How to Live as the Terminally Ill Younger Sister of the Villain - Chapter 72

She has no memories of either of them. She thinks they frequently went to the Grand Temple, and her mother might have been ill.

Just that much.

But she knows those times were happy.

Surely there must have been sad and difficult moments too. When she lost her parents, it must have hurt and she must have cried a lot.

But all those negative emotions have been purified and disappeared, leaving only ‘warmth’ behind.

“So, Your Grace.”

Angelina smiled gently and whispered to him, who wore a pitiful and confused expression.

“Don’t hate yourself so much.”

These were the words she had always wanted to say to him in the original story.

Because she knew how much he blamed himself for the child he couldn’t save, how much he distrusted himself.

His excessive efforts to be upright, becoming someone who valued sacrifice over his own desires, and devoted himself to greater causes – all these traits came from that incident.

Though uncertain how he would take it, she really wanted to tell him this.

“Those who left us would want those who remain to be happy.”

Angelina naturally thought of Ante after her departure. The mere thought made her chest tighten as if she couldn’t breathe.

She really dislikes it.

It’s nice to be missed, but she doesn’t want them to hurt. It’s fine to be remembered, but she doesn’t want them to suffer.

“If they knew we were suffering because of them, they would be hurt and sad instead.”

Wouldn’t anyone who truly cherishes someone feels this way? Rather than being greedy, they would wish for the other’s happiness.

“At least, that’s how I would feel.”

Don’t cry too much.

Don’t become miserable.

Don’t break.

And, slowly…

Come very slowly.

Having always thought this way since learning about her time limit, Angelina spoke with sincerity.

And those feelings reached Blake completely.

“…Ha.”

A short breath escaped between his teeth. His following shallow breaths trembled, and his gaze looking at her wavered endlessly.

Various emotions surged. It was a feeling that couldn’t be described in words.

Though silence fell, broken only by chirping insects and fluttering birds, Blake’s mind was incredibly noisy.

How long had he been moving his lips without sound?

Finally, Blake opened his mouth.

However, before he could make a sound, someone interrupted their quiet moment.

“Sorry to interrupt your conversation.”

It was Haley.

She bowed her head to Blake in apology, then hurried to Angelina. She whispered close to her ear.

“A guest has arrived.”

“Here…?”

At this villa, not even the main mansion of the Marquis?

“Yes. They seem to have come deliberately, knowing you were here…”

“Who is it?”

Who could possibly visit around here?

Could the Grand Temple have discovered something and come? No, there was nothing to discover. They had used only the minimum, most trusted personnel, so there was no risk of spies.

If it was her brother, Haley wouldn’t call them a ‘guest,’ and if it was the Magic Tower Master, they wouldn’t visit so openly.

She couldn’t think of anyone.

Then Haley, while watching Blake’s reaction, whispered in an even smaller voice.

“It’s His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“…Huh?”

A small laugh escaped Angelina’s lips at this completely unexpected visitor. And like Haley, she found herself unconsciously checking Blake’s reaction.

“He knows I’m here?”

“Yes. He specifically asked for you, miss.”

“…He probably doesn’t know everything.”

According to the original story, the Crown Prince was unaware of the Order’s activities.

He was just a minor antagonist who picked fights with the protagonists and was used in various ways.

So he probably doesn’t know about the missing sacred object.

Then why on earth did he come…?

Could it be that he was just passing by again? If so, how did he know she was here? Did he plant a spy in the Marquis’ household?

“Did he seem to know that the Duke was here?”

“I’m not sure about that.”

If he knew Blake was here, he might have come simply to pick a fight without any particular reason. That would be just like the Crown Prince from the original story.

‘Well. Since the Empress’s spies are abundant in the Duke’s household, it’s not impossible that Blake was tailed.’

Didn’t the Crown Prince also know about his trip to the Dark Forest? It was entirely possible.

“Tell him I’ll be there soon.”

“Yes.”

At Angelina’s words, Pudding, who hadn’t moved until now, got up staggering and reluctantly made way.

Rising from her seat and lightly smoothing her skirt, Angelina approached Blake.

“Your Grace, please hide for now.”

“Pardon?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”

“Why would Aiden come here…?”

“I’m about to find that out. So please hide for now, Your Grace.”

She planned to first determine whether he knew Blake was here.

“That seems the best way to avoid both awkward explanations from me and troublesome situations for you, Your Grace.”

“Yes, I shall do so.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

Angelina smiled warmly in gratitude at Blake’s nodding figure.

For a moment, he forgot to breathe.

But unaware of this, Angelina hurried her steps.

“Then I’ll go ahead. I apologize in advance if today’s meeting gets delayed because of this.”

Offering preemptive apologies for any potential inconvenience.

Laura and Pudding followed behind her as she hurriedly departed.

The garden felt empty after everyone left.

But Blake felt rather warm.

Despite the cool fountain water falling nearby, a warm sensation kept spreading through him.

After staring for a long while in the direction Angelina had disappeared, he slowly lowered his head to look at his hands. He saw hands marred by calluses and scars.

The survival that began in the Dark Forest continued even after escaping that place.

People said he had fallen for the Empress’s schemes and wandered between monster subjugation units. But Blake vaguely knew that wasn’t the whole story.

Monster subjugation was semi-voluntary. He had run away because he couldn’t live a normal life.

He was consumed by rage, wanting to slaughter all the monsters that had taken that child from him, and unless he pushed his body to its limits, he couldn’t bear his self-loathing.

‘Do you really have to go?’

‘I’ll just catch one small one. We can’t keep eating just mushrooms and fish.’

‘Then can’t I come with you?’

‘You might get hurt being near the hunting. I’ll be back soon.’

‘I don’t want to be alone…’

He tried to shake off her hand, but seeing how scared she was, he couldn’t bring himself to leave, so he knelt before her.

‘Come here.’

He took something from his pocket and tied it around her injured leg.

It was an anklet made of several thin strands woven together, not particularly pretty with its dull color, but the neat pattern caught the eye.

He had secretly made it with leftover strings while she slept, after building their shelter.

‘What’s this?’

‘This will protect you in my place while I’m gone.’

Made from dried monster sinews and leather, it was unlikely to break. Moreover, it was beaten and dried so thinly that it was hard to believe it was made by a child’s hands.

‘It feels nice…’

‘Keep wearing it. I’ll be back soon.’

‘Okay.’

Only after confirming that the child looked more at ease while fiddling with it could Blake set out to hunt.

Never dreamed that would be the last time.

“Haa…”

Blake squeezed his eyes shut.

Though he couldn’t remember the child’s face, that anklet he had given her remained strangely vivid in his memory.

While the face and voice were all hazy, the anklet was clearly etched in his mind, perhaps because he had put so much effort into making it.

‘You don’t regret all the time you spent with that child, do you?’

And that anklet was proof that he cherished the time he spent with that child.

Though it too had burned away in that place…