The Way To Protect The Female Lead’S Older Brother [EN]: Chapter 9

How to Protect the Heroine’s Older Brother – Episode 9

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The Grand Feast, held once a month, is a gathering for Lant, the head of Agrische, and the top three children who achieved the best results in that month’s evaluation.

Though it sounds grand, it’s simply a time to gather, have dinner, and converse.

During the Grand Feast, discussions mainly revolve around Agrische’s past and future endeavors, the current state of the outside world, individual educational achievements, and potential for future growth.

Sometimes, Lant Agrische would test us with questions that we had to answer.

But occasionally, utterly useless topics would surface at the table.

Just like now.

“Those damn Fedelian bastards.”

My father, Lant Agrische, muttered through gritted teeth, and I thought, ‘Here we go again.’

In fact, it was thanks to Lant Agrische constantly badmouthing the Azure Fedelians at every Grand Feast that I became certain this place was a world inside a novel.

“What is it? Are they snapping at your heels again, Father?” Jeremy asked.

Jeremy seemed to share my thoughts, reacting rather nonchalantly.

He had secured 3rd place in the monthly evaluation, earning him a spot at this gathering.

Unlike the consistently fixed 1st and 2nd places, the 3rd place was somewhat fluid.

The undisputed 1st place was Deon Agrische, one of my half-brothers.

Currently, I had two older half-brothers, and Deon was the second oldest.

He was nineteen years old and absent from this gathering due to official duties.

Deon had been the unwavering 1st place since I started being invited to this Grand Feast.

Of course, recalling the contents of the novel, Jeremy would eventually take 1st place, but perhaps because he was still young, Deon and I were currently holding the 1st and 2nd positions.

I figured that in about three more years, Jeremy, who was the quintessential villainous male character in the novel, would become the strongest among us.

I didn’t like Deon, so I was glad he wasn’t here right now.

Having to see that man’s face at every Grand Feast made me feel like I was going to choke.

“Those guys do nothing but yap incessantly. I’ll feel much better once I tear Richel Fedelian’s mouth apart.”

Richel Fedelian was Cassis’s father and the current head of Fedelian.

Of course, he and Lant Agrische were on terrible terms. They were said to fight every time they met.

But even so, to kidnap and try to kill his son as an act of revenge…

The emotional rift between them must have been incredibly deep.

“Still, you seem to be in a better mood than usual today.”

I placed my silverware on the plate. Then, I smiled gently at Lant Agrische and spoke first.

“I think it’s because of the prey you captured this time, Father. Am I right?”

Lant Agrische’s gaze turned to me.

His chilling red eyes stared at me piercingly.

Soon, he raised the corner of his lips as if impressed.

“Roxana, you’re quick-witted as expected. You take after me.”

‘I don’t need such shallow compliments,’ I thought coldly to myself while still wearing a smile.

“What is it? What’s the identity of that toy?”

Jeremy, who had been eating listlessly, showed curiosity in my father’s and my conversation.

Lant Agrische leaned back in his chair with a satisfied look, like a predator who had successfully hunted.

“They seemed quite desperate at Fedelian today.”

He made a truly villainous expression as he said that.

Wow, how can a person smile with such an evil and despicable face? That was a truly amazing skill. Didn’t he look like he had ‘Villain!’ written on his forehead?

“But no matter how much they struggle, there’s no way they can find someone locked up in Agrische’s underground.”

“Who is it in the underground that Fedelian is looking for?”

Jeremy had a puzzled look on his face.

Lant Agrische looked at me.

It was a look of permission, as if to say, ‘Tell me what you know,’ so I gladly seized the opportunity.

“The Azure’s young lord, Cassis Fedelian.”

The moment I said that, Jeremy opened his mouth with a dumbfounded expression.

“Really?”

His questioning gaze flew to Lant Agrische.

He looked at me with a satisfied smile, as if praising me for guessing Cassis Fedelian’s identity correctly.

“Wow, Father. Wow…”

Jeremy let out a hollow laugh. He seemed quite impressed by Lant Agrische’s extraordinary act of kidnapping the heir of Fedelian.

“Father, have you decided on the training method for this prey?”

I carefully asked, reading Lant Agrische’s mood and expression.

As the story about the toy trapped underground came out of my mouth, Jeremy looked at me. My father’s gaze was also directed at me.

Like a beast enjoying the aftermath of a hunt, he slowly rested his chin on his hand and loosened his lips.

“Roxana, if you have any good ideas, tell me.”

Lant Agrische was unusually generous today.

Having seen Richel Fedelian frantically searching for his son, he seemed to be in a more lenient mood than usual.

“I’m also interested in this toy.”

I already knew what I had to suggest to pique his interest, and how I had to speak to make him feel satisfied.

“Fedelian is known as a fair and impartial judge. And among them, the Azure’s young lord is said to be particularly upright and virtuous, called the Fedelian of Fedelians.”

The surroundings were already quiet. Lant Agrische was listening intently to my words.

The moment to roll the dice was now.

“That noble Cassis Fedelian…”

I raised the corner of my lips, drawing a deep smile on my face that probably resembled Lant Agrische, and whispered as if singing.

“It would be interesting to see him… groveling at my feet, ruined and barking like a dog in heat.”

* * *

In conclusion, Lant Agrische liked my words very much.

He said he would think about it, but judging from the look in his eyes and his expression, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Cassis would be in my hands.

On the way back after the Grand Feast, I recalled the words I had said in front of Lant Agrische earlier and felt a bitterness in my mouth.

I can’t believe I recited such villainous lines.

Of course, I had no intention of actually toying with Cassis Fedelian.

If I did, even if I succeeded in safely getting Cassis out of this house, he might later grind his teeth in shame and take revenge on me.

This was all said considering Lant Agrische’s tastes.

He would want to see the noble Fedelian ruined in the most miserable way.

Moreover, corrupting both the mind and body of the upright Fedelian would surely be more interesting than simply inflicting pain through torture.

“Roxana, are you really going to train that toy yourself?”

Then, Jeremy, who had left the banquet hall and was walking alongside me, asked.

He seemed a little down. He had been like that ever since I talked to my father about Cassis Fedelian at the Grand Feast earlier.

He already knew that I was interested in Cassis, but the moment I asked my father for him in front of everyone, he seemed to have become sulky.

Such a child. I noticed that he was worried that my attention would be completely taken away by the toy.