Weren’t You the One Who Was Dying? Chapter 4

“Where are my brothers?”

At this point, I had to stop those immature brothers before they caused trouble.

‘If I think about it, one of the main reasons for the family’s ruin was the debt taken out under the Cloyden name. If I find my brothers now and stop them, maybe we can avoid destruction?’

If I firmly warned them never to do anything reckless, it should be fine.

Alright, let’s stop them quickly! It hasn’t even been that long since the marriage proposal was exchanged—there’s no way they’ve already done something, right?

 

 

****

 

 

 

Originally, the phrase “There’s no way this or that has happened” basically means it already has.

“There’s no way they already told that person” means they already did.
“There’s no way that shop’s donuts are all sold out” means the donuts are gone.

Even if it wasn’t true before, the moment you say it out loud, it becomes true.

So those are words you should never say lightly—but I already had. I had said there was no way they’d already done something……

“Are you insane?!”

It took a full week before I finally tracked down my younger brother, Enric.

Enric was also staying in Bellachen, but no matter how many times I went to where he lived, I couldn’t catch even a glimpse of him.

For an entire week, I couldn’t meet a single one of my three brothers. I searched until dawn, sleeping barely an hour a day.

Had they all planned this and hidden on some deserted island together?

For a moment, I even wondered if this was actually another novel—something like My Brothers Got Stranded on a Deserted Island with the Male Lead.

That was how ridiculous it felt.

And then, after a full week, I finally met one of my brothers—Enric. But then.

“Dapflen, it’s just borrowing the name for a bit.”

“Does that make any sense? Brother, does that really make sense?!”

When I shouted, Enric covered his ears.

“Dapflen, are you trying to burst your brother’s eardrums? What’s wrong with you?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“I’m asking because I don’t know.”

The way Enric pouted made me let out a heated sigh just from looking at him.

“Why did you write the IOU under the Cloyden name?!”

“I told you, I just borrowed the name.”

I was going crazy because Enric didn’t even understand that that was the problem. My unbelievably thoughtless brother had already used the Cloyden name to write an IOU.

‘It hasn’t even been long since the proposal was exchanged—already?’

I was someone who didn’t usually get motion sickness, even on trains. But riding this high-speed express train straight toward family ruin made me feel sick to my stomach.

“Pay it back. Right now.”

At that, Enric frowned instead.

“Dapflen, I don’t have the money right now.”

“……What?”

“I already spent it. Do you think I’d borrow money for no reason?”

Hearing Enric ask back like he was lecturing me left me completely stunned.

“Dapflen, why are you so impatient?”

“Impatient? Let me see the IOU.”

“Why?”

“Before I go straight to the Cloyden family and talk.”

Enric stood blocking the drawer, but when I reached toward it, he finally pulled out a copy of the IOU.

I hurriedly unfolded the document, which had been folded in half.

“Five hundred thousand harks?”

It said he had borrowed 500,000 harks from a loan shark with an interest rate of a whopping 20%. That amount was enough to stay half a year at the best hotel in Bellachen.

“What were you thinking, borrowing this much? Can you even pay it back?”

“You just have to repay it within a month. I invested somewhere. Once I get the money from there……”

“They promised you the money for sure within a month?”

“Probably.”

Probably?

“Even if they don’t, Dapflen. There’s still a way.”

With a sly grin, Enric said it out loud.

“I used the Cloyden family’s name. They won’t be able to say much.”

“You—!”

Angry, I kicked Enric straight in the shin with my reddish-brown boots.

Enric, clutching his shin, looked at me with an aggrieved expression.

“Ow! Dapflen, your wild personality really hasn’t gone anyw—”

“From now on, don’t even think about using the Cloyden family’s name again. Do you think that place is some kind of loan guarantor?”

“We’re about to become family anyway……”

When I lifted my foot again, Enric reflexively stepped back and fell flat on his backside.

“Enric, are you in there? It’s almost time for the train.”

Just then, someone outside the door called for Enric.

“Dapflen, I have to go now.”

“I’m not joking, Enric. You’re really going to cause a disaster someday. From now on, no matter what happens, don’t bring up the Cloyden name. Please.”

“Alright, alright.”

“Promise me.”

“Fine, I promise. Happy now?”

“No, not yet.”

My brother really never failed to meet my expectations.

At least one good thing was that I knew how to deal with Enric.

I looked around and pointed at the phoenix-shaped ornament sitting on the wall shelf. It wasn’t just painted—it was real gold, something Enric had once proudly shown off with a certificate.

If sold, it would probably fetch around 50,000 harks.

“I’m selling this.”

Enric’s green eyes widened in shock. He immediately rushed to the shelf and carefully grabbed the phoenix.

“No. Absolutely not.”

