Chapter 11

“Blah-blah. Just a brave front, eh? You don’t have a good guardian today, so what are you going to do alone?” The man who first went there mocked Franz.

“Even a rat bites when it’s cornered.” Franz snorted, clenching his fist on the neck of the broken bottle.

‘I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t scary. But Franz was different when she was Yvonne. Franz doesn’t need to pay attention to social views like Yvonne. It was a non-existent existence. He was a fictional character and his identity had no honor.’ Yvonne thought to herself.

“Come on. Today, just be an obedient fellow and follow us without a fight, alright?” The man said to Franz.

One of the bullies approached her. Yvonne was terrified and her heart was beating fast, but she held onto the broken bottle. She didn’t have the courage to stab her opponent, but she had the courage to threaten and bluff. It was also the bluff she learned from Paradis while living as Franz. Of course, Paradis has the ability to crush real opponents.

“A crazy man with a hole in his mouth!” Her trembling steps were menacing. she swings the bottle prepared to attack her opponent.

‘Drinking alcohol makes me less scared than usual, huh.’ Yvonne proudly thought to herself then she screamed and ran at them.

“Ahhh- Kiryan!” But Yvonne’s shout did not last long.

Kiryan grabbed her back as she jumped and dragged her down.

“Kek! Whoops!” Yvonne, who was choked by the collar of her shirt, grabbed her neck and clenched her fists, and Kiryan took out the gangsters with weapons.

It was only with bare hands. Nevertheless, he flexibly avoided the weapon his opponent was wielding and stabbed the vital point. He took the sword of the fallen man and pierced the hand of one of the thugs. Then screams from both of them at the same time came out.

“Aww!” One was from the man with pierced hands.

“Aaaah-! Evil! Evil! Ouch!” The other was for Franz, who saw the scene. Franz hurriedly covered his eyes and shook his hand. He seemed to be making a bit of a fuss, but his face turned white. This seemed to tell how surprised he was. At this, Kiryan clicked his tongue so softly that he could not hear it.

“You’re weaker than it looks.” Kiryan muttered. By his standards, this was insignificant.

“Eric! Take Franz with you. If possible, give him a sedative. No, it would be better to buy some Rado and feed it to him.” Kiryan shouted his orders.

At Kiryan’s call, his servant Eric jumped out of the darkness. He catches Franz with his legs loose. It was lifted up like a sack and went out of the bar. As soon as Eric put him down outside, Franz began to vomit non-stop.

Blergh!

Her stomach was stimulated by the force when she was lifted up by Eric. Franz bangs his forehead against the wall and nearly faints. Eric held back his breath.

By Kiryan’s standards, Franz was defective.

He was timid and soft, and he didn’t even know how to use a sword. According to the investigation, he knows Paradis Laurent and lives in Yvonne Moore’s house.

“Aren’t you in a situation where you’re messing around? A person like this who vomits at a trivial spectacle is the brother of Kiryan Hishleger, the king of Furtra? It was unbelievable.” Eric said in utter disbelief.

“Ugh…” Franz croaked.

Eric grabbed him just before he fell between the vomit and forced him to drink water. At that time, Kiryan got rid of the thugs and called one of his subordinates working in the capital.

It was Jean Logan. He is the leader of assassin guilds that grow in the capital.

Kiryan flicks his lighter on and off repeatedly, almost igniting Logan. Logan was on the verge of death when Kiryan’s unexpected call came. Even if something important occurred, Kiryan constantly communicates through Eric. It was unclear how crucial it would be for him to issue commands directly.

“Logan.” Kiryan finally said.

“Yes.” Logan answered.

Logan identified the men lying dead behind Kiryan. The floor is covered in their blood, but Kiryan seems unshaken. It was an impeccable scene. Logan swallowed dry saliva.

Who is Kiryan Hishleger? He rose to power in the lawless zone, the land of demons, and reached the pinnacle of that place.

“Did you check on the blond-haired boy when he came in?” Kiryan asked him.

“I saw him at first glance.” Logan said.

“You’ve seen that guy that smells like alcohol. It’s only been half a day in Furtra and he was already dead drunk at a bar. He was the kind of guy who could have been robbed and found dead in a back alley. Remember that face.” Kiryan ordered Logan.

‘Who is he?’ Logan watched as Kiryan put out the lighter by blowing air through his mouth.

“Is he a subject of your responsibility and protection in the capital?” Kiryan’s order picked up Logan’s curiosity. “Ah, maybe he has an important position in the power struggle of the nobles. Maybe he’s an ignorant nobleman or someone who is in charge of accounting for a wealthy man?” He continued.

“Yes. Watch him closely— If you dare do this to my brother again, your neck will be blown away.” Kiryan menacingly said.

Logan, who answered, almost bit his tongue at the aura of his words.

He couldn’t believe that the timid man outside was Kiryan Hishleger’s brother. It is because there was no contact point from his appearance to his eyes. But he soon understood. It was a famous thing under the water for Kiryan to find his long-lost brother.

“I will tell the underlings firmly until tomorrow.” Logan answered. Then he grabs the collar of the guy that just came to his senses after being thrown by Kiryan.

“Kiryan was such a person. There is no mercy in his hands, such a cruel man.” He uttered to himself.

Kiryan went out and checked on his brother. Franz.

The young boy’s name that such a man called was as warm as the sunlight on a spring day. Yvonne, who was the real party, felt that his call was like a hand gesture from a messenger, but those who knew Kiryan well had an inappropriate tone to keep the conversation cold.

