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Dorothy, who had returned to her family home, reported to her father, the Count of Lithuania, about her visit to the competition tournament and then locked herself in her room. This visit to the academy had been nothing but a series of shocking events for Dorothy in many ways.

First and foremost, she could count her reunion with Briana, whom she deeply respected. Seeing Professor Briana after so long, she looked exactly the same as she did in Dorothy’s childhood—calm, composed, and intellectual.

The fact that her idol remained unchanged gave Dorothy a profound sense of inspiration. She wished Briana could stay in that position forever.

Next, the most impressive thing was seeing Princess Seraphina, Briana’s only disciple. Seraphina’s piloting skills were beyond anything Dorothy had heard. As someone training to become a knight, Dorothy knew all too well that reaching such a level wasn’t just about effort. It required a talent bestowed by the heavens and effort beyond imagination.

The moment Dorothy watched Seraphina’s match, she gained another goal besides Briana. Whether she could ever reach that level herself was uncertain, but she now had another figure to aspire to.

However, the most shocking and impactful event was something else entirely. It was the very reason she had decided to attend the academy and the source of her current complicated emotions—Gilbert Lion Heart, the eldest son of the Lion Heart Family and her older brother.

Even now, she couldn’t understand it.

Dorothy lay on her bed, holding up the doll she had slept with since childhood, and let out a deep sigh. It was a habit of hers whenever her mind was in turmoil.

As she fiddled with the worn-out doll’s hand, Dorothy quietly placed it by her pillow and closed her eyes. Despite having been back home for quite some time, the image of Gilbert piloting the Colossal Mech during the tournament remained vivid in her mind, as if she were watching it through a recording magic circle.

Gilbert had consistently shown overwhelming skill in the competition, surpassing even Seraphina with his precise piloting techniques. His dominance, which began in the preliminary rounds, ultimately led him to victory in the 1st Year Competition Tournament.

Even in the event match against Seraphina, he didn’t show any signs of being overwhelmed. Although he lost that match, the piloting skills he displayed left a deep impression on everyone who watched, including Dorothy.

She couldn’t believe it, but she had seen it with her own eyes, so she had no choice but to accept it.

“Still, he wasn’t a doppelganger or anything…”

At first, she thought he might be a doppelganger or a homunculus, but as the tournament progressed, she had to dismiss that idea. There were no signs of the traits typically seen in doppelgangers or homunculi in Gilbert. It was only then that she understood why Anna, the maid, had acted the way she did. Perhaps Anna’s basic maid instincts had sensed that Gilbert was the real deal.

If that’s the case, she could’ve told me earlier.

Dorothy grumbled internally, but given her personality, she would have doubted him repeatedly anyway.

In the end, she concluded that Gilbert had changed. It was truly unbelievable.

Dorothy got up from her bed and smoothed her messy hair. If Anna had seen her, she would have scolded her for being unladylike.

Knock knock.

“Dorothy, it’s me.”

“Ah, second brother? Come in.”

As she tried to tame her unruly hair, Dorothy smiled at the familiar voice of Glinda. She was glad to see her second brother, who had always taken care of her since childhood, especially in contrast to her troublemaker eldest brother, Gilbert.

She hopped over like a rabbit and opened the door wide.

Glinda, with his long golden hair tied back in a ponytail, stood there. His eyes, red like rubies but warm unlike Gilbert’s, and his tall, slender frame gave off a refreshing vibe. Unlike Gilbert, his build was lean but not fragile, and the muscles visible through his rolled-up sleeves often caught the attention of noble ladies.

Dorothy immediately smiled brightly and jumped into his arms.

“Dorothy, a grown lady shouldn’t be jumping into people’s arms like this.”

“Second brother is an exception!”

Glinda scratched his head as he looked at his spoiled younger sister. The strict upbringing of the Lion Heart Family had led to Dorothy clinging to him whenever she got the chance. He hadn’t expected that indulging her as a child would turn her into such a spoiled brat.

Still, she’s cute, so what can I do?

Fortunately, as Dorothy grew older, she began to show more restraint. She started to understand the situation and control herself more.

It felt a bit bittersweet, like watching a daughter grow up without having raised her.

