Weren’t You the One Who Was Dying? Chapter 125

“Gone? Completely?”

“If anything, it’s for the best. Now I won’t have to make you feel this anxious because of it anymore.”

There was not the slightest hint of a lie in Ehit’s gaze or voice. He truly seemed to think it was a good thing that his foresight ability was gone.

Even though it had terrible side effects, it must still have been a fairly important part of him.

“Um…… I feel like I’m the one who got rid of your foresight ability.”

“No.”

Did Ehit feel this way when he heard that I had lost most of my divine power?

Ehit said that wasn’t the case, but I couldn’t help thinking that way. I wondered if I had focused only on treating him so that he would wake up, without being able to save his foresight ability as well.

Ehit looked at me for a moment before speaking.

“If that’s bothering you, then let’s just say we each put one thing in a box.”

“A box?”

“Just stored it away in a box. You put your divine power in yours, and I put my ability in mine.”

Seeing Ehit reassure me with such an uncharacteristically cute metaphor somehow made my heart feel lighter.

“And there’s something else I want to tell you.”

“Do I need to prepare myself again before I hear it this time?”

When I pretended to be startled, Ehit smiled and seemed to think for a moment.

“It isn’t something that should surprise you, but you might need to prepare yourself.”

“What is it?”

Ehit took both of my hands and gently caressed them. Then he lightly kissed the backs of my hands before looking at me.

At that moment, I instinctively knew what he was going to say and smiled.

“Will you marry me, Daphlen?”

His blue eyes, holding my reflection, trembled slightly as he asked, yet they held a firm light.

Even though I knew what he was going to say, actually hearing those words from Ehit’s lips made me happier than I could have imagined.

And I felt that from this moment on, I was truly beginning a new life.

In the original story, I had died after breaking off my engagement with him.

But now, I was holding both of his hands and imagining a tomorrow that we would live together.

Because he and I had steadily walked toward each other. Because we had passed through the time when we pushed each other away and doubted each other, and had faced our feelings honestly and boldly.

From now on, there would only be a future that no one had predicted, a future created solely by my choices.

Of course, that future would surely have hardships, sadness, and struggles.

But this person would be there, too. And we would always promise each other that we would face tomorrow together.

I smiled brightly and gave Ehit a short kiss.

“So, Daphlen, are you using that as your answer?”

“Of course not.”

Ehit returned the short kiss and smiled. His slightly languid smile, glowing in the sunlight, was beautifully radiant.

I gently wrapped my arms around Ehit’s neck. Then I pressed my forehead against his and looked deeply into his eyes.

“Let’s get married. On the condition that we never break off our engagement, no matter the reason.”

“That’s exactly what I was going to say.”

Ehit pulled me into his arms even more tightly.

He buried his face in my shoulder and took a deep breath, as if trying to feel once again that all of this was real.

His breath, filled with emotion, brushed against my neck.

Still holding me precious in his arms, he kissed me again and again.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

Although Ehit and I had verbally promised to get married, there were still some important things we had to do first.

“Ehit, I think we should tell both our families first.”

“I’ve already told the Cloyden family.”

“When would be a good time to tell them…… Huh? Already? What did they say?”

“I barely managed to stop them from insisting that we hold the ceremony tomorrow.”

The first important thing was getting the approval—or rather, the not-quite-approval—of our parents and families before the wedding.

“So now we only need Daphlen’s permission. Once we have that, I’d be perfectly happy to hold the ceremony tomorrow.”

“I can’t do tomorrow!”

Inside the study, Ehit, who had been sitting beside me, wrapped an arm around my waist and rested his cheek against mine.

His voice asking why not seemed to echo right beside my ear.

“If we do it that quickly, I’ll think I dreamed it the next day. I need to take it in while we prepare little by little.”

“If it’s a dream where Daphlen appears, I wouldn’t mind that either.”

“Ehit!”

I barely managed to pull Ehit away as he hugged me tighter, laughing and saying it was a joke. He had already put on his uniform and was completely ready to leave.

He had to return to Bellazen now, while I still had a few more days left on my assignment in the capital.

And during those few days in the capital, I planned to make another important choice.

The second important thing I had to do was decide which family I would return to.

Of course, if I married Ehit later, I would also take the Cloyden family name, but this was an entirely different matter.

It was about deciding what I considered my ‘real name.’

“When I see you in a few days, um, I’ll probably have made my decision by then.”

“Yes. It’s a shame I won’t be there when you make such an important decision.”

Ehit helped me stand and escorted me to the carriage.

“See you in a few days.”

I waved through the closing carriage door.

Ehit seemed about to turn away, but then he walked back toward me. He opened the carriage door again and gently held my cheeks in both hands.