“It looks like you haven’t taken any sedatives.” Kiryan ignored the startled gazes of his subordinates. He sat down next to Franz, who was squatting. The sun is setting and the stars are densely settled in the sky. It was Franz who distinguished his face in the dark

“Mmm, I ate…” Franz said weakly. Hiccups again. It made Kiryan’s eyebrows narrow down. He was terrified and buried his face between his knees. He hates his reaction but he has patience. He gently stroked the round back of his head.

“I won’t hurt you, so feel safe.” Kiryan consoled Franz. “You always cry. On the subject of fear and tears.” He continued.

“I- Me?” Franz stuttered.

“Okay. You can’t seem to remember. Caught by the locals and beaten, screaming at them not to curse at me while bawling.” Kiryan started saying.

Franz remembered what he was saying, in a dream some time ago, that was the scene he saw.

***

“Kiryan. Waaaahhh!” Even in the midst of being beaten, Kiryan turned away from him.

Yvonne still cried out his name. The place she was hit hurts so she crouches and cries, but at some point the beating stops.

Then there was a scream that wasn’t coming out of her mouth.

“Ahh!” The tall boy screamed in pain.

“Kiryan!” Peter shrieked.

When she slowly raised her head, the first thing she saw was Kiryan, who at once knocked down the boys and subdued them. Kiryan’s face was full of annoyance.

‘Was it because he was excited, or was it because the red glow was reflected on his skin?’ Yvonne still doesn’t know why.

“Ki- Kiryan?” Yvonne said in a small voice.

“These idiots! Dare to touch what’s mine? You wanna die?” Kiryan kicked the boy who beat her and cursed him. Astonished Yvonne stared blankly at him, then to the boys. Having finished beating them, Kiryan stood in front of him.

“Hey. Why are you being beaten like an idiot!” Kiryan scolded him.

“Uh… huh?” Yvonne, still in shock with the sudden turn of events.

“Wake up! Aren”t you going to wake up?” Kiryan started to pull him up.

“Hey, I’ll get up!” As soon as she got up, the sky started spinning.

“What’s on your face?” He asked Yvonne.

“Huh?” Yvonne touched his face. It was coffee, and a dripping nose bleed wet to her clothes.

She saw a nosebleed and a bloody vomit while blowing her birthday cake. She remembered Diana.

“Is Diana okay? I’m bleeding too, but I don’t know about mom and dad.” Yvonne licked her lips in annoyance.

Kiryan grabbed her bag and yanked it from her grasp. Then he tossed her a handkerchief to wipe her filthy face. Kiryan became enraged and grabbed it instead after her touch to wipe the nosebleed.

“Can’t you clean one of these? That’s why you’re getting beaten up!” Kiryan stopped the bleeding with a damp handkerchief and that was completely brave.

“What makes you so angry? I thought I was your friend. Was it just me?” Yvonne muttered.

At that thought, Yvonne unwittingly smiled and raised the corners of her lips.

“Why are you laughing?” Kiryan irritatingly asked.

“Hey, Kiryan.” Yvonne continued.

“Why are you calling me?” He is still annoyed.

“Thanks. Hehehe.” Then, she hugged Kiryan.

It was different with Diana. Diana is soft and Kiryan is stiff.

She could feel the hard bones in the dry skin. She thinks that’s a source of health that Diana doesn’t have.She was hugging Kiryan for a long time.

“Kiryan. Thank you for being my friend.” Yvonne didn’t know. The sunset was soaking into Kiryan’s face and his darkened skin.

***

She seemed to remember.

“Huh… I’m sorry…” Yvonne took a deep breath.

When she first appeared on stage, she didn’t seem to be as nervous as she is now. But even now, if she didn’t confess to the villain, “The promise of a brother to the villain was just a joke to me as a child,” he would become even more angry in the future and point a sword at her throat.

“I… I can’t remember that moment, Duke. For me, it’s just a short memory of my childhood. Sorry…”

Her body trembled with the beating of her heart. She came out today because of Paradis’ proposal.

She couldn’t stand him arguing for an engagement, so she almost ran away. Paradis’ absurdity influences her and she wanted to avoid that but ended up meeting Kiryan instead.

“Aren’t you gonna say anything?” She was stunned at Kiryan staring at her with his mouth shut.

It made her blink fast. Kiryan responds to the honest reaction and he cannot see it as a lie. Without realizing it, he burst out laughing.

“I know.” Kiryan said, still laughing.

“Yes? Yeah? You know? So have you been making fun of me?” Yvonne widened her eyes. She was so surprised, she didn’t even know what he was talking about.

“You were a little kid back then. Conceptually, there’s no way you can remember all of it.” Kiryan said.

“But why…” Yvonne said, taken aback.

“Nevertheless, I remembered you. First, unlike you, I was neither immature nor young. And secondly, since that day we have never been brothers, it’s because we’ve never been.” The moment he finished speaking, she cried loudly because the way he phrases it makes her heart ache. She remembered the feeling she had for him.

“Kiryan! Don’t forget about me! Don’t forget it!” Yvonne cried because she doesn’t know what to feel about him anymore.

“Crybaby. Let’s eat first before we go back and stop crying. Come on.” Kiryan patted her head.

At that time, Kiryan was everything to Yvonne. So, the parting was so sad that she even got sick of it. He hasn’t forgotten her.

“Okay.” Yvonne sniffed.

As promised, he remembered Franz after all these years they were apart. Some people forget their family like the mother of young Franz, whom he no longer remembers. It must have been a precious memory for this person.

That brought Yvonne’s eyes to tears. Her heart feels full and the feelings of the young boy Franz came alive inside her. The man in front of her is definitely a cruel villain. For this moment, he seemed like a boy who was tickling her. That was really a strange feeling for her.