PT | Chapter 1.1

“Your little brother and your fiancée seem awfully close these days, huh?”

A vulgar interrupter barged into his private moment.

The young man, lying on a quiet patch of grass rarely visited by students even at the academy, didn’t so much as flinch. The interrupter, wading through the knee-high grass to get closer, repeated himself.

“Hey, Crow. Your precious little brother and your fiancée have been getting all cozy, even swapping spit. Ahk!”

A thick book flew straight at the interrupter’s face, cutting him off mid-taunt. He ducked just in time, and the book—hardcover, probably 500 pages thick—crashed to the ground a few feet away. His face went pale as he turned to look back.

“Hey! What the hell? What if that hit me and left a scar?!”

“Then your boring mug would finally have some character.”

Though muttered, the comment was loud enough to reach the interrupter’s ears, making his already average-looking face flush red. Stammering in rage, he could only manage to sputter out, “Y-you… you, you…!” as the young man slowly rose from his resting position.

Sitting cross-legged and stretching languidly, the young man yawned so widely that tears sprang from his eyes. Wiping them away with long fingers, Aubrey brushed his messy hair back with a sigh.

No matter how many times he tried to smooth it down, his long hair always ended up a disheveled mess. Abandoning the effort, he tilted his head up, revealing alabaster skin, dark eyes, and crimson lips that made him impossible to ignore.

Aubrey’s striking beauty was likely the reason he was always the subject of gossip. Objectively handsome, his snow-white skin—seemingly untouched by sunlight—added a melancholic allure to his appearance. If he stayed still, he looked like a painting of an aristocrat brought to life. But anyone who knew him understood that behind his stunning looks was a dangerously unpredictable man.

Even so, there were always those bold enough—or foolish enough—to provoke him. Perhaps it was because his family was infamous for being a dysfunctional mess, making people think they could poke at him for fun. Of course, those who tried always ended up regretting it.

“W-what…?”

As Aubrey stood and approached, the interrupter took a step back.

When lying down, Aubrey’s imposing height and solid build weren’t obvious, but standing up, his presence was undeniable. His graceful movements exuded a casual confidence, but his sharp gaze held a chilling determination. He closed the distance, radiating a silent promise to punish anyone who dared disturb his peace.

“So, tell me. What exactly were my adorable little brother and my lovely fiancée up to?”

“W-well, you see, they were, uh…”

The interrupter’s mind scrambled to recall what he’d seen.

The academy they attended was co-ed, and it wasn’t uncommon for students to pair off while studying together. There was even a rose garden specifically designed for confessions. It was in that very garden where the interrupter had seen Aubrey’s famously charming younger brother and his fiancée together.

Maybe they’d simply crossed paths by chance.

Or maybe they’d exchanged a few polite words.

But the interrupter, young and brimming with wild imagination, immediately assumed the worst and rushed to snitch to Aubrey. He surely knew better than to provoke Aubrey, yet here he was, letting his mouth run wild.

Trapped by a tree and unable to retreat further, the interrupter trembled as Aubrey loomed over him, one hand braced against the tree trunk.

“Are you sure? Did you see my brother and my fiancée getting cozy with your own two eyes?”

“T-they were just standing there, looking at each other! I mean, what else could that mean? That’s totally suspicious, isn’t it?”

“…”

“What else do you even do in the rose garden? Confessing, obviously! Face it, your brother stole your fiancée—”

The interrupter was visibly trembling now, his bravado cracking under the weight of Aubrey’s glare. Despite his fear, he couldn’t resist throwing out one last snide remark. Aubrey’s lips curved into a cold smile.

“Is that so? Interesting…”

Drawing out his words in a way that sent shivers down the interrupter’s spine, Aubrey suddenly grabbed the interrupter by the crotch and shoved him sideways.

“Ahhh!”

The interrupter crumpled to the ground, clutching himself in agony. Aubrey smirked at the pitiful sight.

