Chapter 64: Sapphire Brooch

"You’ve always thought I was really clever, that I could deceive Duke Valendorf, no, Father and take your sister’s place."

Lydia wiped her tears with the sleeve of her nightdress.

"That’s—"

Vincent finally opened his mouth, but Lydia didn’t give him the chance to finish.

Lydia had listened to his accusations for years. She had endured his contempt, hostility, and the way Vincent always hated her.

For years, she had kept those memories to herself. She had never expected Vincent to apologize, much less understand what she had gone through.

But that didn’t mean his words had stopped hurting her. She had simply learned to live with the pain and pretend she didn’t care.

Now that she had finally said everything aloud, she couldn’t tell whether she felt relieved or even angrier than before.

"When you accused me of stealing the dress, I was a twelve-year-old commoner who couldn’t even write properly." Lydia glared at Vincent. "I still remember how you always accused me of tricking Father into adopting me into House Valendorf."

"Lydia..."

The room grew unbearably quiet.

"I still remember the day when you said I must have seduced Father so he decided to bring me here. Did you have any shred of common sense in that thick skull of yours? How could someone who couldn’t even write do something like that?"

She could see the shock in his brown eyes but Lydia still hadn’t finished with her words.

"Do you remember when you pushed me down the stairs from the second floor? I never told anyone what you did to me. Not even Father."

Her fingers curled into the fabric of her nightdress.

"You always make me miserable. Much more pathetic than a beggar, worse than a slave."

"...."

"I hate... you. I really hate you so much. I hate you a hundred, a thousand times more than you hate me. I hate you more than anyone in the world."

There.

She had finally said it.

The confession left a bitter taste in her mouth, but it also lifted something heavy from her chest.

Lydia had wanted to say those words for so long that she had almost forgotten what it felt like to let them out.

Back then, Lydia had endured everything because she had no other choice. But she wasn’t that helpless little girl anymore.

For once, she allowed herself to cry without trying to hide her anger and frustration.

After a long pause, Vincent only scratched at the back of his neck and stood frozen before Lydia.

How could he stay mad when Lydia was being like this? Hell, he didn’t even know what to do or say to her now.

The guilt was clawing at him. This was like when you picked on your sibling and went too far with it.

"A-anyway, I’ll be leaving for Luanna tomorrow before dawn. Make sure to not be a burden for House Valendorf. Take care."

Lydia didn’t even bother to look at him. Not even when he tried to get closer and leaned toward her, as if trying to gauge her reaction.

"Just go away. I don’t want to see you, Brother Vincent."

After spatting those words, Lydia turned her back on him and refused to spare any glance at him. In the end, Vincent left her room and closed the door behind him quietly.

"If only I didn’t have to attend the Imperial Hunting Competition. Responsibilities suck." Lydia sobbed and wiped her face again.

If not for the upcoming Hunting Competition, Lydia would have gladly stayed in her dorm for her weekend. At least she wouldn’t have to attend it with her family.

All of today’s events sure made her feel exhausted. Lydia was about to walk to her bed when she noticed something on her desk.

A sapphire brooch was resting above her desk. How strange.

It wasn’t there this afternoon.

Lydia raised the brooch and studied its fine craftsmanship.

The brooch was shaped like a deer, its silvery blue surface matching the color of Lydia’s silver-blue hair. Two ocean-blue gems adorned its eyes, their color almost identical to hers.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary piece of jewelry. However, the moment Lydia examined it more carefully, she noticed that this wasn’t an ordinary brooch.

It was a Guide Brooch.

A special accessory that a Guide could use to call for their Sentinel’s help when they needed protection.

They were commonly used between Guides and their Sentinels—as well as between mates.

Was this brooch custom-made for her? But why was it here?

A delicate piece like this wasn’t something Lydia could find in an ordinary jewelry shop.

It must have been commissioned well in advance, and with such intricate craftsmanship, it must be really expensive.

Wait a minute.

Who had left this on her desk?

"Don’t tell me..."

There was only one person who had visited her room tonight.

"Damn you, Brother Vincent." A weary sigh escaped her lips.

Of course. Of course, her annoying older brother would do something like this.

"Can’t he behave like a normal brother and give me this brooch nicely without making a fuss and picking a fight with me?"

Typical Vincent.

"Is this what they called by being a tsundere? Nah, Brother Vincent was just an SS-Rank certified jerk. A pain in the neck. No wonder he has been single his whole life—just like stern Brother Sylvain."

Lydia stared at the sapphire brooch again. Now that she thought about it, it slowly sank on her.

Basically, Vincent was essentially telling Lydia to go and ask her Sentinels to protect her at the Hunting Competition—mostly because he wouldn’t be able to attend the hunt.

Seriously?

Even my brother has approved and acknowledged my harem of high-ranking Sentinels. Should I be happy or ashamed?

Lydia rubbed her forehead.

Her brother was unbelievable.

"Just go to Luanna, do your job, and come back alive! Don’t you dare die and leave me with an unfinished argument!"

Lydia let out another sigh.

Honestly, dealing with her family was exhausting.