SFBED 25

Chapter 25

“I’m exhausted… and sluggish.”
The summer in Sephardi was merciless.
The air was dry, but the sun burned stronger here than anywhere else — just stepping outside for a moment left me completely drained.

After safely returning to my room under Arius’s escort, I removed my necklace and called out to the unseen Luisa.
“Luisa, could you bring me some ice water—”
“Lady Maribel. Lady Gabriella is waiting for you.”
“Gabriella? Why? Has she been waiting long?”
“For quite a while. I’ll bring the ice water; please go to the parlor.”

Though my body was weary, I ran straight to the parlor.
There sat Gabriella, back perfectly straight, lifting a teacup to take a graceful sip.
Wherever she sat, she never leaned back — keeping her posture upright was Yoon Gabi’s old habit.

Her clothes, her hair color, her eyes, even the era were different — and yet, it was so easy to see traces of my younger sister in her that just looking at her filled me with joy.

“Gabriella!”
“Maribel, sister.”
“What brings you here?”
“I was curious if you chose your fan well. I wondered what kind of fan you picked.”
“I placed an order, so I don’t have it yet. Once it’s brought here, I’ll show you right away.”

“I see.” Gabriella murmured, toying with the handle of her teacup.
I recognized that habit — it was what Yoon Gabi used to do when she had something to say but was hesitating.

I was about to help her out when Gabriella finally spoke.
“Maribel, has everything been alright?”

Depending on how you looked at it, things were either fine… or not.
“Well, nothing out of the ordinary.”
“And… how is Duke Romero?”
“Huh? Why?”
“I’ve only seen him a few times at the ballroom, but he seemed so stiff and unreadable that I worried.”
“Oh.”

He had no social skills, and his only interest was revenge. On top of that, his looks drew too much attention — no wonder people would gossip about him.
“He’s a good man.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”

Gabriella raised her teacup again.
That hadn’t been the main topic — what was she really trying to say, circling around like that?

I narrowed my eyes — and that’s when I noticed the ring on her left hand.
A ring so large it hid the joint of her finger.

A finely cut, enormous diamond gleamed at the center, surrounded by pink diamonds like flower petals.
It was far too extravagant to match the light dress she wore at the duchy.

Which meant there was only one possible answer.
I spoke with certainty.
“Gabriella… did His Highness the Crown Prince give you that ring?”
“…Yes.”
“Is it a royal engagement ring?”
“The official ring is given at the wedding ceremony. This one… was a personal gift.”

As she said that, Gabriella’s cheeks flushed pink.
Her cool, graceful expression suddenly turned adorable.
She looked truly happy.

And for a moment, Yoon Gabi’s face overlapped hers.

In truth, I’d only seen my real little sister wear that expression — pure happiness — for a brief moment in her life.
Maybe that’s why I found myself wishing Gabriella would always stay this joyful.

“Congratulations. It’s a beautiful ring.”
“Thank you.”

Even after that, she seemed to have something else on her mind.
So this time, I spoke first.
“Do you have something more to say?”
“Maribel… Carlos — I mean, His Highness the Crown Prince — he wishes to marry soon.”
“I see. And you?”
“I do too, but… I also know that you haven’t decided yet, sister.”
“Ah… huh?”

That damned original story.

Her words triggered a memory — of Maribel’s other notorious behavior.
Because of Naparo’s absurd tradition that the elder sibling must marry first, the Sephardi family had rushed to arrange Maribel’s marriage.

Of course, it hadn’t gone well. Maribel, the ill-tempered noblewoman with Moro blood, was a difficult match.
Even suitable counts or marquises hesitated, and Maribel, intent on ruining Gabriella’s happiness, rejected every proposal that came only for Sephardi’s wealth.
“How could I marry someone so beneath me?” she had spat at everyone.

And she was too strong-willed to be forced into a convent.

So the Crown Prince and Gabriella’s marriage kept being delayed.
If Pedro — the one who changed his mind in the original story — hadn’t proposed, the royal wedding might have been postponed indefinitely.

But now, things were different.

Gabriella hesitated, her lips trembling slightly.
“Maribel, but please…”
“I do have someone in mind!”
“What?”
“I’m completely ready — to get married.”
“So suddenly?”
“Of course. I’ll just get it over with quickly.”

I grabbed her hands tightly and nodded with conviction.
Gabriella looked flustered.
“I came to ask for your help, but… this is too sudden because of me…”
“It’s not because of you. I’ve just been feeling differently these days.”
“Differently? How so…?”

She looked into my eyes then — maybe seeing the near-manic glint in them.

“I’ve been too selfish toward my family. Especially toward you. I’m truly sorry.”

The Sephardi family was just… unpleasant, that was all.
But except for my late mother, the only person I genuinely considered family was the sister who resembled Gabriella — my real little sister, Yoon Gabi.
So my apology was sincere.

“Why, does this seem strange, me suddenly saying all this?”
“No, sister.”

If anything, the strange thing was how I’d been chasing her around for the past few days, trying to get closer.

Gabriella hesitated again, then spoke softly.
“But… is it with Lord Esquia?”
“Oh, so you’ve heard.”
“Yes.”

It definitely wasn’t him, but since nothing was settled yet, I couldn’t confirm or deny anything.
“Don’t worry. Whoever it is, I’ll settle things before the summer ends. That way, you’ll have time to prepare properly too.”
“Maribel… I know I came to ask for a favor, but still… deciding to marry so quickly, just because of me… maybe you should take more time?”
“No, you’re purifying the relics now, right? I’ve thought a lot during that time too, so don’t worry.”

I said it with confidence.
“Still…”
“I’ll take care of everything before the Rocio Festival.”

A month and a half until the event.
Barely enough time to use Arius Romero as a temporary fiancé, break off the engagement at the right moment, and find a way back to my own world.

“Thank you. Truly, thank you, sister.”

But seeing Gabriella’s tearful eyes shining so happily made it impossible not to want to help.
Her face glowed red with joy, and something like pride welled up in me.

Gabriella was almost trembling with happiness.
I told her gently to go ahead first.
“Then I’ll be going, sister.”
“Alright, take care.”

I was about to wave goodbye when Gabriella’s body suddenly tilted forward.
“Ah!”

Thanks to my quick reflexes, I caught her before she collapsed onto the table.
“Are you okay?”
“I just felt a bit dizzy, it’s nothing.”
“Do you want to lie down?”
“No, I’m really fine.”

Orthostatic hypotension — that’s what flashed through my mind.

It had been one of Yoon Gabi’s chronic issues. She’d faint every time she stood up too fast, so our family had gotten used to catching her.
After she moved out, that responsibility had fallen entirely to me.

“Does this happen often?”
“Sometimes, when I relax too much.”

Well, this was Yoon Gabi’s world, after all.
She’d simply given a character resembling herself one of her own ailments — the original story never mentioned it.
So it probably wasn’t an important plot point.

Gabriella smiled brightly, as if to prove my worry wrong.
“Maybe it’s just because I’m too happy.”
“Could be, but you can rest a bit if you want. Should I bring you some ice?”
“I’m fine. I just… really want to see him soon.”
“Ah, His Highness?”

Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink.
“Yes, he wanted to see me.”
“Alright then. I’ve been holding you up too long. Go tell him what you need to — and make sure to tell him I’m sorry for the trouble.”
“Thank you, sister.”

My sister, with eyes soft and warm — melted completely by love.

I wanted to protect that happiness of hers, for as long as I possibly could.