The brother knows

>>Sorin

I paced around in my room panicking, I was at a loss of ideas and was unsure about what to do.

I wracked my brain trying to remember how the demons even found out that Kaan was in the dungeon of the palace? If you look at it logically, no one should be able to tell, the dungeons are deep below the ground level and only a few people knew about Kaan’s imprisonment here. Out of those people, Enri’s whole platoon died, Cedric is dead too, so out of the originals, only Enri is alive…

I stood still and shook my head.

I know Enri didn’t leak the information. He may be a little hot headed but he isn’t an idiot.

I sighed.

Now, the only possibility I can think of is that Cedric must have told someone else. So, it should be someone from the noble section right? Someone close to Cedric.

I frowned.

But who? Who would leak this information and risk war? You would have to hate the whole country to plunge into war or something like that- Oh!

It didn’t take a genius to figure something like that out.

It wasn’t about the country, it was about me. Whoever is going to leak the info about the Demon Lord most likely hates me alot… The information was leaked to get me in trouble because I was the king but whoever that idiot was didn’t think far…

Shit…

I sat down on the floor crossed legged and crossed my arms over my chest as well.

Well, I sure am fucked.

Because it could be anyone now. The whole nobility hates me…

I slowly slumped on the floor and laid down in depression in the same position I was in as I cursed my fate.

Damn it!

This piece of information didn’t help at all!

I closed my eyes and fried my brain a bit more!

Think!! Think!! Try to remember!

What else was there in the novel! Any piece of information will help!! It was a big novel and this is only the beginning of it!

I know there was a mention of a place where the info was leaked, but where was it!? I frowned some more as I placed more pressure on my head.

I unfolded my arms and began to whack my head for answers!

Think Sorin! Think!! You’re not an idiot! Not the brightest out there but definitely not an idiot! Where was the information leaked!

There was a meeting point!

Where!!!??

I began to grind my skull with my fists when I heard the door open and Leroy entered the room, “Sorin, I’m going to get the girls from a brothel-” He paused when he looked at me but his words lit up my brain, “What are you-” I cut his words as I sat up with a jump.

“Yes!!” I looked at him while my forehead was red from all the grinding, “A brothel!” Right, I remember now, the information was relayed to the demons in disguise in a brothel. It happens right before Sorin’s coronation party where there is a grand event at the brothel too.

Leroy tilted his head, “Okay then.” He nodded and I froze. Wait, was he asking me something? “I’ll have everything prepared.” He said and I just wondered what he was talking about, “But why is it-” He folded his arms as he glared at me, “You’re regressing back to all of your childish habits?”

I pursed my lips into a straight line and looked at me, “Sorry?” I didn’t even know what I was talking about or what he was asking but I still apologized.

Leroy sighed, “This might be because of your memory.” He massaged his temples, “Any luck yet?”

…

A pang of guilt hit my heart and I stood up with a heavy feeling.

I looked at Leroy with a guilty face and shook my head. After all, what else could I do? I had to lie to him.

He nodded in return, then smiled at me, “It’s alright.” He patted my head, “It’ll come back.” The only thing I could do in return was nod.

***

I feel so bad for Leroy. He’s doing so much for me already, I shouldn’t get him involved in this demon shit. Besides, there’s a lot of thinking to do and I’m the only one free here even though I’m the king…

I folded my arms as I walked in the hallway of the palace. The maids that passed by me gave me a bow out of fear and I just waved back at them, failing to realize that they were surprised at my nonchalant behavior.

I need to gather information and I need to prepare too. Can I do this all alone? I would normally just ask Leroy to do everything for me but I don’t want to give him extra burden right now. I already told him to keep an eye on Kaan and meet all his needs and after seeing how much he adores me and takes care of me, I feel too guilty to ask him for anything more.

“Hey!” I froze when I was called out to and raised my head to look at the red-head leaning against the wall near the royal study.

“Enri?” I glared at him, “I see your head is still intact.”

He sarcastically chuckled at me, “Well, if Leonidas already didn’t know about your gender, it wouldn't be.”

I was preparing to give him a comeback when his words hit me hard.

“What?” My eyes went wide as I realized what his words meant, “Leonidas knows!!?” I felt anxious all of the sudden, “How? Since when?” Oh no! He knows!!!???

Enri enjoyed watching me panic, “Don’t know ‘Your Royal HIghness’.” He smirked but I sensed the sarcasm in his words, “But he’s clearly known longer than me.” He shrugged his shoulders, “He wasn’t surprised at all when I blasted him with the news.”

I glared at Enri, then looked towards the door. Leonidas should be in there. I’ll have to talk to him directly! I began to march towards the study when Enri stopped me right before I reached for the door handle.

