It seems the knight's battering practice has finished, so I decided to call out to brother.
"Elder brother."
At my call, brother turned towards me with a surprised face.
"Lillina, w, why are you here?"
"Isn't it because I decided I have an urgent business with you, elder brother?"
"Urgent business?"
Brother seems to have no idea and is repeatedly tilting his head.
I see, it hasn't occurred to him at all that it's about Sana.
"Elder brother, why did you tell Sana that she only needs to be protected?"
"W, why… Tha, that doesn't concern you, Lillina!"
"Doesn't… concern me… There's no way it doesn't concern me! Sana is my precious maid, she's like my older sister. That Sana was crying. It very much concerns me."
Our conversation has blown up, the collapsed knights are also listening.
"Captain's a monster~"
"Don't ignore your younger sister~"
"Lillinsama's angry appearance is also wonderful!"
Everyone who was blown away looks energetic.
I seem to have heard brother say 'Those guys… I'll train them once again later.'
"Elder brother, what are your plans regarding Sana? If you don't want to be involved anymore, I'll take Sana and leave the country for a long time."
Brother was surprised by my declaration.
"W, wait a moment! Don't be rash, what do you mean by a long time. Lillina, are you seriously not planning to return to the country for a while? Wi, will it be a year? … No, no way, do those eyes say three years! … Hey, it's not five years? Right?"
Brother's tension got too high, so he held my shoulders and shook me.
If brother keeps doing it with his brute strength, I'll truly get sick.
At that time, Allen-kun suddenly removed brother's hand from my shoulder.
"Ricardo-sama, don't forget Lillinsama is a woman. Because it was Lillinsama, nothing happened, but if she was an ordinary person, she'd have already collapsed."
Well, I guess.
An ordinary woman would scream and collapse right on cue.
"Err, thank you, Allen. Cough, elder brother. I am serious. Depending on your answer, I will act with haste by asking grandfather for cooperation. Elder brother, let me ask you again. Why did you say such a thing to Sana?"
Brother groaned with a scowl.
However, when I remained silent his behavior changed, and after some thinking he began talking.
"I… like Sana. No, rather, I love her. It goes without saying that now that I've realized my feelings I'll go crazy without Sana. But, whether it's Damian, or members of the order, there are many guys aiming at Sana! As it's my duty to protect Sana, I thought it would be good to tell her she'd be protected by me, but…"
Yup, I understand.
Brother and Sana suffer from severe lack of communication.
If they talked normally, such a thing wouldn't happen.
"Elder brother, do you realize Sana wasn't talking about attacks from other people? I think Sana made a statement in anticipation of the future with you, didn't it come through? Sana was… Sana was crying that because she's not a noble so she could only be of use by assisting with your everyday life and fighting. Please don't run away and talk with Sana properly."
In response to my words, brother was letting out grumbles such as 'But' or 'Ah~~'.
Why, at such a time, is his foolhardy disposition not demonstrated?
Although I thought I could retain composure while talking, I'm gradually getting angry.
I've complained about brother a lot in my head, but I haven't yet resorted to physical violence as it's mother's job.
However, is now not the time to have a shot?
I approached brother who's still grumbling something.
When brother, who noticed me, turned his head to me, I pasted on a smile and punched him in the stomach with my full strength.
Thud!
"Ouch~~~~!"
Brother was sent to his knees.
Honestly, my fist which hit brother also hurts.
But, not minding it I stood before brother.
"Elder brother, it's unlike you to be so hesitant! Please act with your usual ridiculous energy. If not… Honestly, Sana will never meet you again, elder brother."
Still on his knees, brother raised his face, and for some reason showed a startled expression.
"Huh! Lillina, you… are you crying?"
Eh? I raised a hand to my eyes.
… It's true, they're wet.
Without realizing it, it seems my feelings became agitated so much I cried.
Brother was staring at my crying face overcome with surprise, then he suddenly shook his head.
"Ah~~~~! Really, what am I doing? I made my little sister and my dear Sana cry… Lillina, thank you. I was an idiot. No, well, I may still be one. But! Can I still… Can I still make it in time?"
After saying so, as if any damage I dealt was a lie, he left the training area like a wind.
Phew, is my role over with this?
Was what I thought, but why did it turn into an uproar of members of the order asking us to practice with them, which ended in Allen-kun rampaging in my stead.
Then all the members who have caused the uproar suffered from an endless Alek-sama's lecture.