Chapter 8: 8. Roan Ludwer

My little brother is the main character of a novel.

That could be the title of some weird novel, but no.

It's just a funny-ass (it's not funny) prank that reflects on my life.

 

My little brother, in the last year of his Academy life, dies of stress from balding in the original novel.

What caused him to get bald?

Originally, in then novel, the older brother gets absolutely furious after Edward drags his Fiance into Edward's own harem.

He got so furious, he learnt black magic, and cursed Edward with hair loss.

 

The older brother, learnt forbidden black magic, hidden in secret for generations,

For a "hair loss" curse.

Come on man, couldn't you think of something better?

 

For your information,

That older brother is me.

Well now, I don't really have to worry about my brother dying of stress.

Cause I have no plans to curse my little brother with hair loss and follow the original plans of the novel.

Proof? The older brother originally just enrolls in the Academy instead of working for the Government. (Only thing the original Roan Ludwer  did well compared to me)

 

I'm not really jealous of my little brother's group of girls; or harem as you call it.

And I don't have much affection and attachment to my fiance compared to the original Roan Ludwer. (Yes, I have a fiance)

I'm just jealous that he's playing around while I work my ass off for this shitty job!

 

"I see. Well, I'm glad you've been well, Edward."

I was going to reply to Alicia von Gelb's introduction, but I would rather not fuck up in front of the 1st Princess of the Lionel Federation, so I just said, "I see." and talked to Edward.

I would attempt to be more relaxed and enthusiastic with my brother, if the 4 girls in the group weren't here.

I still have a reputation to uphold as a Minister for our "glorious" Empire. If I acted all buddy-wuddy with my brother in front of a princess, I would probably get my ass beat by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs president.

Right then, an unknown girl with white hair and red eyes asked,

"Um... Older brother of Edward, may I ask what you're here for?"

Hmm. It feels like it's been a few years I've ever been called anything other than "Minister".

"I'm here in relation of work."

"Work? Do you work for the Government?"

"Yes. The Finance Ministry."

I answered back with a excuse I had in mind before I came to the Academy.

I'm not here to catch every single foreign student for suspicion of espionage, I'm here to help with finance! Trust me! 

"Wow! I heard it's really hard to become a Government worker these days!"

The girl, with excited eyes, exclaimed.

Hm.. I heard that the civil service exams these days were getting a bit more difficult, but I guess it got really hard considering a random citizens knows about it.

"I don't know much about that because I took the exam 4 years ago."

As the girl with white hair was about to talk more, I quickly interrupted, looking at my watch.

"Weren't you guys heading to class? If you wander more, you're going to be late."

"No, I think it's oka-"

"Yep.  I think we need to go soon."

While the girl with white hair looked like she wanted to talk more, Edward quickly interrupted.

"Well, I'll see you next time, Edward."

Along with the lines of, 'Let's eat lunch together later,' I said goodbye to Edward and his harem.

I advised Edward finally,

"There's a lot to do in the Academy. Enjoy your youth here."

Of course, I don't know what people can do here, since I've been too busy working my ass off.

But hey, I just want to tell Edward he's privileged that he's the second son of our family and not the first. 

If he was the first son, maybe he'd be working his ass of instead.

As I was about to turn around and head back, I saw another girl chasing and trying to tag along Edward's clique.

The boy to girl ratio is now 1:5!!!

Wait..

'That's the 3rd Princess of the Royal Family.'

Fuck.

You are reading story I Became a Tax Collector in a Novel at novel35.com

I quickly saluted as per protocol when meeting someone from the Royal Family for 5 seconds,

and then ran away like a bitch.

It's bad for my mental health when my brother's harem are full of people who could chop my neck off in a whim.

 

 

By the way, I found out that my office was literally 40 steps away from the center plaza.

Hahaha.

Shit.

***

As Edward watched his older brother, Roan Ludwer run away after saluting Liana, the 3rd Princess, he finally sighed a signal of relief.

Elizabeth, the girl with white hair and red eyes, noticed that Edward was stiff, had dry sweat, and was stressed.

"Are you alright Edward? Is something wrong?"

"I'm alright. Thanks."

Edward smiled awkwardly, to try and attempt to show that he was all good, but inside, Edward wasn't "all good".

As soon as he saw Roan Ludwer coming toward him, he felt like a small mouse in front of a venomous viper.

"It's been a while. Have you been well?"

As Roan's dark eyes stared down at Roan, as Roan's deep and smooth voice met his ears, Edward was scared. He was in fear.

'It gets harder and harder to get used to him.'

Edward, who is outgoing and very easily approachable was the complete opposite of Roan, who ignited a certain pressure every time he even walked.

Such difference even made Edward wonder if they were from the same mother.

In truth, it wasn't like this when Edward was young. Edward & Roan had a good relationship as siblings. They played, argued, and then made up like any normal family. Roan was just a normal and outgoing older brother.

Roan didn't know, but Edward respected Roan. Roan was his role model.

Roan started working for the government at the age of 17, and was dispatched to the Northern Frontier.

Edward was proud for his brother. While most people thought of just fooling around in the Academy when they were 17, Roan made the hard decision to serve the Empire.

That was, until tragedy struck.

For 2 whole years, Edward couldn't see his brother, it was presumed that he was dead; and that his corpse has been lost in a battle that he became intertwined in, in the Northern Frontier.

Edward was turned into a temporary successor for the Ludwer Early family.

He cried for days. He wanted to see Roan. 

He wished to see his brother once more.

And maybe, perhaps, his wish was heard by the gods, as Roan Ludwer came back "alive".

Due to the fact that Roan came back alive, Edward lost the successor position. But he didn't care. He just wanted to see his brother.

However, Edward found out. When they said he returned alive, they only meant his physical body.

Roan was mentally dead.

His deep, dark eyes, that were once pretty as if looking at the night-sky, was empty.

Almost as if measuring the worth of every person, every action, with no regard for attachment.

A bone-chilling apathetic expression was worn on Roan's face 24/7.

Shocked, Edward stood still.

Edward was told later that day that Roan suddenly became the Minister of the Capital Finance Inspectorate Office.

 

Roan also maintained "dead" as he was being praised by the Earl, his father.

"I'm proud of you. You have served the Empire well."

Edward wasn't told what Roan has done for the Empire while he was gone.

But Edward didn't want to know. He wasn't willing to look at what caused his brother to become like such a person.

"I've only done what I was supposed to do."

Roan replied with an unmoving tone of voice.

With that comment, the Earl wrinkled his expression.

The Earl, also noticed.

While the Earl didn't show it that much, he loved his children.

However, Roan in front of him wasn't the child he once knew.

 

Roan was gone.

 

 

 

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