CH 287

Two Brothers Fainting in Agony [Part 1]

“George-sama! William-sama! U-Um, how is Emma-sama… How is Emma-sama‘s condition…”

George and William came back to the academy a week after the three siblings left school hurriedly without any prior notice.

Because the possibility that Joanna was Emma’s real doppelganger hadn’t been cleared, the family wanted to wait and see the situation for a little longer and told Emma alone to postpone her return to the academy.

As soon as the students saw the Stuart brothers, they chattered among themselves noisily and bustled to crowd around them.

“How is Nee-sama…?”

William saw her having fun in the garden with the cats this morning, but if he told the students that truthfully, it was no different from saying that she was playing hooky. Besides, he did recognize the faces of these students who were

worriedly inquiring about Emma’s condition.

“Nee-sama is alright. This is such a surprise. I didn’t expect you guys to show this much concern for the fake holy maiden’s well-being.”

The complexion of the students who used to speak ill of Emma turned pale.

“I-I’m sorry! I don’t even understand why I would say such terrible things about her… I’m really sorry.”

Having been tormented by guilt for days, the student bowed his head in regret.

“Emma nee-sama has not even once ever called herself the holy maiden. On the contrary, she strongly denied it whenever someone called her the holy maiden. But you guys just went ahead with your own beliefs and made such terrible accusations against her.”

No matter how much William suffered from the tyranny of his older sister, his mood would still sour when he heard unfounded slander against her.

William, who was the smartest among the siblings, was unexpectedly the type of person who held grudges. Irked by these students, he ended up venting all the frustration accumulated after being severely attacked by the womenfolk in the family when he had shot his mouth off about women nearing forty.

“Just leave it at that, William…”

Seeing William venting his anger on these unrelated people, George pitied them and patted William’s shoulder to stop him from speaking further.

“But… Yes. You’re right.”

William recalled the punishments he received from the Stuart womenfolk and clenched his trembling hand into a fist. His older sister at that time was much more violent than usual. She had just bawled in front of the whole family and suddenly became fierce after realizing how embarrassing she had been. People nearing forty truly turn nasty when they try to hide their embarrassment. What he experienced that day was a prime example. And his mother, on the other hand, silently snapped at him for real at one point, scary.

“Sorry, he isn’t in a good frame of mind today. Don’t mind it.”

George apologized to the student who had come to talk to them before urging his younger brother to head to the classroom.

“N-No, you’re too kind… !”

The student noticed…

Before the brothers left, he noticed William’s trembling fist and the dark circles under George’s eyes.

The two’s fatigued appearance was the best proof to attest to the truthfulness of the rumor that Emma was nearing death’s door.

♠♠♠

“Please tell us the truth! It worries me so much that I’m about to go crazy!”

Francesca pressed George and William to explain the rumor about Emma during lunch break in the courtyard they usually hung out.

“She’s really healthy! In fact, she’s being so energetic that it’s annoying! Please believe me!” shouted William.

“Then, why is she absent from school? We’re curious, right, Caitlyn?”

“True, it’s a wonder why she is absent from school if she is perfectly fine, Catherine.”

“ “It’s so suspicious.” ” The twins shared the same sentiment with Francesca.

“My older brother and His Highness have been taking a break from the academy and investigating something frantically since that day Emma-sama fainted. Saying that nothing happened and everything was alright was too lame of an excuse, right? Just look at these dark circles under George-sama‘s eyes. Both of you look very worn out, as well?”

Marion lifted George’s chin up and peered right at his face. Like Francesca and the twins, she didn’t seem to believe that Emma was all right.

“Hold on! Marion-sama, don’t grab my chin like that… My heart will flutter!”

Marion’s handsome aura was about to awaken George’s inner maiden.

“These dark circles… were because I studied nonstop under Mother’s supervision…”

“ “ “ “Then, why is Emma-sama absent from school?!” ” ” ”