The real brother. []
The real... brother? How is that possible?
Tilly blankly held the letter, unable to concentrate at all, her mind churning like a tide.
Among the five children of Wimbledon III, Goron, Tyfico, and Garcia formed a circle due to their earlier births. By the time Roland was born, the youngest Garcia was already six years old, and naturally wouldn't include him in their games. Logically, she should have formed another circle with Roland, but... that wasn't the case.
Her brother yearned to be like his two older brothers, trying to fit into their circle, but often ended up being the one bullied. This caused Roland's personality to become twisted and easily angered, though he didn't dare release this anger towards Goron and the others, ultimately venting it on her.
For example, he would instigate her to steal their father's crown, and when refused, he would inevitably hurl angry insults, sometimes even resorting to physical violence. Later, after being discovered and severely reprimanded by their father, he restrained himself a bit, but various intimidating gestures still continued.
Perhaps these things were incomprehensible at the time, but now, Tilly found them quite laughable and... childish.
Until she found a worm cut into several pieces in her beloved shoes at the age of ten, and unable to endure it any longer, she finally decided to retaliate. She called Roland over, and as he was about to threaten her, she shoved the worm into his mouth. Since then, he had never actively provoked her again, and she was unwilling to pay any attention to this brother. [Please visit >>><<< to read more]
Roland hadn't changed at all after adulthood, even becoming more extreme. She often heard about his profligate deeds. In the rumors among the nobles, he was portrayed as irritable, mean, uneducated, and the least like a noble, possessing nothing but his royal status. Tilly deeply agreed with this assessment... and she also knew that his irritability and anger were all a forced facade to conceal his greatest weakness: cowardice.
Yet this was the person who would stand on the side of witches, protecting a group of heretics known as the Devil's pawns, even to the point of opposing the church?
Tilly didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Tilly, Tilly?" She only came back to her senses when Ashes shook her twice.
"I'm fine, just a little... unbelievable," she shook her head, "Sylvie said that the lord of Border Town is most likely the real Roland Wimbledon, and not someone controlled or replaced by a witch."
"Hmm, that stupid, cough cough, guy who tried to lay his hands on me?" Ashes coughed twice, "He really has changed amazingly. It's only been a year, but apart from his appearance being similar to my memory, I feel like I'm looking at a completely different person."
"Can you elaborate a little more?"
Ashes tilted her head, thinking for a long time, "I think... the biggest difference is cleanliness."
"Cleanliness?"
"Whether it's his attire... or the feeling he gives. He doesn't favor ornaments like other nobles, whether it's gold, silver, or jewels, he doesn't have a single piece on him." Ashes recalled, "Even his clothes are very ordinary, looking quite loose, without lace, ornaments, or gold thread. If it weren't for his overly conspicuous hair color, he would look almost like an ordinary person. But... he doesn't seem like an ordinary person at all."
"Like a noble?" Tilly asked.
"No, even less like a noble," Ashes pouted, "None of the nobles are clean, either stagnant water or silt covering stagnant water. As for him... I can't really say specifically, but overall, he gives a good impression."
"It's hard to believe you would speak for him."
"Uh, I just wanted to answer your question seriously."
Tilly exhaled. It seemed that her brother had indeed changed a lot, but what exactly prompted his transformation? Or was it due to some reason she couldn't investigate, causing him to unknowingly become another person?
The Fifth Princess suddenly recalled Roland's first letter: For this, I must destroy the entire church and turn the saying that witches are evil-doers
into dust, liberating all people from ignorance and folly. This is a long process, and I need your further assistance. As for what made me make this decision, and what made me stop being indifferent to everything like in the past, these trivial matters can be discussed slowly when the opportunity arises.
Perhaps only by meeting him in person can she know the real reason.
Regaining her thoughts, Tilly shifted her gaze back to the letter.
The latter part contained some of Sylvie's observations and experiences in Border Town.
It turned out that Roland chose her to explore mineral resources, but a huge amount of God's Stone of Retaliation was discovered in the North Slope Mine. It turned out that this stone, which could suppress the abilities of witches, grew from the ground like other minerals. In that case, Hermes Holy City must also control such a vein, which can continuously produce God's Stone of Retaliation.
Further down, another piece of news caught her attention.
A weapon that can launch iron balls and crossbow bolts from iron pipes, with great power and accompanied by deafening roars... Although Maisie and Ashes had both mentioned this thing, this was the first time she had seen such a detailed description. There was even a hand-drawn diagram underneath this paragraph.
"Oh? So that's what the thing that shot me looks like," Ashes craned her neck, "Since he's an ally, you can ask him to send a batch of weapons to Sleeping Island in your reply, saying they're for defense against the church. If he's unwilling... humph, this ally may not be as reliable as you think."
"Allies don't mean being without any precautions," Tilly smiled, "This weapon is obviously his foundation, how could he easily hand it over to others? Such a test would only damage the trust that has been built up with great difficulty. The list of witch abilities I gave him didn't include Molly and Whisper either. Besides, we're going to Border Town this winter anyway, it would be easier to talk in person then, wouldn't it?"
"Alright," Ashes spread her hands, "You decide."
Tilly smiled and continued reading the letter.
When her gaze swept to the end of the letter, she couldn't help but be stunned.
Roland had actually invented a type of underwear to wrap women's breasts and gave it as a gift to every adult female in the Witch Union? This was simply too absurd! You should know that giving intimate clothing is something only lovers would do, how could he... Wait, Tilly suddenly remembered that when he was in the royal capital, he seemed to have also given some noble ladies corsets, and some of them were even thrown directly in his face, becoming a joke among the nobles for a while.
This was indeed something he would do!
Tilly suddenly felt conflicted. On the one hand, he was more in line with the image in her memory, but on the other hand, she felt that it was better if he wasn't.
Should she go to Border Town to see him this winter? The Fifth Princess fell into distress. (。、，Your support is my greatest motivation.)