The Way To Protect The Female Lead’S Older Brother [EN]: Chapter 100

How to Protect the Heroine’s Older Brother – Episode 100

The young man before me wore a smile as radiant as a pear blossom on his handsome face.

However, in stark contrast, Orka’s eyes held a chilling, dangerous glint.

It bordered on madness.

Ollin seemed to notice it too, flinching momentarily.

But as Ollin grew wary and stepped toward me, the dangerous light in Orka’s eyes vanished without a trace.

“Lady Roxana,” Orka said, his tone lighthearted, having already reverted to his carefree smile, “I feel I must clarify, lest you misunderstand, that Pandora’s actions this time have absolutely nothing to do with me.”

“If I had known my sister would commit such a grave discourtesy to Lady Roxana, I would have taken the initiative to send her back to the family long ago. Ah, you don’t believe me? Oh dear, I assure you, I’m quite serious.”

Orka jested as I narrowed my eyes slightly.

In the end, Pandora was returned to Hyperion.

Officially, Pandora was identified as the primary culprit behind the use of magical creatures to cross the gate, and she was immediately summoned by the leader of the White Order and sent back to Hyperion.

However, Orka chose to remain in Pedelian under surveillance, rather than accompany Pandora to Hyperion.

It’s said he even voluntarily relinquished the magical creatures he possessed.

So now, unlike when I met him in the garden last time, Orka wasn’t wearing any accessories.

While not all Beast Tamers are like this, Hyperion secretly uses spells passed down through the family, engraving them on jewels and using them as a medium for imprinting [binding a magical creature to oneself].

This was to minimize the strain on the body when imprinting with magical creatures.

But to remain in Pedelian even after removing all of them from his person…

“I will apologize on Pandora’s behalf for her transgression against Lady Roxana. That’s why I stayed in Pedelian.”

He’s lying through his teeth.

The real reason he was still in Pedelian was probably because he couldn’t bear to part with the Poison Butterfly.

“Of course, I also have a personal interest in Lady Roxana.”

Orka paused, then stared at me intently.

What followed was a blatant, seductive smile that made Isidore and Ollin, who were well aware of my relationship with Cassis, subtly frown.

“So, please don’t be so wary. Unlike Pandora, I am a gentleman.”

Orka tried his best to appear harmless.

He resembled a wolf concealing its sharp fangs and claws, attempting to lure a sheep.

“It seems there’s a misunderstanding,” I said, looking directly at Orka.

“Regardless of what has happened so far, I have no intention of pursuing a friendship with you, White Order Beast Tamer.”

Orka flinched at the monotonous tone of my voice.

My eyes, fixed on him, were as emotionless and dry as my words.

“Why? Have I done anything to displease Lady Roxana personally? Ah, perhaps you still hold a grudge against me for speaking nonsense about magical creatures to Lady Roxana back then.”

“I said I didn’t care about that.”

“Then why?”

I tilted my head, gazing at Orka, who was feigning confusion.

“The reason is simple.”

Then I slightly raised the corner of my lips and smiled.

“Because I’m not at all interested in you as a person.”

Orka’s face stiffened.

I noticed his eyes twitching almost imperceptibly.

“Unfortunately, I don’t experience any excitement in meeting you. Just because you show interest in me doesn’t mean I have an obligation to reciprocate against my will, does it?”

Isidore and Ollin also seemed a little surprised.

It was probably the first time they had seen me speak in such a haughty and arrogant tone, or smile with such a mocking expression devoid of humility.

“So, I hope you will also withdraw any unnecessary interest in me. Let’s not waste each other’s time, White Order Beast Tamer.”

Orka seemed inwardly discomfited.

He wore an expression that suggested he never imagined he would hear such words from a woman.

“Well… I thought Lady Roxana and I would get along well.”

Orka hesitated, struggling to find the right words.

Judging by his reaction, it seemed to be the first time he had faced such a direct rejection from someone he had shown interest in.

The fact that Isidore and Ollin beside him wore expressions that seemed somehow gleeful… was not just my imagination.

Orka looked at me with strange eyes.

It was a complex look, a mixture of slight displeasure, embarrassment, confusion, and the strange heat I had glimpsed in the garden previously.

After a moment, Orka opened his tightly closed mouth and broke the silence.

“Come to think of it, I had something to return to Lady Roxana.”

