How to Live as the Terminally Ill Younger Sister of the Villain - Chapter 47
The child asked, seeming a bit frightened. While speaking, they kept glancing towards the bookshelf where the priest had gone through.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Angelina, with her arms crossed, tapped her arm with her finger again. It was a sound quiet enough to be buried in the silence, but hearing this, Laura opened her mouth.
“This isn’t funny.”
The child’s shoulders flinched at the angry-sounding voice.
“Tests are only cute in moderation.”
Though she didn’t say much, it was enough of a warning.
“Bring the twelfth flower.”
“…Just a moment.”
The child, shoulders trembling slightly, rushed out of the room.
“Senior.”
As soon as that happened, Haley called to Laura.
When Laura turned her head, Haley gestured with her chin toward the bookshelf. Someone had positioned themselves behind the bookshelf in that time.
Laura nodded as if she already knew.
A moment later, the door opened once more.
“…You asked for me.”
This time, an adult woman entered.
With golden hair flowing down her back and clear spring-shoot green eyes, she wore a dark expression that didn’t match her beautiful face.
The corner of Angelina’s mouth curved upward slightly.
‘Bingo.’
The female lead had appeared.
***
The female lead was as pretty as expected.
Just as described in the novel, she had elegant features and a clear voice. Her charm was captivating the more you looked at her.
But Angelina didn’t quite like those eyes that seemed to have given up on everything.
‘The male lead is supposed to make those eyes sparkle again, I wonder how much prettier she’ll be then.’
Through the male lead, the female lead who had given up hope would rekindle the last ember still burning in her heart.
Becoming a flame herself, she would display a spirit no less than any knight, leading the fight against evil, and succeeding in pushing back the Order’s shadows alongside the male lead.
Although she never gained true divine power, such courage and strong spirit made people accept her as a Saint.
‘Well, I won’t get to see it.’
Of course, all these wonderful stories would happen in the original work. A future unknown to Angelina, who would die as soon as the original story began.
Angelina felt a bit regretful, but she quickly swallowed that feeling.
After all, she had already experienced more than expected by seeing the female lead she thought she’d never meet.
Angelina approached her briskly, yanked her into the room, and slammed the door shut with a bang.
Laura quickly moved to the opposite side of the room and struck the bookshelf the priest had used with a thud. A sound of someone tumbling down came from behind it.
“These rat bastards and their eavesdropping.”
As Laura spoke irritably, the presence behind the bookshelf disappeared completely with a clamorous noise.
“W-who are you people?”
The female lead was startled by these sudden actions.
“This will only buy us a few minutes at best.”
Laura ignored the female lead’s words and spoke to Angelina. At this, Angelina removed her hood.
“Catherine.”
“What are you doing… Huh?”
Catherine, the female lead who had been pressed against the wall with a frightened face, froze upon seeing Angelina’s face.
“Catherine, we don’t have much time. So I’ll explain quickly…”
“Lina…?”
Angelina was about to pour out the words she had prepared. But she couldn’t help but pause at the sudden nickname.
Angelina wasn’t the only one surprised. Even Laura’s eyes, which rarely showed surprise, widened, not to mention Haley.
“You’re, you’re alive? Is it really you?”
Catherine grabbed Angelina, breathing heavily. But she couldn’t quite grasp her as Laura quickly intervened.
“Lina?”
Not understanding Laura’s interference, Catherine looked back and forth between Laura and Angelina.
But what confused Angelina more was Catherine’s expression. The look in her eyes started with shock, but quickly filled with affection and relief.
“You… know me?”
“It’s me, Cassy. Don’t you recognize me?”
Catherine didn’t take her eyes off Angelina despite being blocked by Laura.
“Well, I guess you might not recognize me. I was covered in freckles when I was young.”
She smiled as if understanding.
“You were alive all this time. Thank goodness… I’m so relieved.”
“Wait.”
Angelina raised her hand to stop Catherine’s words. Then she frowned and pressed her brow tightly.
“When we were young…”
As she muttered softly, sparks suddenly flew where Laura and Angelina were touching. Surprised, Laura stepped back, and something fell between them.
Clang. Tinkle…
What fell to the floor with a loud noise was Mason’s pendant. It was still emitting crackling sounds and sparking.
“Ugh.”
Suddenly, a headache assaulted Angelina.
‘Are we… going to be trapped here forever?’
It was the voice of a delicate young girl.
‘Lina, what are we going to do?’
The form of the speaker wasn’t visible, but the voice was clear.
And the one answering was.
‘We just have to wait. If we wait, big brother will come for us.’
Though foreign, this voice…
“My lady!”
Angelina’s eyes flew open at the force gripping her. The headache vanished.
Looking around, Haley was urgently using healing magic, and Laura had subdued Catherine while checking Angelina’s condition with her eyes.
Mason was pressed against the opposite wall, clutching the necklace tightly like someone who had committed a crime.
“Haa… Haa…”
Coming to her senses, Angelina realized she was breathing heavily. When she placed her hand on her slightly throbbing forehead, the coldness at her fingertips helped cool her head.
As she tried to clear her mind while taking deep breaths, footsteps were heard from outside.
They had concluded that Angelina’s group was suspicious and were coming in force to capture them.
Having no intention of playing into their hands, Angelina stepped forward and grabbed Catherine’s shoulders.
“I’ll only say this once, so remember it clearly.”
Catherine appeared greatly confused by all the sudden events. But she nodded vigorously while clenching both fists.
“The crimson thorn guarding the Sun’s Tomb is indeed the sacred tree that guards the cursed witch’s grave.”
“…!”
Catherine’s mouth fell open. She had been prepared to hear anything, but never expected to be told the location of the sacred object that the priests had been unable to find.
“The method to obtain it is exactly as the High Priest interpreted from the stone inscription.”
“L-Lina. If you tell this…!”
“Tell the priests. It’s fine if they know.”
In fact, they should be told.
“But add this message: You don’t need to be a ‘Saint’ for holy power. Tell them that if they can combine all the holy power of the High Priest and the priests, it will be enough.”
“Wait, then right now we could find that sacred object…”
“That’s right.”
Just as she answered.
“My lady.”
Laura, who had been listening to the situation outside, indicated their time was up.
Then, powerful magic burst forth from Haley’s fingertips.
“Catherine.”
So Angelina quickly added.
“I’m on your side. Even if you don’t believe me, it’s the truth.”
“….”
“If you’re going to give up anyway, try believing me just this once, like you’re being fooled one last time. You can always give up after believing, right?”
At this, Catherine’s eyes wavered severely.
The corner of Angelina’s mouth curved upward.
‘I was worried since it’s two years earlier than the original story, but it still works.’
「“What makes you trust me like this?”
The Duke of Kadenhart asked suspiciously at Catherine’s strangely honest and forward behavior.
Catherine smiled resignedly and answered quietly.
“I’m already at rock bottom. If giving up is the only answer anyway, I might as well believe you, even if I’m being fooled.”
Even if I fail, there’s nowhere lower to go.
This was her final bet, wagering her life.」
Fortunately, reversing the words Catherine had used when asking Kadenhart for help in the novel had worked.
Angelina pulled up her hood and stepped back.
A blinding light burst forth from the magic circle Haley had prepared. After confirming the light had engulfed Angelina, Laura stepped onto it.
“See you at the grave, fake Saint.”
With Angelina’s playful whisper, the door burst open.