He raised his arm to block my way and I shot my head towards him while he looked down at me, “Know this,” He said, “I’m saying this very respectfully, Your Majesty, this is exactly why Leon is a far better person than you’ll ever be.” His words stung a little, “He knew your secret for God knows how long and chose to stay quiet.” His gaze was sending daggers at me, “All because he didn’t want you to get in trouble.” I looked away feeling a little guilty but he didn’t stop speaking, “Leon is the exact same person you almost killed with no apparent reason to back your actions and he still wants you to be safe.” He lowered his arms, “I’m sure you know that well.” He then whispered, “And you must know what kind of person you are compared to him.”

His words stung very badly. He was right after all and that is why his words felt like daggers.

I sighed internally as I closed my eyes for a second, then moved forward to enter the study.

I opened the door and as I entered the room, Leonidas looked up at me from between the pile of documents.

Woah!

That much work would kill me…. I looked at Leonidas and marveled at his intelligence and stamina. He didn’t look tired at all and was doing the work that is supposed to be mine.

“Sorin?” He was surprised to see me.

“Hey,” I gave him an awkward wave with my right hand but after that I actually had no idea what to say to him.

I initially wanted to come in to talk to him and tell him to stay quiet about my gender but me being a ‘genius’ didn’t think about the fact that he was already doing that.

It was because he didn’t say anything to anyone, the palace was peaceful.

On top of that, Enri’s words have made me feel even more guilty. I’m not even the one at fault here. It was Sorin’s doing! Yet my heart is heavy…

“Is there something you need?” He asked as he folded his arms and I noticed that he still had his guard up against me.

I smiled sarcastically to myself.

Of course he does. No one here is fond of me.

I looked down at the desk because I couldn’t meet his eyes, “You already knew I was a girl?’

He was surprised by my statement, then sighed, “I told Enri not to make a fuss about it.” He seemed a little disappointed, “I didn’t want to cause trouble…”

Damn it… I feel worse now. Sorin did him so much bad yet this pure boy didn’t want to execute the person who is wrongfully sitting on HIS throne, that everyone hates and no one would care if she was killed or thrown away. I’m the same person who isn’t even related to him and isn’t even royalty and has terrorized many people in her life yet he’s keeping quiet for my safety.

He’s a really nice person…

I pursed my lips in shame. Leonidas is the ideal main character one expects from a fantasy novel. He’s chivalrous enough to not kill a literal villain.

“Okay well, I wasn’t planning on telling-” Leonidas continued his words when I chose to speak in between them.

“Thank you,” I said shyly and Leonidas froze. I couldn’t think of anything else to say other than thanks. Because it was well deserved.

“What?” A confused word uttered out of his mouth.

“Holy Hell…” I heard Enri’s voice from behind, “Sorin thanked someone?” He walked past me and stood by his master.

While it made me a little angry, his words were of pure curiosity with no malice, so I couldn’t say anything in return.

“....” Leonidas was too stunned to say anything in return and I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. Just saying a simple thank you is such a big deal for Sorin! Oh my God! Both of the men are staring at me like I’m some kind of an imposter! This is making me feel weird!

I bit my lower lip in humiliation, “I’m trying my best here…” I couldn’t look them in the eye as I felt my cheeks flush a little, “Don’t look at me like that…” I grabbed my cloak and clutched it closer to my body as I felt oddly embarrassed.

I noticed both of their eyes pop out of their sockets and then they turned to look at each other in confusion.

>>Leonidas

I can’t believe my ears or my eyes!

This is not the Sorin I know! The brother I knew of was foul mouthed, arrogant and glared at everyone!

Not this person who is standing in front of us looking like a cute harmless adorable squirrel!

I felt a little weird, my heart was acting strange when I stared at her flushed cheeks and her awkward petite stance.

“Leon,” Enri whispered in my ear, “This has to be an imposter.”

“I’m almost convinced myself…” I whispered back, “But we both know it’s the same Sorin.”

“Well, how do you explain this?” We looked at her again and saw her fidgeting. “See! That’s what girls do!”

“Enri, Sorin is a girl.”

“Well she got ‘exposed’, till a few days ago, Sorin was a he.” Looks like Enri is having a hard time here too.

“Maybe that’s why she changed?”

“You think she’s flustered because she got exposed?” Enri raised his eyebrows at me and I shrugged, “Sorin was never cute.” He slyly pointed at her, “But what I see there is definitely winsome.”

“Maybe,” I shrugged back, “Something happened?” I said, “Something we don’t know about.” I looked at Enri and he glanced at my face then sighed. He knew what I was referring to. We both had newly learned that Sorin’s secrets are safeguarded like national treasures. So if there is something, of course no one knows about it.

“Um,” She started and we both shot our heads towards her again, “I actually need some help with something.”

“Help?” Enri asked as he straightened up, “What kind of help?”

She clenched her fists and cleared her throat. “I need someone to go to the brothel with me…”

I knew that both Enri and I had the same reaction.

Our brains stopped working at the same time and shut down.