Zenos paid no attention to Werner and Ludwig’s funeral arrangements or the recovery of their bodies. The situation was so dire that the Emperor herself had to ask Gustav for help.

Zenos was completely fixated on uncovering who was behind the attack. He refused to believe it was a simple pirate raid.

It was a reasonable suspicion.

But this was the limitation of a genius who had only ever studied.

The debts that weren’t negotiated on time accumulated interest like a snowball, and vassals who saw no hope gradually turned their backs on the family.

Then one day, Zenos left home, claiming he was going to meet an unidentified informant.

Anton noticed first and alerted Christine, who rushed to stop Zenos.

Shortly after, Daphne also ran over when she saw the commotion happening in front of the carriage.

“Please, don’t go. You’re the head of the family now. The deaths of Father and Brother Ludwig are tragic, but you must think of the family first.”

Daphne’s tearful pleas were met with a punch.

“Does it show that you’re someone else’s child? How dare you try to stop me, get lost!”

The fist that landed on her cheek was followed by another blow to her stomach. Daphne collapsed, and Christine, watching the scene, fainted.

After causing such a scene, Zenos left, only to return the next day as a swollen corpse.

⁕⁕⁕

Daphne deliberately shook off the unpleasant memories.

She contemplated once more whether she should save that terrible person before speaking.

“Men rarely watch their words around noble ladies who only enjoy parties. They’re actually itching to brag. Your competitors’ fiancées attended my reading salon.”

“So you’re saying when you ladies gather, you gossip about what you’ve heard from men?”

“That’s why you should be careful with your words. Walls have ears, let alone living people.”

“How pathetic. This is exactly why I don’t get married!”

You can’t get married, not won’t. Even if you could, who would tolerate you?

“If your curiosity is satisfied, I’ll be going now.”

“Wait! One more thing…”

“Speak.”

“I was scheduled to showcase my invention at the Founding Festival… I’d hate to give up on it. Is there anything safer I could present?”

Hearing his words, Daphne pressed her fingers to her forehead.

Usually, Ludwig would decide those things for him.

But still. To think he couldn’t even make such a simple decision by himself without his brother…

She wanted to end this pathetic conversation quickly.

She recalled the items he had invented in her previous life. She knew them well because she had cleaned out his research lab after his death.

Daphne pretended to think for a moment before listing inventions she would need in the future.

“Have you made something like a stone-cutting machine?”

“Huh?”

Not yet, it seems…

“There are already plenty of machines that quarry stone. That’s too mundane.”

What you made was never mundane, you fool.

“I know that. I’m expecting something more advanced from a pseudo-intellectual.”

At the term “pseudo-intellectual,” Zenos glared at her, but curious about what she would say next, he gritted his teeth and endured.

“For example… quarrying creates a lot of dust. What about a machine that sprays water while cutting the stone?”

Zenos’s eyes gradually widened.

He visualized it in his mind and exclaimed in admiration.

“Oh, that’s innovative! How did you come up with that idea?”

“Unlike some people, I’ve developed in the direction of considering others’ circumstances.”

“What do you mean?”

Zenos couldn’t understand what empathy had to do with stone-cutting machines.

“Construction sites with stone-cutting machines are among the most accident-prone places.”

“…Really?”

Zenos had never once thought about actual working conditions. Moreover, he couldn’t understand why people would get hurt when machines were doing the cutting instead.

As if she had expected his reaction, Daphne snorted softly and explained.

“In quarrying work, dust is as troublesome as tunnel collapses. That’s why workers often get injured or die while spraying water next to the machines. If it helps the common people doing hard labor and makes quarrying much easier… that would be far better than a toy with gears.”

“Ah, really. The way you talk…”

Despite grumbling, Zenos was excited. Ideas seemed to be flowing as he muttered to himself.

“If I divert just a bit of the stone-cutting power, spraying water wouldn’t be difficult. I could install a pump and connect pipes…”

His eyes gradually lost focus, indicating he was becoming absorbed in thought.

