I Am the Hero's Immature Younger Brother

The prayer room had an unusual number of windows. Light filtering through the glass shimmered across the floor.

“When will the child arrive?”

“......Within ten days.”

It was a sudden question. Hugh concealed his surprise and answered calmly. The “child” the High Priest referred to was surely Kirky.

Kirky’s body was currently undergoing an elaborate funeral procession at the royal palace. Of course, he would not be buried. Once the funeral ended, he would immediately be brought to the temple.

“I apologize.”

After hesitating briefly, Hugh offered an apology.

Kirky had been one of the temple’s greatest talents and the High Priest’s foremost disciple. For someone like him to return in death—there could be nothing more tragic.

“That is not something for you to apologize for.”

An indescribable presence clung to the High Priest as he turned around.

Hugh fell silent. It felt as though he should not recklessly speak another word.

The High Priest gave the impression that he had already known all of this would happen.

There was neither sorrow nor regret on his face. His attitude was calm, as though events had merely unfolded as they were always meant to. He praised Hugh for his hard journey from afar and asked several questions about Kirky, mostly about how he had lived within the Gannion ducal residence.

“Did he say anything strange?”

“If you mean strange... what kind of things......?”

The High Priest blinked, then smiled faintly.

“No.”

Yet in that brief instant, Hugh caught a glimpse of longing in his eyes.

Their conversation ended within the short span of a walk. The High Priest showed no intention of questioning Kirky’s death or assigning blame.

Leaving instructions for the boy priest to ensure their comfort during their stay, the High Priest returned to the prayer room.

“I will guide you to your quarters.”

Hugh followed behind the boy priest.

Inside the room prepared for him, Hugh wrote a letter to send to the Gannion ducal residence. At the end, he added that he believed he would remain at the temple for a few more days.

He felt he should stay long enough to see Kirky arrive and be laid within the coffin.

***

Lucia felt as though someone was calling him.

At the voice that seemed to tug at the back of his head, he unconsciously lifted his hat and widened his field of vision. At the edge of his sight stood a young man with violet hair. Tears pooled in the bright eyes set within his distorted expression, glittering like sunlight on water.

“Watch your step.”

But Lucia could not look at the young man for long. Curiosity suddenly stirred within him, yet perhaps instinct warned him that he must not let that curiosity show. Pretending nothing had happened, Lucia quickly adjusted his hat and boarded the ship. The voice called out once more, but this time Lucia cleanly ignored it and stepped onto the vessel bound for a foreign land.

After finishing his meal in the cabin, Lucia came out onto the deck.

Even the blazing sunlight was tolerable beneath the sea breeze and shade. It helped that Lucia was less sensitive to heat than most. Still, the summer sun was merciless enough that very few people remained out on the deck.

“Aren’t you hot?”

Though he understood she was really asking him to return inside, Lucia shook his head.

“I want to look at the sea a little longer.”

The maid reluctantly nodded as though she understood. She repeatedly scanned the surroundings to make sure no one approached Lucia. Lucia noticed, but pretended not to.

Because he knew she did it for his sake.

More importantly, what would he do once he crossed into the Etaia Kingdom?

Little by little, emotions began to form within Lucia’s once-indifferent heart.

Lucia recalled the hat worn by a lady he had seen earlier. The flowers attached to it had been beautiful. Selling flowers like that sounded pleasant. Perhaps running a salon that sold hats and accessories would not be bad either.

As the waves swayed, Lucia’s heart seemed to sway with them. Whatever happened, a new beginning awaited him in the new kingdom. He felt excited, and yet strangely lonely.

‘Who was that person?’

As he gazed at the sunlight glittering over the sea, the image of the young man whose eyes had met his earlier resurfaced in his mind. Why had he looked at him like that? They were clearly strangers.

‘Maybe I should have waited and asked why he was staring at me like that.’

Lucia felt lingering regret. He seemed like the kind of face that would occasionally return to memory. Eventually, Lucia decided to return to the cabin for the maid’s sake.

“Please get some rest.”

After preparing some light refreshments, the maid left the room. Her room was directly beside Lucia’s. And standing outside Lucia’s cabin [N O V E L I G H T] were mercenaries.

“It feels like I’m being watched.”

Lucia murmured blankly before lying down on the bed.

He felt drowsy. All he had done was come to the harbor to board a ship, yet his body sagged as though he had finished some exhausting schedule. It felt like he might fall asleep at any moment. Estimating the time vaguely, Lucia decided to sleep early tonight. The sea was not going anywhere, and they would remain aboard for several days, so he would have plenty of chances to see it later.

