By Zephyria 
“Frederick Hamilton, you…!”
What could be the words that could go after the ellipsis? Andrew Hamilton opened his mouth but couldn’t find the answer.
While running to the capital without stopping. Perhaps, he had a cowardly hope that it might just be a delusion created by a brain disorder. Noah Hamilton alone has memories and the same time period is repeated endlessly. Doesn’t that make sense? If it hadn’t been for the sudden lightning strike in his head, Andrew himself would never have believed it.
However, vain hope was just a faint mist that scattered in the face of the revealed truth.
“…….”
Frederick was grabbed by the collar by Andrew, who had weaker grip and was a few centimeters shorter than him, and smiled quietly. Rather than being happy about this situation and laughing, it was an expression of emptiness that clearly showed that he had already given up on everything.
Even if they hadn’t been particularly friendly, they were brothers. Frederick closely read between the lines from Andrew’s anger that suddenly poured out at him, and Andrew closely read between the lines from Frederick’s powerless acceptance of such anger.
He knows. The other him also knows what he remembers.
They, who are the same sinners with different types, reflect each other’s appearance like a mirror.
“In the end, brother too…”
“It can’t be… It can’t be, it can’t be. It shouldn’t be…”
Even if it was a tragedy he had already expected, he couldn’t stop his heart from collapsing again in despair.
“Andrew! Frederick!”
Finally, a sharply sharpened voice flew between the two people who were just looking at each other and were trapped in despair, unable to move even a step.
“What’s going on all of a sudden, both of you? Even if there was something that hurt your feelings, this isn’t the way to do it. Come in and talk it over.”
It seemed that one of the subordinates, thinking that the situation could not be resolved, quickly went and called Noah.
Even though he was the person he was so crazy about not being able to see, Andrew couldn’t turn his stiffly fixed head. If he had to be picky, it would be because he was ashamed. However, the desolation contained within it was so terribly great that it was only replaced by the expression of shame.
“…Noah doesn’t know yet.”
Frederick whispered urgently to Andrew, who was standing still, forgetting how to breathe. He asked only with his eyes. What don’t you know? The hope that he thought was all dead was quite stubborn. Could it be that Noah doesn’t remember anything? Then, is this sin only remembered by us?
“The fact that we found our memories.”
He couldn’t understand. He didn’t know when Frederick had regained his memories like him, but how could he stay near Noah with these immense and miserable memories, and endure without kneeling in front of Noah and asking for forgiveness?
Of course, the color of Frederick Hamilton’s heart for Noah and Andrew Hamilton’s heart for Noah were very different. Frederick Hamilton had repeatedly used the Crown Prince’s orders as an excuse to drag Noah away with strong force, but he would never have had the sinister desire to make that child his own. Even so… As an affectionate and friendly younger brother who grew up together, Frederick’s heart for Noah was sincere. What on earth…
The answer to that question was soon solved. At the very moment when Frederick grabbed Andrew’s wrist, who could not make a sound and only moved his lips, and shook his head, Nicole Seymour appeared. No matter how wealthy the affairs of the merchant association run by his father were and how strong his mother’s influence was in the mansion, he was just a servant. Even so, Nicole didn’t even greet the young master who had arrived at the mansion.
Nicole, who took out a thin shawl and wrapped it around Noah’s shoulders, glanced at the unsightly appearance of the two people behind Noah’s back, and then gave a blatant sneer as if she knew the situation.
“Now that summer is over, you have to wear something when you go out. You’re already weak.”
The hand that put a cozy-looking shawl around Noah’s shoulders and fixed it was as soft as a feather, and the soft voice full of concern was affectionate. But that look. Only that look, which was glaring at Frederick and Andrew without being noticed by Noah, was fierce. The brown eyes full of hostility seemed downright murderous. His hostility was even more pronounced because it was a look that didn’t match his soft and youthful impression at all.
