The Villainous Noble Son Wants to Capture His Stepsister! - Chapter 32

“Lord Kraut, read this book next!”

“No, it’s my turn first!”

“Loooord Kraaaaut!”

“Okay, okay! But seriously, I am not getting buried a third time!”

Having been crushed twice already today, I wasn’t about to let it happen a third time.
At this rate, even a healing potion wouldn’t be enough to bring me back.

Right now, I was surrounded by children begging me to read them stories.
Books in this world were luxury items, since printing technology wasn’t widely developed—meaning everything had to be handwritten to be copied.

Even so, this orphanage had a modest collection of books.
Being able to read and write was a huge advantage in a world where literacy rates weren’t exactly high.

There were fairy tales, biographies, and even practical guides.
And then, suddenly, I spotted something I absolutely should not have seen.

…Why is there a risqué book in here!?

“Alright, let’s start with the book you’re holding, okay?”
“Everyone else, wait your turn.”

“Okaaay!”

The kids were well-behaved, at least when it came to taking turns.
So why do they always try to crush me whenever they get the chance!?

With a sigh, I took the book from a boy about five or six years old and sat down on a chair.

The boy then climbed onto my lap as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Adorable.

But… the other kids’ envious stares were starting to concern me.

Yep, I can see where this is going.
It’s the “if one sits on his lap, everyone has to” rule.

I braced myself for a future of numb legs as I opened the book.

◇

Yep. Called it.

I’ve lost count of how many books I’ve read now.
But I definitely stopped feeling my legs somewhere around the third child.

I mean, I’m still in my early teens, so my legs aren’t exactly built for endurance.
Right now, I’m basically a newborn fawn, wobbling and trembling under the weight of so many children.

“Are you alright, Master?”

“Stop trying to poke my legs while asking that.”

My so-called “dedicated maid” had finally decided to check on me…
But instead of helping, she was attempting to poke my numb legs for fun.

Where was this concern when I was getting buried alive earlier?

“You’re quite skilled at reading aloud, Master. The way you voice different characters is very convincing.”

“Ah… well… haha… I guess.”

I can’t tell her.

I absolutely cannot tell her.

That my “voice acting skills” were developed from years of acting out manga and light novel dialogues in my past life.

I may have been twenty years old back then,
but deep down…

I was still a middle schooler at heart.

Some things should never be revealed.
And this is definitely going to the grave with me.

Again.

In this world, theater existed, but it was mostly an elite pastime—out of reach for commoners.
So naturally, people weren’t used to hearing distinct character voices in storytelling.

I’d love to summon one of those voice actors who can play fifty different roles just to see everyone’s reactions.

“Phew… I think I can finally feel my legs again.”

“Tch.”

“Excuse me!?”

Did my maid just click her tongue at my recovery!?
She was 100% disappointed that I didn’t collapse!

Honestly, Helio isn’t very maid-like at all.
But… that’s what makes talking to her so comfortable.

And actually…

If I were going to ask someone for advice, she was probably the best choice.

“Hey, Helio.”

“Yes?”

“How… should I treat Primelia?”

“…Excuse me?”

Helio blinked, genuinely taken aback.

I guess this was the first time I’d ever openly voiced my struggles like this.

“I mean… there’s a lot on my mind. If I’m being honest, I know what I’m doing isn’t right.
A brother who can only get his sister’s attention by buying her gifts… That’s not healthy, is it?”

“No. It’s not.”

“You didn’t even hesitate.”

“Because it’s the truth.”

Silence filled the space between us.
In the distance, I could hear the laughter of the children playing outside.

Then, without even thinking—

“…I’m scared.”

The words slipped out so naturally, I barely realized I had said them.

Helio’s sharp eyes studied me carefully, as if trying to read my soul.

But I couldn’t stop now.

Because if I didn’t say it out loud, I’d just keep running from it.

“Primelia… has suffered a lot.
And I don’t want her to go through that ever again.
That’s why I always want to be there for her.
To protect her.”

“…”

“But if I push too hard, I might make her feel… trapped.
Like I’m not giving her room to breathe.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

“At this point, I don’t even know what’s ‘right’ anymore.”

I had tried to become the ideal older brother.
The perfect guardian for her.

But was that really what she wanted?

Or was I just forcing my own idea of ‘family’ onto her?

Helio closed her eyes for a moment before speaking.

“Master, you are overthinking things.”

“Huh?”

“There is no ‘correct’ way to be an older brother.
No rulebook for how you should act.
Relationships are built over time.”

She looked at me directly—her usual teasing gone, replaced with calm certainty.

“You are thinking about Primelia’s happiness.
That alone makes you a better brother than most.”

I was stunned.

I had been so caught up in my own head, worrying about every little thing,
that I never stopped to realize…

Maybe… I wasn’t failing as badly as I thought.

“Master.”

“Yeah?”

“But if you really want my advice…”

“Yeah?”

“Stop acting like an idiot and just talk to her directly.”

“…”

…She cut straight through my nonsense like a katana.

Yeah. I should have expected that from my maid.

A piercing scream split through the air, shattering the fragile moment of clarity I had just gained.

