His Highness’ Secret Accountant

Knock, knock, knock.

Theon, who was looking at the papers, turned his gaze towards the sound.

After knocking on the door, Mason walked in, hesitatingly.

It wasn't a good sign.

Every time there was an unwelcome guest, he made that strange face.

"What is it this time?"

Theon put down the fountain pen he was holding and looked displeased at Mason.

"The Commander is here."

"The Commander?"

Theon frowned quickly.

He never thought he would come see him on his own after doing such a thing.

Rather than wondering what he came to tell him, he was uncomfortable.

An irony that didn't contain any brotherly love, despite them being related by blood.

A messy relationship, in which a woman was tangled in between.

And a recurring vicious cycle.

"Damn it."

Theon said, in a barely audible voice.

"It's just that it's so hard to see you, little brother."

Kyle appeared through the open door.

At the same time, Theon's sharp eyes fixed on Kyle.

A cold energy lingered between the two of them.

Mason closed his mouth tightly and lowered his eyes.

"I don't think I ever allowed you to come inside?"

"What do you mean allow, we're brothers."

Theon snorted at his incomprehensible behavior.

Before long, Kyle sat down and looked around, tapping his finger.

"Give me a cup of tea or something. You can do that, can't you? We're brothers."

Kyle said with a provoking smile.

"I didn't know you drank anything other than alcohol."

"I was thinking of acting dignified… like you. I can't wander the battlefield forever."

Kyle said, raising one corner of his mouth.

As Mason looked at the two of them, he said, ‘The tea…', blurring his words.

"It's fine, so get out."

Kyle snorted and his eyebrows twitched at Theon's sharp voice.

Theon's chin pointed towards the door as if telling Mason, who was hesitating, to leave.

Click.

At the same time, Mason bowed and left the office.

Kyle shrugged and frowned.

A heavy silence filled the office.

After a fairly long time passed, the silence between them was broken by Kyle's voice.

"Your way to treat guests is a mess."

"What is your business?"

"That child isn't here. Ayla, was it?"

Kyle said, cheekily.

Theon, who had been silent, frowned and revealed a displeased look.

"It's none of your business."

"I became interested in that child."

Interest…

It was clear that he had come to mess with his temper.

If not for that, there was no reason to do something meaningless like this.

Kyle's attitude was annoying, as if he was trying to show off what had happened last night.

Seeing that he was revealing his direct feelings for Ayla, maybe he wanted him to get angry.

He had no intention of moving according to Kyle's plan.

Theon's cold gaze turned to Kyle.

"Although her family has fallen, she is the esteemed daughter of the Counts. She's not someone you can easily greet here."

"It looks like the Princess of the Libert Kingdom really hates her. Why don't you put her under my protection now?"

"I don't think I can do that. You see, I really need Ayla."

"A man who is about to get married shouldn't hurt his wife's feelings."

"It's funny that Grand Duke Ermedi said such a thing."

Who was the one who hurt someone more than anyone else?

Theon's sharp voice split the heavy air that surrounded the two of them.

At the same time, Kyle's eyes trembled.

"How can you ignore your older brother's advice like that?"

"It's my problem so I'll take care of it. As I said, it's none of your business."

"You're being arrogant."

Kyle turned his steps towards the door with a fishy smile.

As he looked at him, Kyle's low voice rang in his ears.

"You can't take her away from me this time."

"I never did so."

Turning his body around, Kyle's gaze fixed on Theon.

His brown eyes contained anger and resentment against Theon.

"That's an interesting statement. I lost everything."

"You destroyed it yourself."

"That's right, it's so like you to say that. Acting arrogant as if you knew and understood everything. I've always been disgusted by you."

"…"

"I'm really curious about how long you'll keep acting so proud. Let's stop the small talk here. I'll see you at the engagement ceremony, little brother."

After he finished speaking, Kyle waved his raised hand lightly and said goodbye.

Soon, Kyle disappeared, closing the door with a ‘bang!'.

Ha.

A sigh burst out of Theon's mouth.

At the same time, his gaze turned to his slightly trembling fingers.

"Shit."

He felt somewhat bitter.

The unpleasant feeling seemed to cover his whole body.

Of course, he didn't lose the verbal battle with Kyle.

Though he didn't win either.

His older brother's determined eyes weighed in on his mind.

What else could an incorrigible person do…

From a normal person's point of view, it was unimaginable.

The image of the cold Delia flashed through his mind.

He didn't know how much he resented himself back then, when he was cowardly.

He had to stop it. That man's madness.

Even more so if it had to do with Ayla.

"I must protect her."

He won't repeat the same mistakes anymore. Never.

Theon, who was muttering to himself, shook his head while holding his forehead.

***