Weren’t You the One Who Was Dying? Chapter 105

As soon as I turned around, Ehit gestured to me with his eyes.

“…?!”

Wait, wasn’t Ehit number 36?

While I was still blinking, unable to process what was happening, Ehit lifted my hand.

Then he took the number ticket I was holding and slipped his own into my hand.

“Looks like we have the same number.”

“How did that happen?”

“I just happened to find a number I liked.”

“…”

I’d thought Ehit hadn’t changed—that he was the same as he had been a year ago.

No. Somehow he’d become even more shameless! He used to enjoy teasing me back then, but this was on another level!

“Everyone! We’re about to begin! If you’ve confirmed your number, please gather in the center!”

The loud voice of Marquis Esi echoed from the middle of the hall.

Looking at me with a face so nonchalant it was as if nothing had happened, Ehit held out his hand once more.

“Let’s go, Daphlen.”

My mouth opened, overflowing with things I wanted to say, but in the end, I had no choice but to take his hand.

And so the dance began.

Facing Ehit, I rested my hand on his shoulder. His hand settled lightly around my waist.

“It’s been a while since I danced. Or… is this my first time?”

“Huh? Ehit, you’ve never danced before?”

“I meant dancing with you.”

“Oh. Right. That’s true. It’s nice.”

I was a little nervous.

I’d told the blond nobleman I wasn’t good at dancing, but I was stumbling around even more than I’d expected. It was probably because of who my partner was.

And somehow, that made it even more embarrassing.

Swallowing a sigh, I changed the subject.

“I never thought you’d enjoy this kind of scandal, Ehit—dancing with me.”

“I don’t enjoy scandals.”

“Don’t you see everyone sneaking glances at us?”

“I do.”

As he answered calmly, I accidentally stepped on his foot.

“Didn’t like my answer?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“Let’s say that’s the case.”

“I told you, it wasn’t! I’m just terrible at dancing!”

“I understand.”

Meeting my eyes, Ehit smiled.

What was with that smile while staring at me like that?

It almost felt like he was smiling just to keep me from saying anything else.

“…Anyway. When you called my name earlier, everyone figured out who I was. Dancing with your ex-fiancée? By tomorrow every newspaper in the capital will be full of it.”

“If that happens, we’ll simply issue a correction.”

“Saying you never danced with me?”

“No. Saying we were never officially engaged no longer.”

“Huh?”

“The final step of breaking an engagement is for both parties to meet at the cathedral, discuss it together, and formally declare that they agree to dissolve the engagement. We skipped that part, didn’t we?”

What?

“…?!”

I stared blankly at Ehit’s calm face.

Then… were we not actually broken off?

“Well?”

Unlike the cold sweat running down my back, I forced an easy smile.

Could that really be true?

As we continued dancing, I mulled it over.

And stepped on Ehit’s foot several more times.

Then something suddenly came back to me.

What Ehit had mentioned was only a ceremonial custom—it wasn’t actually the legal procedure.

Oh, come on.

Remembering that, I looked up and glared at him.

Ehit simply smiled innocently, as if he had no idea why I was glaring.

He really had become much more shameless.

More impossible to read than ever.

“Whatever. What good are formalities? The whole world already knows our engagement is over.”

Keeping hold of Ehit’s left hand, I stepped back with the music.

Then one step forward again.

I came so close my face nearly brushed his shoulder.

“Isn’t it more important that the two people involved don’t know, than that everyone else does?”

“I know.”

I couldn’t clearly see his expression, but I could tell he wasn’t particularly pleased.

I could feel it from the strength of the hand holding mine.

Ehit’s fingers wrapped around my hand more firmly than before.

I had to admit I’d answered defensively.

I’d batted his words away like a shield.

It had been a reflex.

But I wasn’t sure which direction I was holding that shield.

Toward Ehit…

Or toward myself.

“Is that how you truly feel?”

“You’re the one who said it first. That seeing me was nothing more than a doctor and patient’s relationship.”

Again.

Again I’d reflexively thrown his words back at him.

Did I want to get closer to him?

Or did I want to stay away?

Something in Ehit’s gaze changed.

Until now he’d looked like solid ice—calm and composed.

Now, for just a moment, emotion flickered there.

“Daphlen.”