“If standing together means they’re ‘getting cozy,’ then what does this make us, huh? Seriously, you’re pathetic.”

Picking up his book, Aubrey gave the interrupter a sharp kick to the rear.

“Instead of obsessing over other people’s lives, why don’t you go out and get your own love life? And if you ever bother me like this again, I’ll make sure you never use those balls of yours again. Got it?!”

He had purposely chosen a secluded spot to relax, yet somehow, this pest had sniffed him out. His mood thoroughly ruined, Aubrey slung his book over his shoulder and strode off.

The day had already left him irritable and on edge. He wanted nothing more than to avoid people entirely, but it seemed that the ridiculous rumor had already spread like wildfire across the academy.

“Hey, Aubrey! Did you hear about your brother—”

“Shut your mouth!”

Aubrey’s venomous glare was enough to stop the approaching student in their tracks. They froze, hands raised in surrender, before quickly backpedaling.

“Wow, okay, you’re clearly in a bad mood. I’ll, uh, leave you alone then.”

“…”

Aubrey watched them retreat with a weary sigh.

At least that one had the sense to back off. But the academy was vast, and clueless idiots were everywhere. By the time he finally made it back to his dorm—after hearing variations of “Hey, Aubrey, did you hear?!” more times than he could count—he was done holding back his frustration. He stormed inside, slamming the door shut behind him.

–

The Toroso Empire, situated in the southern part of the continent, was a kingdom of steel.

The high-quality iron produced in Toroso was ideal for making durable battery casings. Aubrey was the fourth son of the Marquess of Wiidin, who built a business empire manufacturing trains, ships, and airships using that very iron.

Being part of such a prominent family meant even the fourth child carried considerable prestige. However, as mentioned before, Aubrey’s family was notorious for being a dysfunctional mess, filled with complexities. And among all the tangled stories, none was more complicated than that of his younger brother, the fifth son of the Marquess of Wiidin—Lennock.

Aubrey, now 20, was in his final year at the academy, while Lennock, 18, had been causing trouble ever since he enrolled at the age of fifteen. Most of the issues were minor and easily resolved under the powerful name of Wiidin, but this time was different.

Of all the people he could have involved himself with, it just had to be someone connected to Aubrey.

Or perhaps that was precisely why he did it.

Knock, knock.

“Lennock.”

Calling his name as he knocked, Aubrey opened the door. As if expecting him, the young man sitting by the windowsill turned his head lazily.

“……”

The half-open window let in a breeze that swept through the youth’s striking figure. Like a character straight out of a classic novel, he had hair spun from sunlight, jewel-like eyes, and a face sculpted by the gods themselves. Everything about him screamed perfection.

Even without doing anything, he radiated an aura that made him seem otherworldly. Aubrey, standing in the doorway, stared at his younger brother for a moment before stepping forward. Crossing his arms, he addressed him.

“What is it this time? What trouble did you stir up?”

Surely there must be some unavoidable reason, Aubrey thought, trying to be lenient as he waited for Lennock’s response. But the brat didn’t bother answering, simply gazing up at him in silence.

Suddenly, Aubrey remembered that the window Lennock was perched on was on the fifth floor.

Should I just push him? If I’m lucky, he’ll land headfirst and break his neck. Or maybe I could use this book to knock his jaw out of alignment.

Just imagining it made his heart race, a dry heat rising in his throat. But Aubrey suppressed the urge, setting his book down in the corner of the windowsill instead. Instead of acting on his thoughts, he placed his hands on Lennock’s face, leaning in with a seemingly kind expression.

“Why do you keep causing problems? What if Father finds out and punishes you again? You wouldn’t want to end up tied up and whipped like before, right? That must’ve hurt a lot.”

“……”

“Half the women in Toroso are out there. Did you really have to go after someone connected to me? If you want, I can find you a suitable match. Someone experienced, perhaps? You’re still young, after all.”