The Way To Protect The Female Lead’S Older Brother [EN]: Chapter 4

Protecting the Heroine’s Older Brother – Episode 4

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The next day, I visited the underground prison again.

As they say, the first time is always the hardest, and every time after that is easier. But for me, entering this prison was easy from the start, so there was nothing more to see the second time.

I didn’t need to coax the guard at all; he readily opened the door as soon as he saw my face.

I asked the guard just before stepping inside.

“After I left yesterday, did anyone else come in here besides me? Jeremy, or Charlotte, or anyone else?”

“No, the master ordered that no one be allowed inside.”

“But I went in.”

He paused at my words, which I muttered as if in passing.

I subtly glanced at his face next to me, then smiled sweetly, as if I hadn’t been observing him at all.

“So, I’m the only one who gets special permission to enter.”

It seemed true that no one else had entered this place except me.

“What’s your name?”

“Pardon?”

“You. What’s your name?”

Even though I, who was much younger, spoke so casually, he blushed foolishly, as if he didn’t feel any discomfort or displeasure.

“I-It’s Yoan.”

“Okay, Yoan. Thank you. I’ll just take a quick look and come out today, so you don’t get into any trouble because of me.”

“You’re welcome!”

I had only called his name once and smiled at him a little, but he babbled as if he were drunk, his ears turning red.

“It’s an honor to meet Roxana Agriache in person, whom I’ve only heard of in rumors, and I’m glad to be of even this small help…”

I ignored his excited babbling with a smile and stepped into the prison.

Hmm. It’s still an unpleasant place. The air is foul. I don’t want to come here if I can help it. But Cassis Pedelian is here, so I have no choice.

Creak.

Today, the iron gate made an ear-splitting sound again. It was a terrible noise, as if it hadn’t been oiled for at least 100 years.

Are all prisons like this? Whenever I see places like this in novels, movies, or dramas, the doors always make creepy noises. Is it because the air is humid?

As I was thinking that, I entered and suddenly met the boy’s eyes in the prison.

Intense golden eyes, like a burning sun, were staring at me without an inch of deviation.

“Oh, you’re awake today.”

Perhaps because his unconscious appearance from yesterday lingered in my mind?

I paused for a moment, not expecting him to be staring so wide-eyed already.

He quietly watched me, holding his breath, then frowned slightly when he heard my voice.

“You…”

Soon after, he glared at me sharply and opened his mouth.

He seemed to realize now that I was the one who had come to see him yesterday. Perhaps he hadn’t seen my face properly yesterday because he was in a daze?

As I stepped into the cell, he asked warily.

“What did you feed me yesterday?”

His voice was still hoarse and cracked. Yet, he was sending a chilling gaze as if he would cut me down right away.

He’s still tied up, but should I call him brave? Since he’s curious, should I answer?

“Antidote. You came here poisoned with a paralytic [a substance that causes temporary or partial paralysis].”

I continued in a calm tone.

“If you just leave it, it’ll last at least five days. You’ll have terrible muscle pain by then.”

It didn’t seem like he had been additionally hit anywhere since yesterday. I had roughly checked, but it didn’t seem like any other wounds had increased.

Treating the whip marks would be too noticeable, so I didn’t plan to go that far.

“You expect me to believe that now?”

“Isn’t your body much more comfortable than yesterday? You’re even having a conversation with me in your right mind.”

He pressed his lips together at my words.

Of course, he didn’t seem to trust me right away. He seemed to want to ask me something else, but he didn’t open his mouth easily, perhaps because he had a very cautious personality.

“If that was really an antidote, what’s your ulterior motive for giving me the medicine?”

“I don’t have one.”

A look of confusion flashed across his eyes for a moment.

Of course, it was only for a fleeting moment, and soon he looked at me again with a hardened face and moved his lips.

“Who… the hell are you?”

A low, cracked voice crawled across the floor and reached me.

But if you want to know someone else’s identity, shouldn’t you introduce yourself first?

“Cassis Pedelian.”

The boy flinched at the name that flowed from my mouth.

“Is that your name?”

Still, I was hoping, even if just a little, until this point. I wondered if this boy might be someone different from what I expected.

But soon, I had no choice but to abandon my lingering hopes at the murderous voice that pierced my eardrums.