He had shown a slightly prickly reaction to Frederick in the last few years, but not to this extent. Nicole Seymour was the child of a close friend who was like a sister to Count Hamilton’s wife, and had grown up with Andrew and Frederick since she was very young. It was a vague hostility. At least, in this timeline.
Is that so? Not only me and Frederick, but also Nicole…
Andrew murmured in vain. No matter how much he rummaged through the past memories that had flooded his mind, Nicole Seymour had never betrayed Noah even once. She believed in him until the end, and tried to save him until the end.
So only he, the true brother of Noah who has the name Nicole Seymour… has the right to despise Andrew Hamilton and Frederick Hamilton.
“Are you okay, brother? Your complexion is too…”
Not knowing what emotions and thoughts were swirling around the three people surrounding him, Noah innocently rolled his eyes and took a step closer to him. He even worried that his complexion wasn’t good because he had been riding all night. His wavering eyes even reached Frederick’s face, where bruises were already turning bluish. After confirming that his lips were torn and bleeding, he frowned his beautiful brow and even sighed deeply.
How, how could he do that? Even after suffering such an outrageous thing…. Even while remembering it all by himself, how could he worry about me and that guy again?
His insides seethed. He wanted to scream and collapse. How could you even think of accepting me, how could you…. On the other hand, he was still grateful that he could remain by Noah’s side even with such a past. Regardless of how utterly disgusting that self-gratification was.
“I’m sorry if I surprised you.”
Fortunately, unlike his chaotic insides, his voice flowed out fairly calmly.
“As for Frederick, well, yes. As the person in charge of guarding the mansion, I had something to reprimand him for, but it was definitely an excessive reaction. I’ll apologize separately, so you don’t need to worry about it.”
With his well-moving tongue, Noah’s anxious expression gradually eased. Frederick trembled at the corners of his lips but somehow managed to smile. It was a ridiculous play solely to reassure one person.
“But, how did you come back so early? The butler told me that you would barely arrive on the morning of the National Wedding Ceremony.”
“You collapsed, didn’t you? I was worried. I felt like I needed to see with my own eyes that you had recovered healthily to feel relieved.”
It seemed like these were words that a brother could easily say, but for some reason, Noah blushed at the tips of his ears and gave a sharp warning, calling him ‘brother.’ Desperately clutching his heart, which was tearing into a thousand pieces, Andrew simply patted Noah’s shoulder calmly.
“Young master, please go back and lie down. You suddenly came out from your nap. There’s still more time until mealtime, okay?”
“Ugh…. I’m not sleepy anymore.”
“Then just lie down. You’ve used too much energy during the summer.”
“Okay, okay. So stop pushing me!”
As soon as the situation was somewhat settled, Nicole pushed Noah’s back. It seemed he couldn’t bear the thought of Frederick and Andrew staying by Noah’s side.
After a light greeting, Nicole Seymour turned his head towards the Hamilton brothers, who looked like they were about to die, only after confirming that Noah was slowly going up to his room.
“……From what I see, the Little Count seems to have a similar situation to the second young master. Would you like to follow me? Let’s talk.”
It was a cold voice, but it was rather warm compared to the look in his eyes that seemed ready to tear them apart.
The two did not make any excuses and silently followed the young servant. The place Nicole arrived at was the detached house where Andrew was staying. If you were to choose the most secure place in this mansion right now, this was the only place.
Nicole walked well, leaving the owner of the detached house behind, and sat down on his own. Then, before the two could even sit down, he opened his mouth as if declaring.
“I’ll get straight to the point.”
“…….”
“…….”
“Whatever you remember and whatever you saw, I hope you don’t presumptuously seek forgiveness by showing it off on your own…….”
It seems that the heart that burned with anger has already turned to ashes. There is no sign of excitement in the following words.
“If you kneel down to apologize, my kind young master will feel a little troubled and eventually forgive you. So, absolutely not.”
Don’t even dream of being forgiven forever. Do you understand? The brothers lost the opportunity to refute in the face of the stern assertion. Or perhaps they never had such an opportunity from the beginning.