Why did I have to transmigrate as the Villain’s younger brother? chapter 127

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Was he being sincere?

That was the first thought that crossed Raizen’s mind.

But almost immediately, he realized how foolish it was to even question it.

Sean’s words were completely genuine.

If, in the past, he had tried to hide everything he could, then now—though he couldn’t say it all—he wanted Raizen to understand.

“The present is what matters.”

Without meaning to, Raizen smiled.

Sean, upon noticing, coughed awkwardly and looked away.

The way his gaze slipped away after lingering on Raizen for just a moment felt a little disappointing.

But Raizen had no intention of forcing him to stay.

He just wanted to keep being here, just the two of them.

“Sei.”

“Hm?”

‘If I told him that I wanted us to stay like this forever, what kind of face would he make?’

Would he be scared?

Or would he find it unbearable?

Raizen scoffed at himself for only being able to imagine bad endings.

“In a year, you’ll be an adult.”

“…Yeah.”

Sean’s face was unreadable.

Was it because he couldn’t yet grasp the significance of coming of age?

Or… had he already reached his own conclusion?

“…We don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The monster wave incident couldn’t just be ignored.

Now that it had succeeded once, the dark mages could trigger another at any time.

When this issue fully surfaced, everything would spiral out of control.

‘I might not be by your side.’

“Still, when you decide where you’ll stay, will you tell me first?”

Once he became an adult, Sean would reclaim his original name.

Since his magic had transformed into divine power, even if he returned to the Kreveta Marquisate, he was unlikely to be accepted as an heir.

The previous Marquis Kreveta didn’t seem to want him back as a successor, either.

If Sean wished, he could continue living as Shane Pantheon.

‘But that would mean living in hiding forever.’

No matter where he went, he would always carry the label of an adopted commoner.

Raizen didn’t want to see him like that.

And yet… the thought of Sean not staying by his side was unbearable.

Just like his mother said, he was being stubborn.

Sean blinked slowly.

Then, as if something clicked, he let out a small “Ah…,” a hint of discomfort flickering across his face.

He quickly masked his expression, but Raizen had already seen it.

“I will, Hyung.”

“Okay.”

For now, this was enough.

Raizen told himself that.

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The moments he wished could last forever always seemed to pass the fastest.

Before long, the sun had set, and the dinner celebrating Sean’s birthday had begun.

The table was filled with his favorite dishes, and a birthday cake sat at the center.

After receiving gifts from the Duke and Duchess, Sean smiled brightly.

And then, the former Marquis Kreveta, having transformed into a magical tool, paid a secret visit.

The two spoke in a separate room for quite some time before returning.

Sean looked somewhat relieved, while the former Marquis Kreveta—oddly enough—glared at Raizen.

Tea and refreshments were set on the table.

Raizen absentmindedly sipped his tea while watching the former Marquis.

Noticing the gaze, the old man cleared his throat loudly and set his teacup down.

“So, has the young lord of Pantheon decided on a fiancée?”

Clatter!

A sharp sound rang out before he even finished speaking.

Sean had dropped his teacup.

“Ah… I—I’m sorry.”

He stammered as he scrambled to his feet.

Mila was already approaching to clean up the shards, but Sean was faster.

In his rush to gather the broken pieces, blood trickled from his hand.

“Sei!”

It happened in an instant.

Raizen hadn’t even considered that Sean would try to pick up the glass himself.

He hurried to his side.

“Sei, are you okay?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry. I’m so sorry, I was careless…”

“What are you talking about?”

Raizen quickly took out a handkerchief and pressed it against Sean’s wound.

“It’s fine. I can heal it myself. Really, I’m okay. Please don’t worry about it.”

Why did he keep saying it was fine?

Raizen felt his chest tighten in frustration.

And the way Sean kept acting like everything was his fault—that irritated him, too.

But what he hated the most was—

“Hyung, I’m really okay…”

—the way Sean kept pushing him away.

“Sei.”

Even when Raizen called his name, Sean didn’t answer.

Activating the magic tool again, his deep blue eyes seemed to be gazing at something far away, beyond this place.

Then, he finally spoke.

“But Hyung… are you engaged?”

He was hurt. Raizen could feel it instantly.

“Sei, that’s…”

“Right. It’s that time, after all. It makes sense… I’m the only one who didn’t know.”

His voice grew smaller, and with it, his pheromones drooped.

The usual lively scent vanished in an instant.

Raizen instinctively turned to glare at the former Marquis, who, for once, seemed genuinely surprised by the reaction.

“Nothing has been decided yet. It’s just… the right time for it.”

That was the truth.

It was all he could say.

But Sean’s expression remained unchanged.

“…You already knew, then.”

The resignation in his voice cut deep.

Of course Raizen had known.

But he never thought it was important.

His only concern had been keeping Sean by his side.

Thoughts of an engagement had never even crossed his mind.

“I…”

‘…I only need you.’

The words were right there, ready to spill from his lips.

But he couldn’t say them.

During Sean’s coming-of-age ceremony, they’d had a similar conversation.

When Sean had asked why, Raizen had answered simply, “Because I need you.”

“That’s not the right answer.”

That wasn’t what Sean wanted to hear.

That much was obvious.

Then what?

What should he say to bring back Sean’s usual brightness?

At that moment, his mother’s words came to him.

‘Watch Sei closely.’

‘If you really don’t know what you want, then figure out what Sei wants—and give it to him.’

Flashes of Sean’s behavior since returning to the ducal estate raced through Raizen’s mind.

The way he avoided him, despite not being uncomfortable.

The way his face reddened when Raizen visited his cabin.

How he flinched when warm breath brushed his nape.

The way his pheromones, usually calm, had been so lively before suddenly wilting just now…

[Why don’t you get it? You’re such an idiot.]

The voice, dripping with malice, rang in his ears—a voice he never thought he’d hear again.

[Sei likes you, Rai.]

“Likes me? Sei… likes me?”

That was utterly absurd.

As if a god had fallen in love with a mere human.

“There’s no way….”

[Why? Do you hate it?]

The voice whispered, never missing its chance.

[Sei’s feelings would be a perfect tool for keeping him by your side. Think about it. Could there be a better way than love?]

Now that Raizen heard it, it made sense.

No, he couldn’t think of anything else.

He even wondered why he hadn’t realized it sooner.

[If you just play along with Sei’s feelings, even a little…]

“Sei will choose to stay by my side on his own.”

There would be no need to resort to force.

Sei’s own emotions would become the shackles that bound him to me.

Raizen smiled.

Since he had his head lowered, checking on Sei, no one saw that smile.

Not even Sei, who was right beside him.

“Sei, look at me.”

Raizen’s voice was as gentle as ever as he sat Sei down.

Kneeling halfway, he pressed a handkerchief against Sei’s wound again to stop the bleeding.

“I wasn’t keeping it from you on purpose. I just… needed to be sure.”

The lies flowed easily—something that had become difficult in front of Sei in recent days.

Raizen leaned in, bringing his lips close to Sei’s ear and whispered,

“You remember what I asked back at the cabin, don’t you?”

Then, he pulled away slightly, watching Sei’s face.

As if understanding what he meant, Sei’s neck flushed red.

‘Ah…’

Yes. This was it.

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