So surely it was fine to sleep deeply for one day.

Feeling his vision gradually blur, Lucia quickly fell asleep.

Summer days were long and nights were short. Which also meant there was little time to carry out a task.

A gentleman dressed in immaculate clothing moved silently. The starlight faded, and the night deepened further. Hidden behind crates on the deck, the gentleman slipped a hand into the inner pocket of his suit jacket. What he pulled out was a small orb. The moment it settled in his palm, a faint light began to appear. The light twitched excitedly inside the orb before rushing sharply toward a single direction.

“.......”

After gauging the direction the light had gathered toward, the gentleman hid the orb inside his coat and began moving again.

His destination was a second-floor cabin.

Even those standing guard in the middle of the night merely glanced at the gentleman before looking away. His fine suit and impeccable appearance made him look unmistakably aristocratic.

The gentleman reached the second floor without difficulty and moved forward while suppressing his footsteps. He was practiced at concealing his presence. Each time he passed beneath the dim lamps, the flames flickered and went out. Not a single footstep echoed through the silent corridor.

At last, the gentleman rounded the corner and saw the door he sought.

His figure vanished.

And the figures guarding the cabin door collapsed.

A deep indigo light swallowed the entire second floor. Shadows darker than the night seized control of the cabins.

Within the darkness, indigo eyes glowed.

Without a sound, the door opened, and the gentleman stepped inside.

The spacious cabin was spotless, with little in the way of luggage.

Without even bothering to inspect the room, the gentleman walked inward. On the large bed lay the outline of a figure beneath the blankets.

Tonight, someone ignorant of his own fate slept peacefully there.

The gentleman silently pulled back the blanket and drew the sword at his waist.

The blade flashed as it aimed for the boy’s artery.

“.......”

“.......”

The gentleman stopped.

There was power in those wide-open eyes.

Eyes utterly devoid of fear stared directly at him.

“Who are you?”

The familiar voice sounded different as it reached the gentleman’s ears. The orb inside his coat rattled faintly. His heart tightened, but his conviction did not waver.

Still, perhaps revealing who he was would be the final courtesy.

The gentleman slowly lowered his sword and grasped the hat shadowing his face. Stains of blood he had failed to fully wipe away marked the edge of his sleeve. The hand holding the hat briefly covered his face before lowering.

For some reason, the fully revealed face of the gentleman seemed strangely familiar to the boy.

“You wouldn’t recognize the name even if I told you.”

A soft voice, gentle and smooth.

“But saying it is only proper.”

He sounded as though he had deliberated over the words for a long time.

It would have been best if the boy had passed away in his sleep, but now that he was awake, it could not be helped.

“Are you someone I know?”

Watching the boy narrow his eyes, the gentleman shrugged.

“Someone you may know, or may not.”

“.......”

The boy did not question him further. He simply stared. The gentleman’s lips slowly parted.

Who could have imagined that saying a single name would feel this shameful and difficult?

“Verdi.”

“......Verdi?”

The boy repeated the name with an unreadable expression. The moment he heard himself called by that name, his heart dropped heavily.

But Verdi ignored it and nodded.

“I came under orders to take your life.”

The boy blinked slowly.

Verdi... could not bring himself to say the boy’s new name.

He had known it, but he felt that at least he himself should not use it. Shouldn’t someone remember the end? Of course, if the orb in his possession shattered, even he would forget.

“I won’t say I’m sorry. That would be cowardly.”

He had no intention of seeking forgiveness. Verdi was merely doing what was necessary for the kingdom and for the king. Before a greater cause, a certain number of lives would always be required.

And yet, looking at the boy calmly wearing a stranger’s face hurt far more than he had expected.

From the very beginning—from the moment he had opened his eyes inside Giselle’s room—Verdi had thought he was someone special.

He just never imagined that specialness would be transformed in this way.

“I don’t believe in God, but for your sake, I intend to pray.”

His grip tightened around the sword.

Verdi knew he was dragging things out against his own intentions, yet meaningless words kept spilling from him.

Would prayer have any use after death?

Even Verdi himself did not believe the words he spoke.

As though he understood, the boy nodded with clear eyes.

He did not look like someone standing before death.

“I have a strange sense of déjà vu.”

And the words the boy spoke next were utterly unexpected.

“Has something like this happened before?”

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!