Edited…

<Episode 10>

That was natural. Elkais now looked precarious, as if he were about to collapse at any moment.

Black hair clinging with cold sweat, reddened eyelashes, and breaths taken as if they were laborious.

It seemed he hadn’t taken the fever reducer.

Well, judging by the actions of the original Eve, Wilayden, she might have found it bothersome to fetch medicine even if it were poison.

Still, his tone softened considerably compared to earlier.

“You weren’t someone to interfere in family matters, were you?”

In response to Abellard’s words, Elkais cringed visibly. It was unclear whether it was due to pain or if his voice was simply grating.

While I might not know much else, whenever Abellard spoke, only the image of Elkais gently smiling came to mind. However, the current Elkais, with a calm expression as if he were about to kill a tiger yesterday, stood facing Abellard with a sword.

“Lady, come here.”

“Why?”

Abellard hadn’t only changed physically. His voice had also transformed completely into that of another person.

If the voice of the Abellard Wilayden, my brother, that I knew before was reminiscent of prepubescent unison, now it was the voice of a low man after puberty.

If you concentrated, you could faintly detect the previous voice, but if you didn’t know, you might not be able to recall the former voice.

Though I, who had heard it almost every day, could barely understand, it wasn’t the same for Elkais.

“Eve.”

“Lady.”

Both calling me at the same time helped me come to my senses.

One was wearing only the upper garment while wrapping bandages, and the other was the wet guy wearing only drawers.

If you were to ask which one was more threatening to me…

Both were equally threatening.

“Brother.”

“Yeah.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“I have a place where I stay up the mountain.”

So, that’s where we met on the mountain.

“Brother?”

In response to my words, Elkais looked at Abellard with confusion, but the sword he had been pointing remained unchanged.

“Elkais, lower the sword. If you accidentally cut my throat, will you take responsibility?”

“Why should I take responsibility for you?”

“You said you wanted to take responsibility at times.”

I didn’t want to understand, but I hated being able to understand.

Elkais had once requested to take responsibility for Abellard, but he was flatly rejected.

The reason being that the target of his brother’s affection was Crown Prince Ferite.

His brother was already an Heir. Soon, he would become a Duke, and he couldn’t be satisfied with a man of the same status.

Moreover, he was the only Royal Omega in the Empire, the pinnacle of the upper-ranking Omegas.

A Royal Omega, targeting the Royal Alpha, and a higher-ranking one, Crown Prince Ferite—it was only natural.

“What responsibility is there between Alphas? Did you go crazy?”

“My brother is an Omega.”

“No, Eve.”

He laughed playfully. It was troublesome because the wariness kept fading away due to his fluffy pink hair and light blue eyes.

“I’m not an Omega anymore.”

“What nonsense is this?”

“Do you want to know?”

“No.”

Abellard chuckled. He wasn’t someone who would willingly disclose anything. If I ever wanted to know something, I always ended up at a disadvantage when negotiating with my brother.

“Why?”

“How can I trust my brother?”

“Disappointing. I became an Alpha because I wanted to imprint with Eve.”

“What bullshit are you sprouting?”

Elkais’s expression became even more serious, perhaps due to the exchange of words.

It was understandable.

He was infatuated, no, it was unrequited love. To see the object of his unrequited love suddenly change like that.

And to speak such nonsense about becoming an Alpha.

How much did he dislike it to say such things? Was he pondering about it? Or did he think that a crazy man was talking nonsense?

“If I follow my brother, what will happen to the Duke?”

“Just leave it. He can manage fine on his own.”

As Abellard took a step closer, I stepped back. Feeling the cold touch of the gun against my leg, I couldn’t be at ease.

“Brother.”

“Yeah.”

“It seems like you’ve gone mad, after all.”

“Yeah. You’re the one driving me crazy.”

“…”

“In the past, Alphas didn’t know why they went crazy for Omega scents. But now, I know too well.”

His tone had become strange. Certainly, my brother was an Enchantress, a Sickly one, and a Sunshine. Even if he did fox-like things, he never acted so recklessly or spoke so ambiguously.

What on earth happened?

“Brother.”

“Yeah.”

“If you’re my brother, prove it.”

“How?”

“Use your divine power.”

Elkais is a Sword Master.

Abellard is a possessor of divine power equal to or greater than a Grand Exorcist.

They were truly destined.

“Yeah.”

