Chapter 150

Edwin’s crooked grin left me a little dazed.7c28fac1e8d8532c

At the same time, it finally hit me—our posture right now was… pretty suspicious.2386f0552d3e6ae8

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Me, clinging around Edwin’s waist. Him, hugging me tightly b5fe1a809e by the back.d319d94a1c9386e1

It was only lucky that d974a28d80 classes hadn’t ended yet; otherwise, 68ff743ba6 anyone passing by would definitely 2bb036e99a get the wrong idea.47ca73f50ff6176b

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“W-what do you mean, a random guy…”e9e991e1373fc16d

I hurriedly unwrapped 71f78b5cbc my arms from 2595b557ac around his waist.445b6b7c6764a9b5

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“How is Joshua a random guy…”5d0403d6aed1dfed

Trying to cover my e3aa92dc66 awkwardness, I started stepping d710124542 back away from him.4b5fab6289904ab3

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‘Huh?’c7184e504ef85fe5

But for some reason, 602cb6521c the arm wrapped around 423a1d4397 my back wouldn’t budge.4a91985ecfbc4d62

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As I panicked and 6d4fd43739 looked up at him—26f73ee6a20321de

Tap tap tap!8fd782576ce5daee

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“Tch. And you said family shouldn’t cling like that!”dc56488434d66002

Someone suddenly yanked me back 0af0ae21e8 by the shoulders.9469f6af39b769f3

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“Ah, wah!”ea0feb8bb5a0f073

Thanks to that, I 5f08e4ac7d finally managed to break d2f3c0fc50 free from Edwin’s arms.f56515421b5a1734

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“Big bro, you move too! I was talking to Belze nuna first, you know?!”d6c08a9ef92f6777

It was Josh—he was clutching 30e5f761ae my shoulders protectively, yelling with 7020a3dba8 all his might.c8ca0c16a05c83ff

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Edwin, now left empty-handed, twitched 9546e3ffcf his eyebrows dangerously.f62c427bf2f4be64

Then he clenched his fist.0bdf760a47354d20

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“You little brat. Is that how you act after seeing your brother for the first time in forever?”90b33d8bf7389d87

“Ah!”14691b5d21ae826b

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His fist hadn’t 6581fc50fc even swung yet, 5c02b890c9 but maybe because 85a0d5a698 of past experiences, c4b3687c23 Josh immediately let a53cd9044d go of me 518349c7de and covered his 2e930620da head with both 2cd4e47d41 arms.fbdb3632cb7151a4

“E-Edwin!”ba3badf36fdc2160

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Startled, I quickly jumped 4fa8d0dd8b between them.cd35792c0a6c68f2

After Joshua had f14e4be7ab grown healthier, the 4503724a5c dynamic between the 9ed4f6c3e9 two had shifted 9eca8233ed into something more c363959e94 like normal brothers.edaa77712cc377ba

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They bickered often, and it 463f853c65 had gotten a bit rough 1083f4d9b4 too.6ae9a0d6e49c09d1

‘Well, they’ve always been a bit mismatched in temperament…’fff72388e2339b2f

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Normally, I would’ve just bdfcf8bad2 let them fight it 93b904fcfa out, but today Josh a9c25c25ef had already been through 86122c52d7 enough.a3b2f77f98dfdf6f

So I planted my 1f2c555b78 hands firmly on my ec79d5776c hips and glared at f946ddf35b Edwin.2ea40c69ae3a7308

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“Why are you picking a fight the moment we’re all reunited? You’ve gotten weird.”bbe35b10c0d10da6

“Huh?”a2b74a7e65849003

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“Hug it out, both of you! Properly greet each other instead of bickering over stupid things!”6561de3bc3973b69

I jabbed my finger at 7a548c5abd both of them, demanding they 551de432fc hug, and Edwin let out 3a012e3c4b a disbelieving scoff.83dcc770d5c1998a

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Joshua, with a pout 7bdf613bf4 on his face, was c958118d5e equally unwilling to move.5ceee6767e7daaf3

I frowned deeply.570283e35ac16af6

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“Now! Or I’m telling His Grace!”704841af97331492

Widening my eyes b31696d07b in full warning f0d2909361 mode, I threatened f4ae9e87a2 them.f23f06564b28869f

