How to Live as the Terminally Ill Younger Sister of the Villain - Chapter 33
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Both the male lead and the Tower Master had the Sun God’s Order as their enemy. But not knowing they shared the same goal, they were hostile to each other.
They wasted energy fighting individual battles, and with the villain brother also getting involved, everything was in chaos.
‘If I can prevent him from falling out with the Tower Master now, wouldn’t it make what I’m trying to do easier?’
Angelina’s goal was to join hands with the Tower Master. Since Flaubert also opposed the Sun God’s Order, they could work together to bring it down.
Of course, since that wouldn’t be possible during her lifetime, her real goal was to make the Tower Master and her brother cooperate.
And the ultimate goal was to ensure that when her brother finally became friends, or at least allies, with the male lead, the Tower Master wouldn’t interfere.
‘Then I should also prevent the male lead and the Tower Master from falling out, right?’
Thinking about it, maintaining a good relationship between the Tower Master and the male lead was just as important as connecting her brother with the male lead, and her brother with the Tower Master.
‘Then… I can’t just let him go like this?!’
She had overlooked this crucial part while worrying about how to persuade the Tower Master.
“Your Grace.”
Angelina immediately took action.
“What do you think about the Sun God’s Order?”
“The Sun God’s Order… you say?”
Blake couldn’t help but be bewildered by her sudden question.
He had been planning to find out a bit more about what she knew about the Tower Master, but suddenly, the Sun God’s Order?
“Yes. The Sun God’s Order that ‘supports’ the Empire.”
But she added an explanation, confirming that he hadn’t misheard.
‘Is she trying to change the subject?’
Due to the abrupt change of topic, Blake thought she was trying to avoid talking about the Tower Master.
‘So there is something after all.’
If he insisted on bringing up the Tower Master again here, he might only provoke her antipathy.
It seemed best to be satisfied with just knowing that there was something between Flaubert and the Tower Master, and move on.
“As you said, I think it’s an entity that forms the foundation of the Empire.”
He willingly engaged in her conversation.
“The foundation of the Empire…”
Angelina rested her chin on her hand and let out a groan, “Hmm.”
She tore off a small piece of the remaining fish and fed it to her fox familiar, taking her time before speaking again.
“I dislike the Sun God’s Order.”
“Pardon?”
This time, it was her turn to make a bombshell statement.
As Blake stared at her without saying a word, Angelina added, looking straight into his eyes.
“The stronger the light, the darker the shadow becomes. But people are blinded by that light and fail to see the shadow.”
“…That’s a dangerous statement, Lady Flaubert.”
Was she implying that the Sun God’s Order was up to something in the shadows?
It was something an imperial citizen should never say carelessly.
“If this conversation were to leak out, not only Lady Flaubert but also the Marquis’ family could be in danger.”
“That’s true. If it were to leak out, that is.”
He warned her to be careful, but she replied nonchalantly.
She even wore a faint smile, as if there wasn’t a hint of hesitation or regret in her words.
“You’re not going to spread rumors about this anywhere, are you, Your Grace?”
“You don’t need to worry about my companions.”
Blake glanced at Mason and Sean, who was pretending not to listen while eating not far away.
The rest of his close aides had gone up to their rooms to rest, but these two never left Blake’s side no matter how tired they were. That’s how much Blake trusted them.
“But we’re not the only ones here, are we?”
Blake nodded towards the innkeeper standing far away at the counter.
Besides him, there was no way to know what kind of listening devices might be hidden here. That eccentric Tower Master would surely have hidden surveillance all over the gate.
She must have thought of this too…
“I know. I’m saying this knowing that.”
“…?”
“Why do you think that mage at the first gate was so surprised?”
Unable to hide his confusion at her continued shocking statements, Blake rubbed his forehead with his fingertips and asked,
“Why are you telling me these things?”
“You took the courage to tell me your reason for visiting the Magic Tower first, didn’t you?”
Claiming that she was just doing the same as he did.
