Before the coachman could answer the question, the carriage window opened and a head peeked out.

The young man with deep brown eyes and reddish wheat-colored hair looked quite familiar. More precisely, he strongly resembled Werner.

The gatekeeper’s eyes widened immediately.

“Aren’t you Young Master Fabian?”

When the gatekeeper asked in surprise, Fabian shouted impatiently.

“Open the gate quickly!”

The gatekeeper gave a signal, and the main gate swung open wide. The guards who had been stationed in front rushed to line up on both sides and saluted in unison.

But Fabian ignored the greetings and urged the coachman to hurry. The carriage maintained full speed even on the path leading to the mansion. It seemed poised to arrive even before the horseman who should have ridden ahead to announce their arrival.

The gatekeeper tilted his head as he watched the back of Fabian’s carriage.

“How did he come without any notice?”

It was clearly mid-semester, and as a graduating student, he shouldn’t be able to return home unless there was a family emergency.

“Ah, there is a big matter.”

For Fabian, who had always preferred Daphne over his mother Christine since childhood, this was indeed a very big deal.

“There’s going to be quite a commotion.”

The gatekeeper looked forward to seeing what Fabian—who sometimes outmatched even Zenos with his subtle temper—would do.

“Miss Daphne will be delighted.”

He hoped it would comfort her heart, which had been hurt by that garbage fiancé.

Fabian did not disappoint the gatekeeper’s expectations.

When they arrived at the main building of the mansion, the servants who were awake at that hour rushed out. He was in such a hurry that he kicked open the door and jumped out before the carriage had completely stopped. Everyone was startled and quickly moved aside.

“Welcome, Young Master!”

Fabian ran into the mansion as if he couldn’t hear anything, not even acknowledging the greeting.

He strode up the central hall staircase, shouting.

“Sister!”

His voice echoed loudly.

Werner, who had been sleeping in the bedroom attached to his office on the first floor, was the first to open his door and come out. The door to Christine’s chamber on the second floor also opened, and a maid emerged to look down below.

But Fabian didn’t stop. He continued up to the third floor and stood in front of Daphne’s chamber.

“Sister, I’m here!”

Just before he could knock, the door swung open and Lara blocked his way.

“The Miss is sleep—”

Ignoring Lara’s words, Fabian pushed past her like a bull. Lara didn’t ask twice and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. Just as Fabian was about to engage in a physical struggle with her, Daphne, who had come out after hearing the commotion, shouted.

“Lara, stop!”

At the same moment, Fabian rushed to Daphne.

“Sister!”

The two embraced each other.

“Sister, I’ve missed you so much.”

“Me too. I really……”

Daphne couldn’t finish her sentence.

Meeting her brother like this—whom she had loved the most in her previous life but couldn’t take care of until the end—brought tears streaming down her face.

Now seventeen years old, slightly younger than she remembered, but seeing him so healthy and whole made it impossible to control her emotions.

She could still faintly detect Fabian’s distinctive scent from his sun-warmed crown, just like when he was little.

“Fabian……”

In my previous life, after I died, how did you live? I hope you didn’t die miserably like me. Please, I hope not. And I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you until the end.

She had so much she wanted to say, but her throat closed up, preventing her from asking anything.

Werner and Christine, who had belatedly come up to the third floor, were at a loss for words seeing Daphne crying like a child.

Eventually, the four of them settled in the reception room adjoining Daphne’s chamber. After their emotional reunion, the siblings bombarded each other with questions.

“How did you come here? You’re in your final year and couldn’t come home this semester.”

When Daphne asked accusingly, Fabian fumbled in his pocket and pulled something out. Unfolding a carelessly folded paper revealed a graduation certificate.

“I graduated early. It’s only possible with excellent grades.”

Daphne’s eyes reddened again. She stroked Fabian’s hair as if she found him incredibly admirable and congratulated him.

“That’s amazing. You did so well.”

Werner and Christine, who had been watching without being able to interject, craned their necks curiously.

