Prologue
The most important thing in this world is adaptability. Just as the proverb says, "Even if a tiger carries you off, you'll survive if you keep your wits about you," a calm response is always the most vital solution for any human being.
Whether it was falling into the world of a romance fantasy, realizing the body I'd possessed belonged to the protagonist's younger brother, or getting dragged into chaos because of my so-called brother—a walking nuclear bomb—I told myself that as long as I kept my head, everything would work out. Never give in to despair. I'd always pushed myself forward, solving every crisis that came my way. That was why I could confidently claim my cool-headed composure was second to none.
But fate, as if determined to punish my pride that had crossed into arrogance, sent down a calamity of unimaginable scale.
"How dare you break off an engagement with the imperial family… The arrogance of House Hohenberg knows no bounds."
"……."
The moment we defeated the final boss and reached the epilogue, that bastard of a brother eloped with the saintess who was the heroine. To make matters worse, the damn fool even declared he was breaking off his long-standing engagement with the Third Princess before vanishing without a trace.
That irresponsible bastard. I'd always known he had a reckless personality, but… I never imagined it was this bad. Did he really not care what happened to the rest of his family?
Beyond disbelief, I felt pure rage.
"Where has Maximilian gone?"
"We don't know his whereabouts either…"
"I am aware that he is the hero who represents the continent. However, that does not grant him immunity. You agree with me, don't you, Edanant von Hohenberg?"
"…Yes, of course."
White Blessing of the Lady was a typical romance fantasy filled with familiar clichés: a commoner heroine who awakens as a saintess through various episodes and, together with the male leads, defeats the evil Demon King.
The story had reached its conclusion. And when I saw the author's notice that a sequel was in the works—
I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I had become a character inside the novel.
…How utterly absurd.
Of all the male leads who were strung along by the heroine Beatrice, I'd become the younger brother of Maximilian, the hero who ranked first in popularity polls.
"The crime of deceiving the imperial family is grave. It must be punished severely as a warning to others. As a knight who has long protected the imperial family, and as an elder sister who has cherished and cared for her younger sister… I will not overlook this incident."
Her golden hair shone like ripened wheat fields. Deep anger burned in her vivid crimson eyes. In any other situation, I might have been captivated by her beauty, one that could make even the goddesses of myth jealous. But unfortunately, I had no such luxury now.
She was the grim reaper dispatched with full authority from the imperial family.
'Ah, no matter how grave the crime… to think the Red Dragon of the Valtaria Empire would personally intervene.'
Ludmilla Draig Valtaria, the Second Princess of the Valtaria Empire. Successor of the Red Dragon. The empire's representative warrior. One of the Seven Strongest of the Warring States, a gathering of heroes and monsters who could each take on a thousand men alone.
For the record, she was twenty-seven this year. Unmarried.
Even Maximilian, the hero who had risen to the pinnacle of power after annihilating the Demon King's army alongside Saintess Beatrice, would find it difficult to gauge his chances against her. She was an absolute existence, a monster who had transcended the limits of humanity—an entity the author had hammered home as untouchable.
Who in this world could face such a being without freezing in terror?
The cool-headed composure I'd considered my greatest strength had already fled without a trace.
'Damn it, that bastard of a brother…! I should have him disowned immediately!'
What a "family"-like piece of work. Running away so irresponsibly? Without even realizing he was being played by the heroine?
From this moment on, the brother I'd spent ten years with no longer existed. No—there had never been a brother to begin with.
The one who had fallen head over heels for the heroine, broken his engagement with the Third Princess, and abandoned his family to flee… was no longer family.
"……."
Of course, the first priority was escaping the current situation.
The Red Dragon had arrived to punish the trash who had discarded her younger sister. Swallowing dryly, I stared at the crimson princess whose killing intent burned like wildfire.