The Strongest Brother Lost His Memory
Chapter 91

* * *

The next morning, at breakfast.

“Oh, heavens!”

As soon as the newspaper arrived during dessert, Felide caused a stir.

“Chloe, you were right! You were right! Good heavens!”

Pointing at the newspaper headline, Felide nearly bounced in place.

“Father, when I brought Chloe yesterday, she told me to immediately pull out all my investments from iron ore. And look at this now.”

The headline on the newspaper read in large letters: “Iron Ore Prices Plummet”.

It was the fallout of the Temple drastically cutting its consumption of iron ore.

“If it weren’t for Chloe, we would’ve been in huge trouble. Dear, how on earth did you know this?”

“I just analyzed it, Father,”

Chloe replied with a graceful smile.

“Analyzing the supply and demand of various resources... it’s my hobby. Ah, I heard the former Duke of Dyfenril was talented in this field. Lord Zahid, is that true?”

Of course, I interjected, raising my hand to my lips.

“...You’re so mean... Why bring up his deceased parents...”

It was so obvious she was aiming for Zahid, and I couldn’t bear to watch the two of them talk.

Anyway, that sort of thing didn’t end in just one day.

“My goodness, Chloe. You’re amazing. Count Okaid has gone bankrupt! It’s a good thing we didn’t co-sign his loan that time.”

In just three days, Chloe’s achievements kept piling up by the day.

Even Murlock and Roystan were left blinking blankly with their mouths hanging open.

“Father, look at this. It’s Chloe’s investment report. She’s even gathered information on trends from distant foreign countries. Isn’t she a truly precious granddaughter?”

“A vassal from the Idra Duchy moved there, you see. If I make a request, I can receive information that others can’t easily access.”

Every morning at breakfast, Chloe’s achievements sparkled like gemstones.

“Well...”

Chloe sipped her tea with an elegant motion and said,

“It’s quite different in quality from someone who just throws all their money into mana stones based on random hearsay, without any proper basis.”

But Chloe wasn’t just stacking up achievements at the mansion.

She was also working very hard to tear me down.

“Hehe.”

So I responded with a smile.

“I’m really happy...”

“What?”

“I’m just glad that my investments are even being compared to yours—someone who received a noble’s elite education.”

Not that it made my hurt feelings disappear, but at least I felt a little better.

“At least for now I’ve earned more, so there’s something to compare. But if you end up making more than me, then there won’t be anything left to compare, right?”

I smiled gently as I said it.

“Keep it up, Chloe! For reference, I profited more than 137 billion gold, tripling my investment.”

“......”

Well, no matter how hard she tried, matching that would be no easy feat.

‘What is her deal, really? Is she truly Felide’s daughter? Then why didn’t anything like this happen before regression? This really feels more like some kind of conspiracy...’

Since I had no clue, the uncertainty gnawed at me.

In any case, Chloe was spending her days working incredibly hard.

She even became quite aggressive toward Zahid.

“Zahid, Zahid! Where are you? Can we talk about managing the Duchy?”

She followed him around endlessly, pestering him.

“I’ve learned a lot from the Duchy, so I’m sure I can help. More than Rosie, who doesn’t know anything.”

As someone from the household of his fiancée, Zahid couldn’t treat her carelessly—but even he had begun to actively avoid her.

He even went so far as to track Chloe’s movements and hide in secluded parts of the garden.

Of course, I followed him. The places he hid were usually remote and unfrequented, which made them perfect.

“I’m... going back right after your birthday party.”

Zahid said sulkily, his face looking haggard.

“Aww. But I’ll miss you.”

I crouched next to him and spoke with disappointment.

“Then you come to me.”

Zahid turned his head, grumbling.

“I have to keep dealing with all this nonsense while I’m here.”

“What, what’s so bad about this.”

We were both crouched with our knees up, squeezed into a narrow space behind the fountain in the conservatory.

“I feel like we’re having a secret romance or something. I love it.”

