'Is he actually that kind of older brother?' Stella wondered as Hendrick offered a hand to escort her. She blinked twice when Hendrick smiled brightly as she let him hold her hand and escort her to one of their garden pavilions.
Stella realized that Hendrick was jealous that she had only been paying attention to the prince for the past five days. After all, she was his only sister. He had no one else to pamper.
'It's not like I had a choice. I cannot possibly ignore royalty. I would be shaming the entire family. No. The whole dukedom if I failed to entertain the prince while he was here.'
She silently followed Hendrick and was surprised at all the sweets she saw on the table he led her to.
'He was indeed sweet-toothed wasn't he?'
Hendrick pulled a chair for Stella, like a perfect gentleman, and gestured for her to sit. She obediently did.
"Thank you, Older Brother."
"The pleasure is mine, Stella."
They started having tea and Hendrick explained every sweet and pastry they had. Some were specialties in their duchy while others were from other duchies in the empire.
"How come some of these are from other duchies?" she honestly wondered in amazement. She also wanted to taste what the other duchies offered. Stella herself liked sweets.
"Oh, I procured chefs from the duchies that I have visited with Father. I liked their sweets so I had them work for us since I also want you to be able to taste it freshly made," Hendrick said with a smile as if what he just said was nothing special.
Stella stared at her older brother. She had dropped the cupcake she was holding but Hendrick caught it before it fell.
'He did not force them, did he?'
"Stella, why are you staring at me like that? I have a feeling you are thinking that I threatened them. How come you only think of me as that kind of person? I feel sad," Hendrick pouted.
'Because I have a feeling that you are the kind of person, who would do exactly that kind of thing,' she said in her mind.
Hendrick looked and behaved too perfectly that Stella was sure he had a hidden side to him to let go of the pressure of having to behave like someone who had no single weakness.
"Whatever it is you are thinking; it is not. I offered them a huge pay so they agreed. Being in Valyenor would also make them even more popular," Hendrick clarified.
'Could he read my mind?!'
"Uhm, no. I was just surprised that Brother would go that far just so I could taste some sweets," she half-lied.
"It is for my beloved little sister after all," Hendrick said and caressed her cheek. "There is nothing that this older brother would not do for you, Stella," he continued.
'Then could you please not touch me,' she wanted to say. Her suspicions were growing stronger the more she talked with Hendrick.
"Thank you, Older Brother. I would also do whatever I can for Brother."
"That makes me happy Stella," Hendrick said and patted her head.
He was too touchy and affectionate for Stella's taste. It reminded her of Prince Aiden, but with a different kind of feel.
"By the way, what did you want to talk with me about, Brother?" Stella asked so he would stop petting her like some kind of puppy.
"Oh, that," Hendrick sighed and was silent for a few seconds before he spoke again. "Stella, what kind of sister-in-law would you like?"
"Brother is already getting married?!" Stella was shocked. There was no mention of Hendrick getting married in the novel.
"Not yet. But, Father told me to choose someone on my sixteenth birthday," Hendrick replied. He did not look the least bit happy about getting married.
"Ah, brother is going to get engaged."
"I think so. But I do not want to get married. Not until I find a suitable husband for Stella," he said all too seriously that Stella tensed.
"You do not have to worry about me, Brother. I believe Mother and Father will choose the best for me," Stella responded.
She was not even sure she would be alive long enough to be wed. In the novel, her story ended as a single woman tragically dying due to her unrequited love.
"No. I'll have to wait until there's a man who deserves you. If no such man exists, I will marry Stella myself," Hendrick said all too seriously that Stella spat out her tea.
"Brother! That's incest. Please do not say that even as a joke or people will misunderstand," she scolded.
"I'm not kidding, Stella. I will marry you if I have to, rather than let an undeserving bastard steal you away," Hendrick responded. He was serious.
"I'd rather not marry at all if I have to marry my own brother. I'd rather die," Stella crossed her arms on her chest. Now she was sure something was indeed wrong with her brother.
'This bastard. He has a sister complex.'
