The Strongest Brother Lost His Memory

After breakfast, I called for Shulva.
"Shulva, can I ask you for a few favors? There are quite a lot of them..."
"Don’t worry about that. Please, tell me anything."

"Okay... then I won’t hold back and tell you everything."
When I answered with determination, Shulva let out a faint smile and replied.
"I was actually worried about not having much to do these days."

"You don’t have much to do?"
"I used to be so busy that even sleeping felt like a luxury, but Julian is not the same as before."
Shulva, who had grown quite close to me, spoke with a blank expression.

"I was actually considering resigning next month."
"What?"
What did he just say?

Resigning? Shulva, resigning?!
I shot up from my seat, eyes wide in shock.
"Is it because of your salary? Because my brother is broke? But he’ll be paid soon! He’s going to have money again! That’s actually what I was about to ask you to do!"

Investing in magic stones meant investing in the Magic Tower.
Which meant that if I went to the Magic Tower now, I could retrieve my money, which had grown more than threefold.
"Go to the Magic Tower right now and withdraw 150 billion gold, then return it to my brother. This is proof that I handled it well and even increased it!"

"I must say, I’ve never heard of interest rates like this before. Regardless, understood. What should I do with the rest of the money?"
"Set aside 50 billion gold and handle it according to the instructions on this note."
"Ah..."
As I handed over the pre-written note, Shulva's eyebrows furrowed.

It was understandable. The note was densely packed with detailed instructions.
"It might be a bit troublesome, but please, I need your help. I really want to get engaged to the Duke of Dyfenril."
Elizabeth, Zahid’s aunt, was openly seeking a fiancée for him.

Zahid had told me about this in my past life, describing exactly how his childhood played out.
And it wasn’t just me—many noble houses were trying to arrange a marriage with House Dyfenril.
At this rate, Zahid Dyfenril was bound to go mad.

That would give the fiancée’s family considerable influence.
'But in the end, Elizabeth will choose the woman she wants.'
I blinked as I recalled what Zahid had told me before my regression.

'She already bought off every single senator.'
I pulled out a letter from my drawer and placed it inside an envelope.
After carefully coating the official seal I received this morning with ink, I stamped it firmly.

"As for the remaining money, please deliver this to the Tower Master. He’ll take care of it from there."
I had already exchanged letters with the Tower Master a few times.
Shulva took the envelope and nodded.

"Understood, for now."
"But, Shulva..."
I grabbed his hand tightly, my eyes welling up with tears.

"You're not really... quitting, are you? Right?"
"Hmm, Rosie..."
Shulva scratched his head awkwardly.

"It’s not just about the salary... I simply don’t have anything to do here anymore."
"What?"
"Julian doesn’t need an aide right now. He needs a teacher. That’s why the Count called him. I have no real role here anymore."

Wait, he was serious about resigning?!
I stomped my feet in frustration and shouted.
"But isn’t that a good thing? You get to slack off! Isn’t that nice?"

"I’m not suited for a leisurely life, Lady Rosie. I find happiness in being busy, living intensely, and genuinely supporting someone."
"Ugh, what kind of cursed life preference is that?! The only solution for you is to be reborn!"
Seeing my distressed expression, Shulva spoke in a soothing tone.

"Even if Julian hadn’t lost his memory, I would’ve resigned soon anyway. We had already discussed it."
"...What?"
"When Julian was still young and unable to trust anyone, I stayed by his side as his aide. But we were originally friends. Both of us wanted to return to that dynamic once Julian matured."

Ah...
If that was something they had already agreed upon, there was no room for me to interfere.
"But if my brother regains his memory and asks you to stay..."

I cautiously tested the waters, but Shulva immediately gave me a serious answer.
"Then I’ll run."
"...Huh?"

"Julian would never let me off the hook after I stamped the seal on his engagement contract."
He waved the note I had given him and let out a deep sigh.
"And he’ll probably kill me for actively assisting with your engagement without considering my position as someone who must obey orders from my superior."

