Chapter 5: Younger brother and Older brother

Marie Clauze.

She was the illegitimate child of the Clauze family.

Her mother’s name was unknown.

All that was known was that she had once been nothing more than a fleeting amusement for her father.

Marie’s mother had abandoned her—forcing her way into the Clauze estate, leaving the newborn in the hands of her father, and then vanishing without a trace.

Not a single letter.

Not even a whisper of her whereabouts.

And so, there was no one on Marie’s side in the Clauze household.

The lady of the house—Marie’s stepmother—looked at her as if she were a filthy street rat, a child born from her husband’s infidelity.

Her father saw her as nothing but a disgrace—a blemish on his legacy.

Only one person—

“Marie, are you crying again?”

Her half-brother was her only source of comfort.

Although she had a childhood friend, Malcolm, he was merely a weekend companion—someone to play with for a short while.

Within the walls of the Clauze estate, her brother was her only family.

“Onii-sama…! I—I want to go too…!”

“Alright, let’s go.”

And so, Marie followed Damian Clauze like a shadow.

When she was with Damian, she was happy.

During those moments, she did not feel like an outsider.

She could feel the warmth of family.

The resentment she held for the mother who abandoned her and the father who created her yet despised her—

She could forget all of it when she was with Damian.

In those fleeting moments,

She was not an illegitimate child—but a beloved younger sister.

“Marie…”

But.

“You’re foolish.”

Even that small comfort—

Vanished without warning.

***

“Onii-sama, t-this… This is my quiz score from today.”

Marie’s hands trembled as she extended the paper to Damian, his cold gaze piercing through her.

It was the result of today’s exam.

To others, it was merely a high score.

But at Reveal Academy, a school for the elite, a high score carried significant meaning.

“I… I worked really hard….”

That was why Marie had called Damian aside—to show him her results.

Not to boast.

But to prove how hard she had worked.

To show him how much she had struggled.

Srrrk—

Damian silently took the paper from her hands.

His indifferent eyes scanned the numbers.

A heavy, uncomfortable silence filled the space between them.

Marie swallowed hard and forced herself to speak again.

“O-of course, this isn’t the end…! This is just the beginning! I told you, didn’t I? That I would show you results on the midterm…!”

“Yes, you did. …And?”

“This isn’t the ‘result’ you promised, is it? …Did you seriously call me out here just to show me this?”

“T-that’s not—”

“You really are foolish, Marie.”

“…!”

Her chest tightened.

Cold sweat dripped down her back, and her hands trembled.

“To be honest, Marie…”

“I have no faith in you whatsoever.”

“W-what…?”

“That’s why you’re trying to cover it up with this pathetic quiz score, aren’t you?”

“N-no! That’s not it…! I just wanted you to know that I—!”

“Wanted me to know?”

Damian scoffed.

His eyes locked onto Marie with a chilling sharpness.

“You seriously called me, a busy person, out here… for that?”

“I-I…”

“Marie, you truly are stupid.”

“…!”

“You can’t even comprehend the value of my time, yet you claim you’re going to show me results?”

“Well…”

His voice grew colder—so devoid of warmth that even his mocking laughter ceased.

“I suppose you did show me a result.”

“…What?”

“That you’re a hopeless idiot.”

His words pierced like ice.

Marie’s body froze.

The pain was unbearable.

It burned.

It stung.

And worst of all—

It was lonely.

The only person she once relied on—

Had taken yet another step away from her.

“Next time, think a little harder before you call me. Understood?”

“…”

“I asked if you understood.”

“…Yes.”

“Even your response is slow.”

“…”

Thud.

With a detached expression, Damian placed the quiz paper on Marie’s head—

And walked away without hesitation.

Her brother was leaving.

“Say something… anything—”

This wasn’t what she wanted.

But—

“If I say anything now… he’ll hate me even more, won’t he…?”

She had only wanted to exchange a few words.

They hadn’t spoken in so long.

She had just wanted to talk.

Like they used to.

Like when they were close.

But—

“I really am…”

She clenched her fists.

“…Stupid.”

“Who are you?”

“What are you doing here?”

Just then—

A familiar voice rang out from the door.

Hearing it, Marie’s tear-filled eyes snapped toward the entrance.

“I’m Marie’s friend.”

***

Step.

Step.

‘Finally… it’s over.‘

I had been waiting outside the door, holding my breath.

Now was the perfect time to step in.

This was an important moment.

Even I was feeling a little nervous.

After all—

This was a strategy point I had failed to exploit in the first timeline.

Marie and Damian—

Their relationship had crumbled because of an incident in their childhood.

Their strict parents had played a role, turning Damian into the cold, ruthless person he was today.

For Marie, it left a deep scar of self-doubt and inferiority.

And this moment—

The first event in the academy that showcased their broken bond—

It was the perfect opportunity to change things.

But in my first timeline…

I had failed to use this moment to my advantage.

The reason was simple.

Back then, I was just a random extra.

