The Strongest Brother Lost His Memory

Grandfather flashed a triumphant grin at Julian, whose face was twisted in displeasure. Then, he handed me a large gift box.
“You’re going to love it.”
“Thank you. Can I open it now?”

“Open it right this instant!”
“Yes!”
As soon as I lifted the lid, a radiant pearl necklace shimmered before my eyes.

The pearls were so large that I couldn’t help but gasp.
“Wow!”
“When you visit the sea, of course, you should bring back pearls! What the hell is a seashell bracelet supposed to be? A damn seashell?!”

Grandfather scolded loudly, but his expression was brimming with pride.
He had always liked luxury after achieving success and was never stingy with money.
Despite his rough appearance, he adorned himself with dazzling jewelry, looking every bit like a pirate king.

People often dismissed it as a “nouveau riche flaunting wealth,” but Grandfather earned far more than he spent. The Noart Count Family’s fortune only grew by the day.
So, it wasn’t surprising that he bought me such an expensive piece of jewelry.
“I got it so you could compare and learn! So you’d understand what actually holds value! If it had been a pearl necklace, that bastard Murloc wouldn’t have been able to crush it so easily just by stepping on it!”

At his words, my shoulders slumped.
“I really liked the seashell bracelet too, Grandfather. I was really upset that it broke.”
Grandfather waved his hand dismissively.

“Don’t waste your thoughts on it. It wasn’t even expensive, so I wasn’t interested in it anyway.”
“Oh, I see! Then I’ll cancel my plan to make you a handmade thread bracelet as a thank-you gift. I almost gave you something boring and uninteresting.”
Grandfather immediately exploded in anger.
“How coldhearted! People can change their minds! Why is this kid so ruthless? Huh?!”

“Eek, I’m sorry! From now on, I’ll be a precocious child who instantly recognizes when adults refuse gifts out of pride and acts accordingly.”
During our exchange, the meal was served.
Grandfather announced that he would arrange proper tutors for Julian.

After all, he needed to receive at least a basic education.
“When you first came here, you were nineteen, about to become an adult, and insisted you’d handle everything on your own.”
Grandfather spoke in a low voice, looking at Julian.

“But now, take this chance to learn the fundamentals properly from excellent teachers. Since you’re too old to attend the academy for nobles.”
Wow.
I stared at Grandfather in awe, my mouth slightly open.

“I’ve always regretted bringing you in so late, but this isn’t bad either. Of course, your body is twenty-four, but don’t be impatient. In the long run, this will be better.”
Even though their earlier tension had been palpable, Grandfather still planned to take care of “dumb brute Julian.”
“Yes, I understand.”

Julian answered readily.
“I’m not in a rush.”
Ah, how touching.

So their relationship was good after all.
I clasped my hands together in joy, only for Julian to suddenly burst into laughter.
“Well, I am a genius! Hahaha! You saw my magic stone investment, right? Hahaha! If I was that good without structured learning, imagine how unstoppable I’ll be once I actually study properly!”

Hmm… This was getting a little embarrassing…
“I even improved my table manners a lot, didn’t I?”
Now that he mentioned it, Julian’s etiquette had improved significantly during the meal.

“Exactly! Which is why Rosie didn’t need to sit next to you anymore!”
Grandfather replied smugly.
And Julian, as if realizing something, muttered, “I was lacking…”

“Lacking? That’s putting it lightly, you bastard!”
Grandfather roared again.
“Why the hell did you hand over your seal so carelessly for the engagement documents?! Are you insane?!”

He sighed heavily, rubbing his temples as if this was giving him a headache.
“When you get your memory back, you’ll probably chop off your own damn hand for signing that contract!”
“Grandfather!”

I immediately clenched my fists and declared,
“That’s because I tricked him into signing while he was half-asleep! It’s not my brother’s fault!”
Julian wasn’t about to back down either.

