By Zephyria 
“How is Brother Noah?”
“Mr. Nelson said he seems to be overworked. That guy, really… he should take it easy.”
Dinner time. Andrew, who had not yet regained consciousness, did not show up. Perhaps because they had already heard from the doctor that there was nothing particularly wrong with him and that he was just sleeping deeply, the atmosphere among the family was not very serious.
“…Are you alright, Little Duke Noah?”
“Ah, Little Duke.”
“I was too flustered during the day to properly greet you.”
“Thank you for your concern. I’m sorry that I fell asleep in front of such a precious guest.”
There were slight wrinkles on Carlisle’s forehead as he expressed his perfunctory concern towards me. Seeing him show his barely concealed annoyance every time he looked at me, while still trying to be polite, was… how should I put it? It was as if the person’s character itself remained the same…. It felt strange.
“Don’t worry about Brother Noah, Carlisle. You haven’t been paying attention to me since earlier.”
“I’m sorry, Allen.”
Allen pouted his lips at Carlisle and lightly whined. Perhaps that appearance was so lovely, as pleasant smiles bloomed on the faces of Carlisle and the other family members. Of course, his mother and Frederick, who had always been Allen’s unwavering allies, as well as his father, who had been fretting over his troublemaking son, had regained his gruff but affectionate demeanor after Allen had hooked a grand marriage partner.
“Try this too, Carlisle. It’s what you used to like.”
The Allen who had been so polite to Carlisle, calling him Master, Master, was nowhere to be found now. After revealing that he was not a mere servant but a dignified member of the Count’s family, Allen naturally began to speak comfortably to Carlisle, and Carlisle also abandoned his attitude of treating him like a subordinate and showed some respect.
It would be a lie to say that my stomach didn’t ache every time I faced that harmonious atmosphere, which was originally mine, so closely, but it was more bearable than the first time. That’s all fake anyway. Just look at Andrew and Kyle. The moment Allen tries to bewitch someone else again, it will disappear without a trace.
I repeatedly reminded myself of that fact, as if to calm my startled heart. I mustn’t be swayed by momentary emotions. Nothing has failed yet. Nothing, yet.
“I’ll get up first.”
“Huh? Aren’t you eating more?”
It was Frederick, amusingly enough, who stopped me as I was about to get up after filling my stomach just enough to not feel hungry. Unlike Andrew, Kyle, and Carlisle, he hadn’t been played by Allen’s tricks, yet he had turned away from me so lightly, as if it were a predetermined fate from the beginning.
“I’m going to see Andrew. I’m worried about his condition.”
“Noah, since when have you been so…!”
“Frederick.”
I interrupted him and glanced at Carlisle. It was a signal to refrain from overly personal conversations in a place where there were guests from outside the mansion.
“Okay. Then I’ll go with you. I’m done eating.”
“…Do as you please.”
Frederick was still acting as he pleased. As expected, no one stopped the two of us from leaving our seats to check on Andrew’s condition.
He and I slowly climbed the stairs without hurrying. The long corridor, with candles lit in places, looked quite eerie. Perhaps it was because it was winter, and the temperature had cooled down even indoors.
“…….”
“…….”
I thought that we used to have quite friendly conversations when it was just the two of us, but as we headed to the room where Andrew was resting, only an awkward silence flowed between Frederick and me.
“Hey, Noah.”
It wouldn’t have mattered much to me if it continued to be awkward like this, but perhaps it wasn’t the same for him. Frederick suddenly spoke up in a somewhat embarrassed voice.
“What.”
“…….”
“If you’re calling someone, say something, Frederick Hamilton.”
“You’ve been… lately….”
What on earth was he trying to say that he was hesitating so much? Frederick hesitated for a long time, and finally stopped walking and continued talking just as we arrived right in front of Andrew’s door.
“You’ve been acting a bit strange lately.”
I shouldn’t have listened. Was he calling me over just to say something like that? I didn’t feel like listening anymore and was about to open the door and go inside, but Frederick hurriedly blocked my way again. Then, he poured out words in a rambling, confused voice.
“No, I mean, what I’m saying is, did I do something wrong to you… uh, I wish you’d tell me for sure if there is…. I don’t know why we’ve become so awkward, and I don’t even remember when was the last time I was called Freddy by you.”
“Freddy. Happy now? I’ll call you that from now on. Are you done?”
“Are you really going to be like this?”
“What. What are you going to do about it.”
The end of his words was curt and abrupt. It was only a few minutes ago that I had decided not to get emotional, but I found it amusing that I was already acting like this, but what could I do?
If he was someone who could be caught with a sweet, seductive attitude, if he was someone who could be won over to my side with a dedicated attitude, Frederick Hamilton wouldn’t have betrayed me and turned away so often until now. I had naively believed that it would be different this time, that it would be different… until a few months ago, but he personally shattered my belief as soon as Allen appeared.
I didn’t want to waste energy on a battle with no chance of winning.
“Noah.”
The sight of a man, a head taller than me, lowering his voice was quite threatening. I could only hope that I wouldn’t be hit by that ridiculously strong man this time around.
“You don’t know why we’ve become so awkward, Freddy?”
“…….”
“That’s funny. To ask me something like that as a question.”
“…….”
“I think I’m the one who should be asking that.”
It wasn’t just an excuse, it was the truth. It was me, not him, who had been suddenly deprived of a friendly brother who used to come to me every day, whining about how he didn’t want to work. After Allen appeared, Frederick only came to me to ask where Allen was, and our exchange quickly lost its light, making a mockery of our lifelong friendship. It was even more so after it was revealed that Allen was actually the real youngest son of Hamilton. Frederick, as if I didn’t exist at all, would immediately rush to Allen as soon as he left the Imperial Palace, faithfully playing the role of the brother-fool that appeared in the original story.
“You’re not so stupid that you don’t know what I’m talking about, are you?”
“Noah….”
“If you understand, please move aside? I need to go to my brother now. You go take care of your brother too.”
The verdant eyes, filled with emotion, wavered endlessly as if wounded, and then slowly disappeared from my sight without any excuses. I was right not to expect anything. Yes, I did well.
System is worried about your tired face.
“Worried?”
System is hurt by your heartless scoff.
“Hurt?”
You’re so cruel…. System is very discouraged….
“Ah, why are there so many things talking nonsense in front of me today.”
I was so dumbfounded that I could only let out a hollow laugh. It was too annoying that it would say it was hurt and worried, but it would only beat around the bush when I asked questions.
I had just returned to the guest room after checking on Andrew, who was sleeping peacefully. I dismissed all the servants who were waiting around, just in case, and then threw countless questions at the System that I needed to know, such as whether my deduction was correct, what Allen’s identity was, and whether Allen was also receiving help from the System like me.
But the System didn’t give me a clear answer to any of the questions. Could it be… that it’s completely on Allen’s side? Is that why it’s been so focused on tormenting me until now…?
System vehemently denies that that is the case.
I guarantee it, you.
System only loves you.
“Yeah, next nonsense. You’re protecting Allen this much, and you want me to believe that?”
But it can’t be helped.
System argues that revealing the Player’s identity is a violation of the world’s rules.
“Player…, Player, you say….”
Please rest assured.
Just as you exist in this world as simply ‘Noah Hamilton,’
He too exists in this world only as ‘Allen Hamilton.’