The Way To Protect The Female Lead’S Older Brother [EN]: Chapter 103

How to Protect the Heroine’s Older Brother – Episode 103

* * *

This was the first time Cassis had left his post since coming to Pederian.

It was also the longest I had been apart from him.

Perhaps that’s why Cassis had been by my side almost all day for the past few days, showering me with attention as if he were trying to fill me up. [This refers to Cassis’s affection and care.]

Thanks to him, my physical condition was at its absolute best.

I was sure that I would be fine at least until Cassis returned.

So Cassis was able to leave Pederian with me in mind, knowing I was well.

With Cassis gone, the promised time approached.

I finished preparing to leave the annex and exited the room.

Ollin approached me as she saw me.

“Are you going for a walk?”

Since Hyperion’s guests had left, Ollin no longer had to guard my terrace.

Still, she did not return to her original mission and stayed by my side on Cassis’s orders.

“No, I’m thinking of going a little further this time.”

“How far do you mean?”

“Vertium.”

“Yes?”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“I received an invitation.”

I had already told Jeanne about the situation.

Richel and Cassis had left for Yggdrasil together.

So I had to let her, the mistress of the house, know.

Of course, that didn’t mean I could tell her the contents of the letter I received from Vertium, or the real reason I decided to go there.

So I simply explained that I had been invited by the head of Vertium and would be visiting for a while.

I could have left secretly, but I decided against it.

If I disappeared without a word, the people of Pederian would be quite embarrassed and worried.

More than anything, I didn’t want Cassis to think that I had left him behind.

When I think about Cassis’s behavior towards me before he left the annex…

He seemed to think that I might leave this place while he was away.

Still, he told me to do whatever I wanted.

Of course, that didn’t mean he was going to let me go.

Cassis said that no matter where I was, he would definitely come back to get me.

Cassis’s words… no matter how many times I recalled them, they always filled me with an unbelievable sense of contentment.

On the other hand, when I recalled the contents of the letter sent by Noel Vertium, a bitter smile tugged at my lips.

“Then I will escort you.”

“No, you don’t have to. Someone from Vertium will be here.”

Ollin said she would accompany me, but I had no intention of taking the people of Pederian to Vertium.

But despite my refusal, Ollin did not give up easily.

I left the annex, leaving Ollin behind as she repeatedly urged me to take her with me.

* * *

“Greetings. I am Dante, a confidant of Noel Vertium, the head of the Yellow [One of the major factions or families].”

That afternoon, a group of people arrived in Pederian.

“Welcome, Emissary of Vertium.”

Not only I, but also Jeanne and Sylvia were there.

Jeanne, the mistress of Pederian, greeted the people from Vertium at the front.

“I see that Vertium will not be attending this Yggdrasil meeting?”

“Yes, our leader has never been involved in such formal events.”

The white-haired young man, who appeared to be the leader of the group, bowed politely to us and said.

Richel and Cassis had gone to Yggdrasil for the meeting of the five families, but the head of the Yellow was leisurely inviting me, so it was no wonder that Jeanne had questions.

However, she immediately accepted Dante’s words, so it seemed that Noel Vertium had not been showing his face at such meetings from the beginning.

Dante finished his brief greeting with Jeanne and turned his gaze to me.

“Thank you for accepting the invitation, Miss Roxana. We will escort you to Vertium comfortably and safely.”

He didn’t call me Miss Agriche, so he seemed to have at least some sense.

His face looked familiar up close.

The man who introduced himself as Dante was the one who appeared at the banquet with Noel Vertium at the last Yggdrasil Harmony Meeting.

Ah. But now that I think about it, I had seen him once before.

I think he was the man who came to me and handed me flowers before I left Yggdrasil that day.

However, at the time, I was so focused on the Agriche’s affairs that I immediately forgot about it after receiving the flowers.

My memory is hazy, but I think this man said to me at the time, ‘A gift from the leader.’

What, so Noel Vertium was the one who gave me those flowers?

“I am also pleased to accept Vertium’s invitation.”

But I didn’t show what I was thinking inside and smiled.

“The head of the Yellow not only wrote a personal letter to express his intention to invite me, but also sent his close confidant to welcome me in advance, so I am very grateful.”

Dante’s eyes narrowed for a moment at my smile.

It was only natural, as he knew that there were thorns in my words [Meaning her words had a hidden, sharp meaning].

In fact, the current situation was very different from what Noel Vertium had initially expected.

In the first place, Vertium wanted to meet me secretly.

According to the plan he conveyed, my escape from Pederian and the contact with the people sent by Vertium had to be done secretly, without anyone else knowing.

But why would I follow their wishes?

Although I decided to visit Vertium after seeing Griselda’s letter and having something to confirm, it would be a big mistake to think that I would blindly follow their opinions.

First of all, I made Vertium’s invitation official, contrary to what Noel wanted.

It was I who asked Noel Vertium to send people directly to Pederian like this.

He seemed flustered by my unexpected attitude.

He must have thought that I would unconditionally follow his opinion, but instead, I boldly demanded something first, so it was only natural.

However, when I strongly stated that I would not go to Vertium unless he followed my wishes, Noel quickly sent a reply saying he understood.

It was a somewhat rambling reply that gave off a distinctly impatient feeling, as if it was written by a different person from the one who wrote the previous letter.

I expected it from the moment he made those ridiculous threats, but he seemed to want to bring me to Vertium at all costs.

“In addition, I heard that you have prepared a precious gift for me? I’m looking forward to it.”

That’s how Noel officially sent people to Pederian, where I was, to welcome me as a guest.

I still spoke to Dante with a smile on my face.

But my gaze towards him must have been colder than ever.

Dante bowed politely at my words.

“I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”

He had better not be.

Noel had done something quite big. He made me want to move myself after so long.

So if he disappointed me, I would be very angry.

“Roxana. Wouldn’t it be better for you to go with your brother when he comes?”

Sylvia, who had come out to see me off, looked at me with a worried expression.

Her voice, whispering softly to me, was full of concern.

But I couldn’t take Cassis there.

This was, after all, my personal matter, and I didn’t want to cause trouble for him and the people of Pederian because of me.

I smiled reassuringly at Sylvia and said.

“It’s okay. I won’t be gone for long.”

Sylvia licked her lips again as if she hadn’t given up yet.

But Dante’s words were faster.

“I’m sorry, Miss Pederian. Our leader has only invited Miss Roxana.”

At that moment, Sylvia’s eyebrows twitched.

She turned her face, which had been filled with a pitiful light as if trying to persuade me, to Dante and glared at him fiercely.

I didn’t realize it because she always had a gentle face in front of me, but it seemed that Sylvia wasn’t just a gentle person.

Well, she was said to be a tomboy since she was a child.

“Then I’ll be back.”

I gave my last greetings to Jeanne and Sylvia before leaving.

“She is also a precious guest of Pederian, so I believe that Vertium will treat her well during her stay.”

Dante nodded at Jeanne’s words, saying he understood.

Before bowing his head, I saw a hint of unease in his eyes.

In this case, whatever Vertium wanted from me, their actions would be restricted.

Then it would be difficult to do anything absurd.

I cynically got into the carriage prepared by Vertium.

That’s how I left Pederian without Cassis for a while.