After Brother Rubert apologized to her, they occasionally talked in the library.

This was because they didn’t want other brothers or Leila to find out about their good relationship. 

 She told her brother it was because suddenly showing they were close might make others view it strangely, but in truth, she had a different purpose.

Bershua, who wasn’t even worthy of being called brother, thought very little of Brother Rubert.

Since he was someone who couldn’t even imagine Brother Rubert betraying him, if they just didn’t show that he had become close to her, she could get a lot of information through him. 

 She couldn’t miss that opportunity. 

 And at some point, Brother Rubert seemed to understand her intention and began sharing stories he heard from others with her.

Until now, they weren’t particularly important stories.

Just things like how Leila liked Young Duke Posilia, how Bershua couldn’t get grades good enough to be called top tier at the academy because he was outperformed by someone from some family, how Rembro got scolded by Father for this and that.

And today, her efforts of waiting for important information to flow seemed to finally bear fruit. 

 “Did you perhaps say you don’t like Young Duke Posilia?” 

 Hearing her brother’s words, she tilted her head. 

 “This morning, did you say you hate Young Duke Posilia?” 

 Hearing his words, she shook her head.

She had said she didn’t like Young Duke Posilia, but never said she hated him. 

 When she looked at her brother with a confused expression, he soon calmed down and began explaining what happened calmly. 

 “So, Young Duke Posilia came to our marquis mansion this morning. Did you know that?” 

She shook her head at his words.

 “I thought so. It seems Father didn’t want you to have contact with outsiders since there isn’t much time left until you enter the imperial palace. Young Duke Posilia believes you’re not in this mansion right now.” 

 Was his visit to the marquis mansion important enough to make him look for her so urgently? 

 “And, it seems Leila approached him.” 

 Hearing those words, her mind began working quickly. 

 Ah, in her previous life too, Leila often played tricks with communication stones. 

 She realized she had underestimated Leila too much.

As soon as she heard Brother Rubert’s words, she became certain that her conversation with Leila had been transmitted directly to Young Duke Posilia through the communication stone. 

 “Leila confessed her feelings to Young Duke Posilia, but it seems he rejected her.” 

 Ah…… now that she thought about it, something similar happened in her previous life. 

 Because she only remembered the major events from her previous life, she had completely forgotten about other matters related to Young Duke Posilia except for how Leila became famous in noble society when they started dating. 

 “So…… it seems Leila made some kind of proposal.” 

 ……Proposal? 

 “That you currently dislike Young Duke Posilia. So it seems Leila offered to help him gain your favor.” 

 At Brother Rubert’s words, she tilted her head. 

 What is this about?

In her previous life, didn’t Young Duke Posilia naturally fall in love with Leila who comforted him after realizing she had no interest in him? 

 “It seems when Young Duke Posilia heard that, he asked her to prove that you dislike him. So this morning……”

“She came to see me this morning, and our conversation flowed into Young Duke Posilia’s ears through the communication stone.” 

 At her words, her brother seemed to look at her with surprised eyes before nodding. 

 “So, did Young Duke Posilia join hands with Leila?” 

 At her words, Brother Rubert shook his head. 

 “When Leila asked if he heard you say you hated Young Duke Posilia, he countered that you never said you hated him.” 

 Right.

She had said let’s say she didn’t like Young Duke Posilia, but never said she hated him. 

 “Leila tried to persuade him that not liking someone is the same as hating them and asked to join hands with her. So the young duke said he would think about Leila’s plan and returned to the ducal mansion.” 

 Hearing those words, she let out a sigh of relief.

But at the same time, she was worried. 

 Because her feelings of not liking Young Duke Posilia hadn’t changed. 

 “Brother. Do you perhaps know what that plan Leila mentioned is?” 

 Her brother shook his head. 

 “I asked Leila too, but she wouldn’t answer what the plan was until the end.” 

 ……No way.

After hearing her brother’s words, one possibility flashed through her mind. 

 Could that plan that Leila wouldn’t tell even the brothers who cared for her actually be Leila’s scheme to push Young Duke Posilia into the pit of love? 

 “I don’t know what the plan is, but if Leila joins hands with Young Duke Posilia, Father will take Leila’s side in everything from now on.” 

She nodded at his words.

Her brother was looking at her with anxious eyes. 

 From the moment Brother Rubert started having favorable feelings toward her, as if proving the god’s words from before were right, Brother Rubert began feeling antipathy toward Leila.

The difference from others was that his antipathy toward Leila wasn’t due to the god’s unconditional mischief.

Brother Rubert was someone who decided to lend her his strength after doubting Leila and the other siblings on his own. 

 So while hiding his relationship with her and pretending to get along well with them, he realized that Leila wasn’t just a purely kind child. 

 「I didn’t notice before, but it seems Leila often makes subtly dismissive remarks about you.」

「Something I’ve realized lately…… no, why didn’t I notice this all this time?」

At first, Brother Rubert who blamed himself for being so ignorant volunteered more earnestly to be her informant out of that guilt. 

 And what she realized while having various conversations with her brother was that Brother Rubert wasn’t actually a reticent person.

Brother Rubert, who had been the quietest among the three siblings, wasn’t naturally quiet but had been unable to speak because he was overshadowed by the other brothers.

Whether speaking with her had opened him up, these days he would promptly answer Father’s words at dinner time and earn Father’s favor. 

 She thought while watching Brother Rubert who was laying out lots of talk about what to do from now on in front of her.

That having an ally among this damned family wasn’t so bad after all. 

 “Hmm…… it should be fine for now.” 

 At her words, Brother Rubert still looked at her unable to hide his anxiety.

But she was confident.

“Though you might not know brother, until now Leila’s actions in front of Young Duke Posilia…… haven’t been actions that would earn his favor. Anyway, I can’t go outside the mansion right now because of Father……” 

 That’s right.

Father hasn’t let her leave the mansion for weeks, saying he doesn’t want to create any unnecessary problems before entering the imperial palace. 

 This is really excessive. 

 “After returning from the imperial palace, I’ll visit the Posilia ducal mansion using Grace as an excuse and try to clear up any misunderstandings. Well, that’s if there are any misunderstandings.” 

 Young Duke Posilia is quite intelligent.

Given her actions until now, would he really think she hates him? 

 And she thinks the young duke would also know that she isn’t someone who would fall for schemes. 

 “But……”

“It would be strange for you to go and explain to the young duke too, brother. Could you let me know if you hear anything more from Leila just in case?” 

 Hearing her words, Brother Rubert nodded.

Then, as if he had something to say, he watched her carefully before softly calling her name. 

 “Rowenloa……” 

 She looked at him strangely while answering. 

 “Yes?”

“Um…… that is……” 

 Her brother couldn’t finish his words for a while and was busy fidgeting with his hands while watching her reaction.

Then he would occasionally look back to check if there were any signs of people outside the door. 

 Ah, could it be. 

 Just in case, she opened the door to confirm no one was outside before sitting back down in front of her brother. 

 “There’s no one outside. What’s wrong?” 

 Then Brother Rubert took a deep breath, and spoke to her with more determined eyes than before. 

 “I’ve decided to become the head.”