The Way To Protect The Female Lead’S Older Brother [EN]: Chapter 54

How to Protect the Heroine’s Older Brother – 54

* * *

That moronic human.

Roxana sneered coldly as she watched Fontaine disappear into the distance.

Dealing with Fontaine was so easy it was almost boring. And yet, with such a pathetic existence, he dared to dream of succeeding Lant Agriche as the heir.

Fontaine had no sense of self-awareness.

‘You are wonderful.’

‘You are far superior to Deon.’

‘It’s your father who is wrong for not recognizing you.’

Roxana kept whispering these things by his side, and he seemed to actually believe them.

Honestly, there should be a limit to how pathetic one can be.

Of course, his stupidity was one of the reasons she decided to use Fontaine.

But every time she faced him like this, she couldn’t help but feel disgusted.

Did he even know who he dared to covet?

“Sis, shouldn’t we just pluck out that bastard’s eyes?”

Just then, someone emerged from one of the trees behind Roxana.

The man, wearing the same white fur cloak as Roxana, was Jeremy, who had just turned eighteen this year.

His face, now that of a young man instead of a boy, was filled with irritation and discontent.

Jeremy, who had accompanied Roxana, had been suppressing his presence at her command since Fontaine’s appearance.

In the process, he witnessed Fontaine scanning Roxana with his filthy eyes.

“Later. I want him to see with his own eyes the moment his life hits rock bottom.”

Roxana said in a soothing, gentle tone towards Jeremy, who was expressing his displeasure.

The soft, gentle voice even had a benevolent feel to it, but the content within was anything but.

Jeremy clicked his tongue, his face slightly softened.

“That idiot still doesn’t know his place. He can’t even tell if there’s one or two people around him, yet he acts all high and mighty with that pathetic body. It makes me want to puke.”

Roxana agreed with Jeremy’s words.

Then, Roxana’s gaze slid towards the direction Fontaine had appeared from.

Right… Fontaine’s return meant that Deon was also at the mansion now.

Roxana’s eyes lowered.

She put her hat back on and turned her steps towards the Agriche mansion.

“Let’s go back, Jeremy.”

“Okay, Sis.”

* * *

Back at the mansion, Roxana was summoned by Lant Agriche to his office. Jeremy was sent back to his room first.

It was already a thing of the past, but there was a time when Jeremy and Roxana had become estranged.

It wasn’t because of the attempted escape of Cassis that had occurred at Agriche three years ago.

At that time, Roxana had returned to being a kind and gentle sister to Jeremy, who had come out of the punishment chamber.

Jeremy, like the other Agriche people, knew that Roxana had fed Cassis to the poison butterflies because she was tired of the toy. Perhaps that was why Jeremy treated Roxana with a much more affectionate attitude.

The distance between Jeremy and Roxana had grown a little later, in the last month of that year.

At that time, Jeremy had his last monthly evaluation at the age of fifteen.

The day before, Roxana had visited him and told him, ‘Even if something unexpected happens in this monthly evaluation, you must not hesitate and carry out the task ordered by the examiner.’

Jeremy was puzzled by Roxana’s sudden words, but he eventually promised her that he would.

The next day, at dusk, Jeremy ran out of the examination room as if fleeing, his face extremely pale.

And he glared at the examiner who followed him to inform him of the results, and threw the bloody knife he was holding at him.

After that, Jeremy was locked in the punishment chamber again.

A week later, when he came out again, he didn’t cling to Roxana as before.

Rather, he would flinch and avoid her whenever he saw her.

His eyes trembled so uneasily whenever he looked at Roxana that his mental turmoil was conveyed to her.

Roxana guessed why Jeremy was doing that.

The fact that there was no news of disposal meant that Jeremy had successfully completed the test. That alone allowed her to imagine what had happened to him.

“I, I killed you, Sis, but is it okay for me to be by your side?”

After watching Jeremy’s wanderings for a while, when she went to see him, Jeremy was fidgeting in front of Roxana, who had grabbed him, like a guilty child, rambling like that.

