian’s earlobes flushed. 

 

As a knight who worshiped strength, he would have been pleased to see a wolf, but it was the Duke of Anais.

 

“Well…the wolf was pretty cool.”

 

Knox’s eyes twinkled with amusement at the reluctant admission of recognition from her brother.

 

Seeing that the tension between them had eased a bit, I spoke up.

 

“But first, Duke, let me tend to your wounds.”

 

As soon as I finished, Knox’s expression changed drastically. His eyebrows drew down, as if the hand that had just been slashed off was in great pain.

 

“Yes, it is painful, Astel.”

 

“Oh, my gosh…”

 

I took his hand in mine, frustrated.

 

“I told you not to sacrifice yourself again for me.”

 

Cassian, barely regaining his composure, spoke, “What are you talking about sacrificing again? Anyway, Your Grace, I thank you again for saving us all, but first… treat yourself.”

 

Turning to my brother, who stood in the distance, I made a request.

 

“Then, brother, can you bring me some medicine and gauze?”

 

Seeing my determined expression, he looked disoriented again and nodded.

 

“Uh, sure. I’ll just… be right back.”

 

He stalked away. I wondered if he was staggering like that because this was a shock.

 

And then I heard a small voice say to itself, “How could that handsome wolf…”

 

‘…You’re in shock, big brother. I know, you were so fond of it, trying to touch it just one more time.’

 

He was quite shocked, among other things, to realize that the wolf he’d been cuddling was Knox.

 

Of course, I was, too. How could I not recognize Knox?

 

I’ve only heard of him in passing, but I’m his lover!

 

Shouldn’t I have recognized him like it was meant to be? I suddenly felt bad for him.

 

💫

 

Time passed and it was evening.

 

We moved to the balcony next to the garden, feeling more rested now that the hunting tournament had been postponed until another time.

 

My brother was silent for a while after bringing me the gauze. Then he stood with his back to us, looking out the balcony window.

 

Knox and I were sitting across from each other at the table. I sighed as I wrapped Knox’s wound with gauze.

 

“How could I not recognize the Duke…”

 

For what must have been the hundredth time, he replied dutifully.

 

“Because it’s the first time you’ve ever seen me in my true form.”

 

This too was the hundredth answer.

 

I sigh heavily, staring again at the blood soaking into the gauze.

 

He takes one look at his hand and appears strangely pleased with himself.

 

“Well, that must look pretty bad.”

 

…My heart aches, but it doesn’t especially look pitiful.

 

With his shoulders hunched like this, and his face so blank.

 

But I swallowed the words that were about to come out of my mouth and changed the subject slightly.

 

“…Well, first. You’re still bleeding, and even though I tied it up like this… I’m really, really upset.”

 

As much as it pains me to think about it…

 

I gleamed with determination. There was a bit of a commotion, but the three of us were finally together, Knox and my brother.

 

‘Let’s get this straight.’ 

 

I turned to Knox and looked him straight in the eye.

 

“You know, can I tell you something?”

 

“…What?”

 

“That the Duke saved me.”

 

There was a question in his eyes.

 

“If I saved you today, I think Lord Cassian already knows about it.”

 

I swallowed hard and shook my head.

 

“Not today.”

 

He stared at my neck and reached out his free hand, then paused.

 

“Then…”

 

I trailed off, staring at him.

 

“You saved me once, a long time ago. A long time ago. And what happened to us, everything.”

 

My eyes locked on his, and I spoke firmly, “I want to tell him everything, and I want to make our relationship, our relationship official.”

 

A ripple of emotion spreads across Knox’s face, and he finally nods slowly. I shifted my gaze toward my brother, who was watching the window intently.