Rosa's determination to find her younger brother, even if it meant digging him up from under the ground, was truly resolute.
Over the next few months, she and the countess literally searched the entire empire for him.
They hired a detective from the best private detective agency, paying him a sum that would have been enough to search for the emperor's heir, rather than the runaway son of a modest count's family.
All this time, Rosa and her mother were in a state of constant tension.
A few months ago, not only was the ceremony to transfer the title of head of the family to Gilbert supposed to take place, but also his wedding to the heiress of the Valentino family.
Yes. These two events were indeed supposed to take place on the same day.
And yet, on the eve of both of these important events, Gilbert — the one who was supposed to be their main participant — simply took off and disappeared.
Leaving only a short farewell letter, this guy ran away in the middle of the night and disappeared into thin air.
And all this was just so that Rosa and their mother would find such a "pleasant" surprise the next morning...
Of course, at that moment, they had to find a way out of the situation.
So the countess lied to the Valentino family, saying that Gilbert had suddenly fallen seriously ill. The illness was so serious that the guy allegedly couldn't even get out of bed and leave his room.
Obviously, in such a state, he was hardly ready to take on the title of head of the family and attend the wedding ceremony.
However, of course, these two could have been married without a lavish wedding.
Nevertheless, no matter how you look at it, it was a rather important element of their empire's traditions.
It was believed that marriage was a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Therefore, the ceremony dedicated to such an event was no less important.
And since the reputation of the Valentino family also depended on it, they had no choice but to postpone the wedding indefinitely.
Thus, the problem was somehow resolved. But obviously, these were only temporary measures.
First of all, they needed to find Gilbert, wherever that bastard was hiding.
Five whole months had passed since the start of the relentless search for Rosa's younger brother.
Finally, one fine day, they heard the long-awaited good news.
"Lady Rosamund, we have found your younger brother."
The private investigator they had hired came to their house to deliver the news.
Countess Rosamund was so excited by what she heard that she even had to take a sedative.
For this reason, while the countess was still recovering, it was Rosa who spoke with the detective.
"Really? And where was he?!"
"The thing is..." the detective hesitated, "your brother changed his first and last name. That's why it took us so long to find him."
"What?"
Rosa couldn't believe that her brother was really willing to go so far for this that he even renounced his last name.
Did he really not want to marry Valentino's heiress that much?
"Yes. Please take a look. This is all we were able to find thanks to our thorough investigation."
The detective handed Rosa the documents.
Rosa took them and read them carefully.
They contained brief information about her brother's life over the past few months, including his new name, which he had now changed.
"Pines Ravilius."
That was the new name of her brother, Gilbert.
Ha...
Rosa sighed heavily again, as she had done almost constantly over the past few months.
Meanwhile, after a moment's hesitation, the detective continued:
"Your brother has not only changed his name, but has also moved south."
At that moment, Countess Rosamund, hearing this, came to her senses a little.
"What? South?!"
"That's right. We tracked his location, and he is indeed in the south at the moment." To be more precise, in the city of Elton.
Although Rosa was initially prepared for anything when she heard the news about her brother, to be honest, even she was confused now.
Her younger brother not only changed his name, but also moved from the north to the south...
Who would have thought that this timid guy would really go to such lengths just to escape from them?
Especially since he clearly hoped that they would never find him.
"And what is he doing there?" Rosa frowned, putting the documents aside.
"At the moment, Lord Rosmund has enrolled in the Arden Academy."
"...What?!"
"It was precisely because Lord Rosmund submitted his fake documents for admission that we were able to track him down and identify him."
For a moment, it seemed that not only the countess but also Rosa herself had lost her voice.
Even her throat felt tight.
Arden Academy... Wasn't that the most prestigious academy for aristocrats? How did her brother manage to get in there?!
The Arden Academy was one of the educational institutions for aristocrats and was among the top three in the empire. The very fact that her brother had somehow gotten in there was truly shocking.
What's more, not only did he get into the academy, but he was studying there under a false identity...
"Rosa, my God... What are we going to do now?" her mother sobbed.
To be honest, the girl herself didn't know.
To everyone, her younger brother was currently seriously ill and bedridden. While in reality... apparently, he was having the time of his life!
Rosa gritted her teeth in indignation at the very thought of it.
Nevertheless, a plan quickly formed in her head.
Although it wasn't exactly simple.
"Mother, everything will be fine," Rosa squeezed the countess's hand tighter, "I will definitely bring Gilbert home soon."
"But how... how will you do that?" her mother sobbed.
And indeed... How?
She couldn't just show up there and demand that her brother be returned home, could she? Especially since no one else knew Gilbert de Rosemund's true whereabouts.
And if the deception they had so carefully concealed over the past few months were to be revealed... It was terrifying to even think about it.
The punishment that would befall them from the Valentino family for all this would undoubtedly make them regret ever being born.
And so...
Well, apparently, there was no other way out.
"I'll enroll in that academy myself and find my brother. Don't worry, when I find him, we'll come home quickly."
"You'll enroll? You'll enroll in Arden Academy?!"
Rosa nodded.
However, at that moment, the detective cleared his throat awkwardly and said,
"Lady Rosamund, I'm sorry, but you do know... that this academy is for men only?"