Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Victor to the Rescue
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“Vi, Sir Victor?”
“Oppa?”
Cedric and Lilia jumped in shock at the sight of Victor, who had appeared out of nowhere.
Victor glared at the two of them with fierce eyes for a long moment before extending his hand to me.
“Can you stand?”
“Y-Yeah…….”
I started to take his hand but then bit my lip, furrowing my brow as if still in pain.
Of course, it was all an act. It wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t get up on my own.
Victor flinched and gritted his teeth, suddenly bending down to scoop me up.
“O-Oppa?”
He effortlessly lifted me by supporting my waist and the back of my knees.
Seeing him pick up my fairly heavy body without breaking a sweat made me truly realize that Victor was born with a sturdy build.
Still holding me, Victor turned and barked at Cedric and Lilia.
“Have you lost your minds? What the hell do you think you’re doing, pushing someone down the stairs?”
“Sir Victor, it’s a misunderstanding. Rubette fell on her own—I didn’t push her.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“If you don’t believe me…….”
Cedric raked a hand through his hair in frustration, narrowing his eyes with displeasure.
“But Sir Victor, I get that you’re angry, but shouldn’t you mind your manners? We’re not kids playing brother and sister anymore.”
“If it bothers you that much, then speak up yourself.”
“What…….”
Cedric looked utterly bewildered before chewing on his lip.
Victor was hot-tempered and didn’t care about rank or status when angry. In other words, he was the type you didn’t want to tangle with unless you were ready for a headache.
“Vi, Victor oppa. It’s really a misunderstanding. Rubette just tripped by accident.”
Lilia came down past Cedric and clung to Victor’s arm, making a pitiful face with her pretty features.
Victor’s face twisted in disgust as he twisted away from her. Lilia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Whether it was an accident or not, I didn’t like the way that guy was talking to Rubette. And you’re no different—you didn’t even think to help her up.”
“Ah! I-I…… I was just about to help her…….”
Lilia paled, trembling violently, unable to gauge just how much Victor had overheard.
Victor stared down at her impassively before turning his sharp gaze on Cedric.
“Apologize.”
“Why should I? I didn’t push her.”
“Oppa.”
This was my cue to step in. I wrapped my arms around Victor’s neck and put on the most pitiful expression I could muster.
“It was my fault for being careless and tripping. Don’t fight…….”
“…….”
Of course, Victor wouldn’t buy it. He’d heard Cedric and Lilia openly mocking me as I fell.
Cedric, his pride wounded by Victor’s aggression, stomped the rest of the way down the stairs.
“You heard her. She said she tripped on her own.”
“You little…….”
Victor bristled at Cedric’s retreating back. I tightened my hold around his neck to hold him back.
“…….”
And then there was Lilia, left behind, her face still ashen.
Cedric had the status to act so haughty, and he rarely crossed paths with Victor anyway. But Lilia?
As someone under the Diorus household, she knew she needed to stay on the good side of my two brothers.
“Rubette, I’m sorry. I should’ve checked on you first, but I was so startled that I…….”
Yeah, I knew she’d try to smooth things over like that.
I immediately sniffled in response.
“No, Lilia. You probably didn’t even want to look at me. I get it. From now on, I won’t…… get in the way of you and Cedric anymore. So please don’t hate me…….”
I pouted my lips and glanced at her sideways. Lilia’s mouth hung open in shock. She clearly hadn’t expected a counter like that.
‘How does it feel to have your usual tricks turned back on you?’
I barely held back a laugh as Victor walked past Lilia and up the stairs.
Lilia hurriedly grabbed at him as he tried to leave without another word.
“O-Oppa! Wait, let me explain…….”
“Let go.”
Victor turned with a hardened glare, and Lilia flinched.
“I’m disappointed in you.”
“…….”
Grinding his teeth, Victor continued up the stairs.
Lilia’s pale, horrified face was quite the sight.
* * *
Victor carried me all the way to my bed before speaking in a face full of lingering anger.
“I’ll call the doctor. Let’s have him check you out.”
