I Became The Younger Sister Of A Dying Woman - Chapter 51

51. A Challenging Proposal

“Did you encounter any problems getting here?” the pretty man with the glasses asked.

“No, there was none. And thank you for your hospitality at such short notice,” Hernan answered him respectfully.

Seeing Hernan use formal language, Linzel realized that this man was…

“It’s my first time greeting you in person, Your Highness. I am Miller Hawkins, the Marquis of Hawkins.”

So, this man is Marquis Miller.

Linzel stepped away from the embrace with Hernan to greet Marquis Miller.

“This is the first time I’ve actually greeted you. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Ah, Your Highness. I intended to greet you at the banquet hall, but you collapsed before I had the chance. Is your forehead… alright?”

Miller looked at Linzel’s forehead with concern. Even when he seemed worried, his expression didn’t really change.

Fascinating.

“It’s not a significant injury that warrants the Marquis’s concern. And what matters most is that the child is not hurt.”

‘Wasn’t that quite mature of me to say?’

Linzel looked up at Hernan, hoping for praise.

Hernan’s lips parted as their eyes met.

“At least to me, it’s more important that you don’t get hurt.”

That was a daring remark. At least it was better than before, when he’d destroyed the romantic atmosphere.

“Haha. Watching you two makes me think of getting married.” Miller gestured for them to follow him. “Please follow me inside.”

They started walking, keeping a distance from Miller.

As Linzel stared at Miller’s broad back, she remembered the conversation she had with Izekiel.

‘Did that pretty guy…… No, I mean, didn’t that glasses guy say something ridiculous about taking down Hernan?’

As she had said to Izekiel, Linzel was genuinely curious about Miller’s motives.

Why was he so determined to make Izekiel a crown prince, even if it meant he had to manipulate him…….?

Linzel couldn’t understand what benefit Miller would gain from Izekiel becoming a crown prince, and further, an emperor. Even if it helped him gain power, no one likes someone who wronged them.

‘If I were Izekiel, I would have confronted Miller the moment I obtained power.’

She may have even exiled him to the outskirts, never to return to the capital.

Linzel thought that Miller’s actions didn’t match up.

Today, she hoped that through their conversation, she might be able to deduce Miller’s true intentions.

* * *

‘…It seems I can’t deduce anything.’

With a face as inscrutable as a chameleon, Miller was adept at engaging in conversation without revealing anything.

Since arriving at the reception room, he hadn’t said a single word that would give away his true thoughts.

Whenever Linzel or Hernan asked pointed questions, he would laugh it off and defuse the situation.

‘A challenging opponent.’

Linzel decided to give up for now.

It was one thing to read Miller’s mind, but more importantly, they needed him to grant them access to the Royal Archive.

“…Marquis, you are aware that we did not visit your estate solely to deepen our friendship with you, right?”

Miller reacted as if he didn’t know.

“Oh, then there must have been another reason? Just deepening our friendship with you is reason enough.”

Linzel thought it was a lie.

He would probably guess that there must be a reason behind our sudden visit. Perhaps he knew that we were preparing to enter the Royal Archive.

“……Perhaps.”

Miller pushed up his glasses. A sharp light glinted in his finely folded eyes.

As expected, he had noticed their intentions to enter the Royal Archive.

“…Because you felt sorry for my lonely situation, did you come to introduce me to a good person?”

“Yes, we’re trying to get into the Royal…… huh?”

…What? Introduce a good person?

Miller put on a modest face.

“It is embarrassing to say this, but I am not good at dealing with the opposite sex.”

“…….”

“People often say that they can’t read my true emotions because I am always smiling.”

Good to know.

“Hmm. The noble ladies I occasionally met would tell me such things. ‘Marquis, you would smile even when you are sad.'”

“…….”

“Is it because I always smile, no matter what I say? However, smiling has become a habit, and I don’t think I can change it easily.”

Having said that, Miller glanced at Hernan.

“Your Highness, Hernan, I believe you will understand my feelings.”

Hernan nodded in understanding.

“I am a man who has been treated as a murderer by many. I think it’s better to be seen as a smiling person than a monster.”

“I see. Your Highness must have had many concerns.”

Hernan nodded in agreement.

Then the two men locked eyes deeply, as if understanding each other’s circumstances.

…Why does Hernan seem to get along better with Miller than with Izekiel?

But wait. Didn’t Miller dislike Hernan?

Linzel didn’t get the slightest vibe of dislike from the Marquis during their interactions, not even a hint. On the contrary, there was a strange bond between them.

