PT | Chapter 1.4

“From the start, Miss Madeleine and I were never engaged. It was a misunderstanding by others, and as a result, my younger brother made a mistake toward you. He mistook you for my fiancée and, upon a chance meeting, clumsily congratulated you.”

As Aubrey explained, the teachers in the room seemed doubtful but gradually adopted expressions of, Ah, so that’s how it was. Madeleine, however, wasn’t buying it. Flustered by how the situation was diverging from her own understanding, she shook her head.

When she began to speak, “Aubrey-ssi,” Aubrey cut her off by placing a hand over his chest.

“As you know, our family relationships are quite complicated, and lately, Lennock has been avoiding talking to me entirely. Because of that, I even found myself confused about whether my older brother’s fiancée was real or not. That’s why this unfortunate incident happened. For that, I sincerely apologize.”

With his apology, Aubrey bowed his head. Madeleine, flustered, didn’t know how to respond.

“No, it’s not… I mean…”

If she let him continue, this matter would end in an ambiguous resolution. However, if either Madeleine or Lennock had different feelings about the situation, this approach was far from ideal.

Aubrey, however, knew Lennock well enough. He wasn’t someone who showed interest in others. Lennock probably wasn’t even aware that Madeleine was being referred to as his fiancée. That meant it was Madeleine who had deliberately approached Lennock in the rose garden.

Straightening his posture, Aubrey looked down at Madeleine, who was shaking her head subtly as she gazed at him. Speaking as if offering advice to a pitiable woman harboring feelings for his younger brother, he said:

“You might not find me satisfactory. But Lennock and I were raised as brothers, even if we share no blood. If you approached him knowing that, then this isn’t just our problem anymore. I believe your father would find this quite troublesome, wouldn’t he?”

Aubrey deliberately trailed off, his smile deepening. Yet, his eyes held no trace of humor. The chilling undertone in his sunken gaze and his thinly veiled warning sent shivers down Madeleine’s spine.

It was only then that she became acutely aware of the looks directed at her. Her cheeks, flushed red from crying, turned pale as she stammered in a trembling voice.

“Th-there must have been some misunderstanding on your brother’s part.”

“Exactly. Wouldn’t it be best to leave it at that?”

“……”

“I’ll explain everything to my father, so please make sure to explain things clearly to your family as well. So that no unnecessary trouble arises later.”

If Aubrey had had just a bit more patience, he might have added a few words of comfort. But being dragged into the headmaster’s office over something as trivial as this had already worn his patience thin. Turning his back, he looked at the headmaster and teachers.

“I trust you all to handle the rest. I’ll take my leave.”

Aubrey’s smile was impeccable, like it had been painted on, but there was a sharp edge to it.

The teachers, who had assumed some scandal involving two brothers and a woman, awkwardly cleared their throats. The headmaster gestured as if to conclude the matter.

“Yes, it seems this was all just a misunderstanding. We’ll take care of the rest.”

“I trust you, Headmaster.”

“Yes, yes, leave it to me. Also, be sure to explain things well to your father.”

The Wiidin Marquessate topped the academy’s annual list of donors. From the headmaster’s perspective, he had no desire to upset such a significant benefactor. Knowing the headmaster would go to great lengths to resolve this matter, Aubrey offered a brief bow before leaving.

As he stepped out, Madeleine reached out and called urgently, “Wait, just a moment,” but he didn’t bother to respond.

Outside the headmaster’s office, Aubrey closed his eyes.

“…….”

It would’ve been nice to throw his hands up and walk away, claiming ignorance. But that wasn’t an option. In this life, he had resolved to help and look after others—albeit begrudgingly.

“This is so exhausting.”

Aubrey’s face, as he walked briskly away, was visibly tense. It practically screamed, Don’t bother me unless it’s important. Yet, despite his demeanor, comments flew at him from all sides.

“Hey, Aubrey! Your amazing little brother—!”

“It’s not like that, so shut up! Spread any more rumors, and I’ll sue!”

Yesterday, he could’ve stopped at telling them to shut up, but not today. Having more or less cleaned up the mess and secured the headmaster’s agreement to keep things quiet, Aubrey couldn’t allow the gossip to persist.