“Marie…”

“Hic… Hic… W-why…?”

“S-sorry. I overheard.”

“Go away… Ugh… Just leave me alone…!”

Back then—

All I could do was watch as Damian walked away.

Back then, all I could do was stay by Marie’s side as she cried.

Of course, that alone created a bittersweet atmosphere between us.

But…

That wasn’t the method I had truly wanted.

The reason I had no choice but to handle things that way in the first timeline—

It was because I was too weak.

Even if I had confronted Damian back then,

It wouldn’t have mattered.

He wouldn’t have listened to anything I had to say.

And worse, I would have only humiliated Marie.

But.

Now is different.

“A friend?”

“Yes. More importantly… I apologize, but I couldn’t help overhearing everything.”

I blocked Damian’s path before he could leave through the door.

Then, I glanced at Marie.

She stared at me, her eyes filled with tears and confusion.

Meanwhile, Damian studied my face carefully—

And then, as if realizing something, he spoke.

“Ah… You’re that first-year who gave that speech.”

“You know me?”

…”Of course. The student council attends the entrance ceremony. It’s surprising that someone like you is Marie’s friend.”

“Marie is a good person.”

“Haha, well, she’s naïve and lives in a dream world. Makes for an easy playmate, I suppose.”

“………No. Marie is smart, capable, and doesn’t shy away from hard work.”

I glared at Damian and spoke in the coldest voice I could muster.

I wanted him to understand exactly what I meant.

Sure, part of my resentment came from the fact that he was one of the five male leads who had stolen a heroine from me.

But honestly—

“Even back in the first timeline, I never liked this bastard.”

I had been serious about Marie.

At first, my approach was purely strategic—

She was just another heroine to capture.

But the more I got to know her, the more I realized—

Marie was truly amazing.

She was intelligent, strong-willed, and worked harder than anyone.

In the end, I had fallen for her for real.

And yet, Damian had the audacity to treat her like this?

This was my chance to set things right.

“So? What does Marie’s wonderful friend want, now that his little eavesdropping hobby has been exposed?”

Damian’s voice was dripping with mockery.

I had been waiting for this moment.

I raised my hand and pointed straight at Marie.

“Praise her.”

“…What?”

“She worked so hard just to hear those words from you. As her older brother, you owe her at least that much.”

Damian looked at me as if I had lost my mind.

Then, he scoffed.

“You were eavesdropping, weren’t you? You heard everything, then.”

“…You mean that you’re busy?”

“Exactly. Why should I waste my time just to give one compliment to a foolish little sister who doesn’t even understand its value?”

He said it so confidently.

What an arrogant bastard.

I nearly blurted out what I was thinking—

But I swallowed it down.

“So your precious time is too valuable, huh…?”

I recalled Damian’s exact words to Marie earlier.

I had heard them so many times before—

Not just today, but across five different timelines.

And so, I already knew what to say.

“So tell me, O mighty, accomplished older brother—”

“Is your time really so important that you can’t even spare a few seconds to praise your little sister?”

“…”

“Because if that’s the case, then maybe it isn’t as precious as you think.”

Damian’s expression stiffened.

For the first time, he fell silent.

Our gazes locked.

Neither of us looked away.

The emotions we felt toward each other were mutual.

Then—

“Haa…”

Damian let out a small sigh and closed his eyes.

After a pause, he turned toward Marie.

“Marie.”

“…Y-yes?”

Marie flinched, snapping out of her daze.

Damian met her gaze—

Then turned away slightly and spoke.

“…Well done. You really did get a high score.”

Step.

Step.

Without another word, he walked past me and left the rooftop.

Marie stood frozen.

She stared at his retreating figure, replaying his words in her head.

“Well done. You really did get a high score.”

The first kind words from her brother in years.

Even though Emil had to intervene—

She had finally heard the words she had been waiting for all this time.

“Ugh… Hic… Hic…”

Tears streamed down her face.

The icy fear and anxiety that had been crushing her for so long—

Melted.

The despair that had settled in her heart—

Vanished.

Marie wiped her tears with her sleeve, but they kept falling.

Then—

“……Hic, huh?”

She suddenly noticed something.

Emil had stepped closer.

Without a word, he extended a white handkerchief toward her.

He didn’t speak.

A moment ago, he had stood up to Damian with such firm confidence.

Yet now—

He said nothing.

It was as if he was giving her space to process her emotions.

And at that moment—

Thump.

Marie felt something stir in her chest.

Something she had never felt before.

“Thank you… Emil… Hic… Thank you.”

She took the handkerchief and wiped her tears.

Only then did Emil finally smile softly and speak.

“Save your thanks for after the midterms, Marie.”

His warm smile—

Marie suddenly recognized what this strange, unfamiliar feeling was.

“Mm.”

It was a feeling she had once held for Damian—

But it was different.

It wasn’t just the warmth of family.

It was something else.

Something new.

Of course—

That realization had only just begun to blossom.

For now, all Marie could do was smile back, full of gratitude.

***

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