He’s My Real Brother, Duke Chapter 91

 

Duke said as I gave him a troubled look.

 

“You should stay right next to me, so you won’t be in danger.”

 

I nodded as if I had no choice. I did, after all, reside in the Duke’s castle, in the Delphinium Room. Likewise, I was the sole subject and imprint of the Duke of Anais.

 

‘Stop being so self-conscious, Astel…!’

 

I repeated the mantra to myself as I stepped into the room, Sally and Jenny following cautiously behind, the door to the Crystal Room slamming shut with a thud.

 

“These mansion people, they sure do have some serious manners!”

 

“Don’t dare, my lady, no. I’ll gouge out their eyes for looking at my Astel like that.”

 

…Sally glared intently.

 

As a fellow bast, I knew how deep the rift between their race and humans was.

 

The humans admired and were jealous of the beasts, who were stronger than them physically, more beautiful, and powerful, and persecuted them, which made the beasts despise and disregard the humans even more.

 

With that in mind, I turned to Sally and Jenny and spoke.

 

“Um, so, nothing’s happened yet. They haven’t bullied me…”

 

“…Well, they might soon, and those nasty little bastards are the first ones I’m going to torment!”

 

Sally yelped and stomped her foot in exasperation. Sally giggled and ruffled my hair.

 

I was just grateful that they were looking out for my well-being, when in fact they were the same kind.

 

Anyway, it was time to get moving.

 

“More than that, I have something more important to do.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Um… a big event?”

 

I grinned at them, my tone soft.

 

‘More accurately, there’s something I need to do before meeting my brother.’

 

How to raise money for revenge and at the same time have a decent top to compete with Cornwall.

 

They stared at me in bewilderment.

 

“We’ll see what people in the capital like, see if we can find out.”

 

Sally and Jenny’s eyes sparkled at the idea.

 

I clasped their hands, wishing them luck.

 

Marketing would sail along just fine with the Duke’s wealth, but it was important to make a good product.

 

Something that would catch people’s attention.

 

And then… My clenched hands tightened.

 

Something that would draw the attention of the villain.

 

As I thought I was getting closer to the mysterious final villain, my grip on the maids tensed even more.

 

“Ahhh…”

 

That’s when Sally and Jenny let out a muffled cry.

 

Oops, did I grip them too hard?

 

I turned to them and tried to apologize.

 

But then…

 

“Miss Astel, you don’t have enough strength in your hands…”

 

Jenny bit her lip wistfully, and I cringed at the reaction.

 

‘I— I’m not that weak…!’

 

🐾

 

Meanwhile, Cassian has learned that Astel has just arrived at the ducal residence in the capital.

 

The Duke of Anais boldly requested a parade upon entering the capital and announced his relationship with his patron.

 

The capital’s social circles were abuzz with excitement, and Astel found herself the center of everyone’s eyes.

‘What were you thinking, staging a parade?’

 

Duke Anais had many enemies.

 

Astel was sure they would have their eyes on him, but to make such a grand entrance into the capital?

 

Even though she had him on her side now, there was no telling when or how he might change his mind.

 

In other words, Astel could be in danger the moment the Duke changed his mind.

 

If they were unfortunate, even Rune, who was with Astel, could be threatened.

 

Cassian, of course, had already devised a plan to gain access to Astel by becoming the Duke’s courtier.

 

But it was safer to meet with Astel sooner rather than later, preferably before he became a courtier, and warn her.

 

Before Duke Anais and Astel arrived at the palace their relationship became widely known to all.

 

With that thought, Cassian stood in front of the mansion and stiffened at the sight of it, surrounded by a terrible illusionary spell and thorny bushes that no human could ever pass through.

 

Had the Duke enchanted it himself?

 

It was so delicately and meticulously crafted that it was completely inaccessible.

 

Unlike the castle, which was huge and had a loophole somewhere.

 

Cello, a byproduct of ancient magic, seemed to risk its life to enter.

 

A dense fog, a bewilderingly impenetrable binding magic.

 

The paranoid madness of the owner, as if he had to protect what was inside.

 

In short, it was insane, ‘Astel doesn’t realize it, but this bastard is insane….’

 

It was at the height of my suspicions about the Duke of Anais that I had come across this very country house.

 

To my surprise, it had never been this thing before.

 

Whatever the hell they’re doing in there, they must have enchanted it upon arrival.

 

Besides, unless one was a magical swordsman like Cassian, or a high-ranking mage, there was no way to determine if it was enchanted or not.

 

It wasn’t a display spell, either.

 

There was little to suggest why he’d gone to such lengths, then.

 

The Duke of Anais had never been one to cling to a home in the first place, and this was a country house that he’d maintained with a certain level of neglect.

 

The only thing that’s changed in his life now is Astel…

 

“You meant… you brought this mess down to protect Astel?”

 

Cassian frowned as he spoke low to himself. There was a nagging doubt in his mind.

 

‘Protecting it from who?’

 

Judging by the survival of stealth magic, it’s not as if he knows Astel belongs to Count Vietry.

 

Nor could it have been frightened away by the enemies and made such a scene.

 

At that moment, a thought occurred to Cassian, and his lips twisted into a smile.

 

Somehow…

 

— ‘Pay no attention to that patron of his.’

 

— ‘…’

 

— ‘Mind your own business.’

 

His voice echoed in his head as though telling himself to stay out of Astel’s way.

 

‘So you’re… protecting her from me?’

 

A bark of laughter escaped him.

 

Cassian knew very well. If the Duke was sincere with Astel, that was even more dangerous.

 

‘…I need to avoid that control freak’s eyes and get to Astel.’

 

But the next few days passed with no sign of Astel anywhere near the mansion. I sat down and waited, trying to keep my wits reasonable…

 

While lurking, I was nearly killed by a poisonous sting from an unknown source.

 

Cassian shuddered, remembering the poisoned dart that had grazed his wrist.

 

‘Are you insane? Poisoning me? You want me to die, or what?’ Cassian scowled.

 

He knew he had to reach Astel, but he couldn’t.

 

And then, amid his struggle, an opportunity arose. Astel finally stepped outside the manor.

 

‘Lord Mayer, what is that thing following her?’

 

Lord Mayer was famous in the Empire as Cassian Gray’s rival.

 

One was the delicate, handsome flower of the capital, and the other was the stoic, serious type of knight.

 

It was puzzling to hear him mentioned in the same breath, and then to hear that he had suddenly chosen to serve Astel.

 

But such tight security.

 

If Lord Mayer was determined to remain, Cassian couldn’t do anything about it without using force.

 

‘I’m going to lose my mind…’

 

Cassian searched feverishly for a way to meet Astel, at least once, until the day he was to escort the Duke, but he could find no opportunity.

 

As he wandered the grounds of the manor, he stretched out in resignation.

 

‘Well, I’m sure I’ll see her someday.’

 

Unless he was stung to death, he intended to remain a leech until he met Astel.

 

‘Let her go while I’m still being nice.’

 

Fickle bastard.

 

The last thing he needed was for his sister to be played with like a toy in the heat of the moment.

 

Cassian’s gaze flared as he stared at the duke’s mansion, which was filled with an eerie chill.

 

If the Duke of Anais defends himself, it would be enough to move anyone else.

 

Such as… the Emperor?

 

Of course, you could not manipulate the Emperor himself.

 

But there are ways. Cassian’s eyes gleamed with competitive drive.