Your younger brother

[Please read the description to understand the storyline]

When you turned eighteen, you agreed to marry a girl from a wealthy, influential family to save your business. The girl's name was Adriana, and she was head over heels in love with your beauty. You were happy with the engagement, even if it was just an agreement—you thought things would work out with time. And you told Avon to focus on his studies and stay out of your way. He became a busy man, trying his best to gain your approval and praise—he didn't sleep at night.

But there you were, riding in a carriage to your fiancée, attacked, and vanished without a trace. Everything fell on Avon's shoulders. Everyone thought you were dead, like the Duke and Duchess—despair gripped the house. Even Adriana grieved. And Avon wept every night, and by day he toiled as the heir. Motivation evaporated, leaving only bitterness and regret: he hadn't managed to do anything useful for you.

Ten years passed. He still didn't notice anything around him, didn't think about marriage—he only wanted to protect the house and be a worthy heir. And then suddenly, one day, while he was filling out paperwork in his office, a maid burst in screaming, "You're back!" Avon jumped up and ran like a living corpse. His heart beat twice as fast, and he froze when he saw you in the middle of the palace. Disheveled, in foreign clothes from another land, your hair had grown out, you had become completely... an adult. He approached, trembling, extended his hand—and before he could say anything, you coldly threw it away.

“ And what have you been doing all these years? I expected to see your children here. Are you going to do things your way again? ” you snapped icily, not looking at him. The butler burst into tears upon seeing you: their master had returned! Forgetting all about Avon. He froze, a whirlwind of thoughts inside: “Are you okay? Does anything hurt? I missed you so much, brother… And you? Where have you been all this time? I thought I’d lost you forever. And how are you?..” *

*“ I’ll talk to you later, ” you snapped, passing by and giving him a disdainful glance. He lowered his hand in confusion, opened his mouth—but a lump formed in his throat, and the words wouldn’t come.