How to Live as the Terminally Ill Younger Sister of the Villain - Chapter 81
“Phew.”
The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like she was getting lost in a maze.
“Let’s think simply, simply.”
If she investigates one by one – the origin of the nickname ‘Witch’s Tomb’ and the holy power suppression device – she might learn something more.
Angelina closed her notebook.
Just as she was taking another deep breath to collect herself, Haley knocked and entered the room.
“My lady, the Duke has left the drawing room. It seems they’ve finished their conversation.”
“Is that so? I should go see him off.”
She had asked to be notified when their conversation ended, so she could at least say goodbye.
Before going out to bid farewell, Angelina put the notebook back in its original drawer along with the necklace and locked it. Then she tucked the key into her pocket before leaving the room with Haley.
Though who would be interested in her diary-like notebook, she was just being cautious.
***
When Angelina arrived, the main entrance was somewhat chaotic. Getting closer, she saw it was because of Ante and Blake.
“For someone so busy, you’re quite leisurely.”
“I can’t become a ruffian who doesn’t even say goodbye.”
“Have you considered what’s more important – greetings or health?”
“Don’t you see the clear difference between helping with rest and imposing restrictions on actions and choices?”
What kind of conversation could be so hostile?
“Krung?”
As Angelina approached, Pudding noticed her first and came running. Expressing its joy, it bumped into Angelina with its large body, making her stumble momentarily.
Steadying herself while holding Pudding, Angelina went to stand near the two men.
“Duke, you haven’t left yet.”
“I was waiting to say goodbye to Miss Flaubert.”
“I told him I’d convey his regards since he’s busy. Now he’s made Lina come out in the cold air for nothing.”
While Blake responded cheerfully, Ante put his arm around Angelina’s shoulders, worried about the cold.
“It’s fine. I wanted to say goodbye to the Duke, too.”
“Really…?”
“I’ll go back inside right after saying goodbye, so don’t worry about me getting cold, brother.”
Though it was ridiculous to worry about cold in such warm weather, Angelina was used to Ante’s excessive concern.
After giving Ante a sweet smile, she approached Blake.
“You must be tired from the long journey. It’s a shame we couldn’t finish all our conversations.”
“There will be other opportunities.”
“Of course. I’m looking forward to it.”
We can’t proceed without you, so we’ll definitely have to make time for another meeting.
Angelina kept these unspoken words to herself as she extended her hand.
“It was good to see you.”
At this casual handshake offer, Blake naturally took her hand. And at that moment, a small paper was felt between their palms.
Blake’s eyebrows raised slightly, and Angelina maintained her smile as if nothing had happened. So Blake too calmly bid farewell.
“I’ll take my leave.”
After releasing hands and mounting his horse, Blake’s hand concealed the paper that had been in Angelina’s hand moments ago.
“Let’s go.”
“Depart!”
With Blake’s command and Mason’s echo, his entourage disappeared into the distance. As they passed through the main gate onto the dirt road, dust concealed their traces.
While Angelina stood for a long while watching the thick dust settle outside the gate, Ante embraced her from behind.
“Shall we go inside, too?”
“Krung.”
Pudding took the opportunity to act cute.
“Yes.”
Angelina turned around while unwinding Ante’s arms.
“How long are you staying?”
“Well… Actually, I have quite a bit of work, so I need to leave after dinner.”
“You came all this way just for dinner?”
“I had some business to attend to in the area, so I combined the trips.”
Angelina narrowed her eyes and gave him a sidelong glance. But soon she sighed and withdrew her gaze.
She knew that ‘business’ was probably meeting her as Aesi, but knowing that, she couldn’t really nag about it.
“Then what will you do until dinner?”
“Play with Lina, of course!”
Angelina couldn’t help but let out a laugh at how confidently he stated something so obvious.
Are you really busy? How can you be so carefree?
“Then… shall we take a walk on the beach?”
“Why not? It’ll be sunset soon, and Lina loves the sunset here.”
Ante cheerfully agreed and offered his arm as an escort, and Laura followed behind the two with Angelina’s coat in hand.
***
Only when the Flaubert villa was no longer in sight did Blake’s group slow their pace.
“Your Grace, what should we do? We couldn’t discuss any of the future plans or anything else!”
Mason was the first to express his concern. Sean also wore a worried expression.
“Should we stay around here and go back?”
“It would be pointless.”
Though Ante didn’t admit it, Blake was certain that his sudden appearance at the villa was because of him and Aiden. Wasn’t he the man who overprotected his sister to an extreme degree?
‘When she reported that your family heirloom had found its way to our auction house, I thought she would faint.’
How detestable was his expression as he spoke so shamelessly, as if hearing it for the first time, despite having already requested help several times.
‘You should have told me, why did you go to my sister who knows nothing of the world?’
‘Do you think your sister knows nothing of the world?’
‘She’s a pure child I raised delicately at home so she wouldn’t be tainted by the world.’
‘Since when did protection and control become synonymous?’
Blake, who didn’t know how to mince words, pointed this out directly, and the smile that had been artificially fixed on Ante’s eyes slowly disappeared.
‘What an interesting interpretation, Duke. Someone might misunderstand that you’re trying to drive a wedge between my sister and me.’
His mouth was still smiling. But his eyes were like those of a viper.
‘I just wanted to help manage Artoas so my innocent sister wouldn’t get hurt.’
‘Interfering in the dealings between Miss Flaubert and myself seems to go beyond the realm of management, don’t you think?’
Perhaps because no one had ever spoken to him like this before. Or because it hit too close to home.
When even the smile remaining on his lips disappeared, he exuded such a chilling atmosphere that even Blake tensed up for a moment.
In that instant, Blake felt a sense of déjà vu.
He had experienced this kind of coldness once before.
Since it wasn’t often that he, who dealt with monster subjugation daily, felt threatened, he could immediately recall when it was.
‘For such a trivial reason.’
The first time he felt a threat to his life from a person.
‘Why does Ante Flaubert give off an atmosphere similar to the Magic Tower Master?’
It could be because they both have personalities that can flip at the slightest provocation.
But it was too much to dismiss it as simply similar tendencies.
‘Your sister is not your subordinate. She has the right to conduct transactions independently.’
‘You do realize that statement just made my sister sound like a fool who could be ‘used,’ right?’
Though he added one more comment only to be sharply rebutted, it only deepened his suspicions.
‘She’s my only sister. It’s natural that I would dedicate everything I have to protect her.’
This, too, was something he had heard before.
‘If you try anything with that child… you might make an enemy of the Magic Tower.’
‘Because we’re friends. Good heavens, the only one.’
Could it really be the Magic Tower Master…?
‘No, don’t jump to conclusions over something like this.’
Blake pushed down the suspicions that kept rising.
But if that hypothesis was true, that man had no intention whatsoever of hiding it. Otherwise, he wouldn’t act so obviously.
“Huu……”
When he sighed as his thoughts became complicated, Mason and Sean’s expressions grew even more serious.
“Should we go back to meet her after all?”
They thought he had sighed because of the future plans.
However, Blake shook his head.
“There’s no need.”
And he unfolded the paper he was holding again to check it. The note Angelina had secretly passed him wasn’t long.
[Two weeks later
Capital Grand Library]
Just two lines.
But it was enough.
“I’ll need to find an excuse to go to the capital.”
He put the note from Angelina in his inner pocket while maintaining a smile.
Though Sean and Mason watched him nervously, Blake didn’t notice as he was lost in his own thoughts.
He was already looking forward to two weeks later.
