I Will Protect My Brother - Chapter 10

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 10
While the young Family Head of Whiszel, who had never laid eyes upon Lozietti Kirges, remained oblivious, the retired predecessor would have felt an identical sense of déjà vu.
How could two people resemble each other to such an extent? The same appearance, the same voice, even possessing an unparalleled, transcendent level of skill….
Regina closed her eyes as her mind reeled. In that moment, the keepsake the child had left behind flashed through her consciousness.
‘Lozietti Kirges’s Planetarium!’
The celestial projection device that all sorcerers of the Kirges family possessed—the Planetarium responded only to its master’s mana. Lozietti Kirges’s Planetarium had ceased functioning the moment she drew her final breath.
Regina still possessed that broken artifact.
What if this girl called Rosien were somehow connected to Lozietti Kirges in any way?
‘The Planetarium would activate.’
Determination kindled in Regina’s dark eyes as they opened.
“Two days hence, immediately following the conclusion of the Continental Conference, I shall send an invitation in the name of the Imperial Palace to the Wynack Family.”
“Who shall be invited?”
“Three in total: the Family Head of Wynack, the heir, and a disciple by the name of Rosien. The condition is that all three must attend together.”
“Would the lesser Wynack come willingly?”
“They will come. If only to ascertain the identity of that sacred artifact in the harem.”
The identity of a sacred artifact that had never once been revealed to the world.
How could one not be curious?
To the Transcendent Families, a sacred artifact was nothing less than the finest delicacy to whet one’s appetite.
Only then did Regina’s lips curve upward slightly.
‘So bring me that child you cherish so dearly, lesser Wynack.’
It seemed I would need to see that girl once more.
* * *
After returning to the mansion where we were staying, following a series of tumultuous events, I immediately sent Kalien to the bathhouse.
And I asked the maidservant Lina for some warm milk with melted chocolate.
“No, Rosien. You’ve been skipping protein lately and just snacking on sweets. You said you wanted to build muscle, didn’t you?”
The people in this household sometimes treated me as though I were two years old rather than twelve. I shook my head confidently.
“It’s not for me, Lina. It’s for the young master.”
“The young heir? Surely….”
Though it would soon be mine, of course.
Lina looked at me as though I were mad, my expression turning devious.
Clutching the mug I had pilfered from her, I returned to my room, where Kalien was shaking the moisture from his hair.
“Kali. How about a cup of cocoa? It’s good for calming the mind and spirit.”
“I’d prefer Rosy, who couldn’t sleep from worrying about me, to drink it instead.”
Kalien, now returned to his usual obedient young master demeanor, fed me the cocoa I had brought, just as always.
Truly an angelic person. He shouldn’t be like this with anyone else.
Though my mind thought such things, I drank down the entire cup of cocoa, heaped with marshmallows, as though entranced.
Sigh, it seems those twelve years in the slums had awakened an appetite I thought long dormant.
“Shall I bring another cup?”
“No, I can’t. If anyone notices, I’ll be scolded. You know this is absolutely secret from Lina, right?”
“Understood. Now let’s eat cookies.”
Kalien leaned back against the opposite sofa at an angle, contentedly watching me devour the chocolate chip cookies.
Then he asked in a casual tone.
“By the way, Rosien. I happened to overhear something when I met the Emperor.”
“Hmm?”
“Apparently, there’s a sacred artifact hidden in the Delpiam Imperial Palace. One left behind by Winyak’s Star.”
“Oh, that?”
“…Oh, that?”
Kalien repeated my words slowly. I spoke casually.
“It’s a sword.”
“A sword.”
“Yeah. An old, broken sword, they said. Just the hilt and half the blade left behind without even a scabbard.”
I realized how unusually quiet Kalien had become when I noticed he was still holding the cookie he’d been about to hand me.
Puzzled, I tugged at his sleeve.
“What’s wrong, oppa? You look like you’re hearing this for the first time…”
Something felt ominous about this.
Only then did my thoughts reach a fact I had carelessly overlooked.
My lips twitched awkwardly.
Could it be that even after 12 years, that sacred artifact still hadn’t been revealed to the world…?
‘Damn it. If that artifact had come into Winyak’s possession, there’s no way I wouldn’t have known!’
This foolish Lozietti Kirges!
Kalien was looking at me with the same expression as always. Meanwhile, my spine went cold. This was harder not to suspect.
So far, only two sacred artifacts had appeared on the Continent. Those owned by the Transcendent Families Yeljewa and Raylo.
The sacred artifact of Yeljewa, the Transcendent Family that dreams of prophecy, is the Eye of Foresight.
Raylo’s sacred artifact, which performs miracles of healing, is the Crystal of Resurrection.
As far as I knew, the sacred artifact secretly kept by the Delpiam Imperial Family was one left behind by Winyak’s Star.
In my previous life as Lozietti Kirges, I had once snuck into the Imperial Palace to catch a glimpse of that sacred artifact.
It was something I did out of curiosity after overhearing the Family Heads’ conversation.
Of course, I was caught by Regina just before reaching it.
Regardless, I clearly remembered what that sacred artifact looked like and what kind of power it possessed.
