Mommy Villainess-Chapter 416: A Brother’s Jealousy

"ARE YOU trying to steal my father from me?"

Winter blinked rapidly. "Where did you get that idea, my lord?"

To be honest, he didn’t like where the conversation was headed.

After all, it already happened in the past.

Winter and Julian had already had this kind of conversation.

I can’t believe it’s happening again.

"My father isn’t a kind person, Winter."

"That’s not true, young lord. The lord is kind..."

Winter didn’t get to finish defending his father because Julian glared at him.

Oh, I should have just kept my mouth shut.

"You’re talking as if you already knew my father more than I do," Julian said in an eerily calm voice. But despite the "calmness," the bitterness in his tone was also clear. "But maybe you do. After all, my father talked to you more in the few days that you were here than he talked to me for the last few years."

Oh, darn.

Winter couldn’t really deny it since he knew that his father was awful to Julian in the past.

And he could also see why his brother would feel awful.

It’s true that our father is lenient to a peasant like me...

"Are you acting brave because you can see the future?" Julian asked bitterly. "Have you already seen how much you’d get closer to my father? Enough for him to treat you like you were his own son?"

Hmm?

There was something wrong with Julian.

Winter started to get worried when he noticed that his older brother was starting to breathe heavily.

In fact, Julian was now clutching his chest tightly.

And then he remembered something.

I think Julian is weak in his past life...

"Young lord, please calm down," Winter said, panicking when he noticed that Julian was as pale as a sheet now. "I’m not trying to steal the lord’s affection from you, young lord. I’m only here to protect your little family."

Oops.

I said too much.

"Protect my family?" Julian asked, knitting his eyebrows. "From who? From what?"

Should I just give him a hint?

"From the would-be tyrant..."

Winter only said that in a whisper, testing the waters.

But the consequence was too much.

He felt his throat get itchy, and then he suddenly coughed up blood.

Which was strange because it didn’t happen when he talked about his mother. And, so, that was how he ended up with a plausible conclusion.

Oh, so I can’t talk about Aku Moonchester.

"Are you alright, Winter?"

Winter lifted his head to assure Julian that he was fine.

But when Julian tried to take a step forward, the young lord suddenly fainted.

"Brother!"

His loud voice seemed to catch the attention of the attendants and guards outside.

Winter also belatedly realized that Julian actually put a barrier in the room earlier, probably to keep their conversation private.

But that barrier disappeared when Julian fainted.

And, now...

I’ll get accused of hurting Brother Julian at this rate.

So, Winter did something crazy: he knocked himself out and pretended to faint as well.

***

"DID YOU two fight?"

Oh, no.

As soon as Winter regained consciousness, he quickly opened his eyes.

And that proved to be a wrong move because he was greeted by his father’s solemn face.

It seemed like his father had been waiting at the side of his bed for some time now.

Why is he here instead of Brother Julian’s room?

Winter, confused and slightly upset, closed his eyes again— hoping that his father would let it slide this time.

"Open your eyes if you don’t want to get punished."

Winter immediately opened his eyes. "I’m awake, my lord."

"I can tell."

Winter tried to get up because he thought it would be rude to continue lying down on the bed when the lord was talking to him.

But his father just pushed him down on the bed gently.

"Don’t move yet," his father said firmly. "You need to rest more."

"But I already feel fine, my lord."

"Are you a doctor?"

"No..."

"Then keep your mouth shut."

Winter acted like he was zipping up his mouth while nodding.

But he couldn’t stand the silence for long.

Especially when something was bothering her.

"My lord, how is the young lord?"

"Julian is being taken good care of by the physician," his father said casually. "Julian has a poor constitution, so fainting isn’t new. His physician knows what to do."

"But you’re his father, my lord. Young Lord Julian is still young, so he’d appreciate it if you stay by his side."

"I don’t want to."

What?

Winter was extremely shocked by what his father said.

I expected him to at least make an excuse as to why he couldn’t stay beside Brother Julian...

"What do you mean by you don’t want to, my lord? Young Lord Julian is your one and only son..."

His father fell silent for a moment before he opened his mouth. "Julian is more of a Moonchester than I am. Whenever I look at him, I see my brother in him. And that makes me want to hate Julian. But I don’t want to feel that way towards my own son, so I decided to just avoid him as much as possible."

Oh.

Winter felt a pang in his chest when his father opened up to him.

His heart hurt for Julian.

My poor brother...

"To be honest, I feel closer to you," his father said softly while looking at Winter with warm eyes. "I don’t know why, but I see my wife in you, child."

Haaah.

Winter couldn’t believe it.

Now I understand why Brother Julian hated me in the past— I deserve all that hate.

This craziness had to end.

"Child, are you alright?"

"No, I’m not alright, my lord," Winter said, his voice cracking a little. "My lord, I’ll attend the king’s banquet."

Then I’ll kill Aku Moonchester— this madness has to end, no matter what.

***

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