Chapter 115
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116. Trapped within the wheel of her confined existence, Lily's life held no novelty. Naturally, the threads of conversation grew thinner with each passing day. Lily would weave fantastical tales of adventure and share them often with her companions. Yet even that had its limits. She yearned to live in reality, not in the realm of imagination. The only true stories that existed in her narrow world were anecdotes about Julian. Though most were old tales, Lily desperately repeated the same stories over and over. Sometimes she would glimpse her brother's daily activities to glean new material for conversation. Only when her listener laughed at her words could she finally feel at ease. A slow smile spread across her lips as she realized she still belonged to the same world as ordinary people. That was why Lily's heart swelled whenever she heard Rebecca's final laughter from beneath the black veil.
"Oh, that's right! My brother practiced shooting today, but he didn't hit a single target. He nearly hit the cats instead."
"Really? Is Julian not good at shooting?"
"That can't be. No one shoots as well as my brother...."
Lily's eyes widened like saucers. Rebecca's mouth snapped shut in an instant of panic.
"How did you know my brother's name is Julian...?"
If she hadn't been wearing the veil, she would have slapped her own forehead. Rebecca gnawed at the inside of her cheek, deliberating on what to do. Lily looked up at Rebecca with a frightened expression. Around the Duke's Castle, there were always people lingering, eager to uncover the secrets of House of Johannes. A noble family's sanctity earned people's respect easily, but it was equally susceptible to scandal. As a child of House of Johannes, Lily had been educated from a young age to be wary of such people. Yet she had foolishly spilled everything to a stranger. She hadn't even confirmed whether this woman was truly Julian's guest. How could she commit such a stupid blunder simply because she was preoccupied with the fact that she could converse with someone! 【The Hidden Sister of Duke Julian of House of Johannes—Who Is She!】 The sensational headline materialized in her mind, and Lily's hands trembled. Lily clung to Rebecca's arm. Her crimson eyes glistened with tears.
"What do I do... What do I do! You're not a journalist, are you? Are you going to expose my story to the world? Please don't. If you do, my brother will truly hate me."
Rebecca was taken aback at the sight of Lily, whose tears threatened to spill at any moment. But soon she realized that Lily's reaction was excessive. Beyond merely fearing her secret had been discovered, Lily was terrified. And those words about Julian possibly hating her. They pierced Rebecca's heart painfully. 'You ate something other than your prescribed meals!' 'Alicia! This is what Mother gave me. It's not merely a snack. Please, don't tell him.' 'My goodness, and it was outside food at that? I wonder what reaction the Count will have.' 'Alicia, please.... You know well enough that my husband hardly seeks me out these days. If he discovers this, he might come to hate me. So keep this secret for me. I'm begging you.' 'How amusing. Why don't you beg a little harder? Who knows? Perhaps I'll take pity on you and pretend I know nothing.' Rebecca squeezed her eyes shut. The sound of Alicia's scornful laugh echoed vividly in her ears. They were alike. Lily's expression as she pleaded for me to keep her secret bore a striking resemblance to my own from that time. Why did I see myself reflected in this child? An uneasy premonition washed over me. But Rebecca dismissed it as mere fancy, deliberately ignoring her own intuition.
"Lily. I'm not a journalist. And I have no intention of revealing your secret. Not even to your brother."
"Really?"
Lily stepped back from Rebecca, her eyes still brimming with distrust as she studied her. I sensed, however dimly, what might reassure Lily. Rebecca slowly removed her veil.
"Then I'll share my secret with you. If we share secrets with each other, you'll feel at ease, won't you?"
"A secret...?"
"Yes. I am a cursed person. Do you see these red marks? They are the proof."
Lily hesitated before stepping closer to Rebecca, whose face was now exposed. She reached out and carefully traced the red marks Rebecca had mentioned, as if to verify their authenticity.
"Ow...."
The affected area stung where Lily's fingers touched it, and Rebecca let out an involuntary whimper. At her cry of pain, Lily startled and quickly withdrew her hand.
"I'm sorry.... Does it hurt a lot?"
"It did hurt, but it's fine now. Actually, your brother healed me. He shared the blessing he received with me."
"My brother?"
Lily's mouth fell open in surprise. The Julian she knew was talented but cold-hearted, utterly devoid of compassion. That such a brother would help someone—Lily stared blankly at Rebecca. Rebecca's lips curved into a smile. There was unmistakable tenderness in her gaze toward me. It was not the pitying look that ordinary people usually cast upon me. It was a gaze of complete understanding that made one want to be held. Rebecca reached out and gently plucked a leaf from Lily's hair, one by one.
