Weren’t You the One Who Was Dying? Chapter 31

As my gaze wavered after landing on Ehit, Elzers was pouring out words nonstop from across the table.

“So it really is like that? I wasn’t just seeing things, right?”

“Please be quiet, Elzers…….”

I was practically covering my ears while thinking about how this situation would unfold.

‘If we argue here for even a moment, Elzers’s colleagues will arrive.’

Then they’ll ask him if that man is his brother-in-law, and Ehit will look back at them with those cold eyes and ask flatly,

‘Brother-in-law?’

No matter what the colleagues say, Ehit will look at me like I’m an ant, his face stiff with irritation. And Elzers’s colleagues will say they’ve heard a lot, spilling all of Elzers’s lies.

Ehit will realize that all this time, Elzers has been telling people that Cloyden absolutely adored both me and the Ailetas—and he’ll be furious……

‘No!’

I jumped up at once and ran toward Ehit, who was standing by the door. Sunlight scattered behind him as he leaned there casually.

Squinting against the glare, I grabbed Ehit’s hand tightly.

“Ehit!”

“Wh—”

And then I kidnapped him on the spot and bolted out of the teahouse.

 

 

****

 

 

I’d managed to get us outside, but even I had no idea what to do next.

“Where are we going?”

Should I say let’s just walk aimlessly, or that the weather’s nice so we should take a stroll?

‘But Ehit seems very far removed from warm-weather strolls.’

I didn’t stop walking and just kept going, glaring at Ehit with the same squint I’d had when the sunlight scattered earlier.

If you look angry, people usually assume you have a good reason to be.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Do you really not know why I’m doing this?”

Of course you don’t…… I don’t either…….

I bought myself time by making him tense with an angry expression.

We’d reached a street lined with shops, but I still hadn’t come up with an excuse. Just as I thought it would be fair for him to scowl once he realized I’d dragged him along for no reason—

‘Ah, whatever.’

I stopped in front of a stall in the shopping district and blurted out whatever came to mind.

“This! You need two people to buy this!”

I picked up a cat-shaped paperweight from a stall with a sign like “Buy One, Get One Free.” The moment he saw it, Ehit looked even more tired.

So this was the best excuse I could come up with—something this ridiculous.

Buy one, get one free? Even I thought it was forced. I was disappointed in myself, but I had to say something.

“You want to buy this together?”
he asked.

“If you don’t want to, then don’t.”

Honestly, I planned not to buy it anyway—just turn back if he refused properly. But the stall owner was watching us with hopeful eyes.

The paperweight cost just over ten harks. I hurriedly bought the discounted set and shoved one into Ehit’s hand.

‘Of course, a ducal house probably wouldn’t use something like this.’

But that wasn’t my problem. He could throw it away if he wanted.

Still, instead of scoffing, Ehit was seriously examining the paperweight in his hand. At least while the stall owner was watching, he didn’t seem inclined to toss it immediately.

Since I had to return to the infirmary anyway, I circled the plaza once and headed back in that direction.

“That’s enough. Let’s stop here. I’m done with what I needed.”

“Are you really done? I thought you dragged me out to split the cost of this paperweight.”

“……I was, but I changed my mind. Just take it.”

“I don’t use things like this.”

Yeah. I know.

The more we talked about the paperweight, the more obvious my hastily made excuse became, so I changed the subject.

“I heard about that incident. Someone stole a sacred relic in Regen, right?”

“The rumor spread this far?”

“Yeah. Stealing a sacred relic—whoever did that has some nerve.”

“If you’re going to steal, you steal everything. Some people even climb over ducal walls.”

“Did someone break into your house?”

“There are a few suspects.”

“It wasn’t me. Seriously.”

At my words, Ehit let out a small laugh and looked at me with an infuriatingly relaxed smile.

“Do you even know what was stolen?”

“I don’t know, I don’t want to know, and anyway, it wasn’t me.”

“Yes, yes.”

“What’s with that look? What was stolen?”

“A seal.”

“Huh? What would anyone steal that for?”

“There are plenty of uses. For example, the Cloyden family seal stamped on the marriage proposal sent to your house—that was it.”

“Oh.”

“If you were to draw up annulment papers, that seal alone would be enough.”

“What?”

Apparently, the keyword alert system in my head was set to “hair” and “annulment.” My heart started racing at the word I’d just heard.

