The Strongest Brother Lost His Memory Chapter 45

Anyway, accepting Zahid’s request, I asked the maids to step back a little.

"Here."

I placed my hands on my knees and said with a bright smile.

"So, what do you have to say to your fiancée, secretly and in private?"

"...You."

Zahid swept his gaze around once, then glared at .

Those violet eyes were so fierce I almost hiccupped.

This kid’s got guts, huh...

The Zahid I t before the regression had a very strong presence too.

But even so, he’d never looked at with such hostility before, so I was taken aback.

“Hmph.”

I flinched and blinked, and Zahid lowered his voice and continued.

"You ca from the Temple, didn’t you?"

"Mm... It’s true that I was at the Temple before my brother ca to get . Before that, I was at an orphanage."

"That’s not what I ant."

Zahid furrowed his brow even more and asked,

"Aren’t you a spy sent by the Temple?"

"What? ?"

"Don’t try to fool . There’s no way you’re just a simple apprentice. You’re far too cunning for how you look, you communicate with a Divine Beast, and..."

Zahid’s eyes narrowed for a mont. He seed like he was about to say sothing more but then decided against it.

He glared at and slowly declared, as if making a solemn vow.

"I hate the Temple more than anything."

"Uh... yeah... I know."

"Love and rcy, empathy and understanding? I hate those stupid words the Temple people are always spouting too."

Love and rcy, empathy and understanding.

Those were the words passed down as the will of the god when the Temple was first established. So it made sense that Temple people clung to them.

The only problem was... I’d just said the sa thing to provoke Cecil a while ago...

But the words themselves are fine, right?

I tilted my head and looked Zahid straight in the eye.

"I hate the Temple too. If I were really one of them, do you think Grandfather would’ve accepted , even if I’m his granddaughter?"

"That’s because Count Noart doesn’t know who you really are yet...!"

"Wow. So an eleven-year-old kid who’s only seen for a few hours knows better than my grandfather? With that ego, you could go head-to-head with Julian."

I smiled sweetly and munched on so tea snacks.

Honestly, I couldn’t understand why Zahid had suddenly co running all the way here.

Still, since Shulva ca with him, it ended up being a good thing. It’s always a relief to have soone trustworthy around when things go south.

While calmly chewing my tea snacks, I suddenly spoke.

"Well, since you clearly don’t trust a lowly apprentice like ... should I tell you a secret too?"

It was a bit of an impulsive decision.

The Zahid before wasn’t the Zahid from the past...

But before regression, I’d told Zahid everything.

We shared so many conversations that I used to think Zahid was the person who knew best in the entire world.

Though now, he doesn’t even rember any of that ti.

Zahid.

I took a slow sip of tea and thought to myself,

We’re even having tea ti together. Isn’t that amazing.

The garden air was lovely, and the leaves rustled gently in the breeze.

On the pretty lace tablecloth lay sweet confections, and above our heads stretched the vast sky.

"What do you think it would’ve been like if we had just t as Count Noart’s daughter and Duke Dyfenril?"

"I dunno. We probably would’ve had tea ti like this, danced at banquets. Just t at so social event like normal people."

"Are social events fun? My brother was so overprotective I never even got to interact with other noble kids."

"Eh, they’re all boring and stupid. Not fun. Waste of ti."

"I see. So you’re bad at socializing."

"Well... maybe. But if it’s with you... I feel like I might actually like it."

"Probably. I may look like this now, but when I put effort into it, I’ve been told I’m really cute and pretty."

"Yeah, yeah. If we ever get out of here and have tea ti or whatever, don’t bother dressing up. It’s a waste of ti. Just co as you are so I can see your face a little longer."

“Hmph.”

The maids were still fidgeting in the back, murmuring, "It’s her first tea ti... we should’ve at least changed her hair accessory..."

I slowly placed a madeleine on Zahid’s plate.

Our tea ti together... it’s not bad. Just as I thought, it’s actually pretty nice.