“Lady Flaubert. This is of a different magnitude.”
However, even if the intention was the same, the content was vastly different.
One was a common story that anyone with an ear to high society could guess. But the other was a story that could shake the foundations of the country.
“It’s fine because it’s not from the Marquis family’s standpoint. Coming here was entirely my personal action.”
“This is not something to be taken so lightly.”
Blake said with a worried face, frustrated by her nonchalant attitude.
Angelina then smiled and whispered kindly.
“You really are gentle, Your Grace. Usually, people think about how to exploit weaknesses, not show concern.”
Blake was at a loss for words at her statement.
It was true. If it were someone else, they would have pondered what other intentions might be behind such information and how to use it.
But strangely, because it came from her, he didn’t have any such suspicions and only felt concern.
“That’s why I keep opening up to you, Your Grace.”
“Lady Flaubert, you shouldn’t trust others so easily. Especially someone like me who has nothing to lose and knows no fear.”
Blake couldn’t help but continue to say something akin to scolding.
With such naivety, she was bound to be constantly deceived wherever she went.
Ah… Is this why she lived her whole life being deceived by her brother?
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said.”
He was frustrated by her trust in him.
Unaware of his feelings, she kept smiling with her chin resting on her hand. Then she continued to spill more information.
“The Tower Master is very interested in the dead lands of your duchy. It’s intriguing, isn’t it? A force that opposes holy power?”
If true, this was information that could be sold for a very high price.
“Your Grace. Don’t limit your trade items to mana stones. You have more in your possession than you think.”
“That is to say… it sounds like the Tower Master harbors similar feelings to Lady Flaubert.”
Blake’s voice was low.
If this was true, it wasn’t information he could just ignore.
It was a crucial puzzle piece for him, one that would require him to completely overhaul all the strategies he had devised so far.
“If that’s true, why are you sharing such information with me?”
At that similar question from before, Angelina gave a faint smile and slowly rose from her seat.
Stroking the fox familiar that nestled into her bosom, she answered in a soft voice.
“Weren’t you curious about the Tower Master?”
“……”
Blake was struck right on the mark.
So it wasn’t that she had abruptly changed the subject, but that she had brought it up to properly answer his question.
A simple answer that she was just responding because he was curious.
Again.
Today too, the conversation had become one for his benefit.
A conversation where he got everything he was curious about, while she gained nothing in return.
“I’ll go up first. I’m tired from being so tense at the gate.”
Considerate until the end.
There were no complaints about her legs hurting, even though she, who always moved by carriage, had walked all day.
At the gate too, she had wasted hours waiting for him. But she didn’t express any dissatisfaction about that either.
Blake’s gaze followed her as she disappeared up the stairs.
“Angelina… Flaubert.”
Just who are you…
“Haah…”
Blake covered his eyes with his hands and let out a deep sigh.
Dealing with people, especially nobles, was always tiring and troublesome. But dealing with her was different.
It was difficult and frustrating in a different way.
That night, Blake couldn’t sleep due to his complicated feelings.
***
As day broke and the two easily passed through the second gate, they didn’t bring up the conversation from the previous night until they reached the third gate.
Only mundane conversations were exchanged, such as how the weather was or how lunch tasted.
And when they arrived at the third gate, a man with sandy-colored hair greeted them as if he had been waiting.
“Welcome. I’m Sobre, in charge of the final gate.”
His staff was large and the Magic Tower emblem on his white robe was elaborate, clearly indicating he was a mage of quite high rank.
“Nice to meet you, Mage Sobre.”
Angelina greeted with appropriate words, while Blake gave a slight nod.
“You’re both lucky. The Tower Master happens to be in the tower.”
Unlike the mages they had met at previous gates, his attitude towards Angelina and Blake wasn’t markedly different.
“It seems the Tower Master doesn’t spend much time in the tower.”
When Blake pointed out this small detail from his words, Sobre responded with a smile.
That alone was enough of an answer.
