The Strongest Brother Lost His Memory-Chapter 24Vol 2.

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I eagerly explained the mirror magic tool to Zahid.

When I told him it could only be used during the full moon because the Grand Temple was built on land overflowing with divine power, which weakened during that time, Zahid openly looked disappointed.

—Shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.

He murmured, staring straight at me.

—I thought maybe I could see you every day now. I was even thinking I should hurry up, finish everything, and lock myself up in prison.

"Finish everything..."

I already knew why he’d infiltrated the Temple—Julian had told me.

"The map left by the former Duke Dyfenril... it really does seem connected to the High Priest’s weakness. Considering I went to the Holy Land of Arhad in the past, that place must be related somehow. But no matter how hard I tried for nine years, I couldn’t get any info. So I had no choice but to go inside myself and dig around."

I looked at Zahid’s calm face and asked, worried:

"It’s not dangerous, right?"

—Even if it is, I still have to do it. But I’ll come back alive, no matter what.

Zahid studied me carefully as he spoke.

—I can’t stand the thought of seeing you marry another man.

"What? What are you talking about, another man?"

I blurted out, startled, and Zahid smiled faintly as he answered.

—If I die, you’ll grieve hard, then say, "The living must go on. Zahid in heaven would want me to forget him and be happy," and then you’ll grit your teeth, marry Ray Lavendal—who His Majesty set you up with—and live well.

At that, I clapped my hands in admiration.

"Wow, that’s the longest I’ve ever heard you talk in one go. You must’ve really put effort into imagining your own death."

Zahid snorted lightly and then just stared at me.

Honestly, that kind of blunt stare felt unfamiliar, even compared to before regression.

"Hey, why are you looking at me like that? It’s embarrassing, you’re gonna burn a hole through me."

—I’m looking to see what’s different, what’s the same, what’s not how I imagined it... It’s just so fascinating, I can’t stop looking.

Zahid tilted his head lazily as he spoke.

—Besides, there’s nothing else I can do right now but look.

"Huh?"

—If I could do something else, I would.

His voice was playful but thick with restrained heat, and my cheeks turned red.

Honestly, I found his grown-up appearance fascinating too. I thought I already knew what he looked like from memory, but seeing him again in person—he was way more handsome.

His long legs, solid build, the defined shadows on his face, those big hands...

I was taking in every bit of him, and then he asked with amusement:

—Were you looking at me with those eyes too?

"Uh... probably."

—If we meet in person, it’s going to be a disaster.

My thoughts exactly...

I was nodding like I was hypnotized, then snapped out of it in shock.

This wasn’t what I came here to talk about!

"Anyway, be careful, Zahid. I’m really worried. You really are sneaking into the High Priest’s quarters, right?"

—Assistant Yuta gave me super detailed directions, so it’s fine.

Zahid smiled to reassure me.

—I promise. I won’t push myself.

He lifted his pinky in a playful promise. I nodded slowly, and a brief silence followed.

After that, with him watching me, I fidgeted with my fingers. There was something I really wanted to tell him.

After ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) hesitating for a bit, I finally spoke slowly.

"Zahid, listen."

—Yeah, go ahead.

Zahid whispered with a small smile.

—You’ve looked like you’ve been wanting to say something for a while now.

Of course he noticed.

I blinked a few times, took a moment, and said:

"I’m going to try becoming the master of the four Divine Beasts."

At that, Zahid asked, without much change in expression:

—Think you can handle the Earth Divine Beast? Don’t push yourself. You said you don’t even know how.

How to become the master of the four Divine Beasts... I still had no clear idea.

When I became the master of Athena and Liri, I’d been so emotionally overwhelmed that I just blurted out anything, so I couldn’t really remember.

When I said something like this to Yuta, he’d passed me a note that said:

Maybe that’s the answer? Losing control and saying whatever comes to mind in a special situation.

Let me give you some advice, Rosie.

Don’t overthink it, just throw a tantrum like you always do and get super annoyed.

Everything goes according to the will of the gods.

It was absolutely useless advice, but I decided to take it as: "Believe in yourself and follow your noble emotions in the moment."

—Rosie.

Zahid looked at me quietly and said:

—When you’re heading somewhere, there’s never just one path. And if there is, you can always make a new one.

I had a feeling I knew what he was thinking.

—Besides that vague prophecy about the four Divine Beasts, there’s gotta be another way.

The map left by the former Duke Dyfenril had been fully deciphered.

According to the ancient language written there, if you follow the map to a pond inside a cave, the Divine Beast and its master could merge and awaken, unleashing great power.

‘I just don’t know where the hell this place is, and that’s the problem.’

And I wasn’t sure how powerful "great" really meant, but judging by how the High Priest had a fit over it, it was probably strong enough to kill him.

"This place is described as land rich in divine power... That only leaves the Grand Temple or the Holy Land of Arhad, right? But Yuta said Arhad’s got nothing to do with it. There are no caves there, just relics. I’m stuck at square one."

I paused, remembering what Julian had said, and then spoke.

"But Zahid."

—Yeah.

"I just can’t stop thinking about Linna."

Honestly, the real reason I tried so hard to see him today was to talk about this.

In a way, Zahid was a victim of Linna, so the fact that I kept thinking about her made me feel guilty toward him.

"I know your parents died because of a landslide, but still... I can’t stop thinking about that girl."

As I struggled to get the words out, Zahid gave a small laugh, like he completely understood why.

—That’s your heart, Rosie.

"But..."

—Don’t worry about me. Just follow your heart.

Zahid stared straight at me and said lowly:

—Ray and I probably won’t ever really like Linna. But we do know that when she harmed us, she was just a kid who didn’t know anything.

I slowly nodded.

It never really felt like Linna had acted on her own back then.

—You almost got hurt bad on your fake birthday because of Linna. But if she still weighs on your mind, who am I to stop you?

Zahid smiled softly as he added:

—Before I’m your fiancé, I swore loyalty to you. Don’t forget that.

I swallowed hard.

That had been nine years ago already.

"I, Zahid Dyfenril, vow to protect and serve Miss Rosie Noart, and to follow her will."

Even after all that time, the weight of those words hadn’t changed.

—Maybe I like you this much because you’re the kind of person who can’t just ignore Linna Idra.

As I sat there sulking, Zahid’s reflection in the mirror smiled at me encouragingly.

—I believe in you, so be confident and walk your path, Rosie. I’ll do whatever it takes on mine for your sake.

It was so gentle, so full of love—it made my heart melt.

—I’ve only ever had you on my path, but of course, your path can have many people in it, wherever your eyes fall. But...

Of course, his gaze still burned with that relentless, possessive intensity.

—When it’s all over, let your final road home be with me.

I couldn’t breathe.

"But Zahid, if I really get out of this prison... where do I go? I don’t have the Noart estate anymore, or my brother..."

"You’ll come with me, Rosie."

"Huh? Where?"

"We’ll sit on the steps above the Temple for a long time, and then we’ll go back together. Wherever that may be."

I clutched the hand mirror and held back tears.

Whether I was trapped in prison or not, what he wanted never changed.

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