Chapter 41.1: Take that hand

Bonus Chapters 5/5

Rishe followed Theodore out into the corridor and went straight up the stairs.

There was no sign of anyone other than them in the building, which seemed used to be an inn.

Theodore seemed to have gone up one level, not to the 4th floor, but further up.

Finding the door to the rooftop open, Rishe stepped outside.

The rooftop must have once been where the inn's laundry was hung out to dry. The sight of so many sheets flapping around must have been an impressive sight.

Theodore was standing in a quiet place and with the starry sky above.

"Your Highness Theodore."

"!"

His back, like a lost child, jolted and shivered.

Theodore turned to Rishe and looked at her, his lips curving into a pout.

"Next to tying them up, are you going to instruct me on how to escape. Should I have gone outside, rather than on a rooftop with nowhere to run?"

"You never meant to escape."

If he really intended to shake Rishe off, that was exactly what he would have done. He should have gone out.

In response, Theodore let out a huff.

"Aye. I'd rather have a private chat with you alone now than be outside. I didn't want to behave any more unseemly in front of my brother."

Theodore walked to the edge of the rooftop and turned around, resting his back against the railing.

Sincere shades lurked in his eyes. There was no longer a trace of the aimless boy who had been evading his real motives.

"My Big Brother has been trying to keep the credits of the good changes of the country detached from him as much as possible."

He said, squinting and laughing.

"As you might have expected, the public has already heard about the major policies that Big Brother imposed. Other petty reforms that were drafted had been indirectly kept under wraps. Or they were made to look like they were drawn up by Father."

The wind that blew in on the rooftop ruffled his soft hair.

"On the contrary, there's a strange rumor widespread about Big Brother. Do you know what it is?"

"You mean His Highness Arnold's 'brutal' behavior in the war?"

"That's right. Even you, from another country, must have heard about it. Why do you think the bad publicity about the Crown Prince from the victorious country is spreading to other countries?"

When asked like that, the answer required of Rishe was obvious.

"I guess His Highness Arnold intentionally spread it?"

"I think like you. He hid his achievements and tried to spread bad press instead. It's hard to believe that someone, who'd do that, is going to be in the front stage and run the country for a long time."

Theodore slowly closed his eyes.

"Besides that, I've also noticed something else when I was spying on him. He's not attached to his current position. He's always working so that he can disappear. I found this out because I've been watching him the whole time."

"..."

"I don't know what Big Brother is up to for the future. But I don't want to see a wonderful man like him disappear. Don't you agree?"

Theodore has no idea what future Arnold would choose.

He has no way of knowing that his brother wasn't going to get off the front stage, but rather start a slaughter in the center of it.

However, the crisis that Theodore sensed might have been tied to that future.

"Most of what I did was mimicking Big Brother. If he's going to leave the country to me and disappear, why don't I disappear first? Then he won't be able to do anything stupid."

The same blue eyes as his brother's stared at Rishe.

"It's the only way I can be of any use to Brother."

Theodore laughed serenely.

Rishe has a lot she wanted to say to him. And then there were also things she wanted to ask.

"What made you decide to talk to me about it?"

"You said earlier that you were afraid of the same thing I am. If you can read my thoughts, that means you're afraid of Brother's disappearance, too. Isn't it scary if that happens? If something happens to your husband, your position as his wife will be in jeopardy."

In fact, it was for another reason, but Rishe didn't point it out.

There was no way she was going to tell him that his brother was going to be the cause of her death in five years' time.

"So, you see. If my story makes your fears even more real, I thought it would be worth telling you."

A wicked look glimmered in his eyes.

"I figured if I did, I'd give you more of a scare."

"..."

Rishe felt weary upon hearing such a distorted motive.

Both brothers needed to stop getting a kick out of others' emotional turmoil.

"What's with the face? You've got my loveable Big Brother, so isn't this better? Well, not that he was ever my brother. If you're scared of what the future holds and despairs that you can't stop him from here on, then you might as well take a step back."

"With all due respect..."

The wind was blowing extraordinarily strong. Rishe raised her hands to keep Arnold's coat over her shoulder from being blown away.

"I don't plan to be afraid of the future."

"Huh?"

Theodore's eyes rounded.

Rishe then felt a sudden twisting sensation in her feet.

The medicine is wearing off.

The pill she took to cover up her discomfort was starting to lose its effect. It was only a matter of time.

"Your brother is most likely planning something crazy, so I'll do my best to stop it by any means necessary."

She took a deep breath and stood firmly. She look ahead and wove the words one by one, without wavering.

"I'll spend all I can and borrow all the help I can. Because I don't think I can win by any means against such an impossible man. And for that, of course, Your Highness Theodore..."

Rishe looked straight at him.

"I need your help, too."

"Me?"

Theodore's eyes widened once more, as if surprised.

But he quickly changed his expression and smiled somewhat self-mockingly.

"That's my brother's wife, very confident. But, I don't think that can stop him. There's no way my words would ever reach that man. So, the best I can do is to get in his way like this."

"And yet you've been acting all these two years, haven't you? You've put yourself in a dangerous position, and even gone so far as to get your hands dirty. But if you want to help your brother, you have to be happy yourself."

"What are you talking about?"

Apparently, Theodore didn't understand what those words meant.

"Why should I be happy? That's not part of Big Brother's future."

"Of course, it's relevant. His Highness Arnold would never pick a future that will make you unhappy."

"And why is that?"

Rische told the confused boy.

"You're his one and only brother in the world."

"-!"

Theodore looked at Rishe as if seeing something incredible.

"Why do you think His Highness Arnold came to this place alone at this time of night?"

"Of course to help you."

"No, His Highness knew that I was a willing captive. He knew there was no need to help me."

Then again, he sure knew that Theodore would never make fun of roughing Rishe up.