Weren’t You the One Who Was Dying? Chapter 24

The moment Randy heard those words, his heart dropped.

If Chief Butler Archers—whose head was already completely bald—had heard it, he might have thought, “Is he talking about me?”

But Randy was still young, and his hair was far too healthy for him to think that way.

Which meant that his young master was asking such a question with such a serious expression, in that deeply earnest tone, because of something else entirely……

“Young master.”

So that was it. No wonder he’d gone somewhere yesterday, slept not a wink, and was still like this until dawn today.

“That isn’t necessarily a sad thing.”

“Not a sad thing?”

Ehit lifted his head. His blue eyes, reflected in the window, gleamed sharply.

For a brief moment, Randy caught the icy chill in that gaze and grew several times more tense.

“N-no, that’s not what I meant…….”

Randy didn’t yet know the ducal family’s medical history. This was the first time he had learned of his young master’s concern, and he hadn’t dared to pity him—he had only tried to ease his worries by saying it was all right.

But that look—

Randy felt as though he had been frozen solid in an instant. Flustered, he stumbled over his words.

“Y-young master, I mean—”

“That’s enough.”

Ehit waved his hand. The cold edge in his eyes had already vanished.

“You’re right. It’s not something I should be sad about.”

“Yes. That’s right, young master!”

Ehit’s gaze settled back into its usual cold calm.

“Leave.”

Not knowing which mood to match, Randy hurried out of Ehit’s room.

It seemed he should ask the chief butler how he’d felt when he lost his hair, and study his young master a bit more.

Left alone, Ehit loosened the top button of his shirt and exhaled. His brow furrowed as he sank deep into thought.

Over the past few days of observing Dapflen, she often turned her head away, as if embarrassed, whenever she noticed his gaze.

He didn’t like that act of shyness.

Yes. That was the kind of performance people put on when they expected him to give his heart to a political marriage—people who dreamed of such hollow romance.

Could she really just be shy?

No. That wasn’t it.

She didn’t like him.

The stiff expression she wore whenever she looked at him, the way her eyes sometimes glared at him—those things proved it.

And yet, even though that was the case, even though she didn’t truly feel that way and didn’t even know what kind of person he was, why did she keep acting as if she were about to flatter him?

He had never seen someone who behaved like that without harboring different thoughts behind the scenes.

The sight irritated him, and without realizing it, he had spoken more harshly than intended.

‘Yes. Surveillance.’

So be honest.

Don’t wear a mask and show different faces inside and out. Be honest about what you want.

Stop stirring up this irritation he couldn’t even name, and clearly say what you’re thinking—what kind of person you are.

‘Is she really terminally ill?’

That thought had even crossed his mind.

But then—

‘You didn’t see it, right?’

Today, at the lake, when her hair had blown together with the willow branches—he saw it.

In front of Dapflen, he’d acted as though he didn’t know, but he had seen it clearly.

‘So it really was true?’

Up close, her blinking eyes looked lively enough, and she kept playing dumb, so he’d thought she might actually be fine.

He had even wondered if she had made the illness up.

But no.

Dapflen’s condition was more serious than he had thought.

‘…Is that a symptom too? Or is it because of the medicine?’

Ehit, who had always had thick, full hair, had never even imagined such a thing.

Still, he knew enough to understand that for something like that to happen at such a young age—barely in one’s early twenties—was not normal.

So that meant it was true.

‘At most half a year… at least… three months. There really isn’t much time left.’

If those words were true, then Dapflen Aileta truly was living on borrowed time.

The reason he had observed her these past few days was to confirm that fact. And now, he had simply confirmed it once more.

‘That works out.’

This way, both sides would reach a clean ending.

From Ehit’s perspective, he could be promised the title without an actual political marriage.

From Aileta’s perspective, there would still be something to gain simply from having been connected to Cloyden. People would sympathize, saying it couldn’t be helped, and the ducal house would at least show her the minimum courtesy due to someone who had been tied to them.

Of course, if she—like sentimental people often do—wanted his heart or any emotional outcome beyond that, he couldn’t indulge her.

‘I need to keep the duke from finding out.’

He didn’t know how Dapflen had persuaded the duke, or what the duke had seen in her. But if the truth came out carelessly and the wedding were pushed forward, that would be troublesome.

