I Became The Younger Sister Of A Dying Woman - Chapter 50

50. My Heart is Breaking

Linzel reached out and grabbed the book. Almost simultaneously, Letty’s sharp voice rang out.

“No!”

“……Huh?”

Letty, who could have been back at any moment, rushed over and snatched it out of Linzel’s outstretched hand.

She seemed extremely flustered, as if Linzel had discovered something she shouldn’t have seen.

“This, this notebook contains information about Lord Izekiel. What he likes, what accessories he wears…”

“Lord Izekiel?”

“I’m too embarrassed to show it to you.”

‘Is this….. similar to the investigation Hernan did on me?’

Even though Letty and Linzel were close, they didn’t have an obligation to know everything about each other. In other words, even if they were close, Linzel thought they should respect each other’s privacy.

She promptly gave up on trying to browse Izekiel’s stalking …… or, ahem, observation…. notes once and for all.

Moreover, Linzel wasn’t particularly interested in learning more about Izekiel.

“……Linzel, I’m sorry, but I can’t really show you this.”

Linzel coolly responded, “It’s okay! I know the fact that Letty has feelings for Lord Izekiel. I don’t want to do anything that would hurt your feelings.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, speaking of His Highness Izekiel, he’s currently suffering from a fever.”

“Really? Is he very ill?”

“A little. If you bring him some herbal medicine for fever and pay a visit to the palace, you’ll get closer to him.”

Letty embraced Linzel’s neck with both arms.

“After all, there’s only Linzel for me.”

Her voice trembled faintly…. To Linzel, it seemed like she was deeply moved by something Linzel did.

Linzel hugged her back as hard as she could.

* * *

After saying goodbye to her father, they left the ducal residence.

She didn’t have much time to devote to the ducal residence, as she also had to drop by Marquis Hawkins for a visit. The good news was that the Marquis isn’t too far away.

And that Linzel’s physical strength was still intact.

“As expected of someone who enjoys reading books, you brought a book from the ducal residence.”

Inside the carriage, Hernan, sitting next to his wife as usual, stared intently at the book resting on her lap.

“Your Highness Hernan, please don’t make fun of me. I brought this book to actually read it.”

“<Regarding Apophis>, huh? It seems like a helpful book.”

<Regarding Apophis>

That was the title of the book Linzel had borrowed from Letty.

When she borrowed the book, Linzel asked Letty why she was reading such a book.

And she answered, ‘I’m interested in history. I always enjoy reading myths and stories related to Apophis in particular.’

That’s what she said.

Since Letty often read books from various fields, Linzel had no doubt about her words. 

At that moment, the view of the Marquis’s building started to appear outside the carriage window.

“And, Linzel.”

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“There’s something I want to talk to you about before meeting Marquis Miller.”

“Please go ahead.”

“It’s something I heard from Duke Valencia… No, Father… Ahem. It’s about him…”

Hernan seemed awkward, calling her father “Father”.

Linzel found his demeanor amusing and cute, so she just giggled.

But the two of them…

What did they talk about that made Hernan start using a different title?

***

An hour ago, Hernan was alone with the Duke of Valencia in his office.

The duke sounded concerned.

“Is Linzel doing well?”

“Yes, you don’t have to worry.”

“Is she eating properly, getting all her meals?”

“Yes, I’m paying attention to her meals.”

“Didn’t….. she have something like hemoptysis……?”

“Are you talking about bleeding?”

“Yes. She had unexplained hemoptysis before, so this is something that worries me.”

“…….”

Hernan was silent for a moment.

‘I knew right away that her health wasn’t good, but wouldn’t it be too serious if she even coughed up blood?’ 

That was the thought that crossed his mind.

He belatedly responded to the duke who was waiting for his answer.

“…… There was no hemoptysis. And I will do everything in my power to make her healthy.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. Your reliability has touched me to the point where my heart is breaking.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s completely shattered. May I now address you as ‘Joji’ as well, Your Highness? Haha.”

At that moment, Hernan’s face, which had been stiff, crumbled.

“Yo-Yo-Your Grace.”

“Hahaha. I was trying out the ‘Linzel style’ of communicating. Your Highness seemed too serious, so I thought I’d lighten the mood.”

“…….Thank you.”

“Linzel is a strong child, and with you by her side, I’m sure she’ll be well in no time.”

“Yes. I hope so.”

“Do you like the nickname given in ‘Linzel style’?”

Hernan gave a small nod.

It was a nickname given by someone else, and there was no reason for him not to like it.

At least it was much better than ‘murderer.’

Linzel and the Duke bore little resemblance in appearance, but from the way they behaved, there was no denying that they were father and daughter.

“…..Even the knights of my order speak of Joji from time to time. I’m not used to this kind of attention.”

“I’m grateful that you view her admiration in a positive light.”

