Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Gray Rose
Ophilienne Vinna Moretti.
A villainess who would not hesitate to commit evil if it meant obtaining power.
The personification of a thorned rose.
Outwardly, she seemed gentle enough to embrace everyone, but within, she hid poisonous thorns capable of destroying anyone.
Her end was futile.
In the end, all the evil deeds she had committed were revealed, and her head was severed at the guillotine.
She was a rather memorable antagonist, one that lingered in the mind for a long time.
“There you are, Mati.”
And I—
Never even imagined that I would become her younger brother.
The mage noble house, Moretti.
My family was a branch of the Moretti lineage.
Among them, I was unusual, born with the ash-gray hair and gray eyes that symbolized the Moretti name.
But around the age of four, my father, a government official, was arrested on charges of embezzlement, and our family collapsed overnight.
My mother handed me over to the main house.
It was no different from selling me for money.
“From now on, you are a Moretti. Conduct yourself accordingly.”
The reason was simple.
Their son had died, and they needed an heir to continue the family.
And so, I, once just a branch family member, was placed in the position of heir to a great house.
On my sixteenth birthday,
Memories of my previous life resurfaced.
Memories and common sense from that past life flooded over my current self like a tide.
For about a week, I was confused, but now I had adjusted.
And I realized that this place was the world of a game I had played in my previous life. I had also gained a status window.
Mathios Vinna Moretti.
I had become the younger brother of a villainess who didn’t even appear in the story.
For the past twelve years, I hadn’t realized it even in my dreams. That the sister I had lived with all this time was a notorious villainess.
Until now, I had acted childishly toward her.
I believed we could become a real family, and with that belief alone, I smiled and approached her.
The desire to be loved always pushed me one step forward.
I had believed, without any basis, that someday her cold, hardened heart would soften.
‘There’s no need for that anymore.’
Because I had realized her wicked nature.
And also that no matter what I did, I could never earn her affection.
After turning sixteen, I kept my distance from her.
I no longer insisted on sleeping together, nor did I act cute asking her to play with me.
I treated her with the indifference one would show a stranger.
‘I didn’t exist in the original story.’
Mathios Vinna Mortie was not a character in the original.
It seemed I had been added due to my reincarnation. That was a major change.
‘In the original timeline without me, Ophilienne became the heir.’
Unable to find a male successor even among the branch families, the head of the house, Servan, had no choice but to appoint Ophilienne as the successor.
‘But… since I was adopted, I’ve become her biggest obstacle.’
Just imagining how much that power-hungry madwoman would find me irritating…
It sent chills down my spine.
One day, my adoptive father summoned me to his office.
“Is that truly the extent of your ability? I am disappointed. Your sister is only two years older than you. Yet what is there that you do better than her? Etiquette, manners, magic, swordsmanship, economics, presence. There is not a single thing.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I will not grant you the position of successor.”
Originally, a male heir would be recognized as successor at seventeen.
He was saying he would not do that.
Servan tapped the armrest as he smoked.
Tap, tap.
“Prove it. Prove with your abilities that you deserve to sit in this position. Next month is the academy entrance. Your sister took first place with outstanding results.”
At seventeen, one entered the academy.
It was an unspoken rule of society.
“I do not even expect you to take first place. At minimum, second. Do not bring shame upon yourself with a disgraceful ranking.”
“….”
“You may leave.”
And just like that, I was pushed away from the successor position.
Was I sad?
‘This is amazing.’
Even before regaining my past life memories, I had not liked the idea of becoming the successor.
Successor, power would be immense, sure.
‘But what’s the point. It’s no fun and way too busy.’
I am a noble.
The son of a prestigious noble family. I already have enough money and power.
Life is short. I’m already busy enough enjoying myself, so why live burdened by responsibilities.
‘This works out better. If I step out of the succession race, my sister won’t pay attention to me either.’
I felt a bit sorry for the retainers who supported me, but my decision was already made.
I would not take on heavy responsibilities. I didn’t want to. I just wanted to live comfortably and enjoy myself.
After being scolded by my father, I slacked off even more intensely.
Sleeping in late became the norm, and I indulged in every hobby available to a noble.
‘This is pleasure without responsibility.’
I was leaning against a tree, leisurely reading a novel.
A rose fragrance drifted in on the wind.
Before I could even register it, someone approached and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
“There you are, Mati.”
“…Noona.”
Ash-gray hair fell into my field of vision.
When I turned my head, she was leaning her face against my shoulder, smiling.
The smile was soft, but what lay within it was impossible to easily grasp.
Ophilienne Vinna Moretti.
The woman who would be called the worst villainess.
With the same gray eyes as mine, she looked down at me as if she had always been there.
“…What is it?”
“I came because you’re always here reading alone.”
My sister plopped down beside me. The scent of roses deepened.
“I miss the old days. When you were little, you always came to my bed saying you were scared to sleep alone.”
“…I think I’ve outgrown that age.”
“Still, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed.”
“Noona.”
“Yes, little brother.”
“Should I just not go to the academy?”
Ophilienne did not answer.
She simply stared at me, then tilted her head slightly.
Her gray hair slipped over her shoulder, catching the sunlight.
“What do you mean by that?”
“…I don’t really want to become the head of the house, and I don’t have the ability either. If I become the head, it’ll be hard. I don’t like difficult things.”
