“Don’t forget who got you into this mess. You’ll never be able to leave me.”

She recalled something that Rethe had once said in a fit of rage. It hadn’t made her angry, though, because it was so obviously true. In fact, all she had wanted at the time was to embrace her sister.

But now…

“You said you wouldn’t let me go. You said you wouldn’t die so easily, ever. HHK…”

There was no reply. Hailla’s voice grew weaker and fainter.

“Don’t do this. Don’t die… I’m sorry… I really tried…”

Her sister had been her only support when those unworthy caregivers had treated her like a commodity. She was the only family she loved, and who loved her.

“It’s my fault… so please, don’t die…”

Her poor sister, abandoned by their parents because of her. And would Hailla fail to save her, too? Was she really going to die because of her? Just like that?

Hailla cried uncontrollably, gasping for breath. Even as she broke down, she clung tightly to Rethe’s hand, muttering ‘I’m sorry’ over and over again. Lian gently sat down by the bed, wrapped his arm around her trembling shoulders and watched from behind.

“Hailla.”

“Ah… hngh… sis… sister…”

“Hailla. Calm down, okay?”

“Hic… What should I do? She’s not moving…”

“I see.”

She’s not moving. His gaze swept over Rethe, who was lying motionless like a corpse. But Hailla, consumed by despair, failed to notice the faint hint of satisfaction in his eyes. All she could do was cling to the last person left at her side.

“No, please… no… sis… if you die…”

“Do you want to save her?”

That gentle voice struck Hailla like a bolt of lightning. Her tear-stained face turned towards him, trembling.

“I can save her.”

For a moment, silence hung between them. Hailla stared blankly at him, then gasped as though she had just caught her breath.

“How… how can you…?”

“I’ve actually been looking into it for a while. You know that place — the Blue House? They might have something that works for Rethe’s illness.”

The Blue House. It was an illegal apothecary where ordinary people turned when they couldn’t access proper medicine. The person in charge acted as a back-alley physician and made a lot of money.

The official medical centres, which were established by the temple and palace, only treated a limited number of illnesses and only prescribed medicines that had been approved by the temple. Even wealthy merchants therefore found it difficult to treat rare diseases. The Blue House exploited this gap to thrive.

“I finally found a lead yesterday. I’ve already sent someone to collect it, and they should be back soon. Just wait a little longer.”

It wasn’t as if Hailla hadn’t tried. But searching alone cost a fortune in time and money, and even if she found a lead, she couldn’t afford the price they demanded. She’d heard that ten years’ worth of wages would only buy ten pills. That’s when she gave up on the Blue House.

“Lian…”

“Everything’s going to be okay.”

Her lower lashes quivered at this unexpected salvation. Refusal wasn’t an option. It wasn’t her life at stake, but her sister’s. Pride and shame had no place here. Hailla grasped his tightly wrapped hand in return.

Her heart pounded anxiously, but she forced herself to calm down and closed her eyes.

“You just have to trust me. Then everything will be all right.”

He smiled deeply. And, in the end, it really was. Everything turned out all right.

“Thank you.”

“It’s not like she’s cured yet.”

He looked a little sheepish, but genuinely so. This was an unexpected display of humility for someone who had achieved so much.

“If it weren’t for you, my sister would have died today. Even the doctor said so.”

“I only provided a little life support.”

Hailla’s expression darkened. It was Lian’s words that forced her to face the truth she had been trying so hard to ignore. She let out a long sigh and gave a tired smile.

“It’s always been like that.”

“…”

“Sis always came back from the brink of death. Just like today. So it will be from now on, too…”

“Hailla.”

“It’s fine. It’ll be OK. She’ll be fine.”

“But—”

“Shut up!”

Hailla snapped, her face reddening. Tears welled up in her bloodshot eyes again.

“Then what am I supposed to do?! What do you want me to do?”

“…”

“All I can do is believe. That’s all I can do!”

The visiting doctor gave Rethe a pill and a few spoonfuls of tonic, then thoroughly checked her breathing, pulse, and the spots on her body. He pressed lightly on different areas of her body, taking notes while maintaining a deeply serious expression.

‘What if he said her condition was severe? What if he said she didn’t have long? What would they do then?’

Hailla fought to suppress her spiralling thoughts and clutched Lian’s hand tightly. But her worst fears were realised.