When he snapped, glaring fiercely, the gathered students shrank back and retreated.

–

Aubrey, the fourth son of the Marquis Wiidin family, was a man who received starkly contrasting evaluations.

Some considered him a charmingly good-natured man with a decent sense of humor and an outstanding appearance. Others dismissed him as a self-absorbed jerk, prickly and impossible to understand, who lived only for his own satisfaction—and ultimately, just a bastard child anyway.

The fact that he was the illegitimate son brought home by the marquis, who himself was only a son-in-law, was a considerable weakness. However, Marquis Wiidin was a man with immense ambition and an insatiable thirst for success, someone who had become indispensable in the Toroso Empire. Though he had initially clung to the Wiidin family to rise, he eventually gained complete control over it. No one could ignore such a man. It was thanks to his extraordinary father that Aubrey, despite not sharing a single drop of the family’s blood, could carry himself so confidently.

But what about Lennock?

Lennock wasn’t even the marquis’s child; he was a complete outsider. His admission to the noble academy was only possible because he was officially registered as the marquis’s son. Yet Lennock was an adopted child with no blood ties to the marquis. This made him a prime target for bullying as soon as he enrolled.

Nobles, by nature, discriminated as easily as they breathed. They were particularly sensitive to hierarchical distinctions based on bloodlines. Even Aubrey, as the marquis’s illegitimate son, had once been locked in bathrooms and nearly beaten up in storage rooms during his early years. Of course, having gone through multiple regressions, Aubrey was well-accustomed to such situations and preemptively stabbed his would-be assailants in the stomach. The ones who got suspended weren’t Aubrey but the ones he stabbed. The students quickly learned not to mess with him.

The academy was a microcosm of society. Children quickly understood the flow of power. Although the marquis was a commoner by birth and only a son-in-law, he was a major power in Toroso. Aubrey, who bore a striking resemblance to the marquis with his hair and eyes, was said to have been doted on since childhood.

The fact that Aubrey was illegitimate no longer mattered much. People naturally gravitated toward him, and Aubrey, understanding the importance of relationships, made an effort to blend in quietly.

If even Aubrey faced challenges as the marquis’s son, Lennock’s situation should have been far worse. Ironically, though, Lennock adapted to academy life from the very start without any trouble. The reason wasn’t Aubrey’s effective intervention or the ever-growing influence of the marquis. It was simply Lennock’s overwhelmingly stunning appearance.

Creak.

The classroom door opened, signaling the end of class. Some students remained inside, while Lennock stood leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. Despite being only eighteen, Lennock had a physique comparable to Aubrey, who was twenty, and stood out unmistakably among the students.

One boy, sticking close to Lennock, hesitantly glanced at Aubrey and spoke.

“…Should we step aside for a bit?”

“Is that the vibe we’re getting?”

The boys seemed reluctant to leave, having enjoyed themselves until now, but Aubrey had pressing matters to discuss with his annoyingly perfect younger brother.

Leaning against the open door, Aubrey smiled warmly.

“It seems I need to talk with Lennock about a family matter. What do you think?”

Although it was phrased as a question, the underlying meaning was clear: “Take the hint and clear out.” The boys exchanged glances and gradually began moving. They each greeted Aubrey as they left, and he responded to them with polite smiles until the door finally closed. Once it did, Aubrey’s expression immediately hardened.

With a deep sigh, Aubrey lowered his head.

“Ha…”

God, it’s exhausting. Why am I still suffering because of this brat after countless regressions?

Ruffling his hair in frustration, Aubrey muttered, “Damn it.”

Strictly speaking, none of this was Lennock’s fault.

The scrawny, grimy orphan he once was had completely transformed as he grew up. The shabby boy had vanished, replaced by a noble-looking young man brimming with grace from head to toe—so much so that he was often called the most handsome of the Wiidin family, despite not sharing their blood.

Apparently, overwhelming good looks could cancel out all other flaws and weaknesses. That’s why there were always people falling head over heels for him, boldly confessing their love. This time, it was probably because of that Madeleine or whoever she was. Yeah, that must be it. I should just understand and let it go, but—

Releasing his hair, Aubrey lifted his head and marched toward Lennock, grabbing him by the collar. Bringing his face close, he growled lowly.