The moment Ehit called my name, the music stopped.

The dance was over.

The guests bowed politely to one another before drifting toward the sides of the hall in conversation.

I looked around, avoiding his eyes.

“I… I need to go find Lady Naia. I’ll be going now.”

After saying goodbye, I hurried away from Ehit and disappeared into the crowd.

If I clearly understood the feelings showing on his face…

I didn’t think I’d be able to keep walking.

So I never looked back.

 

 

****

 

 

 

Fortunately, I found Naia quickly this time.

She was in a small hall with a high ceiling.

Attached to it was a room with a balcony overlooking the hall below.

Naia led me out onto the balcony.

Below us stretched an empty hall covered in a deep red carpet.

“In a little while, people will gather in the hall below. We’ll see if your birth family is among them, Daphlen.”

“So I just stay here?”

“Yes. It would be troublesome if the wrong people tried pretending to know you.”

The balcony had chairs, a table, and a light spread of refreshments.

Naia had just seated me and was about to leave when she turned back.

“Does this feel rude to you? If it does, tell me now.”

“No. I’m actually grateful.”

Only after she asked did it occur to me that someone else might find this offensive.

But I didn’t.

Probably because I knew she was doing all of this solely for my sake.

Though… I still wasn’t sure whether I deserved such kindness.

“That’s a relief. I’ll tell your brothers as well.”

“My brothers?”

Were my brothers helping search for my real family too?

We’d exchanged letters a few times after I left the Aileta family, but they’d never once said they wanted to visit me.

I hadn’t realized they’d been thinking about my situation at all.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hurt.

But in the end, I was the one who had left the family.

I had no right to complain.

“My brothers are looking for my family too?”

Naia didn’t give me a clear answer.

She merely replied,

“Who knows.”

Then she turned away.

“Just wait a little longer.”

She closed the door behind her.

Sitting on the balcony, I looked down below.

After a short while, people began gathering one by one.

Most were middle-aged couples.

People who looked as though they might have had a daughter around my age.

Resting one hand on the railing, I studied them more closely.

I was curious.

A little nervous too.

But strangely…

I wasn’t excited.

Rather than shining with anticipation, my eyes simply watched them quietly.

Naia entered the hall and began speaking with them.

“She had beautiful hair.”

“I see. What color was it? Was it dark?”

“Yes. It’s been so long… but I think it was dark. She had dark hair and bright, intelligent eyes.”

As I listened to one couple, I absentmindedly played with the hair that fell over my chest.

My hair isn’t all that dark, though.

“Very well. Now then, Lady Witherton. Was there anything distinctive she carried?”

“She had a lovely hairpin… though after all this time, I’m sure it’s been lost.”

“What kind of hairpin?”

“I think it was pink… though I’m certain it’s gone by now.”

Naia asked each of them about the daughter they’d lost—the child’s appearance, personality, or anything that might help identify her.

The meeting continued for quite some time.

I’d leaned forward, watching their expressions and listening carefully.

Eventually, I leaned back in my chair.

“Thank you all for coming. I know it wasn’t easy to share these memories. You may return home now.”

“No, thank you, Director. We’re so grateful for everything you’ve done. Your kindness has truly moved us. When shall we hold the next gathering?”

“The next gathering?”

“Meeting like this is a valuable connection in itself. Shouldn’t we continue it?”

At the words of a gentleman in a violet gilet, the others hurried toward Naia again.

“I agree, madam. Why don’t we hold the next meeting at our estate?”

“No, please come to ours—”

“Our family has premium seaweed sent from Sentia. You know how rare it is, don’t you? We’d be honored to serve it next time—”

“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.”

Naia cut everyone off without hesitation and rose to her feet.

She looked up toward where I was standing and gave me a small signal.

Time to leave.

“Madam! Just a moment! I’d like a word with you. I have some fine jewels—”

“And I have rare silk! Please, feel the fabric—”

Without slowing her steps, Naia glanced back and said,

“I already have plenty of fine jewels and silk. All I want is to find one child’s family.”

Watching the hall doors close behind her, I stood as well.

Sometimes you just have a feeling.

Somehow…

I’d had that feeling all along.

Maybe that was why, even in a moment that should have filled me with excitement over a reunion…

I couldn’t bring myself to feel much of anything.