Chapter 17 - 17

"Heh!"

The hardened expression disappeared from my grandfather's face. A smile took its place, and soon he started laughing out loud.

"Hahaha. Indeed, you've truly matured. Yes, with this level of skill..."

My grandfather stroked his beard.

"Combined with that bastard's abilities, Altsbeit's power will be eternal. I guess blood can't be fooled. You have my blood flowing in you too."

Seeing my grandfather's proud, ecstatic expression, I just thought to myself, 'He fell for it.'

I wanted to get out of here quickly.

Fortunately, my grandfather didn't hold me any longer, and I was about to leave the office.

The problem was that just as I grabbed the doorknob to leave, I heard a satisfied voice from behind.

"Show me the money you lent when it comes in."

Those words felt like a sentence.

Feeling cold sweat, I opened the door and closed it again.

* * *

'Crazy! I tried to remove one boil, but another appeared!'

I left my grandfather's office and arrived at my room. Without answering the maids asking what was wrong, I slid onto the sofa and covered my face.

"Everyone out."

The maids filed out, leaving me alone in the room.

I couldn't hold it in any longer and just lay down.

'Then what was I supposed to do?'
br I swallowed. I recalled the scene at the Lemut territory again.

People groaning everywhere, people without even the strength to wipe the dust from their faces, even the children looking at me with big, round eyes had bandages.

...I couldn't not help those people.

I came into Charlize's body, but I don't intend to live wickedly.

'The problem is it's already happened, so let's think of a solution.'

First, grandfather said to show him when the lent money comes in. How do I come up with that money?

If I use the personal assets given to Charlize, my grandfather will inevitably find out.

And the fact that I lied will be exposed, and he'll make me break the engagement.

Then comes the death ending.

Does Charlize have any secret stash of money?

...Probably not.

Charlize wasn't someone who knew how to earn money.

She just spent her existing wealth lavishly. Thanks to that, she was a symbol, celebrity, and wannabe in high society, but that doesn't help now.

No, there must be a way...

Just as I was pondering like that.

"...Huh?"

The space in front of my eyes rippled. I had seen this once before.

Soon, someone urgently jumped out from the rippling darkness.

"Countess!"

A familiar face.

Noah.

The aide of the tyrant, who is the male protagonist of the book and Charlize's older brother. Also, a sub-male protagonist.

He saw me and immediately knelt on one knee and greeted me.

For some reason, he looked very urgent.

"...I'm terribly sorry to appear like this. I have urgent business, so I took the liberty of visiting."

"No, I'm more curious about how you appeared..."

I muttered in surprise, but the sub-male protagonist, who looked very urgent, continued quickly, as if he didn't hear.

"May I explain that later? Please, accompany me."

"Why?"

Noah bit his lip. Confusion flickered in his dark eyes.

He was a very calm person in the book, so seeing him like this was strange.

"...His Majesty is rampaging again."

But his next words left me no choice but to move.

* * *

I subtly looked up.

"Please endure even if it's uncomfortable."

I was currently in Noah's arms. He said it was much faster to run like this.

How long did I watch his fluttering blue hair? Soon, I arrived at the Imperial Palace.

...Come to think of it, why do I have to care about that guy when he's rampaging?

This thought only occurred to me after arriving.

But since Noah said a person might die, I would have ended up coming anyway.

What can I do? They said I'm currently the only one who can calm that brother down.

'Even though I'm busy enough with my own problems...'

Noah spoke from above.

"...I truly didn't expect you to come, but I sincerely thank you."

His voice echoed in my ears. I couldn't pay attention to his words.

Because of the sight that met my eyes as soon as I entered the audience chamber.

'Gasp, what a mess...'

The inside of the conference room was a disaster.

The large table, probably used for meetings, was split in half and so damaged it couldn't function. The floor was covered in glass shards, likely from broken vases.

More than anything, the reason I couldn't look away was the sight of the male protagonist and tyrant holding a sword. My older brother.