In his closed eyes, the image of Dapflen’s hair flying together with the trailing willow leaves flashed by again.

Ehit picked up the glass of water on the table and drank it down in large gulps.

As dawn passed, the shadows beneath his eyes—after yet another sleepless night—grew darker and deeper.

 

 

****

 

 

 

When the sun shone straight down from the top of the sky, Dellers Bright was waiting for a reply to the telegram he had sent his friend.

「How about today for that lunch you owe me?」

About a month ago, he had managed to get tickets for a performance Dapflen wanted to see, and she’d promised to buy him a meal in return.

He’d completely forgotten about it, but seeing the tickets he’d put in his desk drawer yesterday had suddenly reminded him.

Since his lunch plans had been canceled today, he thought he might as well get a free meal if their schedules lined up.

‘And ask how things are going with the colonel these days.’

He had always liked hearing other people’s stories.

Both Dapflen and Colonel Cloyden were people he knew well, so it was only natural to be curious about them.

That lingering concern, too.

“Major, it’s lunchtime. Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Today’s goal is an amazing omelet place I know, and then an amazing fortune-teller Mendel knows.”

“That’s right!”

“I’m not going. You two go ahead.”

Dellers waved a hand at Mendel and Belize.

‘When are you going to reply?’

It was already lunchtime, but there was still no response from Dapflen.

Was she that busy? She’d looked distracted and exhausted lately.

In the end, as soon as he had time, Dellers left the naval base and headed for the medical institute.

When he arrived, he spotted his friend coming out. He stepped in front of Dapflen, who was hurrying somewhere.

She must have been deep in thought, because even though he hadn’t meant to startle her, she jumped in surprise.

“What is it with you? Why do you jump every time, Dapflen?”

“I told you. On workdays, I’m basically mentally and physically weak…….”

She replied irritably. She often acted like this when she was tired, so Dellers was about to let it go.

But these days, she looked too tired. Her expression was worse than usual.

‘Did something happen with the colonel?’

The question surfaced in his mind, but he set it aside for now.

“What’s up? What did you come to the institute for?”

“I sent a telegram.”

It seemed she’d been too busy or distracted to see it. That happened often enough, so it didn’t bother him much.

“What did you send?”

“I asked if you wanted to have lunch together if you didn’t have plans. Looks like I was too late. Were you heading to eat just now?”

“Yeah. Lady Bella asked me to. She’s an elderly regular, and she’s pretty strict—if I refuse, it gets troublesome.”

“Then let’s eat together another time, when you’re free.”

Since he couldn’t keep holding her up, Dellers stepped aside to clear her path.

Dapflen, whose half-up hairstyle suited her well, thought briefly about her schedule and replied,

“Hmm… then tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow won’t work. I’m heading to another city for a few days starting this afternoon.”

“Where to?”

“I can’t tell you that. It’s confidential.”

Dellers answered with his usual relaxed smile.

Dapflen blinked her large eyes in mild dissatisfaction, as if asking whether he thought she was a spy, then suddenly asked,

“Then Ehit… Colonel Cloyden is going with you too?”

“That’s right. Why? Sad you won’t see him?”

“No. Not at all.”

It had been meant as a joke, but Dapflen truly didn’t look disappointed. She merely muttered,

“So… he won’t be in Bellachen tomorrow.”

In the end, Dellers asked the question that had been on his mind all along.

“Are things bad between you and the colonel?”

The colonel had looked unhappy when he returned to the naval base last night.

Even before that, he’d always seemed uncomfortable whenever Dapflen came up.

Still, he’d been visiting her every day for a while—yet today, it didn’t seem like he had.

Dapflen was the same. Every time the colonel was mentioned, her expression soured.

She had never once worn the expression that engaged couples usually did.

“What did Ehit say?”

“Nothing. I’m just asking, Dapflen.”

“So he won’t be in Bellachen tomorrow, right?”

As if lost in thought, she even smiled faintly.

“Then see you next time! Enjoy your lunch!”

Dapflen waved and ran off.

Without realizing it, Dellers stood there until her figure disappeared from sight.

All the while, forcing down the unease that just wouldn’t go away.