Chapter 3Despised for My Fear

When Kael was finally cast out, his body was covered in wounds from being beaten with rods. His thin linen clothes were no match for the biting wind. The only things he took with him were the sword he had earned through his military service and a scented sachet his mother had left him.

He was a lonely figure, but his back was ramrod straight. Even in defeat, he hadn't lost his formidable spirit. I thought he would have no lingering attachment to our home, but as he stood at the gate, he suddenly turned and asked a servant, “Where is Faye?”

The servant’s face was hard. “Kael, you are no longer part of this family. Why should we report Miss Faye’s whereabouts to you?”

A flicker of something crossed Kael’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a cold sneer. “I was just relieved that little pest wasn't here to get in my way. From now on, this family and I go our separate ways.”

Hiding in a nearby alley, I flinched when I heard that. How did he know I was planning to get in his way?

[Stop shaking! He’s coming! Grab the club and go! Hit him over the head and drag him into the carriage!] the System snapped.

I scrambled out of the alley. This time, I didn’t waste time with pleasantries. I just raised the large wooden club.

THWACK!

Kael collapsed without a sound.

Only then did I whisper, “I’m sorry, Brother.”

Thankfully, I had swept the ground beforehand and even laid down a small mat. It would be so rude to let him fall face-first into the mud.

I let out a sigh of relief and hooked my arms under his, dragging him toward the carriage. Kael was thinner than I’d imagined. Up close, I could see how his cheekbones jutted out and how his eyes were slightly sunken.

I sighed again. He was barely twenty, yet he had to endure betrayal, punishment, and exile. And through it all, he remained so strong, never shedding a single tear.

Not like me. Just thinking about what he was going through made my eyes well up. I really admired him. If I had met him in my own world, I would have tried my best to be his friend.

He was so big, I was afraid I’d lose my grip and his head would hit the carriage door. So I gently cradled his head against my chest to steady him. Kael was unconscious, and the System didn’t care about these small details.

After I got him inside, I realized he was burning up with a fever, his face flushed a deep red.

[Why do you care? He won’t die. You could stab him seven or eight times and he’d still be fine. He’s the male lead,] the System grumbled.

I hardened my heart, climbed into the driver’s seat, and urged the horses toward my private villa.

I was born to my father’s second wife, making Kael and I half-siblings. Now, I guess we were nothing to each other. My mother came from a wealthy merchant family and had left me a country estate for summer retreats. For me, it was a paradise. For Kael, it was about to become the crucible where he would be reforged in fire.

I fastened an iron collar around his neck and locked shackles on his wrists and ankles. Kael’s head lolled forward, completely unaware as I tied him to a chair with thick ropes and even removed his shirt.

Everything was ready. All I had to do was wait for him to wake up.

Then the humiliation could begin.