He’s My Real Brother, Duke

Because the symptoms are due to incomplete imprinting.”

I looked at the Duke with my eyes drooping.

If I were to carelessly touch him to stay alive, I’d surely die.

‘Because, from what I know, the Duke didn’t like anyone sticking to him.’

Contrary to my worries, the Duke’s attitude was somewhat strange.

He looked at my small hand, and whispered quietly,

“Can I just hold her hand?”

“Oh, yes.
For now, you can just hold your hands, it’s in the early stages.” 

“That’s right, Astel.”

I was a little anxious, but the Duke tapped the back of my hand with his rough finger as if to reassure me.

Even though that was all, my heart, which was beating as if it was about to burst, calmed down a little.

“I’m glad for now…”

I just need to hold your hand.

“Then, about the imprinting.
How do we solve it?”

“Ah, There is also a way.
Wait.”

Seeing that the situation had been cleared up a little, the doctor jumped up and looked around the bookshelf.

After pulling out a few books from the shelf, he returned quickly and started rummaging through the pages.

The pages fluttered in front of us, blowing dust.

The eyes of the doctor  became dark.

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He deciphered the old book and muttered what it was. 

“Look at the ancient findings here”

He turned a page of the old book to us and read it urgently.

“In the case of imprinting with unknown cause, most of the imprinting effect disappears within one year.”

The Duke gently patted the table several times with a dry face.

A long silence followed.

Likewise, the doctor of the Duchy, who seemed to have a pretty timid personality, was stiff, unable to open his mouth due to the cool flowing silence.

Only the Duke could break this silence.

Fortunately, a few minutes later, the Duke made a quiet voice.

“Then, Astel, for a year, you will be my weakness.”

“…”

I was just trying to be a lifesaver, but suddenly my shoulders became very heavy.

As the Duke emphasized, he spoke.

“That’s the only way.”

“Since it’s a unique case.”

This…was a big deal

“You should stay in Duke Castle for about a year.”

“That…As the Duke’s imprint?”

If you were known to be the imprint of Duke Anais, I think the risk of being assassinated would be higher.

‘Because, simply being favored or being Duke’s companion imprint and weakness are definitely different.’

That arrogant noble man had quite a few enemies.

He also shook his head as if he had noticed what I’m thinking and replied.

“No.
Let me put it together as a guardian.
It would be nice to say that it was a reward for saving me from falling down.”

The countermeasures came out smoothly as if all of these situations had been prepared.

After finishing the talk, Duke Anais tapped the table.

Then the doctor made a sound like his breathing was tightened.

“The only witness has been restricted with a spell, so you don’t have to worry about any of this being leaked.”” 

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I swallowed my surprise.

Swinging your fingers a few times making a bondage magic.
The Duke’s magical power is great…

Although it is a spell that doesn’t change his life, I have always lived with a commoner’s mindset, and my shoulders trembled at the situation of the doctor who felt strangled at the moment.

I straightened my shoulders and looked at them pretending to be fine.

“Yes,  Yes…”

Originally, after catching the three suspects that had been hiding in the Duke’s Castle, I was thinking of quietly leaving Duke’s Castle after finding out the identity of the villain.

However, the situation was twisted because of an unexpected imprint.

‘It could have been worse.
I became the Duke’s weakness, so no one can touch me in this castle, including the Duke.’

I looked at the Duke with wide eyes full of energy.

He was also staring at me and observing.

It was as if he were reading something.

It was an embarrassing gaze for me, with a stabbing pain in my heart, but I tried to laugh cheerfully.

Soon he spoke again.

“I heard you have a request earlier.’”

At that, I glanced at the doctor.

I decided that it wasn’t a request to do in the situation where I even had a doctor.

Fortunately, Duke Anais was quick to notice. 

He made a brief chin gesture at his doctor.

“Go out.” 

“Yes, sir.”

The attending doctor ran out without saying anything.
It must be because of me that he looks so stiff and tense…

However, there was no time to worry about the doctor’s feelings.

As soon as the two of us were seated, Duke Anais took my hand naturally.

“How amazing.” 

“…What?”

“It’s so small, it looks like it could break any second.”

‘Saying that with such a look in your eyes and this ferocious tone … It makes it sound like you actually want to break it…’