As I leisurely enjoyed the mont, Zahid suddenly spoke with his usual annoyed expression.

"Who are you thinking about?"

"...Huh?"

"Anyway, I’m your guest right now. So it’s rude to think about soone else in front of . That dreamy look you had—cut it out."

"..."

Sothing felt strange.

I ended up making a sullen face without realizing it, and as Zahid bit into the madeleine I gave him, he asked,

"So, what’s the secret? What is it?"

"Oh."

I snapped back to attention and leaned in to whisper to Zahid.

"It’s a real secret, but... I think soone’s going to kill my brother. I’m scared."

"What?"

Zahid dropped the madeleine with a soft plop.

I glanced around nervously and whispered.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“So I kept him from going outside, but... I still feel like soone’s going to co all the way to our house and kill my brother. What should I do to prepare?”

“Hm.”

Zahid’s expression stiffened in an instant. He seed to think hard for a mont, then whispered with a solemn look on his face.

“So you’re saying soone’s trying to eliminate your brother before he regains his mory? Maybe your brother uncovered so huge secret about that person before the accident?”

Oh.

“Zahid...”

I blinked in admiration.

“...You’re pretty smart for a kid.”

“Ahem, hem! I’m not a kid. I’m only a year younger than you.”

Zahid turned red all the way to the back °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° of his neck and cleared his throat at my words.

“Ruff ruff! Ruff ruff ruff!”

Then, grasping the teacup with hands still small—though larger than mine—he muttered sulkily,

“Well. Honestly, the easiest way to kill soone is with black magic. Even if it’s banned in the Empire, and even if the Temple can treat it easily.”

“Ah.”

I blinked and fiddled with my fingers.

Because Zahid’s parents had died from black magic.

They had passed away without anyone able to help, due to a freak earthquake and the absence of a priest at the ti.

“They say it’s easy to cure if you go to the Temple within a couple of months... but still.”

“Black magic... I don’t really know much about it. Do you?”

“Well, more than the average person.”

Zahid answered calmly.

“They say it only works on nights with a full moon, when divine power is weakest. So maybe it’s best to be careful on nights like that.”

I already knew that divine power wanes during full moons.

That’s when the Temple’s vigilance weakens, and Zahid used to visit during those tis.

That’s how black magic worked—it was nearly the opposite of divine power.

But Cecil is a priest. Black magic? Really?

I tilted my head, puzzled, and Zahid slowly spoke.

“But, you know...”

“Yeah?”

“Tonight’s the full moon. You knew that, right?”

I dropped the teacup I was holding.

With a loud crash, it shattered noisily.

“Hey, be careful!”

Zahid barked like a dog, grabbing my hand.

“Are you hurt anywhere? Huh?”

“Zahid...”

I clutched his arm and, without thinking, pleaded earnestly.

“Stay the night at the Count’s estate. Please?”

Normally, priests don’t act on full moon nights. That’s because divine power weakens, which directly affects their abilities.

So the fact that a priest ca to the estate at a ti like this was highly suspicious.

A priest using black magic is completely absurd, but... everything feels too suspicious...

I hadn’t considered the possibility of a connection between the Temple and black magic, but hearing Zahid talk like this made it all feel wrong.

And the one who ca to the estate was none other than Cecil, the close aide of the High Priest.

Sending soone that high-ranking—what could that an, except that sothing outrageous might actually happen?

“I just... I have this feeling sothing will definitely happen tonight. But I don’t know enough about black magic. You do, so please help . Okay?”

Zahid stared at for a long mont, then let out a deep sigh.

And then he whispered softly.

“Surveillance.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll watch you. Not act with you. Got it?”

Zahid narrowed his eyes like a triangle and placed his hands on his hips.

“So, what do I have to do? Just say it. Whatever it is—what do you need?”

“Ruff ruff ruff! Ruff ruff ruff ruff!”