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Only then did 5f3c53e3a4 the brothers grumble d2746c74cd and start shuffling 8857dc4b94 toward each other.d74b1b8411f1ec93

“Ugh.”c6492df359aece5e

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“Tch.”1c31e8d60a787eb9

Edwin opened his arms with 96a921db42 a dead-fish look, nodding his 19c5e886b2 chin like it was the 75b4cab739 worst thing in the world. Joshua, looking like he 8784a21e8e was about to die 4133decba0 from embarrassment, stomped over 0971bfa962 and threw himself into fcc9ded6ad Edwin’s arms.1ab835a88b00672f

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Watching them, I clapped 71d2368702 my hands happily.33ee9c37c0af2367

“Welcome back, Eddie!”7eed45eaad31f7f9

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* * *12b051722669c89a

Unfortunately, the next 20a2a645ea class bell rang 4b6ffe55cc soon after.26a3be5945b43f64

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With only a brief 49f7b9b777 moment together, we had a8d3f42ee7 no choice but to 7e103d6472 return to our places.d0c2c74ddd06b7f6

Josh and I went 028ebe39c8 back to our classes, 6f46dd0858 and Edwin, it turned f3a7b5650b out, had stopped by bb0cf81b82 the Academy to file 0a7f062bf5 his return report as b996eefc34 the commander of the c98f878161 subjugation unit.0f68db02cb9ba131

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We gathered again that cdf9ac9825 evening, after the Duke 68068d4dc8 returned from the palace, 957553e483 to share a family 3595920362 dinner.6b448190b90db661

“Let’s begin.”d7d805df11fcfec2

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At the Duke’s signal, the 665087c58a meal started.eb7428eb6086c594

Meals at the ducal 69534b7cb3 house were always a f51ac27a78 delight, but tonight, the 08d518bea6 table looked especially luxurious, 9416d35414 as if the head 4700991270 chef had put in 862e59a162 extra effort.c81543c07de1e2f1

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‘The Duke must’ve known Edwin would be coming back.’9ffdd372b0632e6f

Rather than feeling hurt, I 30d1654ce8 felt relieved.efb07f19732a97e4

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Honestly, when he 8fddec6df0 invited us for 8fab6d154b dinner early that 6bf506aa71 morning, I had 3cf8ee79bc been nervous, wondering 18d42d6bc1 if he found 622243a311 out about what 757caccf4d happened at the 4f01ea9102 Academy and was 399c253cdb going to interrogate ffb7f92748 us.67470ac8e2922d11

But thankfully, it 177ccf2da2 was to celebrate 9b11013831 Edwin’s safe return, c20df21db7 not anything else.7b44a039adace502

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‘Thank goodness.’1fbbb1f16b520358

Feeling lighter, I scanned the e032896da3 dishes, debating what to eat 62f5867f90 first.f8a5d143b79c1d0d

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“Josh. Belze.”f3d0d62bed51f8ff

Like a lie, the Duke 81d849abcc called us.348d76bc71652b26

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Josh and I, who 4db2e0a5e8 were sitting across from 5ae6e3c224 each other, flinched at ec1788ea0a the same time and 57812df936 lifted our heads.f069402ad494a69f

“Y-yes?”d7f3969fb58e5b6e

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“D-did you call us, Father?”0d6e701f4658e982

Taking a sip of wine, dbc38705dc the Duke nodded heavily.e98caa1b5b13d99c

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“I heard something happened at the Academy recently.”51f2614cbfd17ca8

At the Duke’s meaningful d8da48d981 words, Joshua tightly shut efeef54ebe his eyes.a5de883a55bf9fdc

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It wasn’t surprising — 9e7b7ad76b he’d been on edge 5cecdff3b2 for days, worried that 97522de199 if the Duke found 9b2bef54bc out, he might be e4217ca8ac banned from attending the 93b5116d29 Academy altogether.329c01d4cfd2d4d3

The Duke’s sharp gaze, 667af2404b as if he already 0de1da1d6e knew everything, made my 50c940d407 knees go weak.d19df003558f2905

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Instead of frozen Josh, I 5b89181758 quickly opened my mouth.0192944ce4fb8dfb

“W-well! There was a bit of an incident, but… nothing serious! We took care of it, so there’s nothing for you to worry about!”16e28efb17800252