“No, oppa. It’s not necessary. I’m fine now. It wasn’t like I fell from that high up.”
“Still…….”
“I’m really okay. I’ll tell you if something’s wrong.”
Victor hesitated, looking dissatisfied, before sighing and pulling up a chair to sit.
“Hey, have you been putting up with crap like that from that Cedric jerk this whole time?”
“Ah, nooo……. It’s just teasing, you know.”
Victor thumped his chest in disbelief as I gave a wry smile.
“Teasing? Teasing? Is that what it felt like to you?”
“Don’t get mad, oppa.”
“How can I not? I’ve told you so many times I don’t like that guy. How long are you going to keep chasing after him like a lost puppy?”
“I’m not anymore.”
“What do you mean not……! Argh! And what the hell was up with Lilia…….”
Victor clenched his jaw, trembling with rage, and ruffled his hair irritably.
‘Nice.’
This incident would definitely put Lilia in Victor’s bad books. I hid my rising smile and put on a dejected look.
Noticing my expression, Victor finally calmed down a bit and opened the leather bag slung over his shoulder.
“Here, take this. I bought it on the way. You like this stuff, right?”
“Wow.”
The elegant packaging looked familiar. It was chocolate from that famous dessert shop in the capital.
‘My absolute favorite. Who’d have thought the least likely person would be so thoughtful.’
It was probably the first time since waking up as Rubette that I’d felt properly cared for by family……
It was more touching than I expected. My nose even tingled a little.
“Thanks, oppa. But I’m on a diet right now, so no desserts…….”
“What?”
“I’m trying to lose weight. I’ve been jogging ten laps a day around that empty lot past Severn Street. Ahem.”
Victor paused, frowning as I spoke proudly.
“Why lose weight all of a sudden? Don’t tell me it’s because of that Cedric guy…….”
“Eek! No, no. Really, it’s not. I’m done following Cedric around. It’s just for my health.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed as I waved my hands dismissively. He clearly didn’t buy it.
“Then give it here. I’ll get you something else. What do you want?”
“No!”
I blocked his hand as he reached for the chocolate box and clutched it to my chest.
“I do need to lose weight, but you bought this thinking of me, so I’ll eat it. One a day should be fine, right?”
“…….”
Victor turned his head away, muttering as I stuck out my tongue playfully.
“……Do whatever.”
“Hehe. Thanks, oppa. I didn’t know you were coming today. What brings you without even a heads-up? I was just missing you— this is great.”
“Ah.”
Victor scratched his cheek, his eyes darting around oddly.
“Uh…… well, actually, I had something? To say? A request? Yeah, something like that.”
“Hm? To me?”
“Yeah, uh, you see. About the Crown…….”
That was when it happened.
Bang bang bang—!
The door flew open.
I was waiting for Victor to continue when the mood-killing knocks came—three aggressive pounds on the door, followed by it bursting open without permission.
‘Viego oppa?’
Peeking over Victor’s shoulder, the unexpected intruder was Viego.
“……Brother?”
Victor turned at the sound, freezing in bewilderment before standing up.
“What the hell, brother? Why barge into a grown woman’s room without knocking?”
Viego’s face was flushed with anger for some reason. I quickly glanced at him and stood up after Victor.
“You two.”
His voice was chilling, like thin ice, calling out to us.
‘Why is he so mad?’
No one was scarier than Viego when angry. Victor and I both flinched in unison.
He was endlessly indulgent with the twins, but brutally strict with his blood siblings—me and Victor. Our reactions were half instinct by now.
‘Did we do something to get scolded for?’
I racked my brain, but nothing came to mind. Victor had just gotten home……
“I’ve told you time and again. Lilia and Riki are like family, so treat them like little siblings and take good care of them.”
“Ah.”
No way?
“Brother, what’s this all of a sudden…….”
I had a hunch, and sure enough.
“Sniff.”
There she was. Lilia peeked out from behind Viego, clutching his clothes, her face tear-streaked.
At the sound of her sniffling, Viego’s handsome brow furrowed menacingly.
“And yet, you made her cry?”