Her gaze slowly scanned my face.
As if searching for traces of a lie.
“So? You’re a noble, and you’re saying you won’t go to Porca?”
For nobles, the academy was not a choice.
If you carried noble blood, it was a rite of passage.
“…I just… like drawing. Rather than going there to study, I’d rather stay here and draw flowers and animals.”
I spoke with the most innocent expression I could manage.
So she wouldn’t see me as a threat.
But this part wasn’t a lie.
I truly liked those things. Drawing, novels, watching scenery. I loved them.
“Hm.”
The corner of her lips lifted slightly.
It was the expression of someone intrigued.
“So help me convince Father. If I go alone, I’ll just get scolded again.”
I looked up at her.
Ophilienne tapped her lips lightly with a slender finger, as if in thought.
That single motion seemed to stretch time.
After a moment—
“…Alright. Mati.”
She opened her arms and gently pulled me into an embrace, patting my head.
“If that’s what my little brother wants.”
She smiled brightly.
The next day, I went to Father’s office with my sister.
We stopped in front of the black wooden door and knocked.
“Come in.”
There was no question of who it was.
It was as if he already knew we would come.
The senses of Servan, a high-ranking mage, were far beyond human.
‘…In the game, he died meaninglessly for my sister.’
Near the end of the story,
Just before Ophilienne’s downfall when her crimes were exposed,
Servan poured all his power into protecting his daughter.
But she was imprisoned, awaiting execution.
Servan even committed treason against the imperial family to save her, only to be killed by the Sword Saint in the end.
He looked like the kind of man who wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed, but he was truly devoted to his daughter.
Naturally, someone like me, an adopted child, was different.
‘If it’s just me, maybe not, but if Noona asks too, he’ll listen.’
“What is it. Both of you.”
Servan glanced at us before returning to his work.
I looked at my sister.
Standing with her hands behind her back, she gestured with her chin as if telling me to speak.
I have to start?
“Um, Father.”
I hesitated as I spoke.
“Head of the house.”
He corrected me immediately.
His gaze never left the documents.
“…Head of the house.”
“Speak.”
Only then did his gaze turn to me.
Servan disliked unnecessary words and emotions. Keep it simple.
“I will not attend the academy.”
Tap.
The fountain pen was set down on the desk.
With a gloved hand, he removed his square glasses.
Then he lifted his chilling gray eyes.
“Say that again.”
The moment our eyes met, my heart began to race uncontrollably.
Just from him showing emotion, someone far beyond me, I felt overwhelming pressure.
“I-I… hic! I don’t want to go to the academy….”
My throat tightened.
My pronunciation fell apart.
“Pfft….”
Ophilienne covered her mouth with her fist.
Then, seeing Father’s gaze, she erased her smile.
His eyes turned back to me.
“Why? Until yesterday, you said you would go.”
He sounded genuinely curious.
“Th-that is. I simply cannot do it. I might somehow graduate, but I will never surpass my sister.”
“Who told you to surpass her. At minimum, you should follow behind her.”
“…I can’t. She is far too outstanding. Trying to follow her would only make me miserable.”
“You’re giving up without even trying? Is that how I raised you?”
“….”
“So what you’re saying is, you are giving up the position of head?”
That was exactly what it meant.
Refusing the academy meant stepping away from politics.
“Yes.”
I swallowed and continued.
“…I like drawing. But the seat you occupy is too high for me to handle. Rather than me, my sister is more suitable.”
I delivered the prepared words smoothly.
Father leaned forward, clasping his hands.
With probing gray eyes, he examined me as he spoke.
“A year ago, you were outstanding. I thought you would succeed me. What changed you so much?”
I glanced at my sister.
“…My sister.”
“Ophilienne?”
“Yes. Because of her, I changed.”
At that moment, a vein rose on her smooth forehead.
She must have thought I was mocking her.
But I wasn’t.
“I am far inferior to her. Even if I became head, I have no confidence in leading the family. I am weak and fragile.”
“….”
“…But my sister is different. She is charismatic and possesses the greatest ability among her peers. Head of the house, this is not a decision made on impulse. I thought about it all night. Please consider my words carefully.”
I bowed at a ninety-degree angle.
I glanced slightly at my sister’s expression.
I had praised her so much my tongue could wear out. This should satisfy her—
Cold.
‘…?’
Frost-like gray eyes were looking down at me.
It was not a pleasant gaze.
What?
…What’s the problem?
“Tch. Even if it is thin, you still carry Moretti blood, yet you have no perseverance at all.”
Servan clicked his tongue.
“Fine. So what, you plan to live like this, playing around forever?”
“I plan to leave the territory.”
At that moment, for some reason, my sister’s hands behind her back trembled slightly.
Father’s eyes widened.
“Leave?”
“Yes. So as not to interfere with my sister’s succession, I will live in the capital.”
Those with political influence inevitably exert influence, whether they want to or not.
Even if I didn’t want to, people would gather around me.
So going far away to the capital would solve that.
‘Besides, the capital is more lively.’
I would spend the rest of my life there in luxury. Sweet food and pleasant entertainment awaited me.
“Father~”
Just as I was about to secure an easy permission, my sister’s voice cut in.
She naturally pulled my arm closer as she spoke.
“I would like Mati to attend the academy with me.”
“?”
No, wait.