“Then that one?”

My finger pointed to another ornament.

“That’s not allowed either.”

“Then this?”

Every time I pointed at something, Enric hurried over to block my view. After repeating this five or six times, I pointed back at the phoenix again.

“This bird or those clothes. Choose one, brother.”

“Dapflen, you really—!”

Only then did Enric hesitate, squeeze his eyes shut, and finally hold out the phoenix.

“Now are we done?”

“Pick three more items besides this.”

“Three? Please, Delphi.”

“Or I’ll choose.”

He even used my childhood nickname, but I didn’t budge.

“Enric, pick one. We have to go.”

Enric’s expression turned desperate. His companions were urging him from outside, and I was blocking him inside.

He also knew that if he left like this, I might actually sell everything in this house.

“Dapflen, you’re a healer! How can you hurt your brother’s heart like this? I’m getting dizzy!”

“……”

“We’re going to be family anyway—why are you being so strict?”

“Enric! Let’s go!”

While I ignored his nonsense, I could hear angry voices from outside.

Enric grabbed the coat draped over the sofa. As he headed out, he finally said the words he clearly didn’t want to say.

“There’s money in the drawer. Take it.”

With that tossed-off remark, Enric hurried out of the room.

Left alone in his room, I sat down on the sofa and let out a deep sigh. My eyes drifted over the many luxury items scattered around the room.

“It’s not like I don’t buy things like this because I hate them.”

After sitting there, drained, I opened the drawer under the small desk by the window. From the very back of the unlocked drawer—what if a thief came in?—I pulled out an envelope.

Inside was about 100,000 harks.

‘So you hadn’t spent it all.’

Was it lucky, at least, that that part had been a lie?

As I thought that, something else caught my eye. It was writing on a yellow note.

‘This is…….’

 

 

****

 

 

White foam shattered over the rocks along with the waves.

Ehit’s gaze settled on the rippling curve of the water. Above it, white seabirds skimmed low through the air.

“Colonel, may I come in?”

Major Dellers Bright, one of Ehit’s aides-de-camp, called to him from outside the open door. Ehit merely turned his head slightly and signaled with his eyes, and Dellers stepped into the office.

Ehit’s office gave off a feeling somewhat at odds with the sea’s cold blue tones. The dark wooden desk and chairs, the cabinets—everything carried a slightly antique, warm atmosphere.

Among all the things in this room, Dellers thought, only the colonel himself gave off a cold presence.

‘Just who is the colonel’s fiancée, anyway?’

Not only Dellers, but the aides under Ehit were all curious about it. The story that a marriage proposal had been sent out from the Cloyden estate had become the hottest topic among the aides lately.

Ehit wasn’t someone you could say had a particularly pleasant personality, but once someone caught his interest, he was the kind of man who treated them exceptionally well.

The aides had realized this back when the fleet had been dispatched near Kennel Island, watching how Ehit treated the cat he’d grown attached to.

‘Though it might be different with a person.’

After all, Ehit was not someone who showed his emotions easily.

“Is everything else prepared?”

At Ehit’s question, Dellers snapped out of his thoughts and answered yes.

Recently, the navy had been plagued by smugglers bringing narcotics in through maritime routes. In the midst of that, they had learned that a distributor for the drug dealer would appear on Velotte Street today.

Thanks to Ehit’s ability—precognitive sight.

The higher-ups were placing great expectations on his power. It was only natural, given how much merit Ehit had earned using that ability during naval battles in the last war.

“Let’s go.”

Ehit, who had been lost in thought while staring out the window, turned around.

Chatting about the various trivial incidents that had occurred recently within the naval base, Dellers followed after him—thinking that once this case was over, he wanted to probe a little into the interests of his taciturn superior.

 

 

****

 

 

 

The place I was heading for now was Velotte Street, a back alley area of Bellachen. The fastest route was to follow the coastline, then cross the bridge halfway along.

I put more strength into my feet as I pedaled the bicycle.

I often used a bicycle to get across the city. Normally, I rode wearing a casual long skirt, but today my outfit was a little different.

Dark gray trousers, a loose shirt, and a reddish-brown vest.

At a glance, I probably looked like a boy. It helped that my long, lightly curled light-brown hair was tucked away under a beret.

A short while ago, when I had opened Enric’s drawer, I had found a single note.

“September 7th, 4 p.m., Velotte Street, Salon Ohastein, Room 4.

The advance payment has been confirmed. After receiving the goods, please deliver the remaining 100,000 harks in person.”

As I read the note, I got a strong feeling. Whatever Enric had started wasn’t limited to just those 500,000 harks.

The 7th meant today.

I didn’t know what Enric was supposed to receive, but beneath the note was written the reason I had to get there before him and stop this deal.