Clutching the envelope containing the seashell bracelet Grandfather had given me, I walked forward with a spring in my step.
"I’ll take you back. If you use your crutch to go to my room first and then back to yours, your armpit’s going to break."
"It won’t. My doctor says I’ve got unbreakable bones."
"Don’t push yourself. You’ve already lost enough. If you lose your armpit too, it’ll be a disaster."
"What the hell have I lost besides my memory?"
"Your dignity, manners, tact, maturity, sense of fashion, looks..."
"My looks?! My looks are perfect!"
"...So, you agree with everything except that?"
Julian’s eyes widened in outrage, while Shulva barely suppressed his laughter behind us.
We walked through the empty corridor connected to the meeting hall.
We were moving so slowly that the rest of the family had already scattered.
With Grandfather here, there was nothing in the manor that scared me anymore.
Rosie Noart—recognized by Grandfather.
An official member of the Noart family, who would now join the other direct descendants for breakfast and learn the workings of the household.
This place... is really my home.
The very thought made even the grass brushing against my feet feel different. It was nothing like the quiet comfort of living in the annex.
"Kid," Julian suddenly spoke up after a long silence.
"This is seriously bugging me."
"Kid, you’re not actually going to get engaged, right?"
"It’s Rosie, not ‘Kid’..."
"I don’t know much right now, but I heard rumors that you threw in that proposal just to impress that old man."
"It’s Grandfather, not ‘old man’..."
"Anyway, I’ll be the one to get on the old man’s good side, so you should drop the engagement nonsense. You’re too damn small for that."
"It’s Grandfather, not ‘old man’... And why are you even believing rumors? It’s an engagement I genuinely want."
I looked up at him, my face full of curiosity.
"And besides, how exactly are you going to impress Grandfather?"
Julian answered with absolute confidence.
"Every time I read a book, I just get it. I can feel
Just as we were stepping out of the corridor, a sharp voice rang from around the corner.
"I swear to god, I disgust myself!"
Julian and I exchanged startled glances.
"Why are you just standing there, keeping your damn mouth shut?!"
It was an irritated, high-pitched voice. A boy’s voice.
Moving quietly, we carefully peeked around the corner.
"You standing there like an idiot is the reason this whole mess happened!"
The one yelling was none other than Roystan.
In front of him, another boy stood with his head bowed low.
Julian furrowed his brows and whispered, "Who’s that?"
"Grandfather has four children."
"The old man was busy," Julian muttered.
Shulva let out a deep sigh, looking like he was losing brain cells just listening to Julian.
Ignoring them, I continued, "The eldest is Murloc, then there’s Felide, the eldest daughter Valia, and the youngest daughter Monica."
"Our mom’s dead, so that leaves two brothers and one sister."
"That kid yelling over there is Roystan, Murloc’s son. He’s the one I humiliated earlier. Sixteen years old, rotten to the core. Mentally, he’s about your age."
I didn’t take my eyes off Roystan’s furious face as I whispered.
"And the boy getting scolded is Ethan, Uncle Felide’s son. His mother died giving birth to him. He’s thirteen."
Ethan had dark brown hair, green eyes, and a pair of large, round glasses.
I didn’t know much about him. I had never crossed paths with him before.
Roystan let out a bitter laugh of frustration.
"Everything went wrong the moment that stray set foot in this house. And now she’s throwing in a marriage proposal to the Dyfenril Duchy? What the hell!"
"If you had been born a girl, at least we could’ve snatched that proposal for ourselves! Damn it!"
"And we’re just going to sit back and let that butcher’s brat and the stray get on Grandfather’s good side? Huh?"
Ethan remained silent, his head still hanging low.
Roystan, growing more enraged, suddenly smacked Ethan hard on the back of the head.
"If you’re just going to stand there like an idiot, you should’ve at least taken the damn slingshot hit instead! Maybe then they would’ve actually handed down some kind of punishment!"