Knowing his habit of becoming furiously angry at anyone who disturbed him when he was fully concentrated, Daphne quickly suggested:

“I’ll send someone tomorrow. Buy materials from them. It’s expensive, but they’ll keep your secrets just as thoroughly. It’s a guild your scholarly colleagues can’t even approach.”

Daphne decided to connect Zenos with Gabriel to ensure confidentiality.

“How do you know such people?”

“Unlike some people, I’m not stupid.”

“Hey. Watch your mouth. And you, don’t call me… that. From now on, I’ll allow you to call me b-brother.”

“I’d hate that.”

“What? I’m being generous here. You’re really kicking a gift horse in the mouth.”

What a pathetic gesture of goodwill.

In her previous life, she had longed for this so desperately, but now, after so many cold years had passed, such wishes seemed ridiculous.

From Daphne’s perspective, now that she could treat him casually, she had absolutely no desire to be granted permission to use such an embarrassing title.

“I don’t want to be polite to someone who doesn’t respect me. So drop the idea of being treated with respect now.”

“You’ve got no manners, just a sharp tongue…”

Zenos pursed his lips. His words were still unkind, but his demeanor had softened considerably.

Daphne’s strategy seemed to be working.

Once he created the water-spraying stone-cutting machine, things would become easier going forward, so she decided to offer one more piece of advice.

“And be nice to your current assistant.”

She’s the only one who cried at your funeral when you died.

But the moment she mentioned the assistant, Zenos’s face crumpled.

“Now you’re really crossing the line! What do you know to tell me what to do!”

In that moment, Daphne didn’t miss the redness spreading across his cheeks.

Could it be…

Do you like that assistant? Even someone like you can fall in love!

As Daphne stepped back with a disgusted expression, Zenos’s old habit emerged. He wasn’t trying to hit her at all; he merely raised his hand.

That’s when it happened. A shadow fell behind him, and a large hand seized Zenos’s wrist, which looked tiny in comparison.

Crack!

A bone-breaking sound was accompanied by a scream. The shadow that had taken down Zenos strode toward Daphne.

It was Kartun.

As if that wasn’t enough, Kartun lightly kicked Zenos’s side as he writhed on the ground.

Though he seemed to retain enough awareness that his opponent was an ordinary person—it was truly just a light tap—Zenos groaned and rolled sideways.

No!

Don’t get hurt, you b*stard.

He had many things to invent in the future, including the stone-cutting machine. Despite her dislike for him, he was an important talent.

Daphne quickly ran over to check Zenos’s condition.

Feeling his ribcage, she found the ribs intact, and despite the loud noise, his wrist didn’t seem to have suffered a critical injury.

Daphne sighed in relief.

Watching this scene, Kartun raised one eyebrow in surprise.

“Perhaps I misunderstood the situation, my lady?”

“Pardon?”

Only then did she realize how her concern for Zenos’s injuries might have appeared affectionate.

But that was the real misunderstanding.

“No, Your Highness. I was just flustered about showing you such an embarrassing scene.”

She dusted off the hand that had examined Zenos. Thankfully she was wearing gloves; had she been bare-handed, she would have rushed to wash them immediately.

Kartun carefully examined Daphne and asked:

“Are you alright, my lady?”

I think you should be asking him that question…

Daphne looked at Zenos’s clothes, now stained green from rolling on the grass, and quietly nodded.

Then, hoping he hadn’t overheard her earlier conversation with Zenos, she played the role of a troubled noblewoman.

“Thank you for your help. My siblings and I aren’t always like this. My brother is sensitive due to his research, and I was teasing him…”

“No matter what teasing occurred, to dare raise a hand against a lady—such a cowardly and contemptible hand had to be broken.”

Daphne bowed her head in respect, as if agreeing it was an appropriate punishment. Then she placed her hand on Kartun’s extended palm.

He held it as delicately as if handling glasswork and escorted her.

“Your Highness, just a moment. I’m not sure if it’s alright to leave him like that…”

As Daphne hesitated, Kartun continued walking as if Zenos wasn’t even worth mentioning.

“If he has enough strength to raise a hand against his sister, he should be able to crawl to a doctor, so don’t worry.”