I Became The Younger Sister Of A Dying Woman - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Forgotten Memory

Having been sick so often, naturally Linzel was good at pretending to be sick, and in fact, her head and legs were honestly beginning to ache.

“It’s truly fortunate that….. the young master is safe,” she said nobly as she rubbed her nose that was itchy due to the spilled drink.

‘If someone who didn’t know better saw this, they might think She was sobbing. Heheh.’

Hernan, who had been distracted by his conversation with Ramon, came running over.

He took off the jacket he was wearing and placed it on Linzel’s shoulders.

“Linzel. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

Linzel looked sweetly up at him and recited the pinnacle line of her performance.

“I’m fine. And if there’s danger to a child, it’s only natural that She step forward.”

Then she ran a hand through her wet hair.

Even Hernan, who didn’t show big emotional fluctuations, had an impressed expression on his face.

Applause started to erupt from the surroundings.

“Her Highness Linzel is truly magnificent.” 

“Princess Linzel, a courageous woman who suits the fearless Prince Hernan.”

For a moment, Linzel actually felt like she had become a hero. “Hahaha,” she let out a wistful laugh.

It was at that moment that she felt a chill run down her spine. A stare that was cold enough to reach her across the room.

Linzel looked in the direction that she felt the stare had originated and saw Letty, who then turned and disappeared.

Letty…… had a stern expression. As if he didn’t find the situation of Linzel becoming a hero pleasing. 

‘Why is that?’ Linzel wondered.

Just as she was about to call Letty, something warm trickled down from her forehead.

Linzel reached up to wipe her forehead with her sleeve. When she lowered it, it became clear that her sleeve was stained with red blood.

“…..Blood, blood!”

Hernan, upon seeing the blood, had a more shocked expression than Linzel. 

And that was the last thing she remembered. The scene before her faded and. she had blacked out.

* * *

The noise filling her  ears was the sound of a musical performance.

The music was similar to what she had heard earlier.

‘I’m certain I fainted…….’

At that moment, a voice cut through the music.

“……This is something I bought at a shop called Montblanc.”

As soon as the voice ended, the surroundings brightened. In the darkened vision, someone’s face appeared.

Slightly long silver hair, transparent silver eyes, and a face even prettier than mine.

A familiar face.

“Izekiel?”

“I didn’t realize we had decided to drop the formalities.”

Izekiel was wearing a stunning smile, as if implying that it didn’t matter if she addressed him so informally, so suddenly. 

‘Am I dreaming?’

Linzel belatedly looked around at her surroundings.

It was nighttime, and it seemed like they were on a terrace belonging to some banquet hall. Faint music seeped through the closed terrace door.

“Why are we together on the terrace? What about his Highness Hernan?”

As soon as the name Hernan was mentioned, Izekiel’s expression froze.

“……Hernan? He’s out on a business trip. Why are you looking for him all of a sudden? I’m here with you.”

“Why are we together?”

“This is strange. Are you playing a prank right now?”

“I’m not kidding…….,” Linzel said bewilderedly. 

Izekiel paused and seemed upset, but still answered her question.

“You…… kept looking at me, and I thought maybe you had a crush on me.”

“…….”

“And when I went out to the terrace to tease you, you followed me all the way here.”

‘……I’m a total stalker,’ Linzel thought as she smiled awkwardly.

“And then, when we were alone on the terrace, you approached me.”

“What are you talking about?” she bluffed. “‘Your Majesty, where did you buy those earrings? ……It seems like I was interested in your earrings, not you, Your Highness.”

“Of course, you could be using the earrings as an excuse.”

Linzel stared at the earrings Izekiel wore. They were a pair of drop earrings with clear gemstones.

They complemented his silver hair.

‘These would also suit Letty,’ she thought.

……Letty? The name naturally came to her  mind.

As she continued to gaze at the earring, she felt an inexplicable sense of unease. It felt like she had conversed with this man before, discussing an earring that would suit Letty.

“I thought it was weird that the lady was interested in my accessories when she herself wore none.”

“…. It’s because there’s someone I want to gift them to,” she replied without hesitation. As if she already knew the response she needed to give.

“May She ask who that is?”

“Letty… She’s my twin sister. Unlike me, she loves accessories.”

“Ah, Lady Letty… Are you the twins of the Duke of Valencia?”

“Yes, that’s right. I apologize for the late introduction. I’m Linzel Valencia.”

“So, Lady Linzel. Will you tell me the truth now?”

“I’ve never paid any attention to you, apart from your earrings?”

Izekiel tilted his head to the right, causing his earring to sway gently. “If you say you have interest in me, I would be truly delighted.”

It was a perfect and impressive seductive remark. 

Linzel couldn’t control the flutter in her heart. Unknowingly, she felt like confessing that she also had an interest in him. Even if it was just a fleeting moment.

“Why hesitate?”

“You already know the answer,” she answered him coyly. 

Izekiel folded his eyes into a pretty smile.

In the end, she responded with unfiltered words.

“I’ve also become interested in Your Highness.”

“That’s right. Well done. Should we continue the rest of the conversation inside? It’s a bit chilly today.”