“Did you say… annulment?”

“Yes. Annulment.”

“You’re thinking about annulment? With me?”

I tried to press down my pounding heart and waited for his answer, looking him straight in the eyes.

Ehit waited until I nervously bit my dry lips, then looked at me quietly and asked,

“I’m curious what that look means.”

“What’s wrong with my look?”

“What kind of answer are you hoping for?”

“An answer? Well, annulment…… go ahead and try it.”

Please…….

Ehit listened to my deliberately casual words with a surprisingly serious expression. Then he asked,

“Do you mean that?”

“Of course—”

Wait. What kind of answer does he want?

I quickly simulated the outcomes of my reply in my head.

‘Of course. Let’s annul it. Right now! Please!’

‘Why do you want an annulment?’

‘Because staying tied to you feels like my life is headed for ruin! I’m already losing my hair!’

‘Hair? That has nothing to do with me. If you want it, initiate it yourself. Cloyden has no intention of paying an annulment fee.’

‘Then why did you even bring up annulment?’

‘I was testing whether you have the minimum sense of responsibility and awareness that comes with becoming a Cloyden. Do you really think breaking a betrothal approved by the temple is that easy?’

And just like that, nothing changes—I only earn more of Ehit’s dislike, my life becomes harder, and I end up bald.

‘No!’

Startled, I hurriedly erased the scenario from my mind. Then I snapped at Ehit, who was looking at me like I was making a fuss over nothing.

“Wh-why are you asking? Why bring up annulment documents all of a sudden?”

“I was curious about your reaction.”

“…….”

I almost got played. Good thing I changed tactics quickly.

“So, what’s your answer?”
he asked.

“O-of course not! Annulment, what annulment? I’m never letting you go!”

Of course, that tactical switch went too far in the opposite direction, and I ended up saying something I really didn’t need to say.

Did that sound too clingy?

Feeling awkward, I spun around sharply and tried to walk off, but Ehit suddenly stopped me.

“Wait.”

“……Yes?”

He positioned me on his right side.

“Walk on this side.”

The left side was the roadway where trams usually ran, and up until then I’d been walking on that side.

What was this? It seemed like he was being considerate, but still.

“Thanks for the consideration, but I’m fine. You told me not to expect anything romantic last time.”

“Call it manners, not romance. I’m protecting you out of courtesy, so don’t worry about it.”

Ehit continued walking on the left side, closer to where the trams ran.

That kind of manners was something to be grateful for, at least.

‘But there aren’t any trams today.’

Today this street was car-free—no trams, no bicycles.

I had no idea what exactly he was protecting me from.

Without realizing it, Ehit’s gaze kept drifting to Dapflen’s head. His steady eyes shifted by a millimeter every time her hair swayed by a centimeter.

‘Why didn’t she tie it tighter. Or at least wear a hat.’

The alleys of Bellachen, close to the sea, were colder and windier than those of other cities. Not as bad as by the lake, but strong gusts still blew now and then.

For several days now, Dapflen had been wearing her hair half tied. At first, he’d thought she simply liked that style.

Only now did he understand why. That way of tying it was probably best for hiding the missing patch.

Ehit recalled the conversation he’d overheard between Dapflen and Elzers at the shop earlier.

‘Do you want to regret it only after you’re dead?’

‘Dapflen, dying? Don’t say such scary things.’

He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but when he heard a familiar voice, he couldn’t help stopping.

Judging by Elzers’s reaction, it seemed even her family didn’t fully know about her condition yet.

After realizing how Dapflen’s illness had affected her head, Ehit found himself unconsciously checking the back of her head again and again. From his observations, when she stayed still, it was impossible to tell.

But—

Another gust of wind passed.

“…….”

Ehit’s gaze landed on her hair, then shifted away.

Ever since the day he saw what was hidden beneath her half-tied hair, he’d developed the unconscious habit of watching that spot.

Calling it a “habit” was a bit strange. Habits usually form around things that are a natural part of one’s daily life, and he had no awareness of Dapflen being such a presence to him.

Even so, there was no better word to describe his actions now.

All day long, as if she were something that belonged to him, he’d been watching over her—unconsciously, reflexively.

Just now had been a close call. When he saw her hair lift more than three centimeters, he couldn’t hold back and pulled her to his right side.

“Walk on this side.”

Damn it. What am I even doing?

The thought surfaced—but it was already too late.