Chapter 68

After exchanging glances with me for a moment, my brother shook his head at Sir Sil.

"This time, the target is the royal family. Sil, you can't be the decoy."

"…Can you definitively say that I'm not the target?"

But Sir Sil immediately responded with a question.

Sir Sil's eyes were filled with suspicion toward my brother! His hazel eyes sharpened, and his androgynous beauty took on a coolness. Hmm… When I witness moments like this, I really feel that Sir Sil's approachability is thanks to his ever-changing expressions. If his default expression were a blank face, he would be hard to approach. He's just too handsome.

Still, isn't my brother's trust gauge with Sir Sil a bit low? If this were a game event, it would be a failure!

Love and trust are judged by different criteria.

Of course, I'm sure there's no problem with the love gauge…

"Octavia, is what Serius says true?"

Oh, Sir Sil is asking me?

Could it be that his trust is higher with me…?

Eh, if I answer with a stern face, "It's a lie," it might turn into a situation where it becomes the truth!

…Honestly, I still think Sir Sil is the target. That's why I want him to be in a safe place this time. Where the protagonist is, there is trouble. Therefore, I have to support my brother, even though it breaks my heart!

"Brother, you are right. The only ones who can be decoys are me and you. Moreover, if Sir Sil joins us, it will increase the number of important people, thus increasing the burden on the security."

I convey that he mustn't come and that being a decoy is out of the question.

"…Yes…"

Sir Sil looks dejected, but I have to be heartless!

"Then, Brother, will you accept my proposal?"

"…There's no other choice."

"Very wise."

I smile a bit slyly.

I have no intention of doing anything to Sir Sil, but it's important to make my brother believe that if he doesn't accept the proposal, Sir Sil will be in danger!

"But, I will have Clifford Alderton accompany the inspection under my supervision."

"Clifford is known as my guard knight. How do you plan to have him accompany us?"

"Under the guise of a security arrangement, we will replace the guard knights. Officially, Alderton will be my guard knight."

I have some resistance, but this is a reasonable compromise. If we pretend to demote Clifford to a common soldier, it would stand out. Disguising Clifford is also out of the question. Since my brother wants to monitor him, it would be meaningless to make him less recognizable.

"…Then, please let me meet with Clifford."

"…What?"

"I will give him instructions. You saw at the training ground, didn't you? Clifford won't follow unless I give him direct orders. We can't proceed with the plan to trap the suspects otherwise."

I want to have a meeting with Clifford before the operation!

"You can't meet alone. I will be present."

"…Serius, you're mistaking who you should be wary of."

Suddenly, Sir Sil, who had been listening silently, spoke up.

"Mistaken? Who do you think I should be wary of?"

"Me."

My brother, wide-eyed, and Sir Sil, with calm eyes, looked at each other. Sir Sil continued.

"To me, Octavia and Alderton are not dangerous at all."

"Alderton is suspected of tampering with the carriage—"

"Serius' guard knights are also suspected."

"……"

"This is my opinion, but if Alderton did it, it seems too roundabout—and that's not the point. What I'm trying to say is, among the people who are under suspicion and restrained, I, who am free, am the most dangerous."

"What are you—"

Sir Sil's words were cut off by my brother shaking his head.

"Serius, you're thinking too lightly. …Indeed, I didn't attack Octavia of my own will. But so what? What if it happens again? Even without being struck, what if I attack someone indiscriminately again? What if I suddenly change and attack you right now?"

"…That won't happen."

"I can't say that."

Sir Sil shook his head again, strongly.

"…Octavia, I'm sorry."

He said to me,

"Until the cause is clear, I—I can't trust myself the most. Therefore, even if Octavia forgives me, I still believe I should receive appropriate punishment."

He asserted to my brother.

—I know this line.

In the original, when Sir Sil woke up and regained his senses from the blood of Serius,

—I'm afraid of myself.

But in reality, Sir Sil didn't say he was afraid.

"Serius. If you consider Alderton dangerous, I also want to be placed in solitary confinement and monitored. I won't be a decoy and will behave."

"…Nonsense."

My brother dismissed it.

"Is that so? I think Serius will understand."

"……"

Aaaaaah, I wanted to hold my head.

Why is Sir Sil like this? I said I would not press charges! My brother might follow Sir Sil's suggestion!

But as a former reader, I can predict that Sir Sil's outbursts are not sudden but have clear triggers.

Therefore, I, who favors Sir Sil, will firmly resist this flow!

Because I know the solution to Sir Sil's outbursts, which I learned in the 'Sky Room'! It's fine even if it raises suspicion!

"Even if the cause of the outburst is unknown—"

I interrupted their conversation.

"If we know how to bring Sir Sil back to his senses, there's no need for him to be in solitary confinement, right? I can do it. Brother can do it. …Even Father or Alec can."

"! Could it be…?"

As expected, my brother quickly reached the right conclusion. He already has the information on how I stopped Sir Sil.

"The blood of the royal family…?"

I nodded conspicuously.

"If I am with Brother, even if something happens, it won't become a serious issue."

I'm pretending to be calm, but I'm drenched in cold sweat.

"That's all I can say now."

So, don't push it further! I'm emphasizing that I can't be questioned because I know the solution. Because if asked, the final answer would be, "Time will solve it."

I drink my milk tea as if nothing happened. I glance at the two of them.

Sir Sil is thoroughly confused. Yeah, I get it. It's hard to believe that the solution is known even if the cause is unknown. I agree!

My brother… when our eyes met, he sighed and put his hand on his forehead.

"Octavia, I… don't understand what you're thinking."

I was once told the same by Father.

"Are you not trying to imprison Sil?"

I almost spurted out my milk tea.

Good thing I had just swallowed it…

"Why would I imprison someone who is innocent?"

After all, it was just decided that I wouldn't press charges. I won't change my mind. Did my sly approach to using Sir Sil as a bargaining chip work too well?

Despite my inner favoritism towards Sir Sil, our relationship has changed from the original.

My brother, looking tired, removed his hand from his forehead.

"Octavia is right. Sil, there's no reason to punish you."

Yes, yes. I nodded strongly in my heart.

"However—"

Huh? …However?

"In return, Sil, you will be monitored for a while."

Next, my brother spoke to me.

"Also, Octavia. I will let you meet Alderton. It's true that you should talk to him. However, I will be present. I won't change my mind about this."

"…Understood."

At least, I achieved the purpose of coming to my brother's room. Being too greedy might increase unnecessary distrust.

"—Hey"

A voice rose.

"Sil"

"Sir Sil…"

My brother and I reacted in the same way again. Probably thinking the same thing. Sir Sil, are you still not giving up on going to prison? Rejected!

"No! No, that's not it!"

The first half was to my brother, the second half to me?

"Octavia, I'm not asking to be put in solitary confinement. If you will monitor me—"

Sir Sil seemed to understand what my brother and I meant by calling his name. But then?

"Then, what else?"

When I asked, Sir Sil said enthusiastically.

"If you're going to meet Alderton, can I come with you?"