I blinked in disbelief.
Then why didn’t you take the hit yourself, you idiot?!
Blaming Ethan was completely ridiculous.
This was just an excuse to vent his frustration.
He was furious because things hadn’t gone his way in the meeting.
Ethan didn’t even shed a single tear.
Judging by his expression, he was used to this kind of treatment.
"You’re seriously useless. Is there anything you can do right?!"
Roystan kicked Ethan in the shin.
Julian’s breathing grew rough beside me. His fists clenched.
He was getting angry.
Julian rarely lost his composure. In most cases, he remained calm, collected—unshaken.
But when he was truly furious, he would go eerily silent, his face cold and dangerous as he reached for his sword.
And when Julian drew his sword, it meant the opponent was as good as dead.
The old Julian would never have drawn a blade against a younger cousin over something .
But this Julian—the adolescent, temperamental, reckless Julian—had too much pent-up anger and absolutely no fear.
No matter what, he’s still family. He can’t kill him!
In that split second, Julian lowered his hand, his fingers curling slightly as if grasping for something.
"Brother, please. Just stay here. Promise me. I’ll take care of it, okay?"
I hurriedly pleaded with him before dropping the envelope I was carrying.
Then, without hesitation, I stepped out from behind the corner.
I spread my arms wide, blocking Ethan from view.
Roystan scowled as he looked down at ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ me.
Both he and Ethan were much taller than me.
For a moment, I felt just how small I was.
"If you want to take your anger out on someone, do it on yourself. You were the most pathetic one here, after all."
I lifted my chin and spoke boldly.
"Stop bullying people who had nothing to do with your failure."
Roystan let out a scoff. Then, raising an eyebrow, he smirked mockingly.
"Bullying? What bullying? We’re just having fun."
Roystan folded his arms, his tone dripping with disdain.
"This house is for the strong. Only those who can survive on their own deserve a place here. Even Grandfather thinks that way. Got it?"
Then he suddenly turned and shouted at Ethan.
"Hey, Ethan! Why don’t you say it? Am I bullying you? Or are we just having fun?"
"Quit standing there with your mouth shut and say something! You do have a mouth, don’t you?"
"If I say something..."
Ethan finally mumbled in a voice so quiet it was barely audible.
"...You won’t get mad, right?"
This was the first time I had ever heard Ethan speak.
What’s with his way of talking...?
He had been completely silent during the entire meeting. Even then, he had sat far from his father, Felide, tucked away in the corner of the room.
Roystan’s hand shot up again, but I quickly spoke before he could strike.
"But Ethan’s right, isn’t he? He just said something, and now you’re mad."
Then, placing my hands firmly on my hips, I added,
"And you know what? Good point—only the strong survive, huh? Well, my brother is about to be here soon. Wanna play with him instead?"
Roystan’s face immediately twisted in alarm.
Right on cue, Julian made a deliberate noise as he stepped out from behind the corner, as if he had been holding back long enough.
"You... you bastards...!"
Roystan, despite his bravado, instinctively stepped backward.
His voice wavered, but he still spat out a parting threat.
His eyes burned with resentment as he glared at me.
"You’re getting cocky just because you caught Grandfather’s attention today. But it won’t last. You hear me?"
Then, before Julian could fully emerge, Roystan turned on his heel and ran off.
I couldn’t help but grin at Ethan.
I had an amazing older brother!
I felt proud. Triumphant. Maybe even a little childish, but still—
Just mentioning Julian’s name was enough to send Roystan running!
The strongest man Grandfather had chosen as his heir over his own sons!
The unbeatable warrior feared throughout the empire!
And he was on my side!
Surely, after this, even Ethan would start respecting Julian a little, right?
"Can I please just punch that little shit? Just once?"
Julian appeared, leaning on Shulva for support, twirling his slingshot around in one hand.
In the heat of the moment, I had forgotten something.
What Julian had been reaching for earlier...
It was his slingshot.