The Strongest Brother Lost His Memory

‘What the hell.’

Zahid furrowed his brows and immediately followed after him.

‘What’s with that expression? Why does he look so desperate?’

Judging by the urgency in Yuta’s eyes, he looked nearly out of his mind.

Yuta had always spoken in a slow tone with a relaxed smile. So this side of him was completely unfamiliar to Zahid.

‘Does he care that much about Chloe?’

Yuta hurried toward the stables.

Zahid followed him, keeping some distance.

But surprisingly, the rabbit Divine Beast bounced after Yuta.

‘What is that?’

Just as Yuta tried to mount a horse, the rabbit Divine Beast clung to his pants with its front paws.

‘Didn’t they say the Grass Divine Beast didn’t choose Yuta?’

That’s why everyone assumed it was just sulking and docked points from Zahid, who already had a Divine Beast...

But Zahid, who had one himself, could immediately sense it.

‘That rabbit... it really likes Yuta.’

The current owner of the Divine Beast was still the Duke of Orgon. And the Duke was currently at the Duke’s residence.

Logically, the rabbit Divine Beast should’ve remained there.

But the rabbit Divine Beast was clinging to Yuta, asking to be taken along.

That meant its bond with Yuta was incredibly strong...

‘Then why didn’t it choose Yuta? What’s stopping it? Is this the Temple’s doing too?’

Even as Zahid rapidly turned the possibilities over in his head, the rabbit Divine Beast was desperately clinging to Yuta’s pants.

Yuta let out a deep sigh and touched his forehead.

“Hoo... Fine. Let’s go together. There’s no time to persuade you too, Liri.”

In the end, Yuta scooped up the small rabbit. Then he mounted the horse and quickly departed from the Duke’s residence.

Zahid blinked in disbelief as he climbed onto Fire.

‘What is this? Isn’t this going way too smoothly?’

Judging by the road he was taking, Yuta was heading straight to the Noart estate.

‘This sloppy plan is actually working just like that? Did I miss something?’

Even as he followed Yuta, Zahid tilted his head in thought.

‘Well, I guess the objective is accomplished, for now...’

* * *

The evening before Rosie and Chloe’s birthday party.

“Sticking Zahid Dyfenril next to Chloe was a total failure.”

Monica murmured, arms crossed.

“That young brat only looks fierce like a wolf—he’s already following Rosie around like a damn puppy...”

In front of her, Felide thumped his chest in frustration.

“But as long as that Dyfenril bastard is stuck to Rosie, the spotlight from the Idra Duchy will be overshadowed!”

And Zahid Dyfenril was already a Duke. The more people emphasized the importance of noble bloodlines, the more Rosie’s engagement status would rise.

“Anyway, we absolutely have to separate those two. If we can’t pull Zahid Dyfenril away, then we need another way.”

“Another way? Like what?”

“Just put another boy next to Rosie.”

A sinister gleam lit up Monica’s eyes as she began scheming.

“And besides, that Dyfenril bastard is out right now, isn’t he? He’ll probably return around lunchtime tomorrow, since it’s the day of the birthday party. And...”

“And?”

“Tomorrow, the estate will be full of guests from morning. Among them, there’ll be at least one boy suitable for a wretch like Rosie.”

“Huh?”

When Felide blinked in confusion, looking dopey, Monica let out a dry chuckle.

“It’s just a childish engagement. Press it with authority, and it’ll be easy to break off. Don’t you think?”

“Authority... Do we have any?”

“We don’t. But our allies do.”

“O-our allies?”

Soon after, Felide grinned broadly, clearly satisfied with the scheme Monica laid out.

* * *

The day of Chloe and my birthday party.

From morning, the Noart estate was buzzing with activity.

Ever since returning from the Academy, it had been loud under the pretense of “birthday celebration season.” Naturally, the actual birthday was a massive event.

“This one’s perfect. This emerald tiara.”

Heidi, wearing a battle-ready expression, was selecting jewelry.

“It suits your green eyes perfectly, Lady Rosie.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Determination blazed in her eyes.

