An Older Sister Must Protect Her Little Brother
The study of the Frigid Grand Ducal Castle.
“My lady—no, Mother! What on earth are you saying?!”
The eldest daughter, Lirith, was shouting at Camilla Frigid, head of the house and her mother.
“Exactly as I said. The venue for the imperial debutante…”
“Why is our Grand Ducal Castle hosting an imperial debutante?!”
“Hmm…”
Ordinarily Lirith would never raise her voice at the mother who had raised her with such strictness since childhood. But the moment the matter concerned her little brother Edward, her eyes spun completely out of control—and Camilla chose not to make an issue of it.
As the next head of the house, Lirith already performed her duties more than adequately. The problem was that her affection for her younger brother had grown more extreme with every passing year. Camilla found herself worrying not as a duchess, but as a mother.
“If that’s the case, then we’ll simply hold our own debutante! Tell the imperial family they are not welcome!”
“Lirith… the imperial court has already moved into the execution stage.”
“Th-that can’t be… Edward!!”
Lirith collapsed with a tragic expression so dramatic that anyone watching might have thought Edward was being marched off to his execution. Camilla could only sigh.
“Haa… Lirith. I know how much you care for Ed, but…”
“This isn’t just caring! That pink-haired bitch has completely lost her mind!”
“Ahem! You must not speak of Her Highness the Princess that way. You never know who might be listening—”
“I don’t care! I have to protect Ed!”
What in the world had gotten into the girl?
No matter how powerful their house might be, they were still dealing with the imperial family. Camilla herself doted on her youngest son, of course—but watching her daughter shield him with such complete disregard for consequences was difficult to understand.
“Haa… I love and cherish Ed dearly myself, but… wouldn’t a princess make an excellent match?”
“No!”
“Heh… Then who would be acceptable?”
“Th-that’s…”
Camilla understood the reluctance—the ache of eventually having to let a beloved younger brother go. But if he had to marry, there was no better candidate than the imperial princess. Even setting her rank aside, Charlotte lacked nothing in ability or beauty. If Camilla had to send her precious son away, who could possibly be better?
Seeing her daughter unable to answer, Camilla tried to soothe her and continue the conversation.
“See? There isn’t any—”
“Ed is never getting married!”
“Heh…”
The answer that came back was an absolute no. Camilla could only wonder who on earth her own daughter took after.
“That damn pink-haired bitch!”
Lirith stormed out of her mother’s study, seething. Without so much as asking for permission, that wretched girl had designated the Frigid Grand Ducal Castle as the venue for the imperial debutante and was pushing every arrangement through at breakneck speed.
“Should I just commit treason…?”
If this forced debutante actually ended up linking her little brother to that woman…
Ohoho!~ Lirith! I’ll take excellent care of your Ed!
Big Sister!! Kyaaaaaah!!
“No!!”
KRAAASH!!
Rubble clattered to the floor. Just imagining it had been so revolting that she had smashed the wall beside her without realizing. Completely demolished—but it couldn’t be helped. It was all that pink-haired princess’s fault.
What to do?
Even if the debutante was held at the castle, Edward simply didn’t have to attend. He hated the idea just as much as she did; if she told him to stay in his room, he would happily refuse to come out. But would that woman give up so easily?
“Of course she wouldn’t…”
A pink-haired maniac like her might well hold the entire debutante inside Edward’s bedroom.
“Ah… my poor Ed!”
Worried sick about how her little brother would react to the news, Lirith hurried toward Edward’s chambers.
The moment she reached his door, shouts erupted from inside—his personal maid and the half-dragon knight who served as his escort.
“Young Master, you mustn’t!!”
“Absolutely not, Young Master!!”
What was happening in there? Don’t tell me—had the shock been so great that he had collapsed?!
“No, Ed!!”
—Clack!
“B-Big Sister? / My lady? / Lady Lirith?”
Three pairs of eyes snapped toward her the instant she entered. Lirith ignored them for the moment and surveyed the scene to grasp the situation.
What she found left her stunned.
“Wh-what in the world… what are you trying to do, Ed?!”
Because her beloved little brother was packing.
“Big Sister. I’ve enjoyed our time together.”
“You mustn’t, Young Master!”