“Anyway, Dorothy.”

“Since second brother came to see me out of the blue… it’s about eldest brother, isn’t it?”

“Yes. How was he?”

Dorothy, still in Glinda’s arms, slowly pulled away.

“Just as I reported. Eldest brother has changed.”

“Is that so… Eldest brother…”

Glinda stroked his chin as he looked at Dorothy sitting across from him. For him, Gilbert had always been a sore spot. As someone who prioritized the well-being of the territory’s people, it was hard for Glinda to stand by and watch Gilbert’s misdeeds.

So, Glinda had stepped in to stop Gilbert. He began to curb Gilbert’s reckless behavior and didn’t hesitate to give him a stern talking-to.

However, the result wasn’t Gilbert’s reformation but a shift in the succession plan of the Lion Heart Family. Naturally, Glinda, as the second son, began to be considered as a candidate for the next Count of Lithuania, a position originally intended for Gilbert, the eldest son.

The loyal vassal families of the Lion Heart Family and the people of the territory all began to fervently wish for Glinda to become the heir.

At that point, even though Glinda considered Gilbert family and didn’t want to see him removed from the succession, he couldn’t help but feel his resolve waver as Gilbert remained unchanged. If Gilbert were to become the Count of Lithuania, the consequences were all too easy to imagine.

In that sense, the recent news of Gilbert’s change was a welcome development for Glinda. Whatever change of heart Gilbert had experienced at the academy, becoming a different person was truly a relief.

It didn’t erase all the sins of his past misdeeds, but the fact that he had changed was encouraging.

“Phew. So, second brother is happy that trash brother has changed?”

“Dorothy, it’s not right to call your eldest brother that.”

“But it’s true. Do you know how many people in the territory have suffered because of eldest brother?”

“I know.”

While Gilbert’s change was a good sign, the fact remained that the people’s sentiments toward him were still poor. His past actions, though not crossing any lines, had been excessive.

As family, Glinda was glad for Gilbert’s change, but the situation hadn’t dramatically improved. In fact, it hadn’t changed at all.

Glinda ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

“So, Dorothy, what did you think of him?”

“He’s a different person. I even thought he might be a doppelganger or a homunculus.”

“Is that so…”

“And I can’t even say for sure that eldest brother has truly changed. He might just be acting differently on a whim.”

Glinda closed his eyes at his sister’s words, which he had been hesitant to voice. He had also entertained such thoughts. While Gilbert’s recent actions were significant, Dorothy’s point was valid. People don’t change overnight.

Glinda recalled the strict demeanor of the Count of Lithuania. Dorothy, as the third daughter of the Lion Heart Family, often appeared in official settings, which was politically advantageous. It was a great opportunity for her to interact with the children of other noble families and build her political standing.

However, the Count of Lithuania, as the border lord of Infractus, wasn’t keen on his children mingling too much in social circles. As a family serving as the Empire’s shield, he believed they shouldn’t amass too much power among the nobility.

Having long been a staunch supporter of the Emperor, the Lion Heart Family was deeply involved in politics, and the Count feared that the noble faction might grow too powerful. For this reason, he restricted his three children from participating excessively in social events.

Except for occasions where he had to attend as the Count’s representative or imperial anniversary parties hosted by the royal family, most social engagements were off-limits. While it might seem like a rigid policy, considering the circumstances when he inherited the title from his predecessor, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

“I’ll convince Father. Don’t worry.”

“Dorothy.”

“Second brother, no matter how much I think of eldest brother as trash, I still consider him family. In that sense, at least as a family member, I need to know why he suddenly changed. I’m his sister, after all.”

Dorothy grinned as Glinda swallowed his words.

The reason Dorothy was so concerned about Gilbert wasn’t anything grand. She truly disliked her troublemaker eldest brother, but as family, she wanted to know if something had happened to him.

“Alright. I knew you’d say that. Then I’ll try to convince Father too.”

“I knew second brother would!”

As Dorothy hugged him again, Glinda couldn’t help but smile at his sister’s unwavering nature.

However, his faint smile faded, and his expression hardened. A changed eldest brother… Glinda’s worries deepened.

 

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