I Became The Younger Sister Of A Dying Woman - Chapter 60

60. Something is Missing

⌜Are you crazy?⌟

“Are you…… crazy?”

I handed the note to Mercy, not immediately understanding the words.

“What does this mean?”

Having read the words, Mercy responded promptly.

“It seems like Your Highness isn’t well… Oh! I mean, Your Highness’s head….”

“…….”

“It seems to be a message expressing concern for Your Highness’s health.”

Mercy hastily defended.

However, I had already grasped what Illiya meant by his words.

Is this guy implying that I’ve gone mad?

My anger surged uncontrollably.

A fierce rage I hadn’t felt since becoming Linzel engulfed me.

I kicked the door one last time.

“Your Highness! Whether I’ve lost my mind or not, come out and confirm it with me!”

No matter how long I waited, there was no response. There was no note either.

I made the decision to leave that door after an hour of waiting.

Throughout my descent from the sixth floor to the first, my anger towards Illiya grew stronger.

‘You brat. I’ll definitely face you and have a word.’

* * *

“Oh my. I’m going to die, I’m dying.”

“Miss Linzel, you can’t die and leave me behind.”

“Then, can you at least cast a spell on my right leg?”

“Of course, Miss.”

Mini began to mutter some incantations as she stood by my bed.

Even after returning from the Western Palace to the Eastern Palace in a carriage, my leg still hurt quite a bit.

Did I overexert myself?

Or was it the stress, the root of all my problems?

I rubbed my forehead.

I felt even a slight headache because I had cursed Illiya.

“…Miss Linzell don’t be too disheartened. There’s hardly anything that can be resolved in just one attempt.”

The only one comforting me is Mini.

“Is that so? Hoping for a one-shot solution is just my own greed?”

“If it were resolved immediately, it would be luck, and if not, it means we have to show determination.”

“Right. My little one, you’re really good with words.”

“Hehe, I am someone’s maid, after all.”

Having Mini by my side was fortunate, I thought anew.

“Smart Mini. So, how can I meet Prince Illiya?”

I need to meet him to truly understand why he chose to hide away.

“Well! In my humble opinion… Since a direct approach failed, I think we should gather information from those around him first.”

“You’re going to befriend the maids of the West Palace, and I’m going to pursue Mercy further?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“But Mercy said he doesn’t know anything.”

“Well, that’s just what he claims. You might think you know everything about me, but I could also have secrets.”

Wait, Mini has secrets too?

That doesn’t make sense.

“You! Did you secretly create a secret?”

“Oh, no! I was giving an example. Why would I have any secrets?”

I narrowed my eyes at Mini.

“Very suspicious.”

“Oh, no, it’s not like that. Don’t get carried away with suspicions.”

“You…”

“……Ha, there is a secret and that is a certain man in the imperial palace I´m keeping an eye on because he is my type.”

I could understand keeping such a secret.

“Could Mercy also have some minor secret? It might be insignificant to her, but it could be helpful to us!”

“When did our Mini become so clever?”

Mini playfully patted my cheek.

Mini, who seemed to proudly attribute their cleverness to me, was adorable.

‘Anyway, for now, I need to keep visiting the Eastern Palace.’

It might be necessary to repeatedly walk up to that door that wouldn’t open.

“Mini, you can stop kneading my leg now. Take a break.”

Although my leg still throbbed with pain, I couldn’t make the sweet Mini suffer.

“I’ll knead a little longer!”

How sweet of her.

“By the way, Miss Linzel.”

“Yeah, do you have something else to say?”

“Yes! I’ve been to the Eastern Palace twice.”

“Indeed.”

“But each time I go there, I feel an odd discomfort.”

“In what way? Describe it in more detail.”

Mini tilted her head slightly.

As if she herself couldn’t understand the reason for feeling that way.

“It’s a slightly different feeling from the Western Palace and the Duke’s Residence. It’s like something is missing… I don’t know what it is.”

Something is missing.

I was puzzled.

I couldn’t guess what that something could be.

I rubbed my forehead again.

“Let’s rest for today. My head is overloaded.”

“Yes, Miss Linzel.”

I took a deep breath and exhaled. A pleasant scent of wood lingered on my nostrils.

It was the fragrance emanating from the new furniture I had brought in today.

The interior work at Hernan Palace, which had started early in the morning, was about half done.

The most urgent tasks, such as arranging the bedrooms and corridors, were complete. The remaining rooms would be decorated one by one.

I looked around again.

The tasteful wallpapers, furniture, and decorations were in perfect harmony, not too extravagant but striking the right balance.

‘I really like it.’

I hoped that Hernan, who would finish his official duties soon and return, would also be pleased with the changed interior.

As I lay there in silence, trying to stay awake, drowsiness began to wash over me.

I didn’t want to fall asleep before Hernan arrived today.

There was a mountain of things I needed to report to him.

I exerted pressure on my eyelids, resisting the urge to drift off to sleep.

How much time had passed like this?

As my half-closed eyelids were about to succumb to sleep, I heard the sound of the door opening.

Startled, I quickly opened my eyes.