Perhaps understanding my meaning, Orka abandoned his flirtatious demeanor and rummaged in his pocket for something.

It was Sylvia’s ribbon that had blown away from the terrace last time.

I raised my hand and accepted what Orka offered.

I examined it briefly, but it didn’t appear he had tampered with the ribbon in any way.

“It would be impolite to remain in Pedelian for an extended period in this situation, so I should return to Hyperion.”

Orka twisted the corners of his mouth slightly and smiled.

“I see. It was a short meeting, but it was nice to meet you.”

I also gave him a nonchalant farewell.

Orka, who I expected to be more persistent, retreated more cleanly than I anticipated.

But I found it even more suspicious.

“I hope to see you outside of Pedelian next time, Lady Roxana.”

Orka smiled again with the same bright expression as before.

But his casual greeting sounded somehow meaningful, perhaps because of my mood.

“Oh my, hello to both of you?”

At that moment, Sylvia appeared.

I couldn’t be sure whether she had heard about the encounter between Orka and me from somewhere, or whether she had simply stumbled upon us while passing by.

But judging by the subtle, combative energy emanating from her slender body, it seemed likely it was the former.

“Good afternoon, Roxana. And White Order Beast Tamer.”

“Greetings, Lady Pedelian. You are as beautiful as ever today.”

Orka greeted her with a frivolous smile, as usual.

But instead of using his smooth tongue to flirt as he usually did, he announced his departure.

“I would like to have a longer conversation with Lady Pedelian, but I must prepare to return to Hyperion now.”

“Ah, are you returning to the White Order?”

“Yes, that’s right. Then I must stop by the Blue Order Leader, so I’ll excuse myself. Have a good time, both of you.”

Orka offered his farewell and genuinely left the scene.

Isidore also gave a small nod to me and Sylvia before following Orka.

“What’s going on?”

A question was etched on Sylvia’s face as she watched Orka’s retreating figure.

She seemed somewhat deflated.

She had come fully prepared for battle, but the other party had disappeared too quickly, leaving her feeling a little empty.

“It seems that he was greatly shocked by Lady Roxana’s rejection of his affections a little while ago,” Ollin, who had been quietly beside us until now, said.

Her voice seemed to contain a hint of relief, as if she had shaken off a bothersome fly.

“Rejected his affections?”

Sylvia’s eyes widened.

I looked at her and simply smiled nonchalantly, as if it were nothing.

Sylvia seemed very curious, but she asked something else first.

“By the way, Roxana. Have you fully recovered now? Your face looks half its size.”

I looked at Sylvia’s face, which was gazing up at me with worried eyes, for a moment.

Then, raising my hand and stroking her hair was almost an impulsive act.

“Sylvia.”

Sylvia’s cheeks flushed red instantly.

“The ribbon you gave me back then, can I keep it?”

There were no other strange traces left on the ribbon that Orka returned.

But I felt uneasy for no reason and didn’t want to return it to Sylvia.

I intended to keep the ribbon as it was and dispose of it, preparing for any possible eventuality.

“Of course. As much as you want.”

Sylvia smiled brightly, appearing genuinely happy.

She was lovely and pretty not because she was the heroine of the novel, nor because she was Cassis’s younger sister, but simply as herself.

And strangely enough, I was reminded of Jeremy whenever I saw Sylvia.

The two had nothing in common, but it was like that.

The feeling had become more frequent since I had visited Richel’s office last time.

The story I heard at that time resurfaced in my mind.

Jeremy had remained in Agriache.

So, instead of allowing Agriache to disappear completely, he was working to restore it by becoming the family’s representative himself.

“If I… if I make Agriache a place where my sister can smile, will you come back?”

Was the question I asked at that time truly sincere?

I clearly didn’t offer him any answer, despite his desperate gaze.

Even so, Jeremy was said to be staying in the ruins I destroyed, attempting something alone.

I distinctly believed I had discarded everything I possessed that day.

But something still bound me.

In the past, it felt like one of the many thorny vines constricting my ankles…

It’s not like that now.

Then maybe it could be as Jeremy said. Not immediately, but someday.

I can’t estimate exactly when that will be yet.

But perhaps, in the not-so-distant future.

Thinking so, I smiled faintly.

Somehow, at this moment, it felt as if I were stroking Jeremy’s hair, not Sylvia’s.