“Oh, come on! How can it be a secret romance when we’re engaged?”

“That’s what makes it fun. Everything’s fun when I’m with you. My heart flutters.”

At my words, Zahid sighed deeply.

Then, fiddling with his ring, his ears now red, he suddenly asked:

“You... what would you do if I really said we should break off the engagement later?”

“Hm...”

“You’ve... you’ve thought about that before, haven’t you?”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“Of course. I definitely have.”

I wiggled my fingers and added,

“Would you go to Lady Linna Idra, maybe?”

“What? Where’s that coming from?”

“Just... At the Academy, Ray said it, remember? That you should marry Linna and swallow up the Idra Duchy instead.”

“Well, Ray’s the one who resonated with a Divine Beast now, so tell him to do that.”

Zahid replied sulkily.

“I seriously, absolutely hate anyone who’s connected to the Temple in any way.”

“Wow, harsh words in front of an apprentice.”

“Ap—Apprentice is different!”

Zahid flailed, waving both hands in a panic. Then quickly added,

“I mean, that’s like... an extremely mild connection... That much is fine!”

“Oh, so I’m okay because I’m not worth worrying about.”

I shrugged once and looked off into the distance.

“Well, whatever the reason... if you did break off the engagement... I’d have to accept it and move on.”

“...What?”

“I mean, how can someone’s heart be controlled by mine alone? I’d accept my failed love and move on cleanly.”

That was how I really felt.

If you didn’t accept failure, you’d just end up a pathetic adult. And I wanted to grow into an adult with sound values.

“Maybe someday I’ll meet someone better than you. But why do you look like that?”

“......”

“I said only reasonable things, didn’t I?”

Zahid looked very displeased with my wise future plans.

“...You’re seriously... going to move on cleanly? Just like that?”

“Eh, if I’m going to forget you anyway, there’s no need to do it messily.”

“Be honest. That’s really everything you’d feel?”

I blinked and answered dejectedly.

“Well, of course... while I’m married to someone else, raising a daughter and son and living a happy life, I hope you never get involved with any other woman for the rest of your life, that you stay locked away in ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) the Dyfenril Duchy, never showing that perfect body of yours to anyone, grow old alone and die in solitude, buried in a grave as utterly alone as you lived. And that the Dyfenril bloodline ends with you and disappears into the pages of history...”

“Okay, okay. I think that’s enough honesty.”

Zahid sighed deeply and held his forehead.

“Lady Rosie! Lady Rosie!”

A voice called me urgently from the conservatory entrance.

It was Heidi.

“Lady Rosie! It’s an emergency!”

I sprang up from my crouched position.

Heidi spotted me and rushed over in a panic.

“You have to go to your room right away. Hurry!”

* * *

My room, “Flora.”

Said to be the room my mother once used. A very fine room.

It happened just as I ran up to the door with Heidi.

Behind us, Fire and Zahid followed.

“One moment, Your Grace.”

Monica had appeared out of nowhere and blocked Zahid’s path.

“This is a family matter.”

Monica shook her head, her blue eyes gleaming.

“I don’t wish to show such a private disgrace of our household to Your Grace. I’m sure Rosie feels the same.”

At those words, I stepped forward with a sharp expression.

“No, Aunt. A husband and wife are undeniably family.”

“...You two aren’t married yet, though.”

“Oh my, you caught that...”

“In any case, Your Grace, would you join me for some tea instead?”

Monica looked at Zahid with an earnest expression.

“Please, I’d love to hear how Theo is doing. How is he at the Academy? I haven’t been able to get in touch with him lately.”

Zahid furrowed his brow but remained silent.

She’d said please, so if he pushed back further, it could be seen as insulting the Count’s family.

I made a small gesture telling him to go ahead.

Seeing my signal, Zahid muttered reluctantly,

“...I’ll be back soon.”

And so, he turned around with a displeased look and walked off with Monica.