“Oh, come on! She did it to impress you! She’s connecting the family to the Duchy for you!”
The atmosphere between them soured instantly.
‘This won’t do. I need to settle this once and for all.’

I shouted between the two growling men.
“Enough!”
Grandfather and Julian both shut their mouths. Taking a deep breath, I spoke firmly.

“I want to be engaged to the Duke of Dyfenril. I’m serious.”
I locked eyes with them and made my stance clear.
“My goal is to stake my claim early, make sure no one else touches him, and then smoothly get married once we’re both adults.”

“What? But why?”
Grandfather asked, looking completely baffled.
“The Dyfenril Duchy? It’s not all that great. After the previous Duke and Duchess passed, the relatives drained their wealth. Their fortune is nothing special now. If we squeezed every bit out of it, Noart probably has more.”

Julian, having somehow ended up on Grandfather’s side, chimed in.
“Brat, even if I lost my memories, I’m still a genius. You need connections? Just wait a little. I’ll crush everything and protect you myself. Why are you so fixated on marrying some Dyfenril brat you’ve never even met?”
Hmm.

I couldn’t tell them that Zahid had once saved me.
And there was no way I could admit that I had liked Zahid.
At this point in time, Zahid and I had no connection at all.

So in the end, the only thing I could say was…
“I fell in love at first sight. It felt like fate.”
Grandfather and Julian froze on the spot.

“I saw his picture in the newspaper. He was incredibly handsome. So I just had to get engaged to him.”
I rolled my eyes, recalling the way the maids whispered about their ideal husbands. Resolutely, I added,
“I want him.”

Clatter.
Both Grandfather and Julian dropped their forks at the same time.
“So, with that in mind, I’m planning to personally visit the Dyfenril Duchy soon.”

I widened my eyes, making my stance clear.
And then, I delivered the most terrifying threat I could muster.
“If you try to stop me… I won’t make you a thread bracelet.”

Grandfather’s eyes widened in pure shock.
While he remained speechless, Julian slammed the table and shouted,
“I! I’m going to stop you! I’ll do whatever it takes to stop you!”

“Oh, Brother, that doesn’t matter.”
I smiled sweetly.
“You don’t know anything, and you don’t have anything, so you don’t even have a way to stop me.”

“You little—!”
In the end, Grandfather trembled with frustration. That night, after a long discussion with Julian, he sent me a few books.
Titles like The Dangers of Superficiality and Let’s Become Children Who See Inner Qualities filled the pile.

At the very least, I was relieved to see the two of them bonding again.
And so, a few days later.
The day of the Senate meeting to decide Zahid’s fifth fiancée arrived.

Technically, Zahid himself didn’t need to attend.
The Senate would finalize their decision and send him an official letter with the result.
But I prepared myself and decided to go to the Dyfenril estate in person.

And I chose Ethan and Shulva to accompany me.
“I have to go too! I’m coming! I need to see that bastard’s face at least once!”
Julian threw a fit, still leaning on his crutches. But I simply smiled and said,

“Brother, you have lessons. Your schedule is packed, isn’t it?”
“Damn it! Then you should come to class too! You need to get smarter too! Isn’t what you’re learning now not enough?”
“Well, I’m still young enough to attend a noble academy. Unlike you, I don’t have to spend all day studying.”

“You brat! You used to say just looking at my handsome face was entertaining! What happened to that?!”
“Ohhh.”
I shook my head with a pitying look.

“Sorry, Brother. These days, I’m trying to become a child who values inner qualities. I’m working on overcoming the dangers of superficiality.”
“You little—!”
“Wow, this carriage is nice. The windows are big. Ah, please don’t close the curtains. I like the sunlight.”

I patted Julian’s shoulder with a grin.
“Well then, Brother, I’m off to claim my beautiful man.”
And with that, I boarded the carriage bound for the Dyfenril estate.

“Damn it! That guy probably looks better in pictures! It’s all photo magic! Photo magic, I tell you!”
Julian screamed curses at the carriage until we were out of sight.