Because Roxidian's sword was pointed at one of his subordinates.

'Ah, no!'

I urgently grabbed the necklace around my neck.

"...Mother."

At the same time, light emanated from the necklace.

The golden light I'd seen once rippled like threads, appearing to connect with Roxidian.

At that moment, my brother's eyes met mine.

"..."

At his beastly eyes, I held my breath. Only for a moment. Clang.

The sword fell to the floor with a loud noise.

"My little sister."

I only blinked a few times, and before I knew it, my brother was in front of me.

I was surprised by his black hair and red eyes. Oh my, when did he get here?

"Riz, did you come to see your brother?"

"...Ah, goosebumps."

"Goosebumps? Your brother feels a little sad hearing that."

"..."

It gives me more goosebumps seeing my brother, who was about to kill his subordinate moments ago, act like this.

Of course, I was the one who changed him, but it's not a change I can get used to even after seeing it again.

"Thanks for the help. You came to help your brother, right?"

"...That person isn't dead, is he?"

"Huh? No, no. Fortunately, he's not dead."

I don't think that's something to say so brightly.

"Your brother doesn't do things you dislike. Ah, or shall I kill him?"

"No, no!"

This tyrant brother's expression towards me was only gentle. Truly, like a considerate, kind brother from a fairy tale or fantasy.

"I'll do anything you want, Riz."

Of course, this affectionate attitude, even with cutesy behavior, didn't match his fierce appearance.

"Our Riz is so kind."

Roxidian looked at me and smiled.

For some reason, that refreshing smile briefly resembled my dead older brother, making me pause.

At that moment, Roxidian's expression soured instantly.

"Ah, crazy... Ugh."

I could tell immediately. He's come to his senses.

It was the original Roxidian.

Returned to his usual self, Roxidian wiped his face and groaned.

"Ah, I want to die. I'm going to vomit..."

"...That's what I want to say."

"Huh?"

"...Your Majesty."

I slightly corrected my tone at his murderous glare.

"Is there no other way but this?"

"How should I know?"

I was the one who wanted to know. How did I become the only one who can calm that brother's madness, and why do I have to witness this every time?

Either be consistently kind, or don't hide your disgusted expression when you return to normal, because it makes me feel sick too by association.

I subtly looked behind my brother.

Fortunately, the person he tried to kill seemed to have already fainted from before.

Feeling my gaze, Roxidian informed me that the guy had fainted.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

"Is it you? Did you bring her here?"

As soon as my brother returned to normal, Noah approached.

At my brother's extremely murderous glare, Noah smiled awkwardly.

"But... isn't there no other way?"

"Are you saying it's okay to bring her to this dangerous place? Ha... Enough. Enough."

Roxidian ruffled his hair and muttered something fiercely, which sounded like cursing.

Meanwhile, Noah asked me.

"Countess, are you alright?"

"As you can see?"

Nothing dangerous happened to me. Just by grabbing the necklace and shouting 'Mother', everything ends.

I've seen it twice now. If this is a split personality, the flipped Roxidian won't hurt me.

Rather, he acts like a thoughtful, kind brother.

"...Can't we see that side for longer?"

"What?"

"Gasp, you heard?"

I quickly averted my eyes.

Meanwhile, the fainted subordinate opened his eyes.

I wondered if he remembered the situation where I shouted 'Mother!' and the tyrant's affectionate change, but the subordinate, perhaps scared, didn't remember anything.

"I-I remember the Countess coming...! You saved me!"

He only remembered me coming and thought I saved him.

This man, an elite knight and one of my brother's closest men, looked at me with a touched expression, which didn't feel bad.

Right, you were saved thanks to me, so please repay the favor later.

Thinking that inwardly, I smiled and waved my hand lightly.

Then the knight's face, which was looking at me with a touched expression, turned red.

Oh, Charlize's beauty is indeed amazing.

"Alright, now get lost."

"Y-yes, Your Majesty!"

Even told to get lost, the knight retreated with a loyal expression.