VTGWH 513

"Is that the attitude of someone asking for a favor?"

Big brother Alan glared at me, his brow wrinkled.

It's been a long time since I've been given this look; I haven't been given this kind of look since I returned to Duelkis Kingdom.

"Big brother Alan has no choice but to listen to me."

"I'll decide for myself whether I'm in on this plan or not."

"No."

I said without a pause.

"You don't have the right to decide, brother."

"Is that what how you ask a favor?"

"Yes...but it's more of a threat."

I chuckled lightly.

I didn't have a weakness for Big brother Alan, but I didn't want to be short-armed by him here.

"It would be wise not to defy me so as not to bring Alan Williams' name crashing down to the ground."

"This is ridiculous, I can't keep up with you!"

Big brother Alan shouted and walked out of the room with force.

I watched my brother leave, not particularly stopping him.

"Alicia, you could have said it better."

Big brother Albert interjected calmly, Big brother Henry seemed to be going through the usual motions and didn't seem to think anything of Big brother Alan's withdrawal.

"No, I'm betting my life on this scheme."

"That's such an exaggeration."

I looked Big brother Albert straight in the eye.

"Crazy, stupid plan, right? But it's worth risking my life for. Do you think I don't realize how treasonous the plan to blow up the royal palace to assassinate Julie Seeker would be? It would also be an act of treason against Duke-sama. ...Still."

If we didn't go this far, surely Julie-sama wouldn't show up.

She had never appeared to us before...Uncle Will and I would have to be in the same situation....

"Still, I've already made up my mind. Even if this is a momentary feeling, I am the only one who can protect that feeling. So, even if Duke-sama hates me after this, I will carry out this plan."

"...Why does Alicia look like she's about to cry?"

Big brother Albert looked at me with a sad face.

"Alicia is the one who is most hurt by Alicia's selfishness."

Big Brother Henry blurted out, and at the same time, the door opened with a bang and a mighty thud.

We involuntarily jerked at the sound and looked at Big brother Alan as he entered the room.

"If Alicia wipes up everything, we won't be able to protect our sister. Do you know how humiliating that would be for a brother?"

I realized all of Big brother Alan's feelings for me by the look on his face.

...Big brother Alan's anger at me was not so much that I had been mocked for my abilities, but that he had been deprived of his role as "big brother".

After all, I was still his "beloved sister".