I Picked Up an Abandoned Villain in the Polar Region

Episode 87

 

“Is that really the only reason you came back?”

When the second question, laced with suspicion, followed, it was impossible not to feel annoyed, no matter how well Fabian understood Alexander’s intentions.

Fabian clicked his tongue in irritation and spoke to Alexander.

“You keep saying I came back here, but I didn’t. I’m no longer a ‘Roden.’”

At the words ‘no longer a Roden,’ Alexander’s eyes flickered with what seemed like surprise.

Fabian, seeing this reaction, firmly reiterated his stance to his younger brother.

“I didn’t return here as ‘Fabian Roden.’ I came back as ‘Erbe’ to help Roden.”

Alexander had always lived in fear of Fabian reclaiming the name ‘Fabian Roden.’ Fabian understood his brother’s unease perfectly and made sure to dispel it.

Realizing this, Alexander stood speechless, frozen in place.

Fabian, observing his younger brother’s stunned expression, softened his tone slightly and continued.

“Look around you if you have eyes. Are you still uncertain? The leader’s position you stand in belongs to you. The people beside you are those who fight for you. And this land you risked your life to protect today? It’s your land. You are the master of Roden.”

Despite having become the rightful master of Roden, Alexander had lived his life in constant fear and insecurity, always worrying that his position might be taken away.

While Fabian had once pitied his brother, he couldn’t afford to show understanding due to the animosity between them.

But now, it was different.

Mustered by courage, Fabian said what he had long wanted to tell his younger brother during their 20-year estrangement.

“So act like the master you are. Stop trembling over nothing.”

It wasn’t advice from one leader to another; it was an older brother’s earnest advice to his younger sibling.

That one sentence broke down the walls built between them over two decades. ¹That one sentence refers to: ‘stop trembling over nothing.’

The doubt and anxiety began to fade from Alexander’s eyes, replaced by guilt—guilt he had long suppressed.

He felt sorry for taking his brother’s rightful place.

He had feigned ignorance of that guilt to avoid showing weakness, even building hostility as a defense mechanism.

But now Alexander realized something: his brother had already recognized him as Roden’s leader a long time ago.

Confronting that truth, Alexander also discovered an unfamiliar emotion within himself.

Despite fearing and resenting Fabian all his life, a part of him had always wanted to be acknowledged by his older brother. He finally admitted to himself that desire.

 

***

 

Kyle led Brody to his room, where he washed off the blood and dust from the war and packed lightly.

He had no intention of staying in the same house as his family. After packing his belongings into a large bag, he left with Brody in tow.

Without a backward glance, he headed toward the annex.

The annex was a large building hidden down a forest path behind the main house.

Kyle planned to stay there with Brody. Carrying the rabbit on his shoulder, he approached the annex, when he heard a commotion from inside.

“What’s going on?”

Curious, Kyle emerged from the forest to find the annex, which should have been empty, overrun by wolves—wolves belonging to Erbe.

As he drew closer, the front door opened, and a man stepped out.

It was Fabian, arguing with his subordinates, who were covered in the blood of their enemies.

He blocked their entry with his foot.

“Where do you think you’re going in that state? There’s a stream in the forest; go wash up there.”

“But we could just use the bathroom here.”

“It’s full. Didn’t I tell you it’s first come, first served?”

“Can’t we just skip washing? We’re exhausted.”

“I’m tired of arguing with you. Now shut up and go wash.”

Their bickering resembled that of a father and his children more than a leader and his men.

After scolding his subordinates, Fabian lit a cigarette and looked up, locking eyes with Kyle as he approached.

“What do you want?”

“Why are you here?”

Kyle ignored Fabian’s question and asked his own instead.

Fabian, already accustomed to Kyle’s rude demeanor after only a few days, frowned and replied.

“Your father told me to stay and help rebuild the village.”

Fabian muttered curses, saying that Kyle must have inherited his insolence from his father.

Indeed, Alexander had told Fabian word for word, ‘The tigers wrecked the nearby villages, and we have too many wounded. Stay with your men and help with the repairs before you leave.’

“Ridiculous. I fought for them; now I have to rebuild their homes, too?” Fabian grumbled.

Still baffled by Fabian’s willingness to stay, Kyle remarked.

“Then just ignore him and leave.”

Kyle’s suggestion to disregard his father’s orders made Fabian’s face flush with anger.

“How can I ignore a plea for help? Do you think I’m that heartless?”

“I would ignore it,” Kyle retorted.