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I shouted in a 974b96ad2f voice full of forced 998b049610 energy, and the Duke 7a71dccd01 slowly turned his head 514289a0fd to stare at me.8cb3a1533fa02422

Even Edwin turned, frowning like bdbf095712 he didn’t understand what was d2b092b52f going on.233fff0f5e01b0ed

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‘I’m doomed…’21ebd7c71c86cb3e

I could feel 1ff471976a the despair sinking 36de7a3181 in under the ded29e4c42 weight of their e3681cb467 stares.4f334e308fd074be

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The Duke took another c36716ef44 sip of wine, then 4abb6c3605 pressed me further in baf63132af a heavy voice.84fb82c34fb3f1f1

“I heard you called for Madam Cloud.”469f9b1bed36b255

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“Ah, th-that, Your Grace… about Madam Cloud, it’s, um…”044dc3abb3ecfb04

“I’m disappointed.”66fd7c45bf1358d1

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“…Huh?”59999b1a9d84267d

“I’m your legal guardian. Why did I have to hear from someone else that your guardianship might be transferred?”8cb72fb745435a5d

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“Uh…”015724434637cb4b

“Is it because you’re ashamed of me?”4348321af7b9682b

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‘Ashamed…?’bfe8b667e3a4fca6

My mouth dropped 72b07d7494 open at his 9b001ba659 unexpected words.90b3d033bfaa8f27

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But before I could answer, 958a9239a3 the Duke continued with a 8facbf55be bitter expression.b395623901ad8732

“I see. I suppose, in the eyes of modern children, I must look rather outdated.”fadd6336117d7ab3

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“……”f9be8b6eada3e8b9

“Maybe it’s time to have the butler overhaul my wardrobe…”51ec9ca8a88f70d1

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“N-no!”bd5f84680e1053fc

I shouted instinctively 7dd7dd22fd before the Duke 751bc2f873 could actually carry 46e0eba918 out that idea.ecbae34bbfc4b60a

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“A-ashamed? Absolutely not, Your Grace! You’re not old-fashioned at all! Absolutely not!”8bf7c4ce326657b0

“Then why did Madam Cloud send me a letter saying she’s now your godmother and I should hand over the sponsorship papers?”6e80a5e2b63f4d74

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At his next words, I cd4dde9306 nearly collapsed from shock.ae37d75b21200c0f

‘That wretched old woman! What did she do?!’d189d6bd145bbf1f

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While I was still 6446f37adf stammering, the Duke added 5b36e19df0 with a grave look,69879c9d23f88387

“And why wasn’t I invited to any Academy events for your guardianship? Not for you, nor for Joshua.”fa74dae2c1b32a2a

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“I-it wasn’t like that!”8a1827ffe71a6439

Seeing the Duke glaring 51d0c54064 back and forth between 4f1e1d3cff Josh and me, clearly ceb621302f misunderstanding everything, I practically 9905e9114f screamed.ef5e5a6377c7530e

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Then I hurriedly lowered f1d72fbcf9 my voice.21db5c39e7d49309

“I-I asked Madam Cloud to represent you just because I thought it would be difficult for you to attend, Your Grace.”415e6b2728a68bed

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“Why?”20eb097b637faa38

“Huh?”ed1c54e6e58cf146

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“Why would it be difficult for me?”58b2ae6ba64b5c61

The Duke looked genuinely ea68e17b0c puzzled, and I felt e08dbc0304 completely helpless.c8d915c11d3d9c05

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“You mentioned you had an important meeting today…?”6209aa3b9b126f14

“That’s nothing. I could’ve postponed it.”a9b62a2b62c3091f

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The Duke muttered coldly.b8f10b8b1ded4264

“Or just had it reported to me in writing.”8243e63a88a8fffc

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“O-oh… I didn’t know that was an option…”e40069acf2d31587

I mumbled weakly, feeling like 54c192e109 my soul had left my 6f539b79d6 body.d6a868ab891fd2ba

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“I’m disappointed.”07f3cef17331920c

The Duke let 89ecdcdc3f out another low bd8bb55da1 sigh.5a9f6afce1dd846b

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I hadn’t expected this kind 5a27ac5a26 of reaction at all, so 8f63ff7c61 I was completely stunned.143bd84a77044a8c