Daphne, still not taking her eyes off Fabian, handed the graduation certificate she was holding to Werner. He silently checked it and then passed it to Christine.

Fabian, also still looking only at Daphne, said:

“I’ll receive the official diploma at the graduation ceremony. I’ve been granted permission to stay home until then. Sister, you’ll definitely come to my graduation ceremony, won’t you?”

Fabian waited for an answer with sparkling eyes, but Daphne couldn’t easily respond. The sudden marriage decree had made her future uncertain.

However, Fabian, still unaware of this fact, immediately wiped the smile from his face and asked:

“Where is that b*stard?”

It was clear from Fabian’s rage-filled eyes that “that b*stard” referred to Leonhardt.

He hated Leonhardt as much as the Emperor did. No, he hated him even more, if that was possible.

Christine, unable to stand it any longer, cautiously said:

“Fabian, he’s still the Young Duke…. You should be careful with your words.”

But Fabian’s gaze only grew fiercer.

“It’s already beyond his station to be engaged to my sister. And on top of that, he dared to cheat? I will never forgive such a man whose brain is located below his waist!”

Werner and Daphne’s eyes widened simultaneously.

What had he learned while studying abroad?

Christine pondered what he meant for a while before her mouth gaped open in shock.

Fabian was like a puppy that wouldn’t bite unless provoked. His gentle puppy-like nature was exclusive to Daphne, and as the saying goes, he would fly into a rage only when someone messed with Daphne.

That’s why Daphne and Christine hadn’t told Fabian. They knew he would rush back like this if he found out what Leonhardt had done.

Especially for Daphne, it was even more important.

In her previous life, after the family was ruined, Fabian had dropped out of the academy and returned home. The main reason was to protect Christine and Daphne, but it was also because they could no longer afford the expensive tuition.

Afterward, although Fabian tried not to show it, Daphne couldn’t help but notice.

When alone, he would often let out long sighs. And whenever he passed academy students on the street, he would stare at them blankly. She clearly remembered how his face would darken with regret and loneliness for his unfinished education each time.

For Daphne, it was an unforgettable nightmare.

Though Fabian was the person she most wanted to see after returning to the past, she had restrained herself. She had vowed not to tell him about her broken engagement until he could safely graduate and complete his studies without disruption.

Yet Fabian had found out and come anyway.

Werner sighed briefly and asked him:

“How did you hear about it?”

“Well, being in a foreign country, the Empire’s students abroad become almost like family. One of my friends received news from home and told me.”

He continued with an even more disgruntled voice.

“But it turns out all the other guys already knew. They kept it from me because they were afraid I’d be shocked. How could you let me, a family member, be the last to know?”

Hearing his answer, Christine slightly averted her gaze. Daphne stroked Fabian’s cheek and said:

“You know well. It was all for your sake. And you don’t need to forgive him. We broke off the engagement. Good, right?”

“Really?”

When Fabian asked in surprise, Daphne nodded with a bright smile. Fabian then hugged Daphne tightly.

“That’s wonderful. If sister had to marry such a man, I was planning to challenge him to a duel. After all, the dead cannot marry, hehe.”

He spoke of such a terrifying plan with an innocent smile.

Werner was about to mention that although the engagement was broken, she still had to marry Kartun, but he firmly closed his mouth. As the fragile Christine grew restless, Daphne hugged Fabian’s neck tightly, hiding his view, and briefly shook her head at Christine.

Oblivious to all this, Fabian was simply delighted by Daphne’s tight embrace.

At that moment, Lara brought in tea and set it down for everyone.

“I don’t recognize this face. Who is she?”

Fabian asked as if he found her extremely irritating. A look of dismay crossed Lara’s face.

How could she have imagined that this brat who suddenly barged into the chamber would be her future lord’s brother-in-law? If Daphne hadn’t stopped her, she might have broken one of the pretty young master’s arms, and the thought made cold sweat run down her back.