END OF THE MONTH BONUS CHAPTERS!
Temarr’s Anger – Did I Teach You to Be Like This?
“Is there anyone who gets indigestion from soup? Are you really sick? Why is the color of your vomit like that?”
“…….”
……It was probably because of the medicine.
I was so busy throwing up I didn’t notice…. The color was a bit, well. Ugh. Now that I saw it, I felt like it was coming up again.
“Hmm.”
“That’s disgusting, what are you doing!!”
Ruman seemed to be examining my vomit closely with his finger.
It would be hard to figure anything out from something like that, but it made me uncomfortable! No, and it’s gross! How can you touch it so nonchalantly like that! Urgh…….
The more I thought about it, the more annoyed I got.
What are you doing, seriously! Why do you care about someone else’s body!! If by any chance you find out about my illness… I’ll just die. I hate worrying hyung more than dying!
As much as I, so… I don’t know if hyung likes me as much as I love hyung, but…. I know how sad it is to part ways. I don’t want hyung to know the pain of a farewell without promise!
I’ll just disappear.
“…Must’ve picked up some strange snack and eaten it?”
“…….”
“Ah! Is it because of that tea Ren likes to drink?”
I was glaring and tensing up, ready to get into a physical fight, but Princess Coco changed the subject. Even her glaring eyes seemed to soften a bit.
“I, misspoke. They say there are constitutions that get indigestion easily, right? It seems that kid has that kind of constitution. Poor thing. Better be careful with food.”
“……Why are you seriously picking a fight over every little thing? What did I do wrong??”
“Why are you suddenly getting worked up?? What’s wrong with feeling sorry for someone with a weak constitution? Shouldn’t you be thankful when someone cares?”
“Did I ask you to?? Did I ask for your pity? Someone who has absolutely nothing to do with me comes and babbles on and on about my body and I’m supposed to be grateful? Don’t you seriously have a personality problem?? A person like you is a princess! Just because you were lucky enough to be born with the right bloodline….”
“What? Ha! Is your attitude always like that? Is this because you’re the Hero’s younger brother?”
Princess Coco’s mouth formed a cruel smile.
“That’s enough! Ren! You stop too. What are you doing.”
“Ren! How can you be so rude. Why are you acting like this.”
We stood close to each other as if we were about to hit one another.
The princess was a bit taller than me, which really hurt my pride.
“How amusing to see you babbling rudely. Are you showing off because you’re the Hero’s younger brother? Do you even know that if I, a noble, order you killed, a life like yours isn’t worth even a fly’s life? You must not know since you’ve been stuck living in the countryside!”
“Princess! That’s going too far!!”
Del also stopped the princess.
Displeasure showed on Ruman’s face as he listened to Princess Coco’s words. But Temarr hyung didn’t say anything.
Does hyung think that way too?? Hyung’s deep sigh seemed to sink down into the depths of my stomach like an anchor with a thud. Sweat formed on my fingertips.
……Even without saying such things, I’m already a fly’s life that could die at any moment.
“I’m a princess. If you’re the Hero’s younger brother….”
“Stupid princess.”
My head was boiling.
Why? I don’t understand why everyone’s like this to me. I’ve never once bragged that hyung is a Hero. Why do people I meet always bring up “the Hero’s younger brother” first? What did I do? I just wanted to be hyung’s good younger brother. I never wanted to be something like the Hero’s younger brother. I hate it. I hate it.
“Did you just say to me….”
“I said stupid princess, didn’t I? Are your ears bad too?”
“You……!”
The princess pointed at me and trembled with rage.
Manners? What’s that.
Personality? It already exploded, so what are you going to do about it.
You’re the one who started it!
“Like you asked, I’m the Hero’s younger brother, right? Why don’t you test and see if you’ll be fine after killing the Hero’s younger brother.”
I said defiantly. I didn’t forget to smile obnoxiously with a smirk.
Kill me, I’m not afraid of death anyway.
Already a life meant to die, me with a terminal diagnosis not knowing when I’ll die—would I fear death?
The medicine shop old man told me to go to the capital and get examined, but honestly, I don’t want to do that and have no intention of doing it! What if rumors spread while looking for a doctor, or what if hyung finds out? Hyung’s tearful face, I absolutely hate seeing it. Rather than see and show such a sight, it would be better if hyung goes on a mission and leaves, forgetting me forever.
“Do it. If you can.”
I leaned my upper body toward her. I didn’t forget to stretch my neck out long.
Hey, stupid princess. The artery is right here.
If you have a knife, try stabbing me!
But what flew at me wasn’t a knife… it was a large palm that covered more than half my face.
Smack.
A stinging pain applied to my cheek.
My cheek trembled.
