The Impact of the Author’s Intervention on a Blank Page - Chapter 30

Click – the door closed softly. Ja-hyun, who had been taking shallow breaths throughout, slowly opened his eyes, emerging from his meditative state.

Rustling under the blanket, he placed his hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat thumping through the thin skin.

Perhaps his brother felt the same loneliness as him. Even if he couldn’t remember properly, he might feel an inexplicable emptiness without the person who had habitually stayed by his side. He kept wanting to think that way.

It was a serious condition, thinking like this even though his brother had mocked him, lied to him, shown distrust, and avoided meeting him.

There was no need to fret right now since everything would return to normal eventually. If he could just endure three to four months doing quests alone, the penalty on his brother would be lifted too. There was no need to be anxious about having a good relationship with his brother right now…

He knew this logically.

Yet suddenly, he had a thought. Should he just tell him that they were actually secret lovers? That his brother had just forgotten, but he used to treat him well, say he loved him, and even asked to become family in a different sense.

Of course, it was just meaningless daydreaming. While his brother as Grand Duke was somewhat gentle and kind, that was all. Hearing his cold and prickly voice, it was clear such words wouldn’t work at all.

Even if they had been close brothers, hardly anyone would believe and accept such a thing immediately. It was obvious that things would become even more difficult if he was treated as a madman who was lovesick for his own brother.

***

The Grand Duke’s residence was bustling. They seemed to be preparing to welcome that important guest he’d heard about yesterday.

According to the quest content, that guest must be referring to the imperial family member.

[Important Guest Visiting the Grand Duke’s Residence]

[Content: Meet with the royal visitor at the Grand Duke’s residence and activate Plot Detection.]

A member of the imperial family – based on his brother’s future, it must be the First Imperial Successor. Ja-hyun recalled his brother’s future that he’d seen through Plot Detection. That future where his brother becomes the strongest ally of ‘Elai J. Viestra,’ the next Emperor of the Viestra Empire – a warmonger and tyrant who would kill him – only to end up dead himself.

The Imperial Heir, the Small Sun, was quite an important figure. After all, he was one of the reasons for the destruction in the previous timeline.

That warmonger who, after ascending to the throne, would ignite a world war-scale conflict that would turn the continent into a sea of flames. He’d probably need to go to the reception room to meet him, but his brother wouldn’t grant such a request if he asked directly.

If possible, he hoped his brother and that warmonger wouldn’t end up on the same side. But there wasn’t much he could do about it right now.

If he had his original body, he could have perfectly protected his brother from anything – be it the warmonger or world war. Even if he couldn’t prevent the country and world from falling, at least his brother…

No. This contract was about changing the world’s flow anyway. If necessary, he could send his brother back first and handle things alone. And if even that proved difficult, there was always the last resort of giving up and returning.

Ja-hyun looked around and called to the servant who was busy sewing something in a corner of his room.

“Ethan?”

“Yes? Yes, sir!”

The servant, who had been so focused, jumped in surprise, put down what he was fiddling with on the chair, and rushed over. A quick glance revealed he had been embroidering something crooked on a handkerchief. Making a love gift during work hours.

“Sorry, but could you go to the mansion’s basement storage and find a music box for me? I’d like to go myself, but I don’t think I should. It’s about the size of a fist, a black square box with a golden spring. I received it when I was young and put it away, so it’s probably deep down in a box somewhere.”

Of course, it was a lie. Such a thing didn’t exist. It was a made-up story to send the servant away before he left the room.

The basement storage story came from Emily. Ja-hyun hadn’t been to many places in the mansion. Naturally, he had no memories of it. Therefore, he had to learn about the mansion’s structure and surroundings from Emily. He acquired information, albeit incompletely, by asking her to tell old stories or share interesting rumors.

“But then you’ll be alone, young master. There’s no spare staff in the mansion right now.”

“I’m fine. I’ve been doing well for the past few days since taking the medicine. And they said another servant would come soon.”

“Uh, understood…”

Ethan wore a deeply worried expression. But he finally agreed.

“Take your time looking, and don’t hurt yourself rushing. It’s a large, dark place.”

“Yes, I’ll be back.”

As soon as the servant left, Ja-hyun carefully got out of bed. When he approached and opened the wardrobe, he saw a few outdoor clothes. Though not many, they looked extremely high quality.