Brian, 4 years younger than Fredrick and 1 year younger than Lily, was a wastrel who liked alcohol, women, and gambling. His face was bright red as if he had been drinking heavily last night.

“…It’s been a while, young master.”

Has the title of young master always been this grating?

The inside of her mouth felt rough like chewing sand as she uttered the words. Lily bit her lip and asked a passing maid:

“Where is mother?”

“Mom’s in her bedroom.”

Though Lily asked the maid, the answer came from Brian.

“She said her head hurt so much she couldn’t get up, and asked for her meal to be brought to her room.”

That meant Samantha wouldn’t be coming to the breakfast room today.

Lily found it absurd that the servants hadn’t informed her of this beforehand, but she let it go. It was a frequent occurrence, so there was nothing new about it.

“Then I’ll be going.”

There was no need to stay in the breakfast room if Samantha wasn’t coming.

“Wait a moment.”

As she was about to return to her bedroom, Brian, who had somehow followed her, grabbed her wrist. Lily frowned and turned her head away from the strong smell of alcohol. His unpleasant face with its sly smile was etched in her eyes.

“Isn’t it too cold to see me after three days? You should greet me more warmly.”

Was he bragging about coming home after three days by saying such nonsense?

Lily was dumbfounded but didn’t say anything. It didn’t matter to her when he came back. She was just annoyed by his hand holding her wrist now.

“Let go.”

“I heard you had a big fight with mom?”

Like mother, like son – they both ignore what others say.

“I said let go.”

Lily emphasized each word, but Brian ignored her request again.

“I heard that sister-in-law told mom that brother is impotent… Is that true?”

“…”

“Puhaha!”

Even though Lily didn’t answer, Brian took her silence as confirmation and burst into laughter.

How much did he drink for even his laughter to smell of alcohol?

Lily frowned and shook off Brian’s hand, but it was futile as he quickly grabbed her again. Deep wrinkles formed between Lily’s brows.

“I said let go…!”

“Then how about me?”

Brian asked, thrusting his face close to Lily’s.

“Unlike my brother, I function properly.”

What?

“So how about having my child? I can treat you well…!”

Slap-!

The sound of a slap echoed through the wide corridor. It was so loud and clear that even servants far away came running, thinking something had happened.

Soon they discovered Brian, who was frowning fiercely and holding his reddened cheek, and Lily, who was glaring at him coldly with one hand raised. The servants hesitated. They exchanged glances, trying to assess the situation.

Did the young madam just slap the young master’s cheek? Seems so. My goodness. What did the young master do to make the gentle young madam so angry? I don’t know. By the way, if the mistress finds out about this, she’ll surely be furious…

“That’s quite a sting.”

Brian stroked his reddened cheek and smiled creepily.

“They say women who have a strong hand are good in bed… Makes me want to find out.”

The words he spat out reeked worse than sewage flowing in a gutter.

While Samantha was the type to poke at weaknesses and scratch at the other person’s insides, Brian was the type to make sexual remarks to cause shame and disgust.

Lily disliked dealing with both of them, but if she had to choose the one she disliked more, it would definitely be Brian. At least she could argue back against Samantha, but she didn’t know what to say to Brian.

“You call me sister-in-law, but you seem to have forgotten that I’m your brother’s wife.”

This was all she could think to say. When Lily snapped at him, Brian’s eyes narrowed.

“Sister-in-law. Right. Sister-in-law.”

Brian muttered the word “sister-in-law” over and over like a cow chewing its cud, then tilted his lips crookedly and leaned his upper body towards Lily.

Lily flinched in surprise and stiffened her shoulders, but she didn’t run away. Instead, she glared at Brian with strength in her eyes.

“You’ve never shared flesh with my brother… but you’re still my sister-in-law, right?”

“…!”

For a moment, the resolute green eyes wavered uselessly at his added words.

She didn’t know how Brian knew this fact, but one thing was certain – Fredrick wouldn’t have told him.

After all, Fredrick and Brian didn’t get along.

More accurately, Fredrick one-sidedly looked down on and ignored Brian, who was useless in every way.

Seeing Lily’s wavering expression, Brian chuckled and continued speaking.

“Don’t worry. I haven’t told mom yet.”

Yet…

“So be nice to me. If I tell her… it’ll be troublesome for sister-in-law, right?”

Brian said this and blew a puff of air into Lily’s ear.

“…!”

At the creepy sensation spreading along her earlobe, Lily covered her ear and stepped back.