“It looks like these will be a very long few days.”

“I feel the same.”

“I think we should hurry things along somehow.”

Ehit gazed at my face for a long moment with his blue eyes, then gave me a deep kiss before finally turning away.

I also watched Ehit for a long time through the carriage window.

When he disappeared from my sight, I straightened my head and sat up properly.

“Phew.”

I took a breath and prepared myself for today.

Once I finished my work at the medical center today, I would visit the Trussia and Ailetta families.

I had almost made my decision in my heart, but I was still nervous about actually saying my decision out loud and making it official.

‘I still can’t believe I get to see our youngest daughter’s face.’

‘She has the exact same face Renia had as a child. How could we not recognize her? She grew up so beautifully. Riedel, don’t you think so too?’

‘Is she only beautiful? She’s so capable, responsible, and smart.’

My real family, the Trussia family, who had showered me with an overwhelming amount of love ever since we reunited and surely would continue to do so.

‘Daphlen, I’ll respect your choice.’

‘Brother, what do you mean, respect? What are we supposed to do if Daphlen doesn’t choose us?’

‘Even so, I’ll respect it……. Sob, I’ll be right back.’

The Aileta family, who had given me plenty of trouble and sometimes—or rather, often—argued with me, but who knew me better than anyone and had raised me.

I closed my eyes for a moment and pictured the members of both families in my mind before opening them again.

The carriage continued racing forward.

 

 

****

 

 

 

“Renia! Our youngest is here. Wilson! Is the feast ready?”

The place I was heading to was Trussia.

The moment I entered the Trussia estate, the Trussia couple came rushing out to greet me.

Wilson, one of the servants, immediately ran toward the dining room, while the other servants not only carried my luggage but even sprinkled me with scented oil and flowers.

The excessive welcome was enough to make my head spin.

Riedel, who had met me beforehand and come with me from the medical center, saw my expression and sent the servants away.

As always, Riedel and I seemed to understand each other without needing to say much.

“Come inside quickly! Aren’t you hungry? Reni……”

“Oh, Mother, Father. I’m Daphlen now, remember?”

Riedel corrected my biological parents. I headed toward the dining room with an awkward smile.

During the long meal, the conversation never stopped.

My parents seemed happy simply to hear me speak, no matter what I said, and Riedel and I got along so well that there was never a break in the conversation.

But I knew what they were waiting to hear at the end of that long conversation.

The direction of our conversation naturally turned toward me.

In other words, they wanted to know what decision I would make and whether I would accept the Trussia name as one of their family members.

“I’ve…… made my decision.”

I looked at my biological parents and Riedel in turn.

Everyone wore comfortable smiles, but I could see a little tension and anxiety beneath them. So I thought it would be better to speak quickly.

I clenched my hand once and said, trying my best not to let my voice tremble.

“I’ve decided to return to Ailetta.”

“That’s all right.”

My biological parents answered immediately, as if they had already expected it.

Even if they said it was all right, surely they had to be disappointed.

But they simply smiled and came toward me together. Then they hugged me tightly, filling their arms with me.

I remembered being held in this same warmth when I was little.

“……Daphlen.”

They both said it at the same time.

“Thank you……”

For the first time, my biological parents called me by my name, ‘Daphlen.’

They had only called my name, but in that moment, I could feel how many decisions had passed through their hearts.

“We had already expected it. We’re simply more than grateful that we can see you again and talk with you like this.”

As if admitting that warmth could melt beautiful eyes, as if preparing to finally leave behind the beautiful winter that had remained frozen for so long.

And as if they knew how precious it was to welcome a new season, my parents and Riedel smiled brightly.

“Really…… really?”

After hearing my words, Father spilled juice from his mouth.

“My dear! Honey! Come here right now! Come hear what Daphlen just said!”

“No, just the fruit……”

“The fruit isn’t the problem! My dear!”

Father hurried over and practically carried Mother back with him.

Mother’s eyelids twitched when she heard my decision.

The fruit basket she had been holding dropped to the floor with a thud, and my older brothers barely managed to catch it.

The people of Ailetta asked me several times if I was really serious, as though they couldn’t believe my decision. Apparently, everyone had assumed I would naturally go to Trussia.

“I really mean it.”

Once my family confirmed that I hadn’t misspoken or made a joke, everyone went into an uproar.

They all looked happy, but there was still a little confusion on their faces.

Adlen, who had been standing quietly with his arms crossed and his lips pressed together, finally asked the question that seemed to explain everyone’s confusion.

“Why in the world did you make that decision, Daphlen?”

Everyone’s eyes turned toward Adlen.

“Adlen! Tsk! Don’t ask her something like that!”

Enric jumped to his feet and hurriedly covered Adlen’s mouth.