Chapter 98
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Volume 3 + Chapter 98: Lia And Wright
This was back when Lia was still very young.
The heir of the Schubert family had fallen into an inexplicable slumber, seemingly unable to wake again.
Thus, the position of heir was left vacant.
As for the previous heir—Lia’s older brother—her impression of him wasn’t particularly favorable.
When her brother walked, his strides were long, and he hardly ever looked at the people around him.
Young Lia had to struggle to keep up with him, practically jogging just to stay by his side.
He never played with her either, focusing solely on his studies.
One day, Lia wanted to spend time with her brother, so she brought her favorite toy and went to find him.
“Big brother, can I play with you for a while…? I’ve already finished today’s lessons,” Lia pleaded, holding out her toy.
Her brother stared at her in silence.
Lia would always remember the look in his eyes—cold, devoid of any warmth, nothing like how an older brother should gaze at his little sister.
“Instead of wasting time on such pointless things, you’d be better off improving yourself,” he said. “We were born into the Schubert family, inherently nobler than others, but that doesn’t mean we can rest easy. On the contrary, it means we bear the future of our family and must strive to repay it.”
“…Yes.”
Lia set down her toy and lowered her head.
She didn’t really understand his words.
But her brother, despite his youth, already spoke with a maturity beyond his years.
The family took great pride in him.
They saw him as their hope—someone who could rival the Frost family’s Knight Princess.
Even the words Lia heard most often from her parents were: When will you become as outstanding as your brother?
Then the accident happened, and the Schubert family lost their prized heir.
Lia had assumed the position would remain vacant, leaving the other children in the family to compete for it.
Until, years later…
On that day, the courtyard was bathed in sunlight, and standing there was a handsome black-haired boy. Unlike the other Schubert children, who carried themselves with an air of solemnity, he was full of vitality, his eyes bright and clear.
At first, Lia thought he was an outsider, but his attire marked him as one of the Schubert children.
Who is he?
While she was still wondering, the boy noticed her, smiled, and walked over to greet her.
“You’re Lia, right? Starting today, I’m your brother.”
“…Brother?”
Lia’s eyes widened.
“Mm! My name is Wright—Wright Schubert. I was adopted by the family head.”
Wright introduced himself cheerfully.
“If anyone ever bullies you, just tell me. No matter how strong they are, I’ll teach them a lesson!”
“Why…?” Lia was puzzled.
“Because protecting my little sister is a brother’s duty!” Wright said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Lia could tell right away—this boy was nothing like her cold, distant older brother.
He was warm, outgoing, and bright like the sun.
Should I… really call him ‘brother’?
“Lia!”
Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice—her father calling for her.
“Excuse me,” Lia said politely before hurrying to her father’s side.
“What is it, Father?”
“Don’t talk to that kind of person,” her father said, his expression dark. “He is not a true child of the Schubert family.”
“But didn’t he say he was adopted? Doesn’t that make him one of us?” Lia asked, confused.
“Lia, all you need to know is that he’s merely a tool—useful to the family for now, which is why he’s allowed here. Otherwise, someone like him would never be worthy of stepping foot in our household.”
Her father patted her head.
“With your brother in his eternal slumber, you are the future heir of the Schubert family. Our next family head. Don’t waste your time on that tool.”
“But—”
Lia wanted to explain that Wright felt different from her brother.
“No ‘buts’! This is an order, Lia!” her father snapped.
Lia could only lower her head.
“…I understand, Father.”
—
From the moment Wright joined the Schubert family, he faced relentless bullying.
After that first conversation, Lia avoided him on her father’s orders.
Yet every time Wright saw her, he would still smile and greet her, even asking if she wanted to play.
Lia almost said yes.
But she didn’t dare—afraid her father would find out.
“Wright, stay away from me. You’re an outsider, with no Schubert blood in you,” Lia said coldly. “I’ll never acknowledge you as my brother. Understand?”
She expected him to be hurt.
But Wright only smiled.
“Seems like Lia’s in a bad mood today. Maybe next time, then.”
Lia couldn’t help but notice how different Wright was from her brother.
His voice was gentle, his smile ever-present, and when they walked together, he matched his pace to hers.
—
Wright changed everyone’s perceptions.
Despite the discrimination and exclusion he faced, he passed the Sword Saint Trials, earning the Holy Sword’s recognition and becoming the Human Sword Saint.
Lia’s father grew even more resentful, convinced that if not for Wright, Lia would undoubtedly be the next heir.
Though she couldn’t show it openly, when Lia saw Wright ascend as the Sword Saint, she couldn’t help but admire him—even secretly calling him “brother” once.
But in the clamor of the crowd, he didn’t seem to hear.
As the Human Sword Saint, Wright brought great honor to the family, elevating the Schubert name to new heights.
Then, the unthinkable happened.
The original heir—Lia’s older brother—miraculously awoke from his slumber.
Overnight, Wright’s position in the family became even more precarious.
Lia didn’t fully grasp what was happening, but one day, she learned that Wright had been assigned an extremely dangerous mission—one that would take him far beyond the borders of the Rhine Kingdom.
This time, it was Wright who sought her out.
“Lia, I couldn’t attend your birthday celebration last time—the family didn’t allow it. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a gift sooner.”
Wright handed her a small box.
“I hope you like it.”
“For me?” Lia was surprised.
“Mm.”
Wright nodded, but his expression was troubled, as if he had made some irrevocable decision.
“Will you come back? Like before, defeating your enemies and returning with honor?”
A bitter smile flickered across Wright’s face before he finally nodded.
“…I will.”
With those words, the Human Sword Saint set down the gift and left the Schubert family.
Lia opened the box to find a four-leaf clover pendant. She loved the design.
She decided then—when Wright returned, she would wear the pendant and call him “brother” properly.
But…
Lia never saw Wright again.
Instead, a fake Human Sword Saint took his place.
“You… liar! You big liar!!”
In a fit of anger, Lia tore off the pendant and hurled it to the ground, shattering it.
Then she cried for what felt like hours.
Yet for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to throw it away.
So she secretly kept it—hidden away, all the way until now.
—
—
—
“Miss Lia? Is something wrong?”
The maid’s voice pulled Lia back to reality.
“Nothing. Continue.”
Lia closed the box containing her memories and tucked it back into the corner of the drawer.
There was no point dwelling on the past.
After all… He’s never coming back.