“You absolutely have to outshine Lady Chloe. No matter what.”

Heidi held a deep grudge over Chloe framing me.

To Heidi right now, my actual birthday didn’t matter. What mattered most was making sure I wasn’t overshadowed by Chloe in front of everyone.

Especially since it was a joint party. With so many people attending, we were bound to be compared instantly.

“This tiara was specially purchased by the Count...”

Heidi picked the most extravagant tiara, but I shook my head.

“No, no. I like this ribbon better.”

“Huh? But the tiara is much flashier...”

“Still... {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} the tiara wasn’t a gift from Julian.”

As I fiddled with the ribbon, Heidi’s eyes widened.

“Remember what you said before? That if I wore an accessory my brother gave me, his memories might return—like a miracle...”

“...What?”

For a moment, Heidi’s eyes went blank, then widened again.

It seemed she was just now remembering something she had once said in passing.

“Ah...”

While Heidi was briefly dazed, I spoke in a slightly wistful voice.

“It’s my birthday party today, and maybe by now, my brother’s come to his senses and might show up on time...”

“T-then... d-don’t tell me the reason you kept switching out your accessories while he was here was because...”

As if she’d finally understood everything, Heidi’s voice trembled.

“And that time when Lady Chloe said she’d take all your jewelry, and you strongly refused...”

“Just in case... you never know.”

I said with a bittersweet smile.

“Of course I know it was something you said without much thought, Heidi. And I know that changing jewelry probably won’t bring his memory back.”

Heidi’s lips parted, and she looked at me with a heartbroken expression.

“Lady Rosie...”

I smiled faintly and spoke calmly.

“Still, I just wanted to do everything I could. Also... back then, my brother hardly ever got to see me dressed up like this. I guess... I regret that too.”

Heidi dabbed at her eyes for a moment. Then, without saying anything, she tied the emerald-studded ribbon in my hair.

“You look truly beautiful, Lady Rosie. You’re so lovely that the ribbon suits you perfectly.”

After that, Heidi poured all her energy into helping me get ready.

I wore the prettiest dress Julian had ever given me, and she styled my hair with great care.

The birthday banquet turned out to be dazzling—worth all the effort.

From the morning, people flooded in bearing gifts.

‘It’s absolutely packed.’

Since both of us had only recently arrived at the estate, it was our first public-facing event.

So families eager to form ties with the Count’s household kept pouring in.

“Oh, this is... Lady Felide’s daughter, is it?”

“You mean the one the Duke of Idra personally raised?”

And overwhelmingly, the attention was all on Chloe.

Well, I didn’t even know who my father was. Meanwhile, Chloe had the highest pedigree in the entire household.

Of course, Felide’s officially born son through marriage was Ethan, but no one mentioned him. Not even Felide.

‘Ethan’s off at the Magic Tower anyway... so they’re treating him like he doesn’t exist.’

I wondered if Ethan was doing okay at the Magic Tower.

No one could tell how long he’d have to stay before showing signs of magical talent.

“There are too many people. Outsiders keep coming and going.”

Heidi glanced around warily.

I needed to be alone to execute the plan, so I whispered cautiously to Heidi.

“No one’s going to steal the jewelry from my room, right? Like, what if a thief sneaks in...”

At that, Heidi furrowed her brows and muttered,

“...Lady Chloe might try something nasty again. Maybe even humiliate you in front of all these people.”

“Heidi, could you guard my room?”

I held her hand tightly and pleaded.

“I’ll be fine here. There’s plenty of family around. I just have no one else I can trust but you.”

“Hmm... Yes. Hearing you say that, I feel uneasy too. I’ll find someone competent to stay with you right away.”

Heidi replied with sharp eyes and hurried off.

And so, I was left alone for a short while until the maid Heidi sent would arrive.

That’s when it happened.

“Rosie Trian! It really is you! I wasn’t sure, but it is you!”

A freckled boy with brown hair came dashing straight toward me.

‘What...?’

Startled, I instinctively stepped back.