“Honestly, she is the first person who has ever expressed her admiration for me in such a direct way, and I can only thank her for that.”

The duke couldn’t help but smile at Hernan’s confession, his face filled with a radiant expression of gratitude.

“I’m deeply moved by your words…!”

“Yo-Your Grace, I’m not sure what to do.”

“Your Grace?! From now on, please feel free to call me ‘Father.'”

Hernan found that suggestion pleasant. This was the first nobleman he’d ever felt comfortable calling ‘father’.

“I will do so, Fa…ther.”

The duke smiled, as if he found that awkward address endearing. It felt like having a son.

“By the way, Father, there’s something else I wanted to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“I wanted to ask you if you know anything about the Marquis of Miller.”

“The Marquis of Miller…….” The duke looked thoughtful. “It’s something embarrassing to talk about, but ever since that person died, I’ve become interested in superstitions.”

“Do you also harbor a desire to revive the dead…? A similar aspiration as my Father.”

The duke shook his head.

“No, I simply enjoy casually indulging in fortune-telling.”

“I see.”

“However, I have heard rumors that Marquis Miller has visited a fortune-teller’s shop that I frequent.”

A merchant dealing in accurate information stopped by a superstitious shop. It was a fishy smelling thing.

“He might be… hoping for something that realistically cannot be achieved?”

“It’s a possibility. Can you tell me the location of that shop?”

“Of course.”

As the Marquis provided the location of the shop, he suddenly mentioned something as if it had just come to mind.

“Oh, and I don’t know if this information will help….”

“Please tell me.”

“Marquis Miller seemed….. to have a good relationship with Scott, a distant relative of yours.”

Scott. No, Scott Kleman.

The name was not unfamiliar. Scott was the uncle who had been executed for tormenting Izekiel about ten years ago.

* * *

As Linzel listened to Hernan’s story, she raised her hand eagerly, like a curious child.

“Who is this Scott …?”

Who was he?

Linzel was about to ask, but she quickly trailed off.

Somehow, she felt like he was a very famous person, and if she admitted that she didn’t know, she might be seen as ignorant.

Fortunately, Hernan revealed his identity without further probing.

“He is the name of the uncle who was executed long ago for tormenting Izekiel.”

‘Ah.’ 

Linzel remembered the story, but she couldn’t recall his name. Scott was the villain she couldn’t remember.

“The fact that Marquis Miller and Scott had a good relationship and that he explored superstitions… Is there any intersection between these two facts?”

“Drawing a parallel to my father’s case, it could be that ‘he wanted to revive the dead.'”

Hernan explained why Delta ended up in the Royal Archive.

“If that’s the case, the dead person Marquis Miller wants to revive… Could it be…?”

Hernan met her gaze and finished Linzel’s sentence.

“There’s a possibility that it’s Scott.”

At that moment, the carriage, which had been running smoothly, came to a halt. They had arrived at the Marquis of Hawkins.

“For now, let’s get off.”

Hernan elegantly escorted her. And by that, instead of holding my hand, he carried her in his arms as they got off the carriage.

Thanks to that, the attendants of Marquis Hawkins, who were waiting for them, started murmuring in surprise.

“Oh! I didn’t expect Hernan to be such an attentive person.”

“Contrary to the rumors, he’s quite charming, isn’t he?”

“But his gaze is somewhat intimidating…”

‘Hehe.’

It was a response Linzel liked quite a bit.

Most of the servants of Marquis Hawkins had never seen Hernan before. All they knew about Hernan was that he’s a war-crazed killer.

Linzel decided to try to convince him that he was the lovely Joji.

“Your Highness! Your escort is so charming and affectionate that a girl’s heart can’t resist.”

“It is an honor. May I escort you down?”

“No, you may not. You should carry me all the way to the drawing room.”

“Very well.”

As Hernan smiled fondly at his wife, some of the attendants blushed.

At this point, even they would have to know that Hernan is not just a scary person.

Hernan acted as if he didn’t care that others were afraid of him, but knowing that Linzel wasn’t afraid of him, he was truly delighted.

Linzel wondered if, deep down, Hernan didn’t want people to be afraid of him.

But perhaps he realized that this would not be possible and gave up early on?

‘I must let them know, in some way, how sweet and wonderful my Prince Hernan is,’ Linzel resolved.

She certainly didn’t make it obvious.

If she made it too obvious, others might start to like Hernan too.

It was when they were strolling through the garden.

Suddenly, she heard someone’s voice.

“You look beautiful.”

When Linzel looked ahead, there was a man with blue hair that she had seen before. He was a young man with distinctive round glasses.

Moreover, his face seemed familiar somehow.

She quickly recalled the time she had seen the man not long ago.

The dark character with glasses, like a mysterious figure, at the hunting competition!

That man.

He’s the one with the pretty round glasses…?