CH 97

Big Brother when he was little, I guess he was hurt. Well, of course he was…

“… I’ve always had a hard time socializing with people. It’s not because I want to, but because no one wants to be around me.” (Alexei)

He broke off abruptly, perhaps remembering the one friend he had.

Uncharacteristically, Alexei slumped.

“The only people who are happy that I’m here are you and grandfather. You always worry that I work too much, but the only thing I have going for me is my work. I can’t think of a single thing I want to do when I have free time… I’m a boring person. I don’t think it would be fun spending a day with me.” (Alexei)

Looking at Big Brother, I suddenly thought…

Big Brother….

He’s so cute!

I don’t know but this is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, a guy who is extremely cool and capable but could also be a little fragile!

It’s cute when you think of it from the perspective of an adult, but still, a seventeen-year-old boy confessing his weaknesses…

Is that why you’ve been checking me over and over again, or why you have been feeling a little squirmy? Brother, you were actually thinking complicatedly like this? Oh my, I love him so much.

3rd POV

Ekaterina took her brother’s hand and squeezed it with both of hers.

“Big Brother… I don’t know how to tell you this in words, but I really enjoy it when Big Brother is around me. It makes me feel at ease. I have been lonely since my mother passed away. But after I came to the Imperial City, Big Brother took my hand and made me feel less lonely.” (Ekaterina)

Ekaterina continues.

“Big Brother has big and warm hands. He is sincere, strong and reliable. He is also very knowledgeable. I can assure you that it will be much more fun to be with Big Brother than with some refined gentleman who is good with women.” (Ekaterina)

Alexei’s eyes widened.

The Old Hag must have been comparing her favorite son to Big Brother all the time, saying that ‘he was cute when he was little, and you are not’. I’m sure that Big Brother only looked back at her coldly, but deep down he must have been hurt. Just thinking about it makes me want to hug him.

Every child, every human being, is different! Everyone is different, and nothing’s wrong with it!

I’m sorry to say that I prefer Big Brother. In my eyes, only Big Brother is good. But I understand that everyone has their own strike zone.

Big Brother is your grandson. Normally, grandmothers would love their grandsons unconditionally. Well, not everybody is the same. It’s all different for each person, but still, it’s not good. But why were you like that?

“Thank you, Ekaterina.” (Alexei)

Alexei took Ekaterina’s hand and placed it on her forehead as if to push her away.

Ekaterina’s POV

Yaah, my bangs are all over your hands, being shuffled.

“You truly are a gift from heaven. You are kind, wise, and beautiful. I wonder to myself if I’m good enough to deserve such a wonderful gift.” (Alexei)

No Big Brother, what gift? I’m just a brocon sister.

I’m sorry about that.

As we pass the statue of Lord Sergei, we see a river.

“This is a man-made canal, built to draw water from the Cerno River to the moat of the Imperial City.” (Alexei)

“So it’s a canal to bring goods to the Imperial City. I wonder if the Empress’s silk fabrics were also transported through here.” (Ekaterina)

The Cerno River, which flows through the Imperial City, is a major logistics route not only for the Imperial City, but also for the Imperial Kingdom, flowing down to the south into the bay where the Yurisein territory’s port is located.