ATHO Chapter 14

Chapter 14 – Jade: My Nii-san (Part 2)

Jade: My Nii-san, Part 2

Novel Title: 嫌われ者の俺はやり直しの世界で義弟達にごまをする (As the Hated One, I Flatter My Stepbrothers in a World Where I Get a Second Chance)

Author：赤牙 (Akakiba)

Art：古澤エノ (Furusawa Eno)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

Protagonists: シャルル (Charles -MC), リエン (Lien -ML1) & ジェイド (Jade -ML2)

*Please read at freenovels.net, the original site of translation. TQ*

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Not used to being praised, his words made me feel shy. But I couldn’t deny how comforting it was to be patted on the head and complimented.  

Gradually, I started approaching Charles myself. He somehow knew I had a sweet tooth and began making desserts for me after we finished our assignments.  

“Studying is tough without a reward, don’t you think?” he’d say with an innocent smile.  

Gentle and endearing Charles…  

Before I knew it, the time I spent with him became irreplaceable to me.  

Charles always put me, Lien, and Mother first, no matter the situation.  

On my first day at the academy, he did everything he could to ease my nerves, even introducing me to his friends as “my beloved little brother” and “a treasured family member.”  

Those words made me so happy that I worked hard to live up to being a brother Charles could be proud of.  

When Lien was bullied by a servant, Charles was the first to protect him.  

Lien and I were deeply moved by his actions and grew to admire him even more.  

As time went on, my feelings for Charles—a beautiful and kind brother who was always there for us—started to change into something beyond familial love.  

The small spark of excitement I felt when we first met grew stronger day by day.  

I wanted to see more of his smiles and began talking to him more whenever we spent time together.  

I wanted to grow even closer to him.  

Thinking that, I invited Charles to go hunting one day. But he declined, saying he wasn’t fond of it. Disheartened, I was about to give up when he suggested a stroll instead.  

Determined to ensure he enjoyed himself, I overdid it during the outing and ended up falling off my horse, injuring myself.  

Charles, hearing about my injury, was visibly shaken. I couldn’t stop feeling guilty for causing him worry.  

The day should have ended with us laughing together over the fun we had, creating fond memories. Instead, here we were, stuck deep in the forest under terrible weather.  

All of this was my fault. What if Charles grew to dislike me?  

As I struggled with my anxiety and the cold, Charles softly pulled me into an embrace.  

“Are you cold?” he asked gently.  

His warmth, his scent, and his soothing voice in my ear…  

Each word he spoke made my heart race faster and faster.  

My chest hurt with the intensity of my feelings.  

I had thought about my ‘special feelings’ for Charles before. They weren’t like the familial love I felt for Mother and Father, or the brotherly affection I felt for Lien.  

―――I’m… in love with Charles.  

I had come to realize my own feelings. However, acknowledging them only brought me pain.  

I don’t know how to make my brother, who only sees me as his ‘younger brother’, turn his attention toward me.  

If I were to confess my feelings, our current relationship would likely crumble.  

The thought of him disappearing from my side was unbearable, even to imagine.  

As I pulled Charles’s arms around me to dispel my unease, he spoke to me.  

“Hey, Jade. Are you hungry? I brought some baked goods thinking we could share them later!”  

He rummaged through his bag and pulled out some baked treats, which had unfortunately crumbled into pieces. Apologizing with an embarrassed look, he handed them to me. I smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it,” popping a piece into my mouth.  

The baked goods were sweet, their flavor filling me with happiness.  

“Nii-san, you should try some too. They’re delicious.”  

When I held a piece of the treat up to his lips, my fingers brushed against them. The soft touch of his lips lingered on my fingers as I took another piece for myself.  

“You’re right! They’re really tasty.”  

“Yes, sweet and absolutely delightful.”  

The sweetness seemed even more intense than the first bite. My heart brimmed with happiness. Though I had been filled with regret when I injured my leg, I now felt almost lucky to be in this situation.  

A moment alone with Charles.  

In his gaze, I was the only one who mattered.  

“Jade, how’s your leg? Is the pain getting worse?”  

“No, I’m fine. As long as I stay still, it doesn’t hurt.”  

“That’s good. I wish I could get you back to the mansion quickly. But with this storm, the horses are too spooked to move.”  

“Yes, it’s dangerous outside. Let’s stay here a little longer, Nii-san.”  

“…Yeah, you’re right.”  

Hearing the unease in his voice, I felt his arms tighten around me slightly.  

“I hope the rain stops soon.”  

“Yes… I hope so.”  

That’s a lie. I don’t want the rain to stop.  

As long as it keeps raining, my brother belongs only to me.  

Grasping his arm tightly, I gazed at the relentless downpour, silently wishing for it to continue.  

…But because of my selfish wish, Charles fell ill with a high fever after we returned to the mansion.  

Guilt consumed me, and I stayed by his side, nursing him until he woke up. Feverish and delirious, he kept apologizing to me, saying “I’m sorry” over and over. Though I didn’t understand the meaning behind his words, I held his hand and listened, hoping to ease his worry.  

As I watched him, his tearful eyes filled with desperation, a memory surfaced.  

―――He’s crying again.  

I remembered the first time we met, and the image of his tear-streaked face flashed through my mind.  

His beloved light blue eyes shimmered with fragility, pleading for help.  

I knew then, just as I knew now—I must protect him.  

“It’s okay, Nii-san. I’m not upset at all.”  

“…Yeah… Thank you, Jade…”  

I gently wiped his tears with my fingertips and offered him a reassuring smile. His expression softened in relief.  

“Charles Nii-san, you should rest now. Goodnight.”  

I stroked his soft black hair a few times, and he closed his eyes, his face peaceful and unguarded.  

Looking at his defenseless sleeping face, I leaned in close and placed a kiss on his tear-streaked cheek.  

“Charles Nii-san, I’ll wipe your tears away as many times as it takes. I’ll protect you, so you won’t have to cry anymore.”  

With that promise, I kissed his cheek again.  

Just as he had once protected me when I was small, now it was my turn to protect him.  

I must become stronger—for the sake of the one I love, Charles Nii-san.  

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*GLOSSARY: 

• Nii-san/Nii-sama/Onii-san = (Big/Elder) Brother

☝🏻I’ll be using these throughout my translation. Jade would call Charles ‘Nii-san’ while Lien would call him ‘Nii-sama’.

Next update: 2025.09.07

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