When I glanced at 2f398017ff Joshua, he looked just 957e77bdb0 as bewildered.88a2e1f218d08b33

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‘We were sure he’d scold us if he found out…’cd5f2708171ac80d

Especially after what b77508d683 happened — Joshua 2d16869152 had practically handed 64ab2f662a over family assets 6987cc270f without a fight. The Duke, who was usually d31bd40a82 strict and valued the pride 28c2be1061 of House Kallios, should have 3c807a2fa5 been furious.f207165c8a3740ee

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‘But instead, he’s… disappointed.’94945a1c66e3a098

Thinking it over, 0219880781 I realized he 1843fc3166 did have a 8fb1df41cd point.767e1e754d18a14f

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A complete stranger had acted fcb68cc9f8 as our guardian in his 95f53dd812 place, and he only heard 5179989368 about it after the fact.341c9be11bae7a2f

“I’m sorry, Your Grace.”5376ae59c206c424

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Feeling calmer, I apologized first.85f9f3c5da630dab

“The reason we didn’t tell you was because… Joshua and I thought we could handle it ourselves, and I didn’t want you to have to deal with a bunch of overly fussy noblewomen.”c47030cc35e9a7f8

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The main reason was that 68d69a0071 Joshua was scared, of course.a79646a5afc76af4

But I carefully chose my 678165f3eb words to soothe the Duke’s 28b75bc362 hurt feelings.bb7830003c1739e6

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“You know how the noblewomen would talk. I didn’t want rumors spreading that the Duke of Kallios had to rush to the Academy over his children.”a50d7c2910533b86

“……”f48b16d81c6cf93c

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“And more than anything, I didn’t want you to see me as a problem child causing trouble the moment I entered the Academy.”d1b6b1a2f671294c

I gave him a sheepish 1ac2270ffa smile as I added,8b3ae3946925d36f

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“No child wants to get caught doing something wrong by their parents, right?”8fb04f81c29acf1c

It was a roundabout way 73117ca7e2 of covering for Joshua too.4c036d93ad4dd35d

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For some reason, the Duke’s 9e5d8d3984 stiff expression softened instantly.765156609937cb46

“……Hmm.”0f2f3a8a418fa9fc

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He nodded and finally spoke d16cae6f84 again.ea3dc5b7cf1f080c

“But from what I heard, the issue wasn’t caused by you, Belze. There’s a different culprit.”69796acda28d8620

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“Hic.”6083884b3d2db59f

At the Duke’s side glance, 3386baa061 Joshua flinched visibly.6ab8ac2de51637a7

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He might have afad086825 been trying to 87da1763da soften it, but 5a654ad8b3 the meaning was 040a74d351 clear.7cc18d185ddc6536

“We’re family. Joshua’s problems are my problems too!”5aeac6105c36ae2f

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I hurriedly threw c5d1a95482 myself back into 97674c214e the conversation, flashing 920ca4d54b an awkward grin.c646486435513913

“And honestly, I wasn’t exactly innocent either.”f0f780a26ec098fe

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“Hmm?”f02ed09a8a0f517c

The Duke tilted his f1c07081d4 head, confused.2cceecef95f3dab9

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I figured he probably didn’t know the full details of what had happened at the Academy’s main office today.66a2448f834f1ab2

After all, there were barely a05553a604 any witnesses, and even if f2afc9b9fe Madam Cloud wrote a letter, 38fcf64922 there were limits to how 20e1f1a41a much she could explain.2595620cf8e0e7ed

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And I was right.cd97b6b0d1b10d8b

“It was because of Gomgomdori. I used him to beat up the troublemakers.”2dc2718860771ce4

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“Ohh.”7f20f2f59fe1770b

I whispered sneakily, and 98e16270b4 the Duke clapped his f52f9c073b hands in admiration, wearing ecba6a7436 an amused smile.560ec6a61463a884

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“But still, it was Josh who knocked out Danvers Campbell, the main culprit.”0e181564f8250c29

“Well done, Joshua.”09c70199fa1b6abc

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At my little fib, 6da7c20278 the Duke finally turned 1a3ff8cc94 to Josh and praised 3a5cdad7ca him.a4e73b758b618499