"..."
"In any case, Lady Rosie, I have plenty of free time. So please, don’t feel bad about giving me more work."
"Really...?"

"Yes. In fact, having a lot to do is refreshing after such a long time."
Shulva smiled faintly, holding the note and letter as he stepped outside.
I was lost in thought for a moment before I quickly ran after Shulva and shouted.

“W-Wait a moment!”
Shulva tilted his head in confusion and turned around.
I grabbed his arm tightly and asked,

“Then… may I recommend your new workplace, Shulva?”
 
****

It was lunchtime, the time I had promised Grandfather.
A butler came to fetch me.
“Let’s go, Lady Rosie.”

I had been practicing writing, but at his words, I hopped off my chair.
I could read letters quite well now, but writing was still far from perfect. I often misspelled words.
Even the tutors Julian had arranged for me were baffled.

“You’re incredibly intelligent… so why do you struggle so much with letters?”
In the past, my skills were so atrocious that I couldn’t even dream of attending the three-month academy for noble children.
But now, thanks to what Zahid had taught me before my regression, I had a solid foundation. I would likely be able to attend an academy later on.

As I organized the notebook where I had been practicing, the butler spoke kindly.
“Sir Julian will also be joining for lunch.”
“My brother?”

“Yes.”
The butler smiled warmly.
“The conversation after breakfast went on for quite a while.”

Before he lost his memory, I had heard that Julian was quite close to Grandfather.
Not in a friendly way, but as the only person Grandfather acknowledged.
It was a relief that even now, with his amnesia, Julian seemed to get along well with him.

Honestly, I hoped Julian would regain his place as Grandfather’s favored successor.
That was what Julian had wanted, and more importantly…
‘With Julian’s competence, the Noart Count Family would be in good hands.’

After Grandfather passed away, when other relatives took control, the Noart family fell into ruin.
So the fact that Julian and Grandfather had spoken at length was great news to me.
“That’s a relief. It sounds like they got along well. I had a feeling they would.”

I clasped my hands together, genuinely happy.
“Ever since my brother lost his memory, he’s been quick to get angry just like Grandfather!”
“Ah…”

The butler blinked awkwardly.
“Well… um, just because they’re alike doesn’t mean they get along well…”
As he spoke, dark circles instantly appeared under his eyes.

His face practically screamed exhaustion.
And when I arrived at the dining room…
Julian and Grandfather were glaring at each other.

As soon as they spotted me, they both shot to their feet.
‘What the hell?’
One thing was clear—the atmosphere between them wasn’t great.

A chill ran down my spine.
‘Maybe they don’t get along…? Grandfather liked Julian because he was competent and smart, but maybe he doesn’t like this version of Julian—the ignorant, dumb brute…’
I had made sure to have Julian study a bit, just in case, but it seemed it wasn’t enough to impress Grandfather.

Still, the two of them shouted at the same time.
“Rosie, you’re here!”
“Hey, brat! Must’ve been tough waddling over here on those short legs.”

And as if competing, they both pulled out the chair beside them.
“Sit here!”
“Come sit here!”

Uh…
Where was I supposed to sit?
Before I could even decide, Grandfather and Julian locked eyes.

“My table manners aren’t perfect yet. I’ll eat next to Rosie.”
“We just spent an hour teaching you etiquette. What, did you forget it already? Just shove food in your mouth by yourself.”
“But how can I, as a noble, eat carelessly? Especially with the Count present.”

“What are you even saying? I spent half my life eating off the streets!”
Grandfather bellowed, openly demeaning his own background.
“Sit next to me, Rosie!”

I was at a complete loss, clutching my skirt in distress.
Then Grandfather yelled.
“I brought a present!”

I didn’t need to think anymore.
I flashed Julian an apologetic smile before immediately sitting next to Grandfather.
“Sorry, Brother.”

And then, I sweetly added,
“Sometimes, it’s important to learn that connections alone don’t solve everything.”