They seemed to empathize with each other as men who were generally rejected by women…..

A man whose motives are unknown, as expected.

“Anyway, if the lady you introduced to me is a good person, I will definitely meet her.”

“I apologize to Marquis Miller, but there are not many ladies with whom I have close ties.”

Linzel couldn’t deny it. Ugh.

“If it’s Lady Letty…”

Before Miller finished his sentence, she shouted, “No way! Cough, cough.”

Because of the outburst, a dry cough burst out.

While coughing, Linzel managed to finish her words.

“….Because Letty has someone she likes.”

‘And I can’t introduce someone like you to someone like her.’

“That’s regrettable.”

Linzel drank the tea in the cup that Hernan handed to her. As she did, her dry throat felt relieved.

“…By the way, I think I heard about the ‘Archive’ just now. Did you mean the Royal Archive of the palace?”

Linzel looked at Miller.

He still had a smiling face, but there was a slightly different atmosphere. Sharper and colder, perhaps.

She composed her voice and replied, “That’s right. We were talking about the Royal Archive of the Palace.'”

“We want to get into the Royal Archiv, which is why we’ve come to see you, Marquis Miller,” Hernan continued explaining.

They could have summoned Miller to the palace, but they had to come to him as a courtesy.

Unfortunately, he didn’t seem to think much of their visit…….

‘Next time, I’ll make sure to ask him to come to the palace,’ Linzel resolved.

“I see, the archive…….”

“I would hope that you would hand over the family seal without any transaction, but…… if there is anything else you would like, please let me know.”

Even Hernan’s atmosphere suddenly changed. In his dark red eyes, a sharp glint flashed. He looked just like a seasoned general facing a worthy opponent.

Unintentionally, Linzel was slightly taken aback by Hernan’s intense aura, but it was only for a moment. Hernan, with the look of a warlord, could not have looked more handsome.

Linzel savored his face, feeling like she was in heaven.

The glasses man’s face was also good, but her favorite was still Hernan’s face.

Miller’s reaction was a surprise, though. Despite his intellectual appearance, he was unfazed by Hernan’s intimidation.

“We have a lot in common, Your Highness, and I’m inclined to grant you this favor.”

In other words, he might not fulfill the request directly.

“But I am not only a Marquis but also a merchant. A merchant doesn’t do business without profit.”

Of course not.

“So, what does the Marquis want?”

Miller opened his lips without much hesitation.

He seemed to have anticipated that Linzel and Hernan would make this request and had already thought of what to ask for.

“I…….”

The two of them focused on Miller’s lips.

“I want to know the reason why His Highness the Third Prince, Illiya, has cut ties with the world.”

Illiya?

The same Illiya Linzel had never seen?

The Illiya who remains locked away in his palace, refusing to be seen by anyone?

She never thought that his name would come up here.

Hernan looked as surprised as she was.

“……Illiya…….”

From him mumbling his younger brother’s name, Linzel could sense discomfort.

“What is the reason? Marquis, do you know him?”

Miller shook his head.

“I want to know because I don’t know.”

“…….”

“I boast that I know almost all the information about the palace and the capital. As a merchant, one should have an open ear for everything….” Sighing, Miller continued,”But I have no information about His Highness Illiya. That’s why I want to know.”

“But I haven’t seen him in ten years myself.”

“Are you saying that’s difficult? I thought it would be possible, since it’s a family matter…….”

Though phrased politely, it was a provocation. Miller was subtly provoking Hernan while staying within the boundaries.

No matter how innocent Hernan might be, he couldn’t be oblivious to that fact. Hernan clenched his fists tightly.

“Marquis Miller, are you challenging the palace?”

“I wouldn’t do that! You misunderstand, it’s a misunderstanding.”

“Illiya is a child beyond even the control of his parents. Isn’t this asking for too much?”

“Too much, I see…….. I’m afraid I won’t be able to give you my seal then.”

“Marquis Miller!” Hernan shouted his name.

It was such a lion’s shout that Miller’s blue hair shook. The peculiar thing was that Miller didn’t flinch this time either.

He collected his smile and calmly asserted his opinion.

“I don’t know about other families; they might have given away the crest easily. But the Archive is merely a forgotten relic to me.”

There was a spark of heat in his eyes that Linzel hadn’t seen in any of the other nobles.

It seemed like old grudges or a lingering tale of some sort.

She was once again curious about this person, Miller.

What kind of life had he lived? Why was he so peculiar?

“But I’m different. If I can’t get the information I want, I can’t do anything for you.”