The unexpected encounter initially made me happy, but learning about my brother's miserable life as a result of my death, replaced that feeling with guilt.

"I'm sorry, brother..." I whispered as I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close as tears continued to fall from his eyes until his whole face was red and swollen.

He returned my hug tightly and shook his head. "I'm happy... I'm also relieved to see you... alive and talking to me. I thought I would never see you again... I'm sorry I couldn't do anything about your death... I'm sorry..."

Sigh... Here, the one who suffers is him. He shouldn't apologize to the cause of his life's problems.

"Brother, I should be the one apologizing. If I hadn't gone on the study tour or been more careful, you and our parents wouldn't have experienced something like that. I was the wrong one."

As if he didn't hear what I said, he repeated the words sorry. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, making me feel his tears still dripping freely.

I gently stroked his back, just like I used to in the old world. I remained silent, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to overflow.

I glanced at Damarius, who was standing quietly beside me. When our gazes met, he averted his gaze, took a book out of thin air, and read it, trying to dispel his presence.

I, who wanted to cry, now feel funny.

He's so awkward...

As time passed, my brother's sobs gradually quieted down, along with his increasing weight. This made me put one leg back to push my body forward so as not to fall.

His slow and steady breathing made me suspect that he was asleep. "...Brother?"

There was no answer, proving that my suspicions were correct.

I sighed and looked at Damarius, who was still focused on his book. "Dariu- I mean- Damarius, can you help me?" I asked, a little overwhelmed.

He put his book away and looked at me, then glanced at my brother.

He snapped his fingers, and just like that, my brother vanished. The weight I felt lifted, making me stumble forward, almost falling. But Damarius' hand quickly reached out and grabbed my shoulder from the front. "Just call me Darius," he said.

...

Well...

I straightened my body and looked at Damarius awkwardly. "Alright... Thanks."

Damarius pulled out a pocket watch and checked the time. "The sun will come out soon."

I looked up at the sky, which was still dark. "Well, I'm not surprised. When I came out of the room, the clock showed midnight. Uh- then I'll go back to my room to sleep... Goodnight... I guess?"

Damarius looked at me. "Goodnight... Melina." He said, then snapped his fingers.

The last sight I saw before it blurred was Damarius looking at me with a faint smile. Then, it was replaced with a room that was now starting to become familiar.

I didn't move for a few seconds to get rid of the dizziness caused by the teleportation, then walked to the bed.

I threw my body face down on the bed.

Sigh... A lot happened today... It makes me so tired... A little happy though...

I have my brother here...

I closed my eyes. Without realizing it, I smiled a little

***

My eyes opened when I felt a rude finger poking my cheek.

I turned to the side and saw a figure that looked blurry in my vision.

After a few seconds, the figure beside me became clear.

"Good morning, Elli," greeted my brother warmly. His eyes formed crescents as he smiled sweetly.

"Morning." I sat up a little dazed, while my gaze still on Vasilius' fresh face...

Even though he cried himself to sleep last night, his face didn't show the slightest swelling.

Is this what is called the advantage of being a capture target...? So unfair... He makes me jealous.

I snorted in annoyance, about to say something, but stopped when I realized something.

"Uh- Lio..? Should I call you Valius or Ellio?"

He raised an eyebrow and looked at me in amazement. "What do you think?"

"I don't know," I said honestly.

After hearing my answer, he chuckled and ruffled my hair.

"Ugh, cut it out!" I pouted, prompting him to pinch my lips with two fingers.

"You're still the same," he said with a smile.

"And you're still annoying," I retorted.

"But you still love and need me, right?" He said while opening his hands.

I turned my head but still welcomed his hug. "Duh, obviously. If you weren't here, who'd shower me with love and willingly be my servant?"

"Is that what you want to say when you meet your beloved brother after a long time? Oh, right. It must feel like just a moment for you," He said in a joking tone.

I know it's a joke, but my conscience won't allow me to make it a joke...

Sigh... I'm the worst...

I was silent for a moment, biting the inside of my mouth. "I'm sorry..."

His hand on my back became stiff. Without waiting for a response, I continued my words.

"Previously, I wanted to apologize because I didn't listen to you and our parents. And now, I want to apologize for taking away our family's life and happiness. You guys spent your time fixing the problems I caus-"

"None of that is your fault." He cut my words firmly. His hug tightened. "Should I say it all the time so that my words are engraved in your mind?"

He stroked the back of my head and sighed softly. "Melina, when you passed away, our family's happiness already disappeared. The financial problems began because of my impulsive behavior, and it was not your fault at all. If only I had chosen a more peaceful path, Daddy's company wouldn't have been crumbled. But you know what? If I could go back in time, I would still make the same choices," his voice trailed off towards the end.

He let go of our hug and looked at me with a gentle smile, making me feel moved.

He forcefully pinched my reddish nose and chuckled, saying, "Why are you being such a crybaby? Your face is getting uglier."

I scowled, not appreciating his remark. "Said the one who cried until he turned into a tomato last night," I stated firmly, then snorted. "But seriously... which name should I call you?"

"Well, if I had to choose... I'm fine with Valius. That name has stuck with me for the 16 years I've been in this world."

I nodded in understanding. "Right, it would be weird if I called you by another name."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't mind having a special name made by my sister though."

I rolled my eyes with a smile when I know he's being serious.

Well, That's my brother. I'm not surprised...

When I remembered something, I froze then glanced at him warily. "Brother, I want to make sure of something..."

He looked at me curiously. "Make sure of what?"

"If you find yourself falling in love with your sister, what would you do?"

He shuddered and looked at me strangely. "Are you crazy? We're siblings. You want me to look at you as a woman? Sorry sis, I'm normal." he hugged himself to protect himself from me.

I pursed my lips in dissatisfaction. "I'm just asking. This is an as-if question!"

"That won't happen. I'm not that crazy to not consider the girls out there and choose my sister who shares the same flesh and blood."

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why do you ask something like that?" he looked at me suspiciously.

Well, I can't say 'because the real Vasilius likes his sister in the game' casually. He would be hostile to himself if he found out...

I pursed my lips. "Nothing... My friend mention something like that in the past because of a strange game. Anyways... Talk about games, do you remember an otome game that I like?"

"Of course, I still remember. Thanks to that, I always queue at a shop for 3 hours every 3 months to buy a special episode video. If I refuse, you will stop talking to me." He crooked his face while snorting, making me laugh guiltily.

I guess that happened before...

"Well... Yeah, that game. This world is that game." My words made my brother look at me in disbelief.

"Huh? You mean this world is the famous 'My route' otome game?"

I tilted my head. "Ah... the title is 'My route'?"

My brother flicked my forehead, making me look at him in annoyance.

"Hey! What was that for?!"

He sighed and looked at me in disbelief. "You seriously forgot the title after playing for that long?"

"The title isn't important. What's important is the name of the character I'm targeting and the heartbeat I've got because of his good looks and charisma," I said proudly.

"It's just a two-dimensional character." My brother said lazily, making me look at him disapprovingly.

"Now that he's not a two-dimensional character anymore, you can't make fun of me." I stuck out my tongue.

He rolled his eyes lazily, then froze. "Wait, don't tell me, the character you like..."

I smiled a little happily. "Mhm, Alastor Rhodeus. My hubby, my favorite and dear demon. The best baker in this dukedom. Isn't it interesting that we get to see him in the real world?"