No way. It can’t be, right?
I slowly turned my head to the side.
“……Hyung?”
“Temarr! What are you doing. Are you crazy?”
My cheek burned hot.
“I’m really disappointed. Ren. Have you been acting this way all along? All this time, always? When I’m not around? Did I teach you to be like this?”
Temarr hyung seemed to be holding back from hitting me more. Clenching his fist, he reproaches me.
More than the throbbing pain in my cheek… my heart hurt more.
Seeing hyung’s disappointed expression hurt more. Tears welled up. I bit my lip. Whether my cheek burst or the lip I just bit burst, I tasted blood.
When did hyung ever teach me. Hyung was never by my side. You never taught me. I, I…….
I was always alone.
“Just because you’re the Hero’s younger brother, acting like this…! Did you do this in the village too? Hyung is asking you! Ren, can’t you answer?”
No! It’s not like that!
I’ve never absolutely acted this way.
I was scared the explanation would be too long and sound like an excuse.
Hyung, I did say it once because I was proud of you. And then I got beaten up for being cocky…….
I also said it once to scare off the village kids who were trying to bully me.
But I didn’t act like this. Please believe me…….
But if I opened my mouth, it felt like tears would burst out right away, so I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t even shake my head. It felt like hyung’s gaze was binding me. If I even turned my eyes away from his interrogating gaze…… I was afraid of how hyung would see me, so I couldn’t.
Princess Coco had flustered eyes.
“I’m disappointed.”
“Temarr, calm down. What are you doing!”
Ruman, who snatched Temarr hyung’s hand, wedged himself between me and hyung.
“You stay out of this. Ruman. This is a problem between the two of us.”
“You haven’t forgotten that we have companions right now, have you?”
‘Do you realize you’re humiliating Ren right now?’ Ruman whispered quietly.
But it seemed hyung’s ears couldn’t hear Ruman’s words. If Ruman hadn’t grabbed his hand, hyung might have hit me more. Hyung’s arm, filled with strength, still floated in the air. No.
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I raised my younger brother wrong.”
No. Hyung. You didn’t raise me wrong. You weren’t by my side.
I swallowed my tears with difficulty.
“…That’s enough. Manage him well from now on.”
“…….”
“Sir Del, shouldn’t you apologize too? Threatening someone’s life sounds rather unpleasant after all.”
“Yes. I apologize.”
At Ruman’s words, Del apologized without delay.
I received an apology, but my mood didn’t improve at all.
Because it wasn’t even Princess Coco’s apology… and I only earned hyung’s hatred. Because resentment toward hyung welled up.
Is my personality really the problem? Should I just not say anything? Hyung…….
Hyung only showed me his back.
“Temarr. Just go ahead with Ren instead. I’ll cover things here.”
After a moment of silence, it was Ruman who spoke.
“Ruman-nim! You didn’t see it. If Temarr Hero-nim hadn’t come earlier…. Protecting one person takes a lot of effort. Alone is impossible! I cannot allow even a hair on the Princess’s head to be harmed!!”
“Ruman. That won’t work. She’s the kingdom’s princess. Since Ren was rude, I have to take more responsibility and escort her to the capital.”
“Isn’t Ren’s life precious?”
“What do you mean.”
“Ren needs a doctor. If he goes with the princess, he might become a target together or collapse from illness. Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
“No. Ren will be fine.”
“Temarr!”
“She’s the kingdom’s princess. You alone won’t be enough.”
The more Ruman defended me, the more miserable I felt.
Why is hyung so obsessed with being a Hero? Can I understand hyung’s heart?
Maybe hyung wouldn’t care even if I died. As long as he can always be a Hero…. Maybe it would be better if I died around this time. So hyung can become the perfect Hero.
“I’m fine.”
I said calmly. I put down the emotions that had been swirling, along with hyung’s sigh from earlier, deep into my stomach.
“Ren. Are you being stubborn too? Look at your condition. You need to see a doctor quickly. Ren, I’m not saying to abandon the princess or fight with Temarr. I’m saying let’s move efficiently.”
“Forget it! I’ll just drop out here so don’t waste your energy.”
“Princess. Princess, why are you doing this too?”
“It’s better to survive alone than be in a divided group.”
“Princess Coco! Why are you doing this, that absolutely won’t do.”
Del firmly held her back.
This is troublesome.
Separating, reuniting, then trying to split apart again.
Somehow it all feels like it’s because of me.
Princess Coco also seemed to look at me as if blaming me.
The cold night air cooled the heat of my burning cheek, but it couldn’t cool my torn heart. My insides stung and hurt as if burning.
It’s my fault. I’m not sad at all about being hit for doing wrong. Yeah. So there’s no need to cry, right?