“It doesn’t seem like this can be improved with medicine alone. If she received treatment at the temple, it might be another matter, but…”

When Lian asked if the Blue House could not treat her, the physician responded with a troubled look. He explained that the Blue House could not cure every illness. They didn’t have the funding or expertise to rival the temple’s medical practice.

Lian felt foolish for ever believing that the doctor at the Blue House might heal her sister completely. Ultimately, Hailla was informed that Rethe had as little as two months left. The doctor’s voice blurred into a distant ringing in her ears. She cried so hard that her legs gave way, and Lian had to help her onto the bed.

“If she gets to the temple, she might be saved.”

In contrast, Lian remained calm the entire time. Yes, Hailla had heard that possibility before, but it wasn’t something she could rely on. The temple only allowed entry to nobles, royalty and high-ranking clergy. Commoners were strictly forbidden. And now Lian, who knew that better than anyone, was saying this?

“I can help.”

His voice was steady and full of conviction. Hailla sensed a strange tension in those words, but also a faint glimmer of hope, and she stiffened.

“Didn’t you say before that it was impossible?”

She had asked him once, hesitantly, after they returned from the temple. Couldn’t he take Rethe there too, like he had taken Hailla? She knew it was shameless and presumptuous to ask, but her desperation had grown as Rethe’s condition worsened.

At the time, Lian had looked truly regretful as he told her it couldn’t be done. When he brought Hailla, the high priest had just happened to be away, and the place had been relatively quiet. However, someone like Rethe, who needed rare medicine and intensive care, could not be smuggled in unnoticed.

He kindly explained that, unlike Hailla, Rethe would require long-term treatment, which would make it impossible to hide her.

“I can’t do this anymore. Not like this.”

“….”

“Is there a way?”

Yes. Come to think of it, Lian was a nobleman. He may have left his family under disgraceful circumstances, but maybe he knew another way. Still trembling, Hailla forced herself to her feet and grabbed onto him. He caught her quickly, surprised, and steadied her as she swayed.

“I’ll do anything. I’ll do whatever it takes, Lian.”

Lian looked at Hailla, his eyes searching deep within hers. It was an intense gaze, as if he was trying to gauge something. Recognising this, she clung to him desperately.

“I know there’s not much I can do, but if it’s money and it costs a lot, I’ll find a way to get it somehow…”

She spoke without thinking. She was making promises she couldn’t possibly keep. That’s how desperate she was. Cast aside all pride, she pleaded.

“Please, save my sister. Please?”

“Hailla. Only nobles are allowed into the temple.”

“I know. I know that, but…”

“If you marry me, you’ll become a noble.”

“Marry?”

Hailla repeated the word in a daze, her expression vacant. She was stunned by how unexpected it was.

“If you go southwest, there’s a region called Rozeare. The noble family there, the House of Rozeare, is known for producing only blonde-haired children.”

“Lian, wait, I…”

“If we can form an alliance with the Huriet Duchy, those borderland nobles would have no reason to refuse to adopt two orphans as their daughters.”

“…”

“If that happens, you’ll be able to marry me and Rethe will be able to access the temple and receive treatment with my support.”

It felt like she’d been hit in the head with a hammer. Hailla struggled to hold on to her drifting consciousness as she considered what she would have to give up in exchange for saving her sister. No—wait.

Was it even right to say that she was giving something up?

“I wanted to find a cure for Rethe through the Blue House. Then I was going to propose to you. I know… I know how terrible it sounds to say that you have to marry me just to save your sister.”

“……”

“But I really wanted to know how you feel about me. It was important to me that you chose me of your own free will. But when the doctor from the Blue House said there was nothing he could do…”

He spoke quickly, like someone who had done something terribly wrong and was now too anxious to stop. Yes — like a child who had broken something and was now biting their nails in fear of being scolded.

“Nobles are extremely calculating. If we don’t get married, they won’t approve of your adoption…”

“No—wait. Wait a second.”

Hailla firmly cut him off. At her interruption, he closed his mouth with a tense expression, his eyes fixed desperately on her lips. Seeing that look, she swallowed hard, feeling as though she might burst into tears.

“Why do you look so guilty?”

“…”

“You’re asking me to marry you, the future heir to a duchy? That’s not something to be sorry about. Even if it does happen, it’s not something you should apologise for.”