Karl firmly believed that as long as Adelyn accepted him under her wing, he would become invincible.

So he had given it his all—every bit of effort, every ounce of shameless persistence —just to win the favor of his sister-in-law.

But when he still didn’t see her accepting him, he could no longer hold back his tears.

Letting them roll freely down his cheeks, he cried out pitifully,

"Sister-in-law, you can’t reject me like this. I might have grown tall and big, but my heart is still innocent and weak. It can’t handle your ... rejection."

Then, without hesitation, he rushed toward her again, clearly intending to cling to her once more.

Adelyn instinctively moved to push him away—

But—

Before she could even act, a sharp and forceful kick landed on him from the side, sending him flying off his feet.

It happened so quickly that Adelyn took a moment to even process what had just occurred.

When she finally did—

She turned her head toward Dylan.

However, he looked exactly the same as before. Calm. Composed. Unbothered.

So much so that she almost doubted whether the kick had even been real... or just her imagination.

However—

The next second, a sharp cry of pain shattered that doubt.

She turned back immediately.

Karl lay sprawled on the floor, clutching his stomach as if his insides had nearly been shaken loose.

"Since you don’t want to learn here," Dylan spoke evenly, "go pack your things and get ready. Training at the border will teach you discipline."

Karl’s entire world seemed to collapse at those words.

He looked at his brother in disbelief, shaking his head as if refusing to accept it.

But deep down, he knew—

No matter how much he resisted, he couldn’t go against that decision.

And so, as expected—

He turned back toward Adelyn again.

Dragging his limp, aching body across the floor, he pleaded,

"Sister-in-law, Big Brother is sending me away. Won’t you stop him?"

Despite the pain, he continued inching closer to her.

Adelyn watched him, utterly at a loss for words.

Did he really think she could save him?

On what grounds?

She was nothing more than a woman who had lied her way into his brother’s life.

The moment even one of her lies get exposed—

She would be the one facing consequences.

And yet—

Here he was, placing all his faith in her.

He truly had a death wish.

"Sister-in-law, I’m your youngest brother-in-law. Do you hate me so much that you won’t bat an eye even if I’m gone??" he cried again.

Adelyn shook her head.

"I don’t hate you," she said honestly.

Karl froze at her response.

Staring at her, he quickly wiped his tears and asked eagerly, "Really??"

Adelyn pressed her lips together before continuing, "You were reckless last night when you took Eira to that place. And if being honest, you are responsible for everything you’re facing right now."

She paused briefly before adding,

"But ... the fact that you still stood your ground to protect her —that earns you some grace."

"So yes," she concluded, "even though I blame you, I also appreciate the courage you showed."

"Then ..."

Karl immediately dropped to his knees and shuffled closer, hope lighting up his eyes again.

"Does that mean you won’t reject me —and instead protect me?"

"You—"

Adelyn almost raised her hand to hit him again, but stopped herself midway.

What part of what she just said gave him such ridiculous hope?

Karl stared at her intently—

And then, as if something snapped, he burst into tears again.

"Sister-in-law, save me! I don’t want to go to the border. If I go, I might not come back alive. Can you really bear losing me at such a young age?"

Adelyn stared at him, utterly speechless.

Why wouldn’t she bear it?

Was he seriously overestimating his importance like this?

And wait—

Why wouldn’t he come back alive from the border?

What kind of wild imagination had he built in his head?

"Sister-in-law ..."

Adelyn felt her head begin to ache from his relentless crying.

At that moment, she realized one thing clearly—

He had been right about one thing.

Even if he had grown tall and big, he was still very much a child.

A child capable of giving anyone a splitting headache.

Just like he was doing to her now.

"Look, it’s not that I don’t want to save you," Adelyn finally said, her tone revealing that she was truly reaching the end of her patience. "It’s just that I don’t have the kind of authority you think I do."

She then glanced toward Dylan and added,

"Even though your brother and I are in a relationship, it’s only been a few days since we got together. We’re not close enough for me to override his decisions. Right, Mr. Warren?"

Dylan didn’t respond immediately.

He simply stared at her.

Karl, however, reacted instantly.

"Bullsh*t!"

Adelyn turned to look at him, one brow raised.

Karl immediately stiffened and corrected himself,

"I mean —sister-in-law, how can you underestimate yourself like that? Who do you think you are?"

He then turned toward his brother and continued passionately,

"You’re my brother’s woman. Dylan Warren’s one and only girlfriend. Do you really think your words don’t hold any weight?"

He might have doubted it before.

But after seeing how effortlessly she had made his brother accept everything the last night—

He was convinced.

She was their only savior against the Old Demon.

Now, no one could make him believe otherwise.

Adelyn pressed her lips into a thin line at his words.

This man really had no filter.

Talking big was one thing—

But saying things like that directly to her face was another.

"I might hold some value," she said carefully, "but definitely not the kind you’re expecting. I—"

"Do you want to protect him?"

Dylan’s voice cut through her words.

Adelyn paused mid-sentence.

Her eyes turned toward him, confusion evident in them.

Protect him?

What exactly was he trying to ask her?