Chapter 161…………………………….
“Do you recognize me, Elufe?”
My bed was soaked. My damp back felt uncomfortable, yet I didn’t have the strength to get up immediately.
Before me, barely able to open my eyes, stood Rublion, his eyes filled with fear.
“…Marquis Eastern?”
As I studied Rublion’s expression, he finally seemed to come to his senses and nodded with a vacant look.
“Sigh… I’m glad you’re awake.”
Seeing him stagger with relief, I faintly smiled. Now that I looked around, there were quite a few people behind Rublion.
Roelin, her nose red; Zeros, his eyes wet; and Rekanon, standing crookedly and glaring at me.
They were lined up as if they had come just to watch me sleep, and I felt my toes curl in embarrassment.
“What’s going on here?”
“…As you can see, these are the people who came upon hearing the news that Miss Elufe, Lin’s companion, is in critical condition.”
It wasn’t me, but Roelin who flinched at Rekanon’s unusually polite tone today.
Shocked, Roelin glanced back and examined Rekanon’s face, suddenly noticing how properly he was behaving.
“Ora-beoni, your tone is a little strange.”
“Ahem. That’s because you’ll soon become the Grand Duchess.”
Seeing Rekanon, who used to be blunt, show me courtesy, my heart felt somewhat at ease.
I also felt thankful that he had clearly resolved his feelings toward me. At the same time, a sense of sadness crept in.
I realized it would be difficult to maintain the easy friendship we once had.
“So… the rumor that Ora-beoni sent a proposal to unnie was true?”
“Lin, that’s not something to bring up here, so don’t.”
Roelin’s pronunciation had improved lately. Now she could speak naturally without needing someone to translate for her.
Seeing this, I felt a quiet sense of pride.
“Does it make you smile?”
Looking at the lively royal siblings, I couldn’t help but smile warmly.
But the smile faded immediately at Zeros’s icy gaze.
“Ah, Zeros.”
“Sis, I just don’t understand. I can’t comprehend why you, the happiest person in the world, are lying here like this.”
“Huh?”
“I wonder if you’ve had worries you couldn’t share with me, or if I’ve been foolishly missing something you couldn’t say…”
Ah, he wanted to say that he was worried about me.
Zeros, holding back tears and furrowing his brow, choked up before finishing his words.
He really did look like a child at times like this.
“It’s nothing. I guess I was just a little tired.”
Trying to make light of it, Rublion let out a short sigh.
“No matter how tired you were, you shouldn’t have been unconscious for two whole days.”
As if pouring oil on a fire…
Rublion’s contradiction made Zeros’s expression even worse.
“I think it would be better if sis lived alone forever.”
“Huh? Are you joking about my unnie like that?”
Roelin, listening, was startled and grabbed Zeros’s arm tightly.
Though her sleeve was slightly rumpled, it seemed to have little effect on Zeros.
“I felt so frustrated and helpless I thought I might die.”
“That’s… your concern, Marquis. I don’t understand why my unnie should be blamed for it.”
Roelin furrowed her brows and scolded Zeros. She, who had never shown interest in anyone but me, now glared at Zeros with intense emotion.
“Thinking that something like this could happen to unnie again… I can’t just stand by. I’ll do whatever I can to understand what makes her suffer…”
Smack.
At that moment, Roelin slapped Zeros’s abs with all her strength.
Everyone in the room looked at her in shock, and tears welled up in her eyes.
“This… my hand hit the belt.”
Seeing Roelin’s reddened hand, Zeros bent his knees to check her palm.
They really were a beautiful pair.
Rublion approached, sprinkling holy water on Roelin with a smile.
“The pain will go away quickly.”
“Oh, it really doesn’t hurt!”
“You little one, that’s a waste of power. From now on, don’t swing your fists—use your power instead.”
Rekanon pressed his large hand on Roelin’s head teasingly.
Everything felt as though it had returned to its proper place.
I thought seeing this would bring me relief, but instead, a hollow feeling lingered.
“…I guess I was never meant to be here from the start.”
Seeing my silence, Zeros glanced at me.
“Sis.”
“…Yes?”
“If you have any worries, whatever they are, please tell me.”
I smiled, finding Zeros’s simple comfort cute and heartwarming.
But Rekanon’s burning gaze was directed at me.
“Why tell the Marquis? If something needs handling, tell me first.”
“…(Hah, look at this Ora-beoni. Didn’t he just say he resolved his feelings?)”
Startled by Roelin’s loud inner thoughts, my eyes widened, but I managed to stay calm.
“Wouldn’t it be better to tell me rather than the prince who proposed? The Marquis hasn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony yet, so tell me instead.”
Rublion, who had been quietly observing, suddenly spoke.
“Rublion…”
“No matter how far in the future Elufe becomes the empire’s Grand Duchess, I will remain in the same position. So, be sure to call me.”
I nodded, thinking it was a heartwarming conclusion. Then Roelin placed her hand on her chest and said:
“No! Unnie must call me first, before anyone else! Because we’re close…”
“Of course. The princess should be called first.”
“Promise! If someday the Grand Duchess changes her mind and causes unnie trouble, I’ll use all my power to intervene!”
I couldn’t help laughing at Roelin, but Rekanon frowned.
“Hey, little one.”
“Just now. I’m talking to unnie.”
“You have to wield your power wisely. Using it in the wrong place is foolish.”
Rekanon gave me a sharp glance.
Having refused the proposal, I thought it would be hard to talk to him again.
In my previous life, it had always been that way.
I expected someone would once again get disappointed and leave, having built up expectations for someone as insignificant as me.
“And Elufe.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“At the last ball, I was careless. I apologize for the delay in making this right.”
“….”
I choked up and couldn’t even say it was fine.
Feeling as if it might be the last moment, I simply nodded heavily.
Rekanon, approaching, leaned close and whispered into my ear:
“If you’re sorry, take care of your health from now on.”
He smiled mischievously, and in that moment, I realized:
Drawing boundaries doesn’t mean becoming strangers.
We were still friends, and that would remain true no matter what we became in the future.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
I smiled at Rublion with a relieved heart, and Roelin exhaled a short, anxious sigh.
“That’s enough. Let’s go, little one.”
Rekanon awkwardly turned and playfully nudged Roelin.
Normally, Roelin would have scolded him, but today she simply nodded.
“Unnie needs to rest too… but what about the Marquis?”
Roelin subtly checked if Zeros, like a shy stone, would come along and asked him.
Rublion placed a gentle hand on Zeros’s shoulder and smiled kindly.
“I’ll take care of the Marquis.”
“Why?”
“To check how the princess’s earlier hit affected him.”
Rublion gently pointed out Roelin’s mistake with a soft smile.
Blushing, Roelin moved close to Zeros and extended her hand.
“Sorry.”
“….”
“I think I was too harsh. I won’t swing my fist next time. I promise.”
“It didn’t hurt at all.”
Zeros frowned, seemingly irritated by the concern of the two, but he took her hand with both of his.
“Therefore, Your Highness, you need not apologize to me for this.”
Zeros’s cheeks grew redder and redder.
