'Rosie probably didn't look kindly on the way I treated Michael in my past life.'
Come to think of it, I remember Michael also asking for a lower rank like Sylvestian does now.
At that time, I felt a little regretful that I should not have accepted it without thinking much about it.
Sylvestian would have only asked for a favor to serve the royal family.
However, it occurred to me that Michael might have asked.
'Ah, another useless thought.'
I hurriedly shook off the distracting thoughts that were bringing heat to my face.
“Well, that’s it. See you next time, Sir Millard.”
“Take a look, Your Highness.”
Only after waiting for me and Michael to move away did Sylvestian move from his seat.
The direction he was heading was north where the homunculus quarters were.
I glanced back and showed my doubts.
“Why are hr going to the dorm? Is he already getting off work?”
Michael knew the answer, but he couldn't say it out loud.
‘He can’t bear to go back now after staying up all night..."
Fortunately, Eve didn't try to get answers from Michael either.
The road of the East Palace and the road of the West Palace
I reached the intersection where the road meets the main street. As I turned the corner decorated with topiaries, I came across someone whose destination overlapped with mine.
“You are Sister Eve.”
“Ah, Euclid.”
The honey-blond pretty boy reluctantly greeted me.
He was the youngest of the Princes, only thirteen years old this year, so he did not yet have a direct knight.
“His Highness the Eighth Prince.”
“Well, okay.”
The dark walls, as if they were filled with cobalt dye, scanned Michael. It seemed as if they were looking for something to find fault with, but Euclid quickly turned his head away.
Since their destination was the same, their companionship was inevitable. I walked with Euclid.
'I hope it's quiet until we arrive.'
Euclid was the son of the ninth Empress, Ariadna.
Ariadna was the handmaiden of the fourth Empress, Remieux, before she caught the Emperor's eye and became Empress.
Because of that past, her loyalty to mother and daughter, Lemieux and Brigitte, was fundamentally deep.
Euclid also naturally followed Ariadna and sided with Brigitte.
'It's a bit misleading to say that he took their side. He was just used unilaterally.'
In the last life, there was a time when Chansley, Brigitte's cash cow, was spared by the Great Fire of the Zodiac and the exposure of a prostitution ring.
Brigitte used a political marriage to secure new sources of funding.
Euclid, who was only 16 years old at the time, became the concubine of a wealthy commoner woman. It was an unprecedentedly humiliating marriage in the imperial court.
He and I were on friendly terms while living in the palace before he was sold.
There was little contact, but occasionally we encountered each other directly.
And every time, the emotions I felt were overwhelmingly discomfort and unpleasantness. This is because Euclid saw me as a pushover and made fun of my nagging mouth.
At this very moment, Euclid was displaying his useless sociability.
“I heard you’ve been really upsetting Sister Betty these days."
“I guess it could be seen that way.”
“Don’t do anything useless. That will only bring trouble upon yourself.”
If it had stopped here, I would have ignored it. But Euclid definitely crossed the line in front of me.
“At least I have a mother who supports me, but you don’t have that, do you?”
The reason I hate Euclid is because he dug up my wounds.
'Why is he so careful in front of Betty, but so indiscreet in front of me?'
I stopped walking and stared at Euclid.
If it were before, I would have stayed in my bedroom all day, swallowing my tears.
However, the emotional ups and downs were less than expected.
There are two possible explanations for this reason.
It was clear that because of the regression, the young and childish guy and his mental age had grown further apart, and I had also come to know about Euclid's unfortunate life story.
Euclid Biorn Hadelamide.
Because of his way of speaking, he showed no trace of home education, he was easily seen as a big, rambunctious brat.
But the reality was quite the opposite.
His mother's loyalty was almost pathological. Ariadna regarded her son as a political tool to present him to Lemieux and Brigitte.
Because of this, Euclid was brainwashed from a young age to be of any use to Brigitte.
Even it was Ariadna who gave up the coldest time when the 16-year-old Euclid begged her not to get married, by trashing him. For the first time in her life, she is said to have said this in front of her son who showed a willingness to refuse.
'You have no use for anything but your face, so it's a good thing that your face sells for a high price.'
Only after hearing those words did Euclid let go of Ariadna, but it was already too late.
I also felt sorry for my troublesome step-brother when I heard the story from that time.
'But it seems like the kid was quite talented in swordsmanship and alchemy. Because they only valued magic, it was difficult to learn it in the palace, so he was unable to stand out.'
By this time, probably at the age of thirteen, Euclid had probably come to some realization that his and Ariadna's mother-son relationship was not normal.
But, as is often the case with abused children, it was clear that he was unable to think of escaping, pinning his hopes on the acceptance and affection that was so readily given.
It was also close to a self-defense mechanism to express a sense of superiority by the fact that there was a mother in front of me.
Only after hearing those words did Euclid let go of Ariadna, but it was already too late.
I also felt sorry for my troublesome step-brother when I heard the story from that time.
'But it seems like the kid was quite talented in swordsmanship and alchemy. Because they only valued magic, it was difficult to learn it in the palace, so he was unable to stand out.'
