* * *
The next afternoon.
“Luaia!”
As soon as the doctor, Paul, said he could move again, Silvian, who had reluctantly agreed to Zeroth’s suggestion to be examined, urgently called out.
“Can I see Martius now?!”
At his desperate eyes, Zeroth nodded.
It had already been two days since he woke up, and he hadn’t seen his brother yet—it was eating him up.
Even now, his pale complexion bothered Zeroth greatly.
“What would you like to wear? Something that makes you look more energetic would be better than something somber today, right?”
Luaia laid out several outfits, saying something bright would be best.
“I’ll wear the green one today.”
“Yes! I’ll get it ready right away!”
Silvian took Zeroth’s hand and headed for the bath.
“Phew. Martius isn’t crying because he’s scared, right?”
Standing outside the parlor where Martius was waiting, Silvian clutched Zeroth’s hand with a worried expression.
‘He’s not the type to cry—more likely to kill the bastard who hurt me.’
Even after crushing Timothy, he came to Silvian looking frustrated that he hadn’t hit him more.
“Don’t worry. He’s calmed down a lot.”
Actually, Martius had only taken Timothy down and was still itching to do more, but Zeroth had no intention of telling Silvian that.
Click.
The door to the parlor opened, revealing his pale younger brother waiting inside.
“Marti…”
Sniffle.
Of course, it was Silvian who cried first.
Zeroth gently patted his shoulder, feeling pity for him, who cried despite worrying so much for his brother.
“Hyung!”
Martius shot up from his seat and ran to him.
After bowing to Zeroth, he began checking Silvian’s condition.
“Are you okay? You’re not still sick, are you?”
He naturally placed his hand on Silvian’s forehead to check for fever.
“Good. No fever.”
“Young lord, the Ducal physician already checked him. There’s no need to worry.”
At Zeroth’s subtle glance, Martius stepped back.
‘How can two brothers be so different?’
Zeroth gently led Silvian to the sofa.
“I’ll leave you two to talk in private.”
“Zeroth… thank you.”
With heavy eyes, Silvian looked up at him.
Zeroth kissed him and reluctantly left the parlor.
“Marti, are you really okay? They said… sniff… they said something awful happened.”
“Hyung, please don’t cry! I’m fine! You’ll get a fever again!”
Martius grew flustered at his brother’s trembling hands gripping his own so tightly.
“I’m a knight of the Royal Order—you think just anyone can lay a hand on me?”
“But he was a knight too… sniff…”
Silvian wiped his tears quickly and examined his brother carefully.
Just the thought of some lunatic laying hands on his precious younger brother made his blood boil.
“I’m stronger than some guy who bribed his way in.”
Martius grinned, trying to cheer him up.
Honestly, it was easier to talk to his brother without their parents around.
“Do you have to go back to the viscount’s house?”
“I’ll be staying at the Order’s quarters for now.”
“What if they treat you badly again?”
Duke Graham would protect him, but Silvian’s desperate eyes, clutching his hand, made Martius hesitate.
‘If Martius helps out, it’ll be easier to move around the Ducal estate too.’
He could keep his brother safe and use him as an excuse to avoid having a guard follow him everywhere.
“I’ll talk to the Duke about it.”
“He’s sentenced to death for worse crimes than just what he did to me, so… he won’t be able to come after me, right?”
Martius scratched his head and sighed deeply.
“Alright. But just for a little while, okay? Brother, you need to think about what others might say.”
He glanced around and lowered his voice.
Silvian was touched that his little brother had grown enough to care about appearances.
“It’s not good for me to stay at the Ducal estate too long—for you or for the Duke.”
“Marti… it’s fine.”
“You might not realize it yet, but—”
‘Cute kid. Still always thinking of me.’
Ever since they were young, he was like that.
Even while being scolded, he’d throw tantrums trying to take lessons with Silvian and get in trouble with their father.
Eventually, their father locked Silvian away, and the only time they could be together was late at night when Martius would sneak into his bed.
That boy was still firmly on his side.
“Hyung?”
“Marti, if I say I’m okay—then I am.”
Martius tilted his head at the look in Silvian’s eyes.
‘Has the Duke’s love really changed him this much?’
His brother’s once-fragile eyes were now filled with resolve.
“No matter what others think, it doesn’t matter. You’re my little brother—what could they say?”
“But the viscount’s family… we’re not exactly equal in status.”
“It’ll happen soon. And don’t be surprised if something happens to our parents.”
Martius’s eyes trembled at Sylvian’s loaded words.
He could hide things from others, but never from his younger brother.
Better to give a warning than watch him fall apart from the shock.
“Wait, is something going to happen?”
He nodded.
Probably.
“Zeroth is, well… just… yeah.”
Sylvian’s face hardened as he blamed the duke.
Truthfully, if it weren’t for Martius, he’d have wanted to kill them.
That’s how much he hated them.
Everything about those two—the way his body froze just at the sight of them, the pain-filled memories—he despised it all.
The only warmth he ever felt during that long, dark tunnel of time… had come from Martius.
“If there’s something you want to do, don’t worry about me. As long as you’re okay, that’s enough for me.”
Martius parted his lips, wanting to confess a secret he had never told his brother.
Would he…?
If it’s his brother, would he understand?
After all, their parents hadn’t been good to him either.
All he ever wanted was attention, to be loved.
“Hyung… actually—”
“Marti. You can’t say it.”
His brother’s firm tone made Martius’s eyes widen in disbelief.
“No way…”
“You can’t tell anyone. It has to stay secret—no one else can know.”
“…Why? Why didn’t you say anything?”
As their eyes met, Sylvian shook his head.
“Because I have to protect you. So it’s just between us. No one knows what will happen to our parents. No one.”
Seeing his little brother trembling, Sylvian bit his lip tightly.
“Marti, you trust me, right?”
“Yeah. You’re all I’ve got.”
“I have something I need to do. Will you help me?”
The kind little brother just nodded silently.
His brother already knew his secret—there was no way he’d ever hurt him.
“You’re such a good little brother.”
Sylvian smiled brightly and pulled him into an embrace.
Safe in his brother’s arms, Martius began to cry.
* * *