“That was—!”

Heliotrope and I snapped our heads toward the direction of the voice.

Primelia.

I knew that voice anywhere.

Before I could think, my body had already moved.

I ran full speed toward the source of the scream, weaving through the orphanage courtyard.

Just minutes ago, she had been smiling, talking with the other girls, maybe even laughing for the first time in a long while.

And now—

“Primelia!!”

I burst into the clearing—

Only to see her trembling, backed up against a tree, her face pale with fear.

“Step away from her.”

My voice was sharp, cold, commanding—the voice I used when I meant absolute business.

The man standing before her flinched at my words but did not move.

He was thin, his clothes worn and ragged, but his eyes were wild and desperate.

And in his shaking hands—

A knife gleamed under the dimming sunlight.

◇

A robbery? A kidnapping attempt?

No, that didn’t fit.

He was too panicked, too erratic—he wasn’t here because he had planned this.

This was desperation.

“Who are you?”

I kept my stance calm but ready, subtly shifting my weight to react at any moment.

“Stay out of this, boy!”

His voice cracked, his grip on the knife unsteady.

He wasn’t a trained fighter—but a cornered man was still dangerous.

I needed to de-escalate this fast.

“I don’t think you understand where you are.”

My voice dropped, and his expression flickered with unease.

“This is the orphanage under my protection.”

I took a slow step forward.

“You’re pointing that at my sister.”

His eyes darted between me and Primelia, then to the surrounding area.
He was looking for an escape route.

Which meant I still had a chance to end this without bloodshed.

“What do you want?”

For a moment, the man hesitated, his hand gripping the knife so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Then, finally—

“Food.”

He choked out the word, his body tense, his breathing ragged.

“I… I just wanted some food! I heard this place was giving food to orphans! My kids are starving!”

…Ah.

There it is.

Not a common thug.

Not a deliberate criminal.

Just another casualty of the corruption I’ve been trying to uproot.

But that doesn’t change the fact that he just scared the hell out of Primelia.

◇

I let out a slow breath, making sure my voice stayed even and controlled.

“Heliotrope.”

She immediately stepped forward, her usual smirk replaced with a look of deadly focus.

“Yes, my Lord?”

“Disarm him.”

She didn’t hesitate.

In one swift motion, she closed the distance, her foot striking the man’s wrist with precise force.

The knife went flying, clattering harmlessly to the ground.

Before he could react, she twisted his arm behind his back and forced him to his knees.

It was clean, efficient, and terrifyingly fast.

Heliotrope wasn’t just a maid.

She was my sword.

And I had just unsheathed her.

“You don’t get to threaten people and walk away like nothing happened.”

I stepped closer, looming over him.

“But if what you said is true… Then I will handle it.”

The man’s breath shuddered, his body tensed as if expecting a death sentence.

Instead, I turned to Kizaris, who had arrived moments ago with the other orphanage workers, shocked and pale.

“Give this man’s family food and shelter for the night.”

The entire orphanage fell silent.

Even the man froze, as if he had misheard me.

“W-what…?”

His voice was barely above a whisper.

“You threatened my sister, and for that, you’re lucky I’m not dragging you to the city guards.”

“But I won’t let your children starve.”

“We protect people here. Even fools who make mistakes.”

Kizaris hesitated for only a second before nodding.

“Understood, Lord Kraut.”

She signaled to a few workers, who quickly moved to escort the man away.

Heliotrope released her grip on him just enough for him to stand, but not without one final warning.

“If you pull a knife on him again…”

Her fingers brushed the blade at her hip, her voice like silk wrapped around steel.

“I won’t just disarm you next time.”

The man swallowed hard.

He understood.

And then he was gone, led away by the staff.

◇

A small, shaky voice broke the lingering tension.

“C-clraut… sa…”

I whipped around.

Primelia still stood frozen, her hands clutching at her dress.

Her lips trembled, her eyes still wide with fear.

Damn it.

I should have gone to her first.

I closed the distance between us in two steps and gently rested a hand on her shoulder.

“You’re safe now, Primelia.”

The second the words left my mouth—

She collapsed forward, burying herself against my chest.

“I-I was so scared…!”

I felt a shudder run through her body as she clung to me.

I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close.

She was small, fragile in my embrace, and it made my chest tighten with the weight of it all.

“I know.”

My voice was gentle, steady—the only thing I could offer.

“It’s okay. He’s gone. You’re safe.”

Her fingers gripped my coat tightly.

And then—

Soft, muffled words barely reached my ears.

“…Thank you…

…Nii-sama.”

I froze.

My mind short-circuited.

Did she just—?

“…What did you just call me?”

Primelia stiffened in my arms.

Then, realizing what she had said, her face turned beet red.

“I-I d-didn’t—!!”

She tried to pull away, but I wasn’t letting go that easily.

I couldn’t help myself.

A stupid grin spread across my face.

“One more time.”

“N-no!”

“C’mon, say it again. Just once.”

“I WON’T!”

As my adorable little sister tried to escape,
Heliotrope let out a dramatic sigh behind me.

“So, after all that, this is where we ended up.”

…Yeah.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.