The Way To Protect The Female Lead’S Older Brother [EN]: Chapter 115

Protecting the Heroine’s Older Brother – Episode 115

Dante, who had been watching from afar, felt a headache coming on.

He racked his brains, trying to figure out how to fix this mess.

Currently, Vertium was spatially divided into two areas.

One area, connected to the back garden, was where those who shared Vertium’s blood lived.

Originally, they had lived in the main building with Noel.

However, at some point, Noel began to lavish more affection on the dolls he created than on his blood relatives.

As a result, the other members of Vertium were gradually pushed out by the ever-increasing number of dolls and moved their homes to the building in the back garden.

“You, how dare you say such a thing now…!”

“To dare to poison us, Noel won’t let you get away with this if he finds out!”

“That’s right! We won’t let this go this time either!”

Consequently, their feelings toward the dolls were, understandably, not good.

And now, Nicks, who almost exclusively enjoyed Noel’s favor, had committed such an act, so the uproar was unlikely to subside easily.

“Hmm? If you don’t let it go?”

“We’ll demand that you be destroyed immediately!”

At Nicks’ question, the people rose up like a swarm of bees and began to shout as if possessed.

“Yes, you should be disposed of right away!”

“You impudent thing. Among Noel’s dolls, you, in particular, have always been displeasing!”

“How dare a doll not know its place and try to climb to the top?”

As if waiting for this moment, raw insults poured out, reflecting the long-suppressed emotions.

However, Nicks’ face remained perfectly calm.

Finally, a light chuckle escaped his lips.

“That’s right, I’m a doll. You are great humans.”

But what followed on Nicks’ face was clear mockery.

“But it’s really strange. Why is it that you, who are so great, don’t have even a speck of something better than me?”

“What…!”

“You stupid humans. No matter how much you pretend to be great and act arrogantly, you are a failed creation of God. I am a successful creation of Noel.”

A chilling light flashed in Nicks’ eyes.

Seeing that, the people flinched and unconsciously hesitated.

Nicks smiled bitterly at them and murmured.

“Unfortunately, Noel cherishes me much more than you guys. I don’t think he’ll do anything to me for killing off one human he never cared about.”

“That’s enough, Nicks.”

Dante, realizing that things couldn’t go on like this, stepped in and stood between Nicks and the people of Vertium.

He cast a cold gaze at Nicks, a warning not to provoke the people any further.

“Alright. I’ll stop here.”

Seeing that, Nicks shrugged as if nothing had happened a moment ago and raised the corners of his mouth.

“Then I’ll leave the cleanup to you, Dante.”

He lightly tapped Dante on the back as if encouraging him, then stepped away gracefully.

The intense gazes of animosity followed Nicks’ retreating figure.

Dante felt as if he had aged ten years in a short time and let out a low groan.

* * *

“It seems like the atmosphere has become a bit chaotic.”

The flower-shaded red eyes glanced slightly to the side.

“Huh? Really? I don’t really notice it.”

Noel asked back, puzzled by Roxana’s words.

The two were currently strolling through Vertium’s flower garden together.

It was because Noel strongly insisted on showing Roxana the beautiful scenery of Vertium.

Not just empty words, Noel really didn’t seem to notice the change in the air’s vibrations from a while ago.

The moment his eyes met Roxana’s, his face lit up again.

Roxana took the step she had stopped earlier.

“Come to think of it, I saw a path leading to the back garden.”

Noel paused at the words she let slip as she passed by.

“That place…”

“It seemed like there was a building there too.”

“Uh-huh, that’s where other people live, so I hardly ever go there.”

“Really?”

Noel answered honestly without lying.

Roxana didn’t stop there and added.

“The walking path in the back garden seems to be quite well-maintained, so I was curious.”

As soon as the words were spoken, Noel visibly panicked.

It was clear that he was anxious that Roxana might ask to go to the back garden.

“No, that’s not a place I manage, so it’s not as pretty as here and there’s not much to see! Luna, let’s go over there instead!” Noel said, desperately trying to divert Roxana’s attention to another place, blatantly changing the subject.

Seeing that reaction, Roxana’s eyes narrowed for a moment.

“Okay, let’s do that.”

However, she soon moved her steps obediently as Noel led her, as if she had no deep interest in the back garden.

Seeing Roxana like that, Noel wore a relieved expression.

They walked through the flower garden full of flowers again.

“Hey, Luna.”

Noel, who had been glancing at Roxana for a moment, suddenly came closer.

Then, his hand brushed against her ear.

The red flower that Noel had been holding until just now revealed a striking presence against Roxana’s golden hair.

Noel smiled as he looked at Roxana with a flower in her ear.

“Pretty.”

His hand, which had not yet been withdrawn, slowly wrapped around her hair draped over her shoulder.

The lips drawing a thin arc and the eyes sending a lingering gaze were giving off a distinctly different feeling than before.

He looked quite like a grown man, and she almost would have been a little surprised.

She probably would have been if there wasn’t a somewhat artificial feel to the current situation.

“Oh my, it’s a gift that really feels sincere.”

“Flowers suit beautiful people, after all.”

“It’s really pretty.”

“Seeing you two standing side by side like this, you look so good together.”

The servants, who had been following behind without any presence until now, showered Noel and Roxana with exaggerated compliments in quick succession, as if they had been waiting for this moment.

Clap clap clap clap!

The crisp sound of applause, like it had been at the banquet hall, pierced her eardrums.

Noel was standing behind them with a subtly proud expression.

Roxana felt like she now understood Noel’s taste for sure.

“Let’s go, Luna. I’ve prepared a seat inside.”

As the time for Roxana to leave Vertium approached, Noel seemed to feel anxious.

So he was doing everything he could to capture Roxana’s heart.

Calling beautiful dolls and having them attend to Roxana was also part of that.

“Please sit here. I’ve prepared a seat in the shade.”

“The sun is a bit strong today. I’ll fan you if you get hot.”

“These are rare fruits from Vertium that you can only enjoy this season. Please try them.”

“Shall I bring you a cool drink? Lemon soaked in honey with flower petals floating on top. Please tell me if you prefer warm tea.”

“I have prepared an orchestra in advance. Is there any song you would like to request?”

“If you allow me to touch your body, I will give you a massage.”

Roxana, surrounded by beautiful dolls and receiving the utmost courtesy, really seemed like the queen of Vertium.

It was even more so because that appearance didn’t look awkward or unnatural in the slightest.

Roxana was just letting it go to see how far it would go.

However, Noel seemed to think that she liked this and wore a satisfied smile.

“Luna doesn’t have to lift a finger. Just say whatever you want.”

Roxana tilted her head at those words.

It was just like watching the male lead of a spoiled, immature *chaebol* [conglomerate or family-owned business] heir waving around wads of cash that she had seen in video media in the past.

However, Roxana did not judge Noel based on his outward behavior and remained vigilant.

“Come to think of it, I don’t see the maids who were initially serving me.”

“Oh, I heard they made a mistake with you, so I replaced them.”

Noel said nonchalantly at Roxana’s question.

“Really? It wasn’t a big deal.”

Noel paused for a moment at Roxana’s voice, which was similarly nonchalant.

“If you liked them, should I send them back?”