“Jeremy, my good brother. I was the one who told you to do that.”

Roxana said, gently soothing Jeremy.

“You just did what I wanted, as you always have. And anyway, it was an illusion. You didn’t kill me. Look, I’m alive and well in front of you.”

“But…”

“Jeremy, if you hadn’t done it, you would have died. If that had happened, I would have been very sad. So you don’t have to feel that way towards me. I sincerely think you did well.”

Roxana had already experienced the same thing, so she knew what Jeremy desperately wanted to hear.

After that, Jeremy broke down the wall to Roxana again. Somehow, it felt like he had opened his heart to her even more than before.

“Lady Roxana.”

In the meantime, someone stopped Roxana’s steps as she headed to Lant Agriche’s office.

Turning around, a familiar face came into view. It was Bess, Sierra’s maid.

“Madam requests a meeting with Lady Roxana. Would you be able to make time sometime today?”

It was quite a cautious request.

Now, Sierra and Roxana had become a relationship where they could only see each other if they made an appointment in advance. Moreover, Roxana was likely to refuse every time.

So, it had already been four months since Sierra and Roxana had last seen each other.

“There are many people looking for me today.”

But Roxana spoke in a nonchalant tone, as if she didn’t feel the gap at all.

“Isn’t Mother with Lady Maria right now?”

“Yes, she is alone now.”

“Oh dear, what should I do? I have to go see Father now.”

“Then, even after that…”

Bess trailed off, recalling Sierra’s sorrowful face.

She was afraid that Roxana might get angry, but she couldn’t help but be brave for Sierra’s sake.

Roxana stared at Bess for a moment, then called out to the person standing behind her.

“Emily.”

“Yes, miss.”

“Go to Lady Maria and ask if she could possibly visit Mother now.”

At those words, Bess was startled and opened her mouth.

It was an indirect refusal to meet Sierra.

Moreover, Roxana was trying to put Maria back with Sierra, even though she knew how uncomfortable Sierra was with her.

“Wasn’t there supposed to be a tea party today? Well, it’s been quite a while since Mother attended such an event, so she must be bored alone.”

“Miss, it’s not that, Madam is…”

“Emily. Lady Maria wouldn’t refuse Mother’s request for a visit, but if she hesitates because of the tea party, tell her that Deon has returned to the mansion.”

Then Bess, who was about to protest, closed her mouth.

The look in her eyes towards Roxana was different from before. Bess seemed to have finally realized Roxana’s intentions.

“Bess. I don’t dislike children like you. But you should think more deeply about what it means to serve your master.”

After Emily, who had received the order, left first, Roxana continued to speak to Bess.

“If you keep bothering me with things like this, I will hold you responsible for not properly attending to Mother.”

Bess bowed her head even deeper at the cold voice falling over her head.

“Yes… I’m sorry, Lady Roxana.”

Roxana turned her back on Bess and began to move her stopped steps again.

“Then go and comfort Mother. That’s your role, isn’t it?”

Bess quietly turned around, following Roxana’s orders.

Fortunately, this maid understood quite well. It was worth keeping an eye on her for a while and then directly attaching her to her mother, Sierra, half a year ago.

What Roxana wanted was someone who sincerely cared for Sierra and knew how to act with tact for her well-being.

Sierra still had a kind and gentle nature, unlike the mistress of Agriche.

So there were many servants in the mansion who liked her. Bess was one of them.

In particular, Bess used to be Maria’s maid and almost died after breaking a tea set on the day of the tea party.

But after being saved by Sierra’s plea, Bess regarded Sierra as a benefactor.

So she would take good care of Sierra as Roxana expected. She seemed to have realized why Roxana was trying to put Maria next to Sierra.

Knock, knock.

Finally reaching Lant Agriche’s office, Roxana knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

It was still a disgusting voice.

However, Roxana opened the door with a docile smile.

“Father, you called for me.”

Like a well-behaved pet wagging its tail at its owner.

The sharp fangs quietly waiting for the day to bite the person in front of her flickered silently within her.