"S-Stella, you hate me that much?!" Hendrick paled and looked like he was about to cry.
"I do not hate you, Brother Hendrick. But if you ever say or think of such a thing ever again, I will hate you and never talk to you ever again," Stella said sternly and with finality.
"I'm so sorry, Stella. I will never say that again. Did I scare you? I was just worried about you. I did not want you to suffer. Please don't hate me," Hendrick pleaded while holding Stella's hands.
"Yes. That was the scariest thing I have ever heard in my life," Stella eyed him seriously. Hendrick flinched and paled even more.
"Please mind your words, Brother. I won't hate you as long as you do not ever mention this again. Our duchy never entertained incest. What will Mother and Father think if they got to know of this?" she reminded him that their parents would never agree to it.
Hendrick gulped. He obviously thought that she was right and he would surely be punished severely.
"I won't ever say it again," Hendrick finally conceded.
"Promise me," Stella glared. She had to make sure that her older brother would never have such scary thoughts ever again.
"I promise not to ever mention it again, Stella," Hendrick promised.
"Alright. Then I won't hate Older Brother," Stella finally said with a smile and Hendrick sighed in relief as if he had just revived from the dead.
'I'm the one who deserves to sigh in relief!' she screamed in her mind.
"Now then, why are you asking me what kind of sister-in-law I would like? Shouldn't you pick someone you like if Father was kindly letting you choose?"
"Well, I wanted to know what you'd like, so you could get along with the one I would marry. I cannot possibly marry a woman Stella dislikes. You would end up disliking me too," Hendrick clarified.
Stella stared at Hendrick long and hard. He was right about marrying a woman she could get along with. After all, if he married a terrible woman, Stella's life would also be terrible since she would be staying with them in Valyenor.
"Hmm. Then I would prefer a kind, virtuous, and capable woman like Mother who would be able to help Brother in duchy affairs once you become the duke."
"That's right. Someone like Mother would be best. What else?" Hendrick nodded and eagerly asked for more.
'I'm not sure listing a lot of qualifications would be good brother,' she wanted to say but Hendrick looked forward to more.
"Shouldn't brother think of his preferences first?"
"Mine? I do not have any. I would have been fine with whoever Mother and Father chooses for me. But Father told me to choose," Hendrick pouted like he did not enjoy choosing at all.
'You should be happy you were told to choose,' Stella mentally rolled her eyes.
"That's no good brother. You should choose someone you like. It would also be best if she likes you too," Stella preached.
"I could surely make her like me. But do I really have to like her?" Hendrick titled his head to the side as if it did not concern him at all.
"Brother, overconfidence is the bane of men," Stella reminded.
"Stella, have more trust in your older brother. I can charm any lady out there," Hendrick confidently responded.
"Fine. Whatever. But only charm a woman if you like her." She wanted to hit him for his smugness.
"I like her as long as you like her, Sister."
"That's no good, Brother. You have to decide for yourself. She would be the woman who bears your children. You would have to live with her all your life," Stella reiterated.
"You are speaking like Father," Hendrick sighed. He looked like he was thinking hard of what he would like of a woman. "Then I like a woman who gets along well with you and qualifies the kind of sister-in-law you wanted," he said after some time.
"What else?"
"That's all."
"You are really hopeless, Brother. You should at least choose someone as adorable as me. I want cute nieces and nephews," Stella blurted out in exasperation due to his disinterest. She had to wonder if he was gay.
"Oh, right! But wait. No one out there is as adorable as you, Stella," Hendrick said like he believed that what he just said was the only truth of the world.
Stella almost hit her own head. Yeong-ja knew that Stella was simply too adorable but her own brother did not have to be that mesmerized or rather obsessed with her.
"Then you can just choose someone who you think is almost as adorable as me," she had no choice but to say such a narcissistic line again.
"Perfect! That's right. I'll do just that. Thank you for helping your older brother, Stella. I will make sure to find you a nice sister-in-law," Hendrick contentedly smiled and patted her head.
Stella smiled back; feeling so relieved that Hendrick had totally forgotten about his thoughts of marrying her if necessary.