She nodded.

Just as Izekiel opened the terrace door, the surrounding scenery began to collapse.

Soon, even Izekiel’s figure completely disappeared, and Linzel found herself trapped in a strange darkness.

‘It was a dream after all.’

As Linzel wondered when she would be able to return to reality, she heard another voice.

“Linzel…….”

Someone was calling out to her in a whisper.

* * *

Izekiel had been preparing to attend the banquet at the palace for days.

His first stop was Montblanc to look at clothes and accessories, determined that this time he would not be copied by Hernan.

Thus, his plan was a smoke screen operation.

He would make it look like he was buying one thing, but in reality, he was buying something else.

‘This way, Hernan won’t be able to copy me.’

The plan worked.

Hernan made a secret visit to Mont Blanc and ordered the clothes he thought Izekiel would buy.

“These clothes are only for me to wear.”

Of course, he didn’t forget to threaten Madam Annette in the process.

Madam Annette revealed to Izekiel everything about the threats she had received. She also expressed her anguish, feeling that her life wouldn’t last much longer.

‘Do the two princes… not intend to get along?’

It was a rhetorical question with a predetermined answer.

Izekiel had no intention of getting along with Hernan, who sought to claim what was his. If Hernan were to relinquish the position of the crown prince, they might have been able to get along, but that was unlikely to happen.

So, Izekiel’s outfit was a white tailcoat.

It was made of a special fabric that shimmered with a blue hue when exposed to chandelier light.

It was a special garment fitting for a special occasion.

After putting on the ordered outfit, Izekiel adorned himself with a pair of earrings.

They were the drop-style earrings he had made so popular.

‘By the way, these earrings. I remember Lady Linzel used to like them.’

If he had a chance to talk to Linzel in the ballroom, he would bring up what happened back then.

He wasn’t sure if Hernan would provide such an opportunity.

Before heading to the banquet hall, Izekiel instructed a maid to secretly observe Hernan’s attire.

As a result of the espionage operation, he obtained the information that Hernan was wearing a blue tailcoat.

‘So, the clothes I ordered as bait.’

It was clear that the incompetent fool had fallen for his trap.

Izekiel arrived at the banquet hall in a good mood.

Due to his late arrival, the hall was already bustling with activity. There were many people to greet due to his popularity.

Izekiel exchanged greetings with the nobles while maintaining a fake smile. In the process, almost unconsciously, he searched for Linzel.

Linzel was constantly engaged in conversation with Hernan, sticking close to his side.

She was smiling and seemed happy.

‘What are they talking about? She used to smile when she talked to me…….’

His heart ached without understanding.

‘I suppose it’s a good thing she’s living in the palace and not as an abused duchess.’

After marrying Hernan yesterday, Linzel had started living in the palace.

Izekiel quietly regarded that as a stroke of luck.

Of course, a few days earlier, in the café, she had insisted that she was not being abused. She tried to explain away his misunderstandings, citing various reasons.

However, Izekiel only half-believed her words, even though he played along in that cafe.

Unless he confirmed that uneasiness himself, he couldn’t let go of his suspicion towards her.

‘Perhaps I’ll just have to watch the two sisters today.’

Without approaching Linzel, Izekiel simply observed her attentively.

How much time had passed like that?

He noticed members of the Sevilla family approaching Linzel. 

Before long, he witnessed her rescuing the second son of the Duke of Sevilla. She was applauded, but Izekiel was slightly suspicious of her bravery.

‘It seems like a stroke of luck…….’

Whatever the case, the outcome was good. But if Linzel had been injured, that would be a different story.

Although Linzel was smiling, her expression occasionally showed signs of discomfort. There was clearly something wrong with her body.

‘That fool. She shouldn’t have approached him when she’s already feeling unwell!’

When he realized it, he was already approaching Linzel. He completely forgot that Linzel had become Hernan’s spouse.

But Hernan was quicker than him.

When Izekiel saw Hernan embrace Linzel, he couldn’t help but to stand and watch. He thought it wasn’t right for him to approach when her spouse, Hernan, was by her side.

Unconsciously, Izekiel clenched his lower lip.

He worried about Linzel, but it was a pitiful reality that he couldn’t personally ensure her safety. His previously aching heart stung even more. His forehead furrowed.

The current feeling that overwhelmed him was something he had never experienced before.

Why?

Why was he so shaken by Linzel?

Did he feel a sense of empathy because she had a similar story to his own?

Izekiel looked away, unable to bear the sight of Hernan and Linzel together.

But there, of all places, Letty was standing. Tucked away in a shadowy corner, her face was rigid.

And Letty was looking at Linzel.

‘If they truly have a good relationship as sisters, shouldn’t she rush to her injured sibling right away…….’

Izekiel bit his lower lip.

He felt like now he wouldn’t be able to believe Linzel’s words that he had previously believed to some extent.

‘Linzel, are you also being abused?’

Izekiel’s firm stance finally shifted. The destination of his footsteps was clear.

Izekiel approached Letty, whom he hadn’t spoken to since the banquet began