As he approached slowly, Elkais lowered the sword he had pointed at Abellard. Anyway, the distance didn’t matter much. As long as the aura was unleashed, it would cut through everything even if they were several steps apart.

“Why did your leg get injured?”

“I went down to the beach earlier.”

“Why were you there?”

“I had to fetch medicine from the cave near the beach.”

“Oh, that cave.”

After saying that, he walked towards me. I quickly sat down, grabbed the gun, and stood up, feeling a bit relieved only then.

“Eve.”

“Yes.”

“What kind of medicine did you need?”

“Why are you curious about that?”

“I need to know where you’re hurt to help you heal.”

He said so and flashed the fox-like smile he had occasionally shown in the past.

“Never mind that. Just prove it.”

“Yeah.”

Even though he said it calmly, he found something amusing as he laughed.

“Ugh…”

He stroked the long wound on his leg with his hand. Then, as if spreading it with his fingertips.

I loaded my gun

Click

“I thought you’d kick me.”

“…”

“Eve.”

“…”

He sighed softly and began to exert his strength. A strong light emanated from his palm, and all the wounds that had been caused by being crushed disappeared.

Although the leg that used to be sore when walking after falling had sometimes felt tingling, even that sensation was gone.

“Is this proof enough?”

Elkais, who witnessed Abellard’s ability, had his mouth slightly agape and stood frozen.

“Then, since you’re my sister, I’ll take you with me.”

Suddenly, he stood up, grabbed my hand, and, after inspecting the bite mark on my neck, laughed.

“Stop.”

“Why?”

Elkais lowered the sword he had been holding and pointed it at Abellard again.

“Lady Wilden.”

“Yes…”

“Lady, what is your opinion? Will you follow?”

My opinion wouldn’t matter anyway.

I wanted to abandon them both, and, as in the original story, let them live happily by the beach while I took over the cabin alone.

However…

“Your Grace de Robein I want to stay with you.”

“Why?”

Why, indeed. Compared to my brother who asked if he could mark a Beta as he pleased, I was definitely the one trying to refrain, even if it meant tying my own hands.

Moreover, my brother was currently only wearing drawers.

“But I am your brother.”

“You’re not even my real brother.”

“Ah.”

He made a strange expression, as if remembering what I had said.

“That was a lie.”

“Trying to mark each other like real siblings?”

“…We’re not real siblings.”

“Really?”

“In fact, what I said at that time was true.”

Seeing his lax response, it seemed like his old self was still there.

It wasn’t just me feeling confused. Somehow, Elkais seemed to have a sense of camaraderie with him. Strangely, I felt more sorry for him than myself.

“I hoped you would trust me.”

“But it was difficult. It kept raining in the evening, and the pheromone scent was so strong. How could I endure it?”

“Is my brother a beast? Why can’t he endure that?”

“Isn’t that Elkias a beast?”

“No.”

“Oh, I see…?”

“Yes.”

He seemed bewildered by his own words.

“Even in the rain?”

“Yes.”

Whether my words pleased him or not, Elkais’ expression was more relaxed than in the harsh times. However, it was unclear whether it was because he felt good or because he was on the verge of collapsing.

“Still, I want to go with you.”

“You have to know when to give up.”

“Then how can you go with him?”

“Don’t you ever think that I won’t go no matter what?”

“Yes.”

This is why I don’t want to talk to Abellard. He had a peculiar talent for shutting his mouth, whether it was malicious or not.

“Why do you want to mark me? Something about conveying the Prince Ferite?”

“That’s just pretending to be interested because you like the prince. Who would like such scum?”

“Oh.”

This shocking revelation left my head pounding. I had never liked the Prince Ferite.

Wait, could it be that the reason why the original Lady Eveline Wilden tormented Abellard was because of this?

“Brother…!”

Roar!

“Lady!”

I was momentarily startled by the sudden thunder. The surroundings darkened, and a refreshing scent filled the air.

“What’s wrong with you guys?”

“It’s going to rain!”

As I lifted my face, my expression distorted subtly.

“That’s right.”

Abellard’s nonchalant reaction made me feel threatened once again.

“Let’s tie him up.”

“What?”

“Shall we tie up my brother?”

It was about to rain. If it rained, that huge man would not be normal. In that case, there was no other way.

“…Okay.”

Elkais answered that way and struck the back of Abellard’s head with the hilt of the sword.