“If you insist on going, then I’m coming with you!”
“Ah, for heaven’s sake!!”
“Ah… ah…”
That fragile frame of his had somehow stuffed a travel pack until it was bulging. What was he even saying? Even if that pink-haired woman’s schemes had forced the debutante onto their doorstep, this was going far too far. If he simply stayed in his room, she could protect him. Even if that woman charged in, Lirith could stop her. So why was he trying to leave her?
“No, Ed!!”
She shouted just as the other two were doing, trying to stop his sudden decision—but his resolve did not waver.
“I’m an adult now! I can live proudly on my own—”
“With a man’s body? What are you talking about, Young Master?!”
“She’s right! At the very least, let me go with you!”
“Why is everyone making such a fuss?! I can manage perfectly well alone!”
“Enough!!”
“B-Big Sister?”
Lirith raised her voice in genuine anger. She had never once spoken harshly to the little brother she adored—never even raised her voice in irritation. Edward looked thoroughly startled. Seeing that expression tore at her heart, but she could not yield.
Edward leaving home. Leaving her side.
“Emma. Grace.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Ugh! What are you—!”
The moment the order left her lips—before she even finished the next sentence—the two of them naturally seized Edward by both arms.
“Watch him around the clock. Twenty-four-hour shifts.”
“Yes! Understood.”
“Wh-what is the meaning of this, Big Sister?! Grace! Emma!”
“The world outside the Grand Ducal Castle is far too dangerous for a man to wander alone.”
“Grace is right, Young Master!”
“Wh-what kind of bullshit—”
“Ed!”
“Y-yes, Big Sister…?”
“I know what you’re worried about, but I’ll protect you!”
“No, I don’t need—”
“You are not to be left alone for even a moment! Understood?!”
“Yes!”
“No!!”
This can’t be happening… I’m screwed.
The moment I heard the imperial family was forcibly holding that cursed debutante at the Frigid Grand Ducal Castle, I knew a death flag was about to be planted right in the middle of a swarm of women. The only way out was escape.
I’d saved up a decent amount of pocket money. I hadn’t just been lounging around all this time—I’d trained hard on my own. On top of that, I had the memories and experience of my previous life. I judged I could survive outside just fine. Giving up the golden spoon of a grand ducal house was a real shame, but I was ready to leave.
I tried to move quickly—but the knight and maid who never left my side kept delaying me. And the biggest reason I couldn’t get out at all…
Enough!!
…was my sister Lirith.
She had never once shown irritation in her life, always so gentle—and then she shouted at me in anger. I couldn’t help freezing in shock. Because of her orders, I couldn’t take a single step out of this room.
I’d trained reasonably hard; I thought I could shrug off a couple of women’s restraint and bolt. But this really is a gender-reversed world, stacked completely against men. I couldn’t overpower Grace the escort knight—hell, I couldn’t even overpower Emma, the one I’d always thought of as a bit of an airhead.
Why the hell are these two so strong?
Anyway, I’m in serious trouble. Being locked in this room isn’t even the real problem. Honestly, Lirith knew better than anyone how desperately I refuse the debutante every year—how I try to stay in bed rather than attend. I thought she wouldn’t stop me. And yet here we are.
I still can’t forget the look in her eyes when she got angry.
That look…
Kyahahaha! Hyunwoo!
Haa… haa… Young Master!
Fuck… it can’t be, right?
It looked uncomfortably similar to the eyes of the women who had drowned me before.
No. No way.
Yeah. It can’t be. I was just startled seeing my sister angry for the first time and misread it. No matter how hard this world tries to screw me over, there’s no way the older sister I’ve shared so much affection with all these years would kill me.
There’s no way… right?
But then why? My instincts keep screaming that I’m in danger.
Which means I cannot stay locked in this room. No matter what it takes—I’m getting out.
Had the measures been too harsh?
Lirith had clearly seen the way Edward’s gaze wavered when he looked at her. Was he hurt? Or simply shocked because she had never raised her voice before?
She was sorry—but it couldn’t be helped.
She had to protect Ed from that pink-haired woman. And she had to make sure he didn’t get any foolish ideas about wandering the outside world alone in a man’s body.
After all.
If you’re an older sister, you must protect your little brother.