Since it was an artifact left by Winyak’s Star, it would be useless to anyone other than Winyak. In fact, without finding the proper master, it was likely to go berserk.
But it hadn’t returned to Winyak in the past 12 years?
That meant only those related to the Delpiam Imperial Family, the Transcendent Family Kirges of Delpiam, or the executives of Whiszel knew about it.
Not to mention Owen Wynack, but even Kalien!
But if a child from Winyak with unclear origins knew this much detail about the sacred artifact…?
I wanted to beat my intestines, which were lighter than a paper boat, senseless.
At this rate, I’ll sink without even a squeak!
‘I was reckless.’
Kalien was staring at me without even blinking once.
My mouth went dry at his expressionless face.
If Kalien pressed me about the source of the information, I would surely run out of excuses.
Perhaps I would be branded a spy for Kirges or Whiszel.
Even without that, many around the mansion—including Family Head Owen Wynack himself—viewed me with suspicion, an unknown child of unclear origins lingering near the young master.
I grew tense and studied Kalien’s expression carefully.
‘Perhaps I should cast a memory manipulation spell….’
But the risk was far too great. No matter how weak Kalien appeared, he remained the sole heir of Winyak.
He could not possibly fail to sense the star’s mana that turned brains to pulp.
Moreover, memory-altering sorcery—unlike simple brainwashing—required variable amounts of mana. A planetarium to help calculate the exact coordinates of the star, the source of mana, was essential.
‘What if I attempt this and make the boy even more foolish than he already is?’
My foot tapped anxiously beneath me when Kalien suddenly broke into a radiant smile.
“I see. A broken sword.”
Ugh, it’s blinding.
When he smiled like that, I couldn’t help but suspect someone was shining a halo behind him.
“Our Rosy knows quite a lot.”
A gentle, innocent smile. Utterly guileless and carefree.
It was Kalien’s trademark expression—so quick to see only the good, the positive, never suspecting anything sinister.
I responded awkwardly.
“Well… actually, I heard it from the Whiszel Family Head. Though he didn’t explain it precisely.”
“Luize?”
Technically, it would be Luize’s father, but either way, I did hear it from the Whiszel Family Head.
Kalien asked, still smiling.
“When did you become close with Luize Whezel, Rosy?”
“Huh? Well, on the way to find you…?”
“In that short time, close enough to discuss sacred artifacts?”
I had thought this would pass unnoticed, but I was mistaken.
I turned my head away awkwardly, avoiding his curious crimson eyes.
“Does building friendship require a long time?”
“You even rode on the Family Head’s back, didn’t you?”
Though it was more accurate to say I had freeloaded on him….
As cold sweat dripped down my face, Kalien pressed forward relentlessly.
“So you met the Whiszel Family Head for the first time today. Right?”
“Yeah, I suppose so.”
“Why did you follow a stranger without any suspicion, when you always tell me not to do that?”
“Well….”
Why was he being so sharp today?
“We’re Winyak, and they’re Whiszel. Even with the taboos between us, there’s no harm in being cautious. What did Father teach you about dealing with executives of the Transcendent Families?”
“…Speak curtly, show no emotion, maintain distance, and act without giving them anything to criticize. They might use any opening against us at the Continental Conference.”
The atmosphere seemed to grow heavy. I fidgeted with my fingers uncertainly.
The laughter gradually faded from Kalien’s voice.
“Especially information about sacred artifacts—that should have been family secrets. Yet you discussed something so dangerous so casually.”
“….”
“Rosien. How am I supposed to take this?”
Kalien now reclined in his chair, his head tilted at an angle, his back sunk into the cushions.
As if contemplating something, he traced his long fingers along his lips and the curve of his jaw.
The severity in his gaze was unfamiliar—I had never seen him look quite so stern.
Since I was always the one scolding Kalien, I found myself thoroughly unprepared for a situation like this.
“Don’t approach strangers recklessly. Don’t follow them. Even if they seem trustworthy, you must always ask me first. You told your brother all of this yourself, didn’t you? Didn’t you?”
“Well, yes, but…”
The truth was, you were far too lenient.
I swallowed those words discreetly and shifted my eyes about, feeling sheepish.
It sounded remarkably like the stern rebukes my Master used to direct at me during my time as Lozietti Kirges.
Don’t act on your own whims.
“Exercise restraint, Lozietti. I am well aware of your exceptional abilities, yet excessive pride is nothing but poison. I will not tolerate insolence.”
I felt helplessly aggrieved. Then and now, I had never harbored such intentions.
“But I was worried about you, Kalien.”
The moment I saw Kalien hesitate, I mounted my own form of resistance.
“You said you’d be back soon, but you never came. I was worried. You took so long that I genuinely thought the Emperor had devoured you.”
“…”
“And I’m nearly twice your age, besides.”
Of course I was—I should be twenty-nine!
Granted, if I subtracted the first three years I spent as a genuine child, that number would diminish somewhat, but even so, I was hardly at an age to be scolded by a boy of fifteen.
I kicked at the innocent floor with the tip of my shoe, when suddenly Kalien rose from the sofa.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————