Vol-4: Chapter 23.4

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"Older brother."

Sensing an unusual atmosphere, Richard hurriedly approached Etienne.

“Are you angry?”

"No."

Étienne replied coldly.

I can't be angry. I am angry with myself maybe.

"I'm just a little tired."

Étienne twisted one lip at Richard, who noticed him. Once the judges were twisted, they could no longer maintain their composure. He felt his expression collapse and turned his head.

“Ben.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ben, who was holding a cardigan wrapped in waterproof fabric and rolling his eyes, answered quickly. Etienne gave Ben a light chin.

“Give the item to the Grand Duke's adjutant.”

"All right."

Ben moved at the same time as he answered. After confirming that Alvin took over the cardigan with a bewildered expression, Étienne turned around as if his business was over.

“Then see you next time”

"Older brother!"

Étienne ignored Richard's call and moved on. He didn't know why he was angry or why his chest was so tight. He just wanted to get out of this position as soon as possible. Étienne almost jumped out of the great corridor.

"Ah."

As he ran outside of Richard, cold raindrops hit his face. Only then did Etienne stop. His mind flashed in the cold rain.

“Haah”

Étienne covered his face with his hands, not even trying to escape the rain. In the moment, he couldn't overcome his rising emotions and he acted impulsively. It was an act he did not like himself.
But he couldn't go back inside. Étienne stood in the rain, stranded in him. He still needed to cool his hot head.

"Your highness!"

Ben, who followed him later, was shocked to see Etienne standing in the middle of the road in the rain. He hastily opened his umbrella. There was someone who moved before Ben.

“What are you doing!”

“….....Richard?”

Étienne stiffened his body in surprise at the rough touch of his grip on his shoulder.

I could see Richard's distorted face beyond my blurry vision.

"Why…...”

"Excuse me."

Seeing Étienne drenched in the rain, Richard took off his jacket and put it on his head. Then, before Etienne could react, he lifted him up.

“What, ah!”

Without a chance to do anything, his body floated in the air. Surprised, Etienne reflexively grabbed Richard's shoulder. Richard lifted Etienne up and strode towards his carriage.

“Huh, Your Highness the Prince?”

The coachman, who was sitting in the coachman's seat and waiting with a bored face, opened his mouth wide when he saw the two of them. Richard shouted nervously at the stiff coachman.

“What are you doing! Come on, open the door!”

"Omg! Yes yes!"

Surprised by Richard's screams, the coachman hurriedly opened the carriage door. Richard, who had dropped Étienne on a chair, grabbed the towel that had been prepared in the carriage. Patter, he pulled off the jacket that was covering my face, and the raindrops fell to the floor.

"Sorry."

Richard apologized in a heavy voice as he wiped Étienne's face with a towel.

“I was so excited because my older brother came in person. It's all my fault.”

No, it wasn't Richard's fault. It's just that he got a fever by himself and acted on his own.

Etienne shook his head. He wants to tell him it's not your fault, but he meets the sound of teeth chattering on his black-blue lips.

Richard's face wrinkled at the sight of Étienne shivering in the cold. He brushed Étienne's hair with another towel and wiped his jacket.

“Like my brother said, I think it would be better for me to die today. And....."

Richard put the tarpaulin he was holding in his other hand on the chair. When Étienne suddenly ran out, he hurriedly chased after him and brought him back.

“These are the only clothes that didn’t get wet…....”

Richard, who had taken off Etienne's jacket himself, hesitated for a moment. The rain-soaked shirt clung to his pale skin. He bit his lower lip and took out his cardigan.

“Please wear enough on the way back.”

“It’s okay, it’s fine.”

Richard put the last remaining towel over his shoulder and put a cardigan over it. Étienne, who suddenly put on the things he had brought back, muttered in a hoarse voice.

“It’s okay. Do you know what your face looks like now?”

Richard's face was upset at the sound of his voice, as if submerged in water. Richard, buttoning up his cardigan all the way, turned his attention to Ben, who was restlessly pacing outside the carriage.

“Take good care of brother.”

“Is it possible?”

"Later......”

Richard raised his body with a short sigh as if he had finished all his duties. Étienne's fingers twitched as the warmth of his closeness was gone.

He almost caught him. Étienne clenched his fists as he watched Richard walk away. Otherwise he seemed likely to catch Richard.

“Then be careful on your way back.”

Richard got out of the carriage and ran his wet hair through his hair. Water droplets dangled from the tips of his eyelashes and dripped down. Étienne, who was staring blankly at the water running down his cheek and forming on the tip of his chin, unknowingly shook his shoulders as his deep blue eyes turned to him.

A worried gaze scanned Étienne's eyes, nose, and mouth in turn. Étienne felt the inside of his mouth dry up and tightened his hand in his fist. He felt a fever rise wherever his eyes landed.

“I’ll come find you next time.”

“….....okay."

After staring at his bluish lips for a moment, Richard shut his mouth tightly as if holding back something from him and closed his eyes. Hearing Etienne's reply, he closed the carriage door.

Tak, the door closed and the wheels moved. Étienne relaxed as Richard disappeared from sight. His cold body trembled.

"Are you okay?"

"Huh."

Étienne crouched down, answering weakly. He glanced back and saw Richard standing without an umbrella through the foggy window. He was looking at his wagon with an undisturbed attitude.

“Why are you doing that…....”

Stupidly...

Etienne muttered in a melancholy voice.

I felt regret for my actions. But at that moment, I couldn't control the emotions. I was strangely upset, and my heart ached unbearably.

No, i am stupid.

Étienne buried his face between his knees, disgusted with himself. His mind was a jumbled mess. Unlike the cold body, the inside was still hot.

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