By this time, probably at the age of thirteen, Euclid had probably come to some realization that his and Ariadna's mother-son relationship was not normal.
But, as is often the case with abused children, it was clear that he was unable to think of escaping, pinning his hopes on the acceptance and affection that was so readily given.
It was also close to a self-defense mechanism to express a sense of superiority by the fact that there was a mother in front of me.
'If I don't comfort him like that, he won't be able to bear it.'
At this point, I began to feel a little sympathy for Euclid, despite his countless harsh words.
It was then that I felt something sinister and threatening coming from behind.
Euclid was the first to look back in surprise, and I also turned my head.
'Huh? Michael?'
As expected, Michael was staring at Euclid with scary eyes.
He seemed unable to contain his anger at his careless mention of my mother's death.
If Euclid wasn't a member of the royal family, Michael would have drawn his sword and challenged him to a duel.
“What, what is it? Those, those eyes..."
A 13-year-old boy could not afford the life the future King of Humonculus sent him.
At this point, I began to feel a little sympathy for Euclid, despite his countless harsh words.
It was then that I felt something sinister and threatening coming from behind.
Euclid was the first to look back in surprise, and I also turned my head.
'Huh? Michael?'
As expected, Michael was staring at Euclid with scary eyes.
He seemed unable to contain his anger at his careless mention of my mother's death.
If Euclid wasn't a member of the royal family, Michael would have drawn his sword and challenged him to a duel.
“What, what is it? Those, those eyes..."
A 13-year-old boy could not afford the life the future King of Humonculus sent him.
Euclid's face turned pale as if he was out of breath.
“Sir Agneto.”
“...I am sorry, Your Highness.”
I hurriedly stopped Michael. Only then did Euclid finally find relief and gasp for breath.
Michael's murder itself had a quite educational effect.
Euclid stopped being cheeky and looked at me.
“What, what is it? What did I do wrong that you’re looking at me like that?”
“That’s because you only say bad things.”
“I am a member of the royal family. Homunculus are expected to obey politely.”
“Sir Agneto is my knight, not yours. The fact that you are of royal blood does not excuse this rudeness. It is only considered a restriction that prevents him from challenging a duel.”
“Thank goodness, you’re a member of the royal family.”
Euclid was unable to refute my sharp words.
I immediately opened my mouth, returning to my usual gentle tone.
“I would like you to apologize for your earlier remarks so that the relationship between the siblings can be restored to health.”
“Huh? An apology?”
Of course, Euclid was busy building his pride.
“I deserve an apology for the arrogant look I received from Sir Agneta.”
“Hmm, really?”
There was nothing I could do about it. I decided to pull out my trump card to protect Michael.
"Euclid."
“...What is it? Why are you calling me that?"
I asked after his well-being like a loving older sister, looking at his ominous face.
“Is your swordsmanship practice going well?”
Euclid's shoulders trembled.
In this empire that values alchemy and magic, swordsmanship is considered a level below.
It was recognized that the royal family did not learn swordsmanship as their main skill.
Euclid was close to failing in the fields of alchemy and magic, so the more prominent he stood out in swordsmanship, the better he was to be opposed.
The young boy had his thoughts written on his face. Euclid, who had become thoughtful, looked at me with frightened eyes.
“Are you going to tell me?!”
His voice was shaking, almost like crying. I felt weak, wondering if I had been too harsh on a child.
I said sweetly, stroking his head to reassure him.
“I’ll keep it a secret if you promise to apologize and use only kind words.”
“I, I apologize. I’m sorry. I won’t do that again.”
"Yes."
Euclid suddenly became docile, as if he had never been so misbehaving.
'I guess what's scarier than anything in the world is what goes into his mother's ears.'
Feeling Euclid's desperation, I felt uneasy for some reason. When I threatened Derek and Stephania, I felt like I never felt it. I decided to shake it off.
'I should feed him some snacks later.'
The meeting place this morning was Sapphire Hall.
The moment I entered the gorgeous space decorated in dark blue, there was someone who greeted me warmly.
“Eve, Euclid. I’ve been waiting. Come on in.”
A young man with platinum blonde hair growing down the back of his neck like a mane. He was Rubio, the eldest brother of the royal family.
Rubio had a detailed personality, but he was also a chatterbox who couldn't catch the eye, which was tiring.
“Hello, brother.”
"I'm sorry to hear that. Will you call me Brother? Rosie said so."
I almost said, 'Wish for what you wish for.' Rubio expressed his disappointment as I remained silent, trying to keep my mouth shut.
“This guy has been your escort since your debut. Now that you have a direct knight, why are you treating me so coldly?”
“I am sorry for having owed you so much.”
“A guy without any charm.”
Rubio grumbled, sitting cross-legged.
“Anyway, even though I have many younger sisters, except for Rosie, none of them are very cute..."
“Are you being cute?”
Brigitte, who had just come in alone, let out a mocking laugh.
And nodded to Euclid.
"Euclid."
It was almost like an order to act cute.
Although it was intended to teach Rubio a lesson, the insults were directed at Euclid.
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