Chapter 39.2: Sealed Purpose

"I've talked a lot, but I haven't told you the key stuff yet. Let's just say that the reason I was able to escape is a secret... AHH!"

A large hand grabbed her by the shoulders and Rishe took a few steps back.

Behind her stood her brother, who looked a bit dumbfounded.

"Your Highness Arnold."

"What's the point of telling your captor how to do a perfect restraint?"

As his brother asked, he took off his black coat and draped it over Rishe's shoulders.

It was then that Theodore noticed for the first time that there was a deep cut in the hem of her dress. Rishe, in her own right, was greatly flustered as she was forced to put his coat on.

"Your Highness? No, you can't do this! I'm fine, so please have your coat on!"

"It's okay, you wear it."

"But then, your scars..."

Before Rishe could finish her words, Theodore's gaze shifted on his brother's neck.

What, those scars.

There were countless scars there. All of them looked like old wounds, but he could tell at a glance that they were deep wounds.

And from the way Rishe spoke, his brother has been hiding their existence and that he had told Rishe about it.

AHH.

He didn't let Theodore know that there were such scars, let alone talk to him about it himself.

I'm still not good enough.

Theodore barely gritted his teeth.

He never lets me in on his secret. He doesn't trust me. I knew better.

Then he remembered a few years ago, when the country was still at war.

Theodore had taken part in the relief effort for the war at that time.

The relief station, which was built far from the front lines and where the wounded were brought, was supposed to be a "safe" place, where they wouldn't be attacked, according to the agreement between the nations.

And yet, there were men who attacked it. They weren't knights, but some sort of robbers.

Their eyes were bloodshot, as if they had been impoverished by the war. They raised their swords, screaming for medical supplies, money, and food.

The people who could move had fled, and the ones targeted were the seriously wounded. Theodore also tried to flee, but the injured man whom the sword had been pointed at was an acquaintance from the favela.

When he realized this, he instinctively jumped up.

For Theodore, who grew up being ignored by his father Emperor and compared to his superior brother, the people in the favelas he met in the service were no strangers to him.

They were important to him. They smiled at him instead of his father and worried about him instead of his mother. So, he wanted to protect them.

He braced himself for the terrible pain. He thought he would be dead. He shut his eyes tightly, but the moment he was afraid of never came.

Instead, he heard a murky scream and he looked up in horror.

Then he saw his brother's back, carrying a sword.

"Big Brother?"

His constricted throat finally quacked clearly. His voice seemed to have reached him properly.

His brother's face that slowly turned around was dyed red with splattered blood.

Red drops of blood flowed down from his outline. In front of a live person just moments ago, his brother's expression remained the same. He roughly wiped the blood off his face with his cuffs.

At that moment, he thought his brother was going to kill him too.

He had lost count of the number of times he had a conversation with his brother.

His brother was a beautiful and fearsome man with whom he had little to do with.

Although he has made tremendous achievements on the battlefield, he was feared by allies and enemies alike for his cruelty.

That was Arnold Hein to Theodore.

At that time, he had been unable to move because of his fear of his brother.

But he turned those cold eyes on him, and then said in a matter-of-fact manner, "You did well."

"Huh?"

He couldn't process what he was told, and went blank.

Then his brother looked down and continued, "You did well in defending your subjects, even though you were trembling. That isn't an exemplary behavior for a member of the royal family, but it's an honorable thing for a lord to do."

"...!"

"Next time, please don't try to put your life on the line. Still, you should be proud of yourself for being able to move like that on the spur of the moment."

My brother had been watching me. Theodore couldn't wield the sword like him, which was why he took action behind the scenes.

Such a fact made him incredibly happy.

I adore you. That's why I can't allow 'that thing' to happen.

Theodore glared at Rishe, who was in front of him.

I would have done it without hurting you, but if it comes to this, I can stab her. If I can harm her and get caught in Brother's crosshairs-

"Trying to kill me is not going to get you anywhere."

"!"

He cringed when his thoughts were easily seen through.

His turmoil that he normally has been able to conceal was blatantly visible on his face. Obviously, she has swept him off his feet that he could no longer maintain his usual demeanor.

"I said I was going to settle this, but I have no intention of engaging in physical combat with you. More importantly, please answer me. What is your objective?"

"Of course, it's the next Emperor's seat. Is there anything else that two brothers in the line of succession would fight over?"

"I do not think so, that's why I am asking you with His Highness Arnold in attendance."

How was he supposed to answer that question? Such was Theodore's resolve that was soon to be overturned.

The girl, wearing his brother's coat over her dress, uttered something unbelievable.

"Your real goal is to bear the stigma of a great sinner as the one who plotted to usurp the throne. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"..."

Hearing those words, his brother squinted.

However, it was Theodore who was more surprised than his brother.

How did she know?

3/5 Bonus Chapters... The other two will be done tomorrow! Have a jolly weekend, take care ^_^