She turned around and fled to her bedroom, almost running. Fearing Brian might follow, she locked the door tightly. Not satisfied with just that, she even placed a chair in front of the door.

“Haa, haa.”

Her chest heaved as she breathed out rough breaths. Her legs gave out, and Lily sank to the floor. She rubbed her ear where Brian’s breath had touched until it turned red, but the unpleasant sensation wouldn’t go away.

“It’s okay.”

Her lips trembled at the belated feelings of shame and humiliation. Lily hugged her even more trembling hands tightly and muttered.

“This much is okay. I can endure it.”

If she could only cure her mother, she could endure this level of humiliation.

No, she had to endure it.

A luxurious carriage, appropriately mixed with black and gold, passed through the main gate of the Maximilian Duke’s residence.

After diligently running between the tree-lined streets with thick foliage, the carriage finally came to a stop. Herald got out of the carriage, carrying his luggage.

Seeing this, the coachman hurriedly approached and held out his hand.

“I’ll carry that, sir.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Herald lightly declined the offer and climbed the stairs to the mansion. Tap, tap. The sound of his shoes echoed heavily.

“Herald!”

The first person to greet Herald as he entered the mansion was his mother, the Duchess of Maximilian.

Herald lightly kissed the back of her hand, which was smooth without a single wrinkle, unbelievable for someone over fifty.

“I’m back, Mother.”

“Yes, welcome home.”

After finishing his greeting with a hug with his mother, Herald bowed to his father standing behind her.

“It’s been a while, Father. Have you been well?”

The Duke of Maximilian laughed as if amused.

“For someone curious about that, you didn’t send a single letter for two years.”

“As you already know, Father, I was a bit busy.”

“I don’t think it was just a bit.”

When a familiar voice that shouldn’t be here joined the conversation from a bit further away, Herald frowned and turned in that direction.

A man with dazzling golden hair like melted honey was leaning against the landing railing.

“You say you were ‘a bit’ busy after annihilating the Salaman tribe that has been plaguing the empire for over 100 years? Isn’t that too much of an understatement, Herald?”

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince?”

The man’s identity was none other than Austin Kaman Andreas, the Crown Prince of the Kaman Empire. Austin waved cheerfully at Herald.

“It’s been a while, Herald. I’m really glad you returned safely.”

“He came early this morning to see you.”

Herald’s brow furrowed when he heard the Duchess of Maximilian’s quiet whisper.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Herald excused himself from his parents and approached Austin.

“Please follow me.”

It was a polite yet authoritative tone that could sound rude, but Austin didn’t seem offended at all and obediently followed him.

Herald led Austin to his bedroom. Despite being vacant for a long time, the bedroom was spotlessly clean without a speck of dust, and even the items Herald used to use were still there.

Herald closed and locked the door, then asked Austin:

“What brings you here?”

It wasn’t formal speech, but Austin didn’t mind. The two were old friends, and when alone, they didn’t bother with formalities.

“What do you mean? I came to welcome my friend who’s become a hero of the empire!”

“Drop the fancy excuse.”

Herald’s lips curved crookedly.

“Tell me the real reason you came to see me.”

“You’re as cold as ever, I see.”

Austin pouted, displeased with Herald’s reaction, but his eyes turned serious in an instant.

After confirming there were no eavesdropping ears, Austin revealed the reason he had personally come all the way to the Duke of Maximilian’s residence.

“Darius has been acting suspiciously lately.”

Darius Kaman Andreas.

Austin’s half-brother, born to a concubine, yet the only child the Emperor recognized as royalty despite being an illegitimate child.

Usually, children of concubines are not acknowledged as royalty by unspoken rule, so breaking this rule meant he was a cherished child.

More accurately, it meant the Emperor cherished Darius’s mother, the Viscountess Ariand.

It was said that if the Empress’s family lacked power or if Austin failed to fulfill his role properly, Darius might have been placed in the Crown Prince’s position – such was the extent of the Emperor’s favor towards them.

Moreover, Viscountess Ariand was a greedy and cunning person. Darius took after his mother completely, harboring ambitions that didn’t match his status, so Austin had no choice but to keep them in check.

“From what I know, the Second Prince has been acting suspiciously for quite some time now.”

Unlike the serious Austin, Herald was indifferent. Seeing his friend’s completely uninterested attitude, Austin sighed deeply and ruffled his hair in frustration.

“I know that too, but this time it’s really suspicious. He’s digging into something strange, I tell you.”

“Something strange?”

Finally, Herald showed a reaction, and Austin nodded emphatically.

“That bastard, he’s digging into the Viscount Benjamin family.”