“What kind of excuse is that now? You knew who I was, used a vile trick to drag me all the way here.”

Ah, damn it. So, it’s him after all. I wanted to bet on the off chance, though.

“Stop hiding your identity. Are you also one of Agriache’s lackeys?”

Crazy, he even knows this is Agriache.

Well, my father isn’t exactly the type to hide his identity and commit crimes secretly. He’d rather laugh at his opponent in front of their face and then stab them in the back.

I stood in place, looking at the boy in front of me with slightly troubled eyes, and let out a low sigh.

“Um, I’ve been wondering something.”

“I asked what your identity is. Answer me first.”

I ignored Cassis Pedelian’s words and asked what had been bothering me since yesterday.

“You, can’t you see right now?”

Silence filled the underground prison immediately after that.

Cassis Pedelian didn’t show any agitation at my words. But looking at his eyes, which were quietly watching me, I found the answer.

“I see, you can’t see.”

Even as I moved closer, he was looking directly at my face. From the moment I opened the iron gate and stepped into this place, Cassis had been following me with his gaze very naturally. That’s why I kept doubting and couldn’t be sure.

“How many fingers do you see?”

“Get rid of it.”

I approached Cassis and waved my hand in front of his eyes.

Of course, he didn’t play along. But I was already sure from his attitude.

“No wonder you were so unresponsive when you saw me.”

Yes, if he could see properly, there’s no way he wouldn’t have even a slight tremor in his pupils, even with me right in front of him.

At least at the first moment of eye contact, he should have shown some agitation. Because there hasn’t been a single person who hasn’t been surprised by my face until now.

Of course, I was someone he saw in enemy territory, so it’s only natural that he’s wary and dislikes me, but that’s separate from this.

Of course, anyone who heard this might think I have a severe case of narcissism. But this was a very valid conclusion.

As expected, Cassis didn’t seem to understand what my words meant.

Well, if you can’t see, that’s understandable.

Besides, the fact that he asked me a little while ago, ‘Are you also one of Agriache’s lackeys?’ was decisive. Clearly, Cassis had made eye contact with me yesterday when I was standing next to the other family members.

In my opinion, they used a means to take away his sight in addition to the paralytic poison when they kidnapped him.

The things Cassis is wearing on his hands and feet right now aren’t just ordinary restraints, but restraints for dealing with powerful magical beings.

Seeing that, it seems like capturing this boy was quite difficult.

I was surprised by the fierce glares he gave me and my family yesterday, but even then, he was just grasping our locations by sensing our presence.

I briefly scanned his body up and down.

Not because I had any impure intentions, but to find signs related to his eyes.

Finally, a trace came into my sight.

I unhesitatingly reached out and opened the gap in his torn shirt. Cassis frowned and flinched at my touch.

“This isn’t poison, it’s a spell. It’s a temporary effect, so it won’t last long.”

Looking at the small swirling pattern engraved on his waist, it was clear that Cassis was almost completely blind right now.

And yet, he’s acting so perfectly… This guy is a bit amazing?

I narrowed my brows and looked up at his face in front of me.

This time, he met my eyes exactly.

Cassis, seen up close, was exuding a presence that was noticeably greater than what I felt yesterday.

When he was unconscious, I thought he had a very delicate and gentle impression, but now that he’s properly opened his eyes and looking down at me like this, the pressure I feel from him is considerable.

Is it because he exudes a mature atmosphere that doesn’t suit a boy who’s only seventeen years old? And he’s showing such a calm attitude even in this situation.

“I’ll just leave your eyes alone for now.”

Even now, he wasn’t showing any fear or anxiety; his eyes were so coldly sharpened that I felt a chill down my spine.

“Anyway, it’ll take about two days for your vision to start returning little by little, and it’s a difficult spell to undo, so messing with it now is inefficient.”

Cassis was silent for a moment, as if trying to grasp the meaning of my words. I could feel him trying to read my intentions.

“And anyway, you wouldn’t believe me even if I said this.”

I quietly murmured to him.

“I don’t want you to die.”

“What…?”

His expression changed as if my words were unexpected.

“Then I’ll come again.”

“Wait, hold on.”

Cassis grabbed me, but I moved without hesitation and left the underground prison.