CH 16

The Reincarnated Villainess Reunites With Her Brother 2

I apologetically used the handkerchief that was given to me and was finally able to lift up my soaked face.

My eyes were probably bloodshot as well.

When I calmed down, I thought about an excuse, but no good idea came to mind at all.

‘What reason is there to cry when you see the Duke…!?’

Was it that he resembled my estranged brother or something?

No. My brother is working in the royal palace in a carefree manner. The lie will soon be exposed.

Maybe, something sad happened recently and I suddenly remembered?

That’s not very subtle either.

McClain-sama knows that I have been holed up in the royal palace lately and no incidents have occurred.

There is no choice here….!

“I am terribly sorry, sir. It’s all right now.”

“What happened?”

“No, there’s nothing to worry about. Let us proceed.”

I smile at McClain-sama and Reynaldo.

There is no choice but to keep a clean slate!

Don’t pursue too deeply into a woman’s tears! It’s tactless!

I keep smiling at them with sincere thoughts.

Silence is the best defense.

McClain-sama, who was looking at the situation for a while, gave up and returned his gaze to Reynaldo.

Speaking of Reynaldo, he was observing me without being particularly upset, despite the fact that there was a woman crying in front of him.

His facial features are very well-proportioned.

His father was also good-looking, having been known as a handsome man in his youth, but Reynaldo had a different kind of maturity, like a different kind of sex appeal.

He had an aura of danger that kept others away.

It seems that his dislike of people hasn’t changed.

“Let’s start the talk.”

A pleasant tenor voice spun out.

The high-pitched voice from my memory has already disappeared.

It’s very unfortunate, but it just serves as a confirmation to me that that time has passed.

I cleared my mind and turned my attention to McClain-sama and Reynaldo.

“Is it true that Prince Risel has feelings for you and you are having trouble dealing with it?”

“Yes, that’s right. As far as I could see, the prince seemed very serious about it.”

“Has anyone else noticed?”

“No, I was very careful about that. The prince was also most concerned about this, so at the very least, he has kept his distance from me. It may only be a matter of time, though.”

Yes. Prince Risel was still a very thoughtful person.

He understood who would be most in danger because of his actions.

Although he wanted to visit me, he did not show it at all outwardly but visited in the form of stopping by to see McClain-sama.

I was also deceived by how natural it looked, and just when I let my guard down thinking, ‘I knew it was a misunderstanding,’ he stood in front of me.

“I am happy to see you again today.”

He whispered to me and offered me a single begonia flower that he had hidden in his pocket.

Red begonia. In the language of flowers, I believe, it means “confession of love.”

I felt my face turn bright red at the implication.

I was the only one flinching back at his skill, which I didn’t think he possessed, given his relationship experience.

I don’t even know how to return them.

Reynaldo, who had been glancing at me, continued to look without changing his sharp gaze.

“Hmm… And so? You don’t want to be engaged to a prince?”

“Yes.”

“If you just nod your head in agreement, you can receive wealth, power, and the love of that brilliant prince in your hands, do you understand that?”

“Yes.”

His eyes seemed to discern whether my reaction was fake.

Those jade-colored eyes that I used to stare into every day when I was Rosemary.

They remind me of the time when I was Rosemary.

Reynaldo’s face was not that similar to Rosemary’s, but their hair and eye color were identical.

“I hear that the territory of Edigma is not that wealthy.”

“You’re right.”

“If you were to marry the prince, I don’t think your father will have any trouble with that, right?”

Ah, he’s trying to perturb my thoughts.

Rosemary’s father also used to make deliberately provocative remarks when sifting through negotiators like this.

I never thought that Reynaldo, who loathed his father, would do the same thing to me.

“… Father has already retired and has no interest in politics or territorial expansion.”

“And your brother, too?”

“That’s right. I have no ambition, just a yearning to live in the royal capital.”

I had nothing to be guilty of. I answered Reynaldo in a straightforward manner.

Reynaldo’s brow creased a little, slightly distorting his well-defined face.

“I understand well that you didn’t take the bait.”

Reynaldo, who had been sitting in front of me, stood up and sat down next to me.

In addition to the height difference between us, I can feel the predator-like sharpness in his eyes, and a feeling of dread runs through my body.

“Reynaldo?”

McClain-sama called out Reynaldo’s name beside me, but he didn’t answer, instead grabbing my chin with his finger.

“You don’t seem to know your own worth.”

“… I don’t understand what you mean.”

My voice trembled a little as I spoke out.

The smile of my younger brother, who had been so close and kind to Rosemary, faded.

“You may be the prince’s only candidate for Queen. You probably have some bright insights, too. If so, we would like to ask for your cooperation.”

“Cooperation….?”

My brother’s, Reynaldo’s childish smile is hazy in my memory.

Is the man in front of me really Rosemary’s precious little brother?

The dim jade eyes and the faint smile on his face were different from the young Reynaldo’s smile, which was innocent and adoring of Rosemary.

“Let me fulfill your wish of not wanting to be his fiancée. However, it won’t be easy. That’s why I need you to cooperate with me. Then you too can escape the prince’s courtship as you wish.”

I felt as if I was being coiled by a snake.

At the same time, I was consumed by a feeling of deep sorrow and anger.

Different. This Reynaldo is different.

I can’t believe that Reynaldo, whom Rosemary nurtured so lovingly, would say such a thing.

I can’t forgive him.

I slapped Reynaldo’s hand, which was holding my chin vigorously, and shouted with overflowing anger.

“Enough of this, Reynaldo!”

I stood up with vigor and looked down at the stunned Reynaldo.

“You said you didn’t want to be like your father, but your attitude is just like his!”

That’s right.

He, Reynaldo, hated his father.

He had told me that he didn’t want to be like my father, who treated me as a tool.

Now he saw me, Marie, as a tool.

When was the last time I was this angry with Reynaldo?

Even when he was ridiculed for being the son of a mistress, he didn’t flinch at all, and his anger always had to do with Rosemary.

It was the same when the nobles mocked Rosemary for being a dull woman who was not taken seriously by her fiancé, and Reynaldo sanctioned the nobles in secret, or when she was harassed by women who secretly admired the prince. It was difficult to see my younger brother taking revenge on my behalf.

Reynaldo always loses his temper when it comes to Rosemary.

That’s why I, Rosemary, am angry.

Wait…

“Ah….”

When I came back to myself.

I saw Reynaldo looking up at me with his eyes wide open.

Ah, this face is just like the old days.

“Sister…?”

With just one word from Reynaldo, I finally understood the gravity of the situation