"You find it hard to believe? I understand. Your brother is not good at expressing his feelings. But I can tell that he thinks of you dearly."
"Who exactly are you, Becky? How can you know what's in my brother's heart?"
Along with her fondness came a sudden resistance. She disliked the idea of a woman she'd never met before whispering that her brother cared for her. She'd heard such words endlessly from Croa and Josephine. But she had never once confirmed them. That Julian loved her, that he cherished her. It sounded even more absurd than a fairy tale.
"Come here for a moment, would you? Your hair is a mess. Let me fix it for you." 'At least answer when someone speaks to you.' Lily grumbled inwardly but couldn't resist the temptation and sat on Rebecca's lap. Rebecca produced a small comb from her pocket and began gently working through Lily's tangled hair. The touch of a stranger's hands felt awkward at first. Yet something about her delicate brushstrokes made my chest flutter unexpectedly. Rebecca spoke in a hushed whisper.
"Would you like to hear another secret?"
"What is it?"
"I'm going to become your family."
"Pardon?"
"Don't turn around. I haven't finished combing yet."
"What do you mean? How could you become my family, sister?"
"Julian shared his blessing with me, didn't he? So I decided to help him. That's why I've agreed to marry him. Once that happens, won't I become your family?"
It was something I'd never heard before. That cold older brother getting married! Falling in love like the protagonists in the novels Josephine treasured? Yet for a bride-to-be, Rebecca's tone was remarkably matter-of-fact. Moreover, she hadn't said she loved Julian—only that she would help him. There was something unsettling about it, but it hardly mattered. A new family was coming into my life. New things were happening. But soon, practical worries overwhelmed Lily. 'What if my brother refuses to show me to her?' Few people knew of Lily's existence. Only Josephine and Croa knew that she was Julian's younger sister. Lily was a discarded orphan from a distant branch of the family, and rumors had quietly spread among the servants that Julian was merely showing her temporary charity. Julian was extremely reluctant for Lily's existence to be revealed. Josephine said it was because Julian was trying to protect her, but with each passing day, Lily found herself doubting those words. Rather, the thought that Julian was ashamed of her grew stronger with each passing day. Lily briefly imagined what it would be like to have the kind Rebecca become her family. It seemed as though every day would unfold like a dream. But soon Lily shook her head.
"That's impossible. My brother... Julian could never think of me as family."
"What? Why on earth would you think such a thing...?"
When Rebecca's eyes met Lily's as she turned her head, she fell silent. Lily was smiling. She wore that habitual smile as if she had let go of everything. Rebecca caught a glimpse of her own past in Lily's expression, and her heart sank. Her eyes reddened, and she hastily turned her head away. Eleven years old. It was an expression no child of merely eleven should ever wear. At this age, I would have roamed the mountains and fields without care, speaking freely and mingling with friends. Choosing which cake to eat in the afternoon should have been my greatest concern in life. This was not right. This should never have happened. 'What have you done, Julian!' I was angry with him. But at the same time, the thought that he could do nothing else overwhelmed me with unbearable anguish. I knew well that one who had never been loved could scarcely give a child complete love. I barely held back my tears. Then, with a gentle touch, I braided Lily's hair.
"That's... not true. It seems your brother has wronged you in many ways."
"No! My brother has done nothing wrong to me. It's just that I'm not capable enough.... I can't do things as well as he can."
"No, Lily. Your brother didn't tell you the truth. That is clearly his fault. You have done nothing wrong. I will speak to Julian about it."
"About what?"
"I'll try to convince him to speak his heart to you. To show you that he truly loves you very much. I'm not sure if your shy brother will manage it, but I'll try nonetheless. Lily."
At the unbelievable words coming from behind her, Lily blinked her eyes. She even pinched her thigh secretly, wondering if this was a dream. It hurt. It was definitely not a dream. Many had told her to understand Julian, but no one had ever said he was wrong. Yet Julian's lover, the woman who had promised to marry him, was criticizing him.
"There, all done. My hands aren't very skilled, so it didn't turn out as pretty as I'd hoped."
I gazed somewhat awkwardly at Lily's freely flowing braid. Without even thinking to check her hair, Lily hopped down from my lap. Then her eye level roughly matched mine as I sat on the small log. To Lily, who was studying me, I offered an unreserved smile. My teeth gleamed white. The Countess who fled has returned. E-book publication.
January 12, 2022 Author.
Long Night Sky Publisher.
Desert Fox Published by.
Woongjin ThinkBig Co., Ltd. Submission received.
naver.me/54VzzLSn Blog.
blog.naver.com/wj_fennecfox Twitter.
@wjt_fennecfox
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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