Carlott’s tantrum gave him a headache.

Normally, they were at odds, but now Carlott was the very embodiment of a rebellious teenager, doing as he pleased.

‘Who knew he was such an immature brat, throwing tantrums like this.’

He hadn’t known Carlott had this kind of personality.

It would have been fine if it was just that, but it was unsettling to feel a hint of madness as well.

Perhaps the Ferdia family was not emotionally an excellent home environment for a child, and this was the only way he could express his feelings.

He thought Carlott might actually go and challenge Reian to a duel.

“Stop it.”

“But, Sister.”

“Stop it, Carlott Ferdia.”

When he spoke firmly, looking into Carlott’s eyes, the boy’s aggressive attitude immediately faltered.

His haughty eyes, risen like a cat’s, drooped, making him look even more sullen.

Every time he saw that face, he thought Carlott was unmistakably a child.

Carlott, who had been watching him carefully, cautiously asked.

“Are you angry?”

“No. It’s not something to be angry about.”

At those words, Carlott’s expression brightened a little.

But the more Carlott behaved like that, the more my mood sank.

To be angry, there had to be a modicum of concern.

But I didn’t have the luxury of paying attention to Carlott now. I was too worried about my future.

I once thought that Carlott was genuinely acting like a younger brother.

He must have been shocked to see someone fall before his eyes. It was surprising that Ferdia’s direct line was so fainthearted, though.

I decided to say what I hadn’t been able to say to Carlott for several days.

“And Carl, I have a request.”

“Yes, Sister.”

Carlott looked at me with a wide smile as if to say, say anything. But that smile didn’t last long.

“I’d rather you didn’t come to the annex anymore.”

“…….”

I drew a line.

Do not approach any further.

Carlott and my worlds were different.

Carlott Ferdia, the second son of the Duke, the direct line of Ferdia.

Me, who will disappear from this mansion before my sister appears, without a single drop of Ferdia’s blood mixed in me.

The relationship wouldn’t have continued anyway, once the secret of my birth was revealed. It was right not to get closer.

Carlott just looked at me, his face about to cry.

Was the guilt in his gaze because I had been lonely?

Just because I had received attention for a few days, I was wounded enough to be hurt by the words I had spit out.

‘Snap out of it.’

I braced my weakening heart.

.

.

.

At the same time.

Outside Elodie’s bedroom door, someone was listening to their conversation.

“…….”

Standing quietly in the desolate corridor, Yansi’s face was expressionless. There was no need to smile since there was no one to see it.

Yansi had also come, having heard from his planted servant near Elodie that mercenary Ian had been chosen as an escort.

‘I’m too late.’

As always, he had intended to extend his hand at the last moment, assuming Elodie would have no partner.

People generally cannot forget the moment when someone reaches out to them in a dramatic situation.

So that they easily open their hearts to him, Yansi had made his calculations.

But he had been robbed of the opportunity to be both an escort and a partner at the banquet by mercenary Ian.

“It’s annoying.”

Ironically, ever since Yansi had accepted Elodie as a family, this existence named Ian had loitered around her.

It was clear to anyone that he was approaching her with a purpose, and it bothered Yansi that Elodie, the party concerned, was handling it lightly.

He had no intention of interfering in his sister’s relationships with men.

After all, didn’t Elodie have a fiancé?

He had no particular feelings for Prince Adenmir, the 1st Prince.

It was an engagement that Elodie wanted in the first place, there were political interests involved, and crucially, Adenmir had no feelings for Elodie.

Now, that point was what he liked most.

But Mercenary King Ian was different. He had targeted Elodie from the beginning.
“Was it simply to carry Ferdia on his back?”

If that was the intention, it could be considered already accomplished.

If he attended the royal banquet with Elodie, it would be tantamount to announcing to the entire social world that the Sky Falcon mercenary group had formed a close relationship with Duke Ferdia.

It would not have mattered if that were all, but for some reason, that man’s presence was irritating.

He had only encountered him briefly, but perhaps the memory of that moment was intense.

It was fleeting, but he couldn’t forget the way that man looked at Elodie.

It was clearly not a light emotion.

He couldn’t clearly understand what emotion it was, but he knew it was an emotion so deep that it could not be defined.

Karlott, who had just been told by Elodie never to come again and had been virtually kicked out, left the bedroom dejectedly.

He found his brother standing quietly in the dark corridor.

“Brother.”

“Hush.”

Yansi wore a masklike smile once more, bringing a finger to his lips.

“Aren’t you going in?”