“Your Highness Hernan, have you finally arrived?”

“Linzel. Have you been waiting long?”

It really was Hernan.

I couldn’t muster the energy to sit up, so I turned my head to the side.

“Your Highness! I can’t express how long I’ve been waiting for you.”

“It’s been a busy day. I apologize for the delay.”

At that moment, another voice rang out.

“I’m here with him.”

The voice belonged to…….

“……demon?”

It was the being Hernan had referred to as the Demon.

“Demon? Isn’t that a bit harsh? You’re really going too far lately, aren’t you?”

Izekiel, who had been the subject of my nightmares, let out a snort.

“I had a nightmare, and you look just like the demon in my dream. Haha.”

“…….”

“It’s not because I have any ill will towards you, Your Highness Izekiel.”

“At this point, it seems like you might.”

Hernan interjected, supporting my words.

“Linzel said she doesn’t.”

Izekiel looked back and forth between me and Hernan, then sighed heavily.

“Dealing with both of you is a bit challenging, even for me.”

I couldn’t agree more with that sentiment.

“Anyway, both of you, please come in. And I apologize in advance for not getting up to greet you. It’s because of my health…”

Hernan walked briskly over to the bed.

“Did you have a hard time at the Western Palace? I should have accompanied you…”

Hernan blamed himself, even though it wasn’t his fault.

A shadow passed over his usually composed face.

To prevent him from blaming himself, I responded assertively.

“I can’t keep relying on your help, Your Highness.”

“And it’s not like I’m sick.”

“You’re not sick, and yet you want to greet two princes lying down?”

The one grumbling was Izekiel.

I shot him a side-eye.

“Your Highness Hernan, may I suggest that we consider kicking out uninvited guests?”

“Fine.”

“Wait, hold on! I’m here to help you out.”

Izekiel never stopped picking fights that he couldn’t win, and I couldn’t figure out why.

“I understand. I’ll let it slide this time.”

“…I’m the one helping out, yet you keep taking offense. This is strange.”

Izekiel grumbled and casually took a seat on the edge of the bed.

Hernan, who had seated himself first, looked at him, but didn’t impose any restrictions.

I gazed at Izekiel.

Almost simultaneously, an image from my dream came to mind.

Next to me, Izekiel, who claimed to be my groom.

“……Linzel?”

I forced the corners of my mouth to lift.

It seemed best not to bring up anything related to the dream.

“Izekiel, Your Highness. Have you thought of a convincing reason to deceive Marquis Miller?”

“First things first. I sent some meat to the Eastern Palace. Make sure you eat it.”

“What?”

“That meat is from a monster that only exists in the Elche Forest. It helps with restoring energy.”

The Elche Forest was where the hunting competition had taken place.

Izekiel hunted down the monster, even while his leg was injured. Could it have been the same monster?

I looked at Izekiel again.

“Don’t mistake it. I needed it too, and while I was at it, I got yours as well.”

“I see.”

“You understand, right?”

“Yes. Still, thank you.”

It was a sincere expression without sarcasm or jest.

Even if he had obtained mine as well while he was at it, gratitude was gratitude.

“…….”

Izekiel closed his lips tightly and stared at me intensely.

There was an indiscernible emotion in his expression.

“Your Highness Izekiel?”

“…I’m glad you know it’s something to be thankful for.”

Our conversation ended there.

Hernan, who had been listening in silence, finally spoke up.

“Linzel, tell us about what happened at the Western Palace.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I confessed everything that happened at the Western Palace.

As I finished my story, both men burst into laughter.

“Puhaha.”

“Heh, heh.”

I couldn’t figure out what they were laughing about.

“You two. Why are you laughing?”

“I knew right away that you would be angry, but I didn’t know you would even kick Illiya’s door.”

“Well, that… I had to climb up to the 6th floor, and somehow I became more sensitive… while catching my breath.”

Hernan’s large hand gently stroked my head.

“You did well. I’m not scolding you.”

“Since I did well, I’ll make sure to keep kicking the door next time too. Hehe.”

At that, the sound of laughter echoed once again.

“Pfft.”

The owner of laughter was Izekiel.

“Looks like you have something else to kick.”

“Hey, Linzel. Aren´t I your brother-in-law?”

“Who said I was going to kick Your Highness Izekiel? Right, Your Highness Hernan?”

“But kicking him wouldn’t be bad either.”

Izekiel shook his head.

This time I chuckled.

“By the way, does His Highness Illiya have a temper? The message was very powerful.”

Hernan wore a puzzled expression.

“Not at all. The boy I remember had few words and was timid. He wasn’t someone who would use rough language.”

“Has he changed a lot in the past ten years?”

Hernan’s words were tinged with reminiscence.

I took Hernan’s hand in mine.

“Despite lying to Viscount Miller, I’ll find out about His Highness Illya’s circumstances for sure.”

Instead of answering, Hernan nodded his head.

After visiting the Western Palace and receiving his note, I truly wanted to meet Illiya.

I locked eyes with Izekiel.

“Your Highness, Izekiel. Now tell me your fake cover story to deceive the Marquis of Miller.”