Weren’t You the One Who Was Dying? Chapter 97

The next day.

“They say that family is trying to get involved in state affairs?”

Since I had slept well, my body was mostly recovered, and I was on my way to the medical center.

“Yeah, they say they’re riding on Cloyden’s influence.”

I stopped in my tracks when I heard people whispering as I walked.

Whenever I heard keywords like “Cloyden” or “that family,” it was usually about us, so I focused my ears.

“Tsk tsk. If they think having good in-laws means they can start acting up, they’ll end up regretting it.”

“Exactly. It looks like House Aileta can’t let go of its past glory. State affairs, honestly.”

Evening came, and Ehit had asked me to go see a performance together, but I sent a message cancelling our plan. I didn’t have the mental capacity for it.

As soon as night fell, I took a train back to my family estate.

None of my brothers were involved in politics, so if anything, it would be my parents who occasionally attended noble assemblies.

“That’s right, Dapflen! Your father even attended the annual meeting after a long time.”

“……”

“Dapflen?”

“What did you say there? Did you try to push any opinions, or anything like that?”

“You should have seen me! I should’ve said something bold!”

As my expression stiffened, my father—who had been watering the garden—put down his watering can and walked over.

“Dapflen, what’s wrong?”

“Did you meet any members of the royal family separately? Did Aileta promise to do something?”

“Let’s talk about that later. First, come inside and eat something delicious.”

My father patted my shoulder and tried to lead me inside.

“Father, did you really do that?”

But when my voice lowered, worry appeared on his face.

“I did meet some royal family members.”

“……”

“But it was just tea time after the annual meeting. There were over a dozen people there together.”

“Is that so…?”

“Yes. Why do you look so troubled, Dapflen? Did something bad happen?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

After looking at my face for a moment, my father brought me inside and fed me all sorts of delicious food.

I had briefly forgotten that rumors are always distorted.

But what truly matters is not whether rumors are true or false.

It’s whether the person who hears them believes them or not.

It was a relief that it wasn’t true, but my heart still wasn’t fully at ease as I returned to Bellachen.

“Why am I so worn out…”

I muttered bitterly like someone heading home after overtime work, stepping off the train.

Then I boarded a carriage and traveled along the coastal road.

At night, the sea was pitch black except for distant ship lights.

I stared blankly into the distance. My body felt even more exhausted, probably from tension.

From Jeiman’s incident to these ridiculous rumors—everything felt like one continuous storm.

It almost felt like I had been less exhausted in the North.

‘I should also apologize for missing the performance with Ehit today.’

I had been so distracted I only remembered late. He had probably prepared the tickets with care, too. I felt guilty.

‘But even if I had gone with him…’

Maybe I was just tired, but my thoughts kept turning negative.

Even if I had spent a good time with him, I wouldn’t have been able to give my full heart to it.

And if that were the case, it would only be deception—for both of us.

I got off the carriage and slowly walked up the slope toward Ehit’s estate.

As I climbed while trying to clear my messy thoughts, a familiar voice came from ahead.

“Princess, where is the estate?”

“We’re not telling you. Why are you asking, mister?”

“We’re not ‘mister.’ We saw you in the capital before. Don’t you recognize me?”

“Nope.”

“Enrik Aileta! I’m the brother of the lady who’s going to become your future sister-in-law!”

“Hey, don’t pressure her like that. Little princess, can you tell us where the estate is?”

The last voice, as if it were offering lemon candy, belonged to Elzers. The others were Enrik and Adlen.

And standing before the three of them was the little princess—Jeiman.

“……!”

I jumped in shock and ran toward them.

What were my brothers trying to do to Jeiman this time?!

‘No!’

Were they trying to take her away?

I rushed forward almost stumbling.

The sound of hurried footsteps made all four of them turn toward me.

“Princess!”

I quickly scooped Jeiman into my arms. She jumped up and nestled into me, smiling brightly.

“Sister, you’re here?”

“What… what were you doing?”

I asked Jeiman while glaring at my brothers.

“They were lost, so I was trying to help them find the way.”

She answered in a calm, cheerful tone. Adlen frowned at that.

“You didn’t even tell us where the place was.”

“I was going to. When sister came.”

Jeiman giggled.

My brothers kept talking back and forth with her, acting annoyed, then laughing, while Jeiman kept teasing them back as if it were fun.

Holding Jeiman in my arms, I stepped slightly away from the conversation, feeling confused.

Weren’t my brothers trying to kill her?

But the scene in front of me didn’t look like that at all.

“Dapflen, what’s wrong?”

While Enrik and Adlen were talking with Jeiman, Elzers leaned in and whispered to me.

His face looked slightly worried.

I looked at him, then at Enrik and Adlen.

“Why were you with the princess?”

“Little brother, we came to see you.”

“You came to see me, so why are you with her?”

“We met her on the way. She said she’d guide us, but instead she just dragged us around in circles.”

“It’s good exercise, isn’t it?”

“Very well, Princess. Of course.”

“Yes. Exercise.”

“……”

There was no hostility on my brothers’ faces as they spoke with Jeiman. Only soft, affectionate looks toward a cute little girl.

Watching that warm atmosphere, a realization rose in me—heavy and strangely empty, replacing some of my earlier relief.

We can’t keep living like this.

Trying to stay by Ehit’s side like this is just selfish desire.

Not because of my brothers.

Because of me.

The Aileta who crossed the line, the Cloyden who would be betrayed—me, who knows a future where everyone gets hurt.

And because of me, who might not even be able to stop it, and would suffer even more if I fail.

Even now, nothing had actually happened, yet I had been acting like a mad person.

I was chasing something I couldn’t handle.

“Why are you here? You didn’t show up when I was looking everywhere for you.”

“We heard strange rumors. We came because we knew you’d worry and try to confirm them.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. We thought you’d send a telegram or come running, so we came first.”

“Right, Dapflen. So don’t worry.”

Hearing their words, I suddenly sat down.

Jeiman slipped out of my arms, and I looked between my brothers before sighing.

“Shall we go drink?”

 

 

***

 

 

We drank quite a lot.

Of course, in my  “quite a lot” still wasn’t objectively much—but still, I drank more than usual.

In Aileta, I was probably the only one who couldn’t hold alcohol well. My brothers and parents all seemed fine, but not me.

“Whoa, Dapflen’s asleep.”

Enrik pointed at me with a dried persimmon from the side dish.

I was dozing off where I sat.

Maybe I was even more tired because I was trying to turn away from complicated thoughts.

“Should we call a carriage?”

Their voices continued, and before I knew it, I was in a carriage, falling asleep.

I leaned on Elzers in a half-dream state. I always got sleepy in carriages—but this time I was even tipsier.

Then, when my consciousness briefly returned…

I faintly heard their conversation.

“We used to play hide-and-seek a lot when we were young, didn’t we?”

I was slowly waking up. Their voices became clearer.

“Yeah. That kid didn’t like hide-and-seek, but Delphi liked it a lot.”

“I always found it annoying.”

“Yet you were the one who tried the hardest, Adlen.”

I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be hearing this.

Maybe it would have been better if I had never known.

But I was already awake, and they kept talking without realizing it.

“Let’s stop talking about this. It’s all in the past.”

Elzers’s voice.

Enrik spoke again after a pause.

“Brother, I know what you mean. I know it’s all in the past… but still…”

He paused as if something caught in his throat.

“We all love Dapflen. But sometimes… we miss her.”

Her?

“Yes, Enrik. That can’t be helped. But what matters is—”

Adlen, who had been quiet, continued.

“Even if we miss her, it doesn’t lessen our love for Delphi. No matter what anyone says, she is still our precious little sister.”