By Zephyria 
The two doors of the hall, which had been opened magnificently, were quietly closed again. The sound of the nobles whispering under the surface as they left the palace was quite noisy, but it was not enough to cross the walls of the Imperial Palace. Everyone predicted that the Emperor’s official death was not far off. Therefore, the congratulatory banquet that should have been held after the announcement was also omitted. The carriage of the nobles who were leaving the desolate Imperial Palace in droves arrived at none other than the Hamilton County.
Just because the Imperial Palace was quiet, did that mean that a mere noble family had to be quiet too? In fact, it was just a congratulatory banquet with a different location. Until a few days ago, my father had been growing thinner day by day, worrying about what to do if the Grand Duchy of Graham expressed their dissatisfaction, but he couldn’t refuse the Imperial Family. However, once the position of Royal Father-in-law began to loom, it seemed like he was getting carried away. As the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. Enough time had passed for the sense of intimidation that Carlisle had instilled to fade away.
“Thank you to everyone who took the time to come here.”
My father said in a very serious tone, raising a glass of champagne that sparkled with golden light above his eye level. He was trying hard to hide his excitement, and he was trying to be dignified, but it was impossible to hide the subtle excitement underneath.
“For the two Highnesses who will enjoy eternal glory!”
“Cheers!”
The nobles who filled the Banquet Hall raised their voices all at once with my father’s energetic lead. When their voices subsided, I took a step forward and gave a moderate greeting, neither too arrogant nor too humble, saying that I was grateful for their attendance and that I would remember those who sincerely blessed me in this place today. Until now, I had only been a child of a simple Count’s family, but it had become clear that I would become a member of the Imperial Family who would stand above them in the future, so my attitude had changed accordingly.
“Oh, Noah. When did my young son grow up like this…!”
My father’s voice was too loud to be a soliloquy. Since this platform where my father and I were standing was even enchanted with Amplification Magic, everyone in the Banquet Hall would have heard those words clearly. My father embraced my shoulder and stroked my back, appealing to his emotions in an exaggerated manner. I responded with a carefree and cheerful smile. I wasn’t even disappointed anymore.
Among the noble men living in this era, my father was not the worst person. He didn’t abuse slaves, he didn’t squeeze the blood out of the territory’s people, and he didn’t openly discriminate against adopted children. He was just an emotionally unattached… a very bland human being who valued the family’s success above all else.
At one time, I thought that the palm of his hand stroking my back was infinitely kind, and I wanted to keep that kind palm forever. But when did it start? Was it when I saw him not valuing Allen, who had failed to win the Crown Prince’s heart, in this Iteration? Or was it when I confirmed his sudden affection for me, who was holding the positions of future Crown Princess and Grand Duchess in one hand and weighing them? I gradually began to find him infinitely ridiculous. I also felt pathetic for the countless past versions of myself who had been hurt by losing the affection of such a person.
“……”
The Countess was watching us, who looked like a truly affectionate father and son, with a chilly expression. At this moment, standing beside her were neither her eldest son, Andrew Hamilton, her lifelong pride, nor her beloved youngest son, Allen Hamilton. It was none other than I, Noah Hamilton, who had crawled up from a lowly bastard to the highest position in the empire.
I enjoyed the lavish Banquet Hall as if to show her. As the protagonist of the Banquet Hall, I swallowed everyone’s admiration and applause as if it were natural. Only the appearance of the empty Banquet Hall was very splendid. As if it would burn forever.
“What are you doing here?”
It was late, nearing midnight. The sound of instruments in the Banquet Hall only deepened the excitement, and the laughter of the drunken people never ceased.
Everyone was excited, but someone was standing blankly on the secluded terrace. The shoulders in the dark blue dress uniform seemed wide enough to embrace and support others, but somehow they looked deeply lonely.
“…….”
He must have heard me calling. He was heartless and didn’t answer. He doesn’t even seem to want to turn around. But it wouldn’t be fair to resent him for acting like this, as the unkindness I had shown him recently was incomparably greater, so I decided to open my mouth again in a very gentle voice.
“I’ve been looking for you for a long time, brother.”
“…….”
“Brother, Andrew?”
At the sound of calling his name, Andrew, his shoulders, which had been motionless, twitched.
The agitation is too easy. Also, too shallow. So my heart was more… strange. Knowing that the person I thought I would never forgive was such an easily collapsing man, it was impossible to muster up malice. But I can’t let him go. The chains tied to my ankles were too heavy to let him go like this and free him from the cycle of pain. It’s for my future. The face of Carlisle, smiling brightly and reaching out to me, flashed through my mind like a hallucination. …Yes, I will be happy too. I will somehow take the happy ending. For that… there is no one I can’t use or betray. The determination I make again is quite heavy.
“Did you come to mock me?”
As I stood quietly next to him, a heavy whisper flowed into my ear as if seeping in. It was a tired and weary voice mixed with deep sighs.
“Mock? Surely, would I… mock you?”
It was a rebuke to remember who it was that unilaterally picked a fight with me and mocked me when I was just standing still. Andrew Hamilton was not such a fool that he wouldn’t even notice that, so instead of answering, he just smiled faintly. It was a smile close to self-deprecation.
“Yes. I know that all of this is my foolish mistake.”
“…….”
“I shouldn’t have ignored you so easily. When I felt unbearably terrible that you were my brother… I should have properly realized the reason.”
If I thought it was because I hated you, all the problems would have been easy, I shouldn’t have dismissed it and moved on… His voice, which became smaller and smaller as he went on, was unusually fluctuating. I decided to pretend I didn’t know. I couldn’t let him give up on me like this. At the very least, he had to love me until the moment I held the Crown Prince’s arm and entered the wedding hall.
“So?”
“…Noah.”
“You regret it so much… and you’re going to end it like that?”
“…….”
The deep blue Cravat, matched to the color of his eyes, was clear even in the darkness.
“It would be difficult if you were tired and ran away at this point, brother. All the effort I put into provoking you would be wasted.”
I pretended to fix his Cravat, which was without a single flaw, and moved closer, strongly pulling on his collar. Two pairs of blue eyes with different densities clashed fiercely in the air.
“Whether I become your brother or someone else’s bride…”
His eyes, listening to my quietly continuing words, were like a small boat swirling wildly in a fluctuating storm. He couldn’t even dare to shake off my weak wrist, which wasn’t giving any strength, as if it weighed a ton.
“Nothing changes. Because the fact that you are not allowed to have me is the same anyway.”
“…….”
“Am I wrong?”
“…….”
“Andrew Hamilton.”
“…No.”
…You’re right. A helpless declaration of defeat carried on a sigh faintly scattered between his lips and mine. I smiled brightly and willingly bit his lower lip. Even though I bit him painfully, he didn’t even let out a groan. He was just busy admiring and worshiping my eyes, which were so close that his eyelashes touched each other when he blinked.
“Love me. Just like you’ve always done, as my steadfast brother. As a faithful suitor.”
“Can I dare… Is it okay for me to do that? Do I have the right…”
“You’re making me say the same thing over and over again. You never had the right to love me or be loved by me from the beginning. How many times do I have to say it for you to understand?”
Nevertheless, you have to love me. Because that’s all you can give me now. I sneered sharply, but Andrew Hamilton’s face lit up as if he had been saved.
“…Yes. I have to, if my clumsy older brother’s love is still needed by you. I must.”
He instantly hugged my shoulders and hid himself in the deeper darkness. I… didn’t resist.