“That’s because you’re uncultured!”

Fabian shouted back, his frustration boiling over.

Kyle rolled his eyes, muttering that even his support wasn’t appreciated.

Fabian, equally irritated, snapped back, “Just get lost!”

The rabbit, Brody, shook her head at the sight of the two arguing like children. Alexander’s request to ‘help rebuild the village’ had clearly been taken far too literally.

That was just an excuse. In truth, Alexander couldn’t bear to let Fabian leave, so he kept him there.

Fabian, knowing his brother’s feelings, decided to stay and help. Brody, unlike the oblivious Kyle, quickly grasped the situation and sighed, thinking how insincere everyone was.

Noticing Brody’s exasperated expression after his spat with his nephew, Fabian raised his voice as if stung.

“You fearless rabbit! What’s with that smug look on your face?”

The sudden outburst startled Brody, who trembled violently.

Feeling the small rabbit shudder on his shoulder, Kyle growled at his uncle.

“Why are you taking your anger out on her? She didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Kyle, I’m scared…”

Brody, feigning fear, clung tighter to Kyle’s neck, deliberately provoking him further.

Just as Kyle was about to snap back, Albert stepped out of the house and intervened.

“Both of you, stop it. Father, you chose to stay here out of goodwill, so don’t take it out on others.”

Albert’s gentle words quickly calmed the tense atmosphere. Spotting the luggage in Kyle’s hand, he asked,

“Were you planning to stay in the annex? All the rooms are taken.”

The annex, a large mansion with over ten rooms, had no vacancies.

It made sense, as even though Fabian had sent most of his army back to the highlands, he had left a good number of soldiers behind to help rebuild the village.

“There likely won’t be any empty houses outside either,” Albert added.

“The tigers attacked the villages on the path up to Mount Nevo, and those villagers are heading to the capital for shelter. Inns and other accommodations are probably full.”

Hearing this, Kyle’s face twisted in frustration. His plan to stay away from his family had crumbled, and he looked irritable.

Fabian, puffing on his cigarette and watching Kyle, smirked.

“Just crawl back to the house you came from.”

It was a provocation, knowing Kyle didn’t want to stay with his family.

“Or if you really hate it, pitch a tent and sleep in the front yard.”

Kyle’s glare turned sharply toward Fabian, who simply shrugged, unfazed.

Grinding his teeth, Kyle considered the idea of camping out. However, he quickly dismissed it for Brody’s sake.

After using her abilities, Brody might collapse as early as tomorrow, and Kyle couldn’t subject her to such harsh conditions.

For Brody’s safety, Kyle needed a comfortable and secure place to stay, and that meant returning to the house he had stormed out of earlier.

In short, he had no choice but to go back.

Kyle closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to suppress his simmering anger.

Ultimately, he couldn’t hold it back and let out a furious yell before storming off.

Watching Kyle’s stomping retreat, Fabian chuckled. Albert, observing the scene, asked Fabian,

“Was this the right thing to do?”

Albert had actually pretended there were no rooms available in the annex at Fabian’s suggestion.

Fabian didn’t answer immediately, finishing his cigarette as he watched Kyle’s disappearing figure.

The truth was, Fabian had only sent Kyle back home for one reason: he wanted Kyle to be with his family.

Fabian hoped their relationship could mend. It was meddlesome, of course, but he couldn’t help it.

Kyle was his nephew, someone who had endured a similar experience to Fabian’s. Their rough personalities and similarities drew Fabian’s attention to him.

Meanwhile, Kyle returned to the house, fuming with embarrassment.

He arrived just as Alexander, Abel, and their mother stood at the entrance, her welcoming the two men home.

Kyle’s expression turned sour at the sight of his family.

It wasn’t just because he disliked them; it was also because he had been caught returning with his luggage in tow.

Feeling humiliated, he tried to hide his shame by glaring even more fiercely.

Unaware of Kyle’s inner turmoil, his family hesitated to speak, mistaking his anger for hostility toward them.

Only Alexander held his gaze steadily and, in a heavy, quiet voice, said,

“Come upstairs for a moment. I need to talk to you.”

Thank you Ayisha and Jean for the Ko-fi!

Ayisha had such amazing news that I couldn’t help but promise her two chapters to celebrate it. May you always find fortunate my dear! You deserve it 💖

The third chapter is Jean‘s request. By now I am happy to tell you all that the novel is completely sponsored. There will be no locked chapters at all.🎉

Of course, I would be happy if someone wants to support me still, but I had to let you know first 💝