The Way To Protect The Female Lead’S Older Brother [EN]: Chapter 61

Protecting the Heroine’s Older Brother – Chapter 61

* * *

“U-Um, Miss Agriche?”

On the way to the lodgings, a man approached Roxana.

For a moment, his hair looked silver, making her pause. But upon closer inspection, it was pure white, not silver.

“Our leader… well, he really wanted to give this to Miss Agriche as a gift, so I came in his stead.”

“Please convey my thanks.”

Roxana accepted the bouquet and quickened her pace.

The man hesitated, following her for a moment as if he had something more to say. However, Roxana had no interest in him.

Her mind was occupied with other thoughts.

Cassis finally making his move meant the time had come.

‘Yes. A grand party will be held soon.’

A sweet smile, edged with a chilling sensation, bloomed on Roxana’s face.

The lavishly blooming rose in her hand shattered.

Roxana left the scattering red petals behind and moved on.

* * *

A short while later, she arrived at Lant Agriche’s room.

As expected, he was pacing anxiously, having failed to meet Noel Vertium.

“Father, I think we need to return to Agriche immediately.”

Lant questioned Roxana’s words. “What are you talking about?”

“I just met Deon and heard the news…”

Subsequently, Lant’s face twisted fiercely.

“Fontaine apparently started a rebellion in your absence.”

* * *

They left Yggdrasil immediately.

Fortunately, Jeremy, who had left the banquet hall earlier following Roxana’s instructions, had already instructed the servants to prepare.

So they were able to complete the preparations and head straight to Agriche.

“Lant Agriche has just left the castle.”

The news was also conveyed to Cassis.

He had already changed out of the formal attire he wore at the banquet.

“Are the preparations complete?”

“Everything has been completed as you instructed.”

“We’ll depart immediately.”

Instead of shiny dress shoes, rugged leather boots stepped on the red carpet laid in the hallway. The deep blue cloak draped over his shoulders swayed with his measured steps.

Cassis, having changed out of his formal attire, looked more like a seasoned knight or a skilled hunter than a nobleman.

It was the last day of the Harmony Assembly, and the banquet was still in full swing. Perhaps that was why there was no one loitering around the lodgings.

Then, Cassis suddenly noticed his younger sister, Sylvia.

Sylvia, who had changed into outdoor clothes like Cassis, approached him.

“Brother, please be careful.”

Her golden eyes, resembling Cassis’s but with a much warmer and softer feel, looked up at him with slight worry.

Cassis reached out and lightly ruffled his sister’s hair.

“Return with Father. I’ll go straight to Fedelian as soon as everything is over.”

Since they had already finished all the discussions, there was no need to meet his father, Richel, separately now.

Cassis left Yggdrasil quietly, just as he had when he first arrived.

His destination was Agriche, where his long-cherished wish awaited.

* * *

The red-burning sunset painted the horizon.

An unfamiliar and intense sense of unease permeated Agriche.

That ominous energy could be felt not only inside the castle walls but also from the outside.

“Bring that bastard before my eyes immediately!” Lant commanded fiercely as soon as he entered the mansion.

He was enraged upon learning of his eldest son’s rebellion.

Lant ordered Fontaine to be brought to the Chamber of Judgment, a place used to punish criminals with his own hands, depending on the severity of their crimes.

The inside of the mansion was somewhat chaotic, likely due to the commotion during Lant’s absence. Servants rushed about, whispering amongst themselves, and the air crackled with tension.

Some of the brothers and mistresses, drawn by the unfolding drama, peeked from their rooms.

Among them was Griselda, Roxana’s half-sister.

Roxana, following Lant, noticed her and slowed her pace.

Griselda quietly fell in step behind Roxana.

Roxana slightly parted her lips, looking at Lant’s back as he walked ahead.

“Are you ready?”

“It’s done.”

Not even a flicker of emotion appeared on Roxana’s face.

With that brief exchange, the two distanced themselves again.

A red butterfly that had detached from Roxana quietly disappeared, seemingly seeping into the wall.

“Jeremy, clean up the outside.”

“Okay, Sis.”

Soon, Roxana followed her father, Lant Agriche, into the Chamber of Judgment.

* * *

Shortly after, a bound Fontaine was dragged into the Chamber of Judgment.

“Fontaine, you finally…!” Lant spat out, approaching Fontaine, who was kneeling on the floor.

Fontaine, captured for plotting a rebellion, was severely injured.

Deon had injured his arm while subduing him, so it was obvious what Fontaine’s condition would be like, even without seeing him.

“F-Father!” Fontaine opened his mouth urgently upon seeing Lant approaching.

“This is all a misunderstanding… Keuk!”

However, as soon as he spoke, the dagger in Lant’s hand flashed.

This Chamber of Judgment was where Lant handed down punishments to criminals according to the severity of their crimes, sometimes even carrying out immediate executions with his own hands.

It was also where he had issued orders to dispose of his unwanted children.

Thwack! Whack!

Lant swung his hand relentlessly, as if he would beat Fontaine to death on the spot.

Each time the sturdy rod, decorated with metal at the end, struck Fontaine, blood splattered on the dazzling marble floor.

There was not a shred of mercy in his hand.

“How dare you!”

Whack! Thwack!

“Try to stab me in the back…!”

Thwack!

Lant’s eyes, looking down at Fontaine, were filled with blazing anger. One could even feel murderous intent radiating from him.

Although middle-aged, Lant’s physique and strength were not inferior to Fontaine’s.

Moreover, Fontaine was bound and severely injured from the earlier struggle. Therefore, he was helpless against Lant.

Whack!

Eventually, the rod in Lant’s hand broke. Only then did Lant stop beating Fontaine.

“You worm-like bastard. I gave birth to a creature worse than a beast. How dare you try to stab your own father in the back.”

Lant glared at Fontaine, who was covered in blood and slumped down, with chillingly cold eyes, and threw the broken rod on the floor.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know that you were secretly plotting behind my back? I was going to give you a chance, thinking it might not be true, but how dare you betray me like this…!”

Fontaine bled and collapsed on the floor, absorbing Lant’s furious words.

Even as he gritted his teeth and endured the pain, his eyes burned fiercely.

‘Damn it, how did he find out? All my plans were perfect.’

‘If only Deon, that bastard, hadn’t suddenly appeared and interfered…!’

Fontaine’s eyes, filled with hatred, glared at Deon, who was standing by the door.

“Father, this… this is all Deon, that bastard, trying to frame me! I’m innocent…”

“You’re still not coming to your senses and spouting nonsense.”

Lant was indifferent to Fontaine’s desperate appeal.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know your shallow tricks? I was the one who assigned Deon to monitor you when I found out you were secretly gathering private soldiers!”

Fontaine could only widen his eyes at those words.