I Accidentally Saved The Male Lead’s Brother

 

Unlike Carcel, Charlotte immediately recognized who ‘that child’ was.

‘Edgar.’

At the same moment, Carcel placed his free hand on his forehead. His face twisted in pain, and his tightly clenched jaw revealed the immense strain he was enduring.

Charlotte quickly channeled mana into the hand she held. Gradually, his face began to relax.

To prevent Carcel from dwelling further on his memories, Charlotte spoke swiftly.

“Like Theo and Danny, maybe you also had a childhood friend you played with? If it was just a fleeting interaction from your childhood, it’s possible you don’t remember them now. I didn’t have one, but I’ve heard noble families often had playmates for their children.”

Fortunately, Carcel readily accepted her explanation.

“That might be true. But I don’t recall Father being the type to let a companion ride with me on horseback…”

“Don’t worry about it too much. It’s not something worth dwelling on,” Charlotte added, concerned that Carcel might become too fixated on the thought.

Thankfully, he nodded as if agreeing, then checked the clock and exclaimed in surprise.

“My, I’ve kept you up too late.”

He stood and offered his hand to Charlotte.

“Let’s return now.”

“All right.”

With a lingering sense of unease, Charlotte accepted his escort and left the drawing room.

When they reached her room, Carcel opened the door for her.

“Have a good night.”

“Wait a moment, Carcel.”

Charlotte mustered her courage and called out to him as he turned to leave.

“Yes? What is it?”

As soon as he looked back, Charlotte tiptoed and kissed his cheek.

A faint, embarrassed sound accompanied her lips parting from his skin.

Carcel froze mid-step, caught in an awkward position. Likewise, Charlotte, now flustered, lowered her gaze with her face burning bright red.

“Well… sweet dreams,” she murmured before hastily retreating into her room.

Carcel stood alone, staring at the quickly closing door in a daze.

When her face disappeared entirely from view and the door shut firmly, he exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

A faint smile lingered on his lips as he made his way back to his room.

From that night onward, once Theo was asleep, Charlotte and Carcel began sharing tea and chatting in the drawing room.

They didn’t discuss anything particularly special. Charlotte mostly shared trivial stories about her time in the Lannia estate over the past three years.

Though Charlotte remembered her life before becoming “Charlotte Lannia,” she deliberately avoided speaking of it. It felt less like her memory and more like “Charlotte’s” memory.

Surprisingly, Carcel didn’t press her for details, even though the distinction might have seemed odd.

The noticeable progress in their conversations was that they now felt like actual “dialogues” rather than Charlotte merely speaking while Carcel listened. She was genuinely impressed by this development.

Still, Charlotte avoided mentioning anything from before Carcel turned seven, wary of triggering memories of ‘Edgar.’

She didn’t mind if he realized something was wrong with his memory. What worried her was how he might react if he recovered those memories of ‘Edgar.’

As they conversed night after night, Charlotte felt they were growing closer.

Her affection for Carcel also grew. She even found herself wondering what he was doing while she spent time with Theo.

Ten days later, the long-awaited engagement ring for Carcel was finally ready.

Ten days—a short time, yet it had felt excruciatingly long. For Charlotte, those days stretched endlessly, leaving her restless.

“Well? What do you think?”

When the jeweler finally delivered the ring, Charlotte couldn’t suppress her exclamation.

“It’s beautiful!”

The ring was even more stunning than the design sketch. The magical gemstone was intricately crafted, and the ring’s design complemented her own engagement ring perfectly.

Placing the new ring next to hers, Charlotte nodded in satisfaction.

“Thank you!”

“I’m glad you’re pleased with it.”

“Carcel will love it too.”

After the jeweler left, Charlotte showed the ring to Theo, who had just woken up from his nap.

The moment Theo saw the gemstone set in the ring, he proudly extended his arm.

“It’s the same!”

“Yes, it’s the same as your bracelet, isn’t it?”

“Yeah!”

Proud to have the same gemstone as his older brother, Theo gently patted his bracelet as if comforting a doll.

Charlotte laughed at his antics and carefully placed the ring box in her drawer.

‘I hope Carcel likes it too.’

Though she had confidently assured the jeweler that he would, her nerves grew as time passed.

What if Carcel didn’t like the ring once he saw it, even if he liked the gemstone?

‘No, he’ll like it.’

Charlotte reassured herself with a surge of unfounded confidence. She believed Carcel would appreciate anything she gave him.

That evening, after dinner and once Theo had drifted to dreamland, Charlotte took a deep breath to calm her racing heart and headed to the drawing room with the ring.

Carcel was already there, waiting for her. He rose to escort her to her seat, concern etched on his face.

“Is something the matter?”

Charlotte’s unusual quietness had made him cautious.

‘Oh no, he noticed.’

It wasn’t that something was wrong—quite the opposite. But Charlotte had been so anxious about whether he’d like the ring that her unease must have shown on her face.

Swallowing nervously, Charlotte moved to sit beside him. Noticing this, Carcel draped a blanket over her lap to keep her warm.

“It’s nothing bad,” she replied.

Yet, why did her mouth feel so dry over something so simple?

Glancing at Carcel, who waited patiently for her words, Charlotte pulled the ring box from her pocket.

Carcel’s eyes widened slightly, and a faint smile played at his lips. However, he bit down as if suppressing the urge to grin.

Lowering her head, Charlotte opened the box. The radiant ring sparkled inside.

“The ring is finished. I was nervous because I was worried you might not like it.”

“I like it.”

He answered without even looking properly. His prompt reply melted away her tension.

Charlotte took the ring from the box and reached for his right hand. Sliding the ring onto his calloused ring finger, she noted how perfectly it fit.

“Do you really like it?”

“Yes, I truly like it.”

Carcel spoke with certainty, lifting his hand to intertwine his fingers with hers.

The soft sound of their engagement rings touching echoed sweetly.

Admiring the ring on Charlotte’s finger, Carcel leaned down and kissed her pale hand, his gaze never leaving hers. It was an affectionate gesture he’d done often lately.

Every time, Charlotte would blush and shyly avoid his gaze.

But tonight was different. When Carcel pulled back, Charlotte clasped his hand and pressed a firm kiss to his veined hand.

Though her face turned crimson, she held his gaze directly.

Carcel inhaled sharply but soon bent down again to kiss her hand.

The two exchanged kisses on each other’s hands, breaking into laughter simultaneously.

It was a night that left their hearts tingling.

‘Another dream.’

Carcel immediately recognized he was dreaming as he watched his parents’ backs. Only in dreams could he see them this vividly.

This time, however, he wasn’t his present self but a child.

It wasn’t hard to figure out—his viewpoint was much lower, and his small hands and feet gave it away.

Even though it was a dream, Carcel felt joy. He could once again see his parents, whose faces now only lived in portraits.

Even at twenty-three years old, the sight of his parents overwhelmed him with emotion.

‘Why is it that, no matter how old I grow, I always feel small in their presence?’

Perhaps it was because, at heart, he still felt like a child shrinking before them.

“Mother… Father… please look at me. Let me see your faces. I’ve missed you so much.”

Carcel tried to call out, but then he heard a sudden, heart-wrenching sob.

“My baby…”

It was his mother’s voice, filled with grief.

“Please open your eyes, my child!”

Even his father, who rarely showed emotion, cried out in despair.

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