One Day My Sister Died - chapter 43

**Chapter 43: The Protagonist of a Life Turnaround**

Yuan stared blankly at his eyes, which were wavering like waves.

…What did I just hear?

As she tried to organize her confused thoughts, each word he chose and spoke was enough to make Yuan’s face turn red.

“Are you really worried about me?”

Yuan struggled to find sincerity in Claude’s eyes.

Wasn’t he the same man who used to coldly tell her not to cross the line?

He let her leave with the servants and bury his dog as she pleased.

She even returned to the bedroom soaking wet, much later than the time they had agreed on daily.

“Did he tell me to go just because he thought it would be hard if we shared a bed? Is that why he’s angry now?”

Yuan stood still, feeling as if she’d been struck on the back of her head.

When Yuan didn’t avert her eyes, this time it was Claude’s face that turned red.

Her body still trembled from the lingering cold, but her heart was filled with warm light.

Yuan grabbed Claude’s arm and led him in front of the large mirror, hidden by a huge plant.

While doing so, she absorbed much of the pain still visible on his face.

Although his face was still blotchy, it looked much cleaner than when Lancelot had been startled the other day.

Yuan urged Claude, who was looking down at the arm she was holding, to look into the mirror.

“Is it disgusting?”

He stared at Yuan instead of the mirror.

Yuan tugged at his arm a bit more.

“Is it as hard to look at as you think?”

Hesitating, Claude slowly shifted his gaze toward the mirror.

His body, which had been passively dragged along, suddenly tensed up.

Yuan stared at his reflection in the mirror, suppressing the pain she had absorbed from him.

His face was decent enough that he could have used the excuse of having suffered an illness in childhood to explain the remaining marks.

Just a few more times, and while she might not be able to take away all his pain, at least the scars on his face would fade.

If the biggest reason for him isolating himself was these scars, Yuan was ready to bear the burden.

Considering how he had nearly been shot by arrows, just for being associated with her, she could certainly handle this pain.

She would bury the pain and screams deep in her heart, and slowly release them when she was alone.

That way, she could lessen the guilt, clear his face of scars.

And if, one day, Claude were to stand in the cleaned-up west annex of the mansion, perhaps in a beautifully decorated garden, and smile at her just once…

If things flowed in that direction, no matter what harsh words he spoke…

Yuan felt she could live gratefully with her new family and home.

Even if he didn’t constantly ask “why,” they would naturally become family.

“I hope the Master can live like other people.”

Yuan wanted to live like other people.

A family that wasn’t perfect. Even if their home was scorned as desolate by everyone else…

She wanted it.

Yes, Yuan Felice wanted those things.

Not a place where strangers brought by her uncle exploited her, making her live miserably.

But a place where, even if she suffered, she could choose it, and feel fulfilled as long as the other person was a little bit happy.

“You said no one enjoys being in pain.”

“…”

‘’Master doesn’t like being in pain either, right?”

She hoped he would rely on her, accept her kindness, and share the pain, welcoming her as family.

Not push her away with a single cold remark, forcing her to keep her distance, leaving him alone like an isolated island.

She wanted to become someone who could stay by his side, sharing warmth, even if it meant a little bit of pain.

Not eating away at herself with foolish thoughts like “Is my tolerance for disgust that high?” or “Does he even like me?”

She wished he would show his naturally beautiful face under the bright sun and laugh at her without hesitation.

“It’s foolish not to rely on me when you can.”

“…”

“Ordinary people… everyone lives like that. Whether it’s a cheap medicine or an expensive one, if it can stop the pain, they gladly take it. No matter the side effects.”

“Side effects.”

“It seems, in your case, those side effects manifest as constant doubt in me.”

“…”

“It’s too late at night, Master.”

If Claude were to stop doubting her abilities, she needed to perform the ritual of drinking tea and touching him, even though she had already absorbed more than enough of his pain today.

“If the Master considers yourself ugly, how about we call it even if I don’t wash up?”

It was a clumsy attempt at seduction.

Claude seemed to have many things he wanted to say.

But before he could speak, Yuan opened her mouth first, intending to silence him.

“Let’s live like that.”

“…”

“Like ordinary people. Like everyone else.”

Yuan handed Claude the vial she had in her arms.

Claude stared at the vial for a long time, then swallowed it as if he were drinking poison.

He stood still, staring intently at her reflection in the mirror—Yuan, who looked like a soaked, miserable mouse.

Yuan’s gaze fell on his lips, where a bit of brown medicine still lingered. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his back from behind.

Her warmth, now a little dry and heated, gently embraced his back.

Claude blinked slowly.

As Yuan absorbed a little more of his pain, she watched his eyes struggle to stay open, resisting the pull of sleep until they finally closed.

***

“Lady Regina. What’s that?”

“Oh, I meant to put that away! Look at me.”

“Is that… His Highness the First Prince’s personal letter?”

Regina smiled secretly as she pretended to put away a letter from Bolonico, which she had intentionally left out.

A small stir broke out among the young ladies, who were just in their twenties.

Regina had been hosting tea parties almost daily in preparation for the upcoming debutante ball at the imperial palace.

Rumors had already started to spread that this young lady, who had yet to officially debut in high society, had caught the eye of the First Prince, Bolonico.

At first, it felt unsettling, as if she were spreading lies while riding on the First Prince’s favor.

But to soothe Regina’s unease, the First Prince had been quite proactive.

“Is it true that His Highness gifted you not only the dress for the debutante ball but also the shoes and hair accessories, Lady Regina?”

“I heard a rumor that the two of you attend music salons together in the capital every week. Has anything new come up?”

The rumors spread quickly and widely.

The First Prince, Bolonico, did nothing to hide his letters or respond to the exaggerated or even false rumors.

Regina did the same.

“It’s a bit embarrassing. All I can say is that when you share a good friendship, rumors can often take on a life of their own.”

The scandal linking her to the First Prince was a stroke of good fortune for Regina.

Her mother, Priscilla, originally from a merchant family, had been subtly looked down upon in social circles.

But as soon as her daughter became associated with the First Prince, invitations to tea parties from haughty noble families started pouring in, and Priscilla was ecstatic.

Naturally, there were predictions that Regina Felice would soon become the most sought-after lady at the upcoming debutante ball.

In short, Regina’s value had skyrocketed, all thanks to her connection to the First Prince, Bolonico.

Her father, Count Felice, was also managing to get through a difficult time caused by Yuan’s absence, mainly due to Bolonico’s influence.

“There’s talk that Lady Ariesta might even lose her engagement.”

“Oh, but technically, it wasn’t an engagement, was it? There wasn’t an official betrothal ceremony.”

“They say true love comes late. Perhaps they weren’t meant for each other.”

As Regina listened, she thought that she would rather be drinking sweet juice than this tasteless tea, but she still tried to pay attention to the gossip.

‘Lady Ariesta, huh.’

When Igor Yufrees became Emperor, the one who inherited his title as Grand Duke of the North was Count Dreier, now the Grand Duke Dreier.

Ariesta was his only daughter and had gone from being a count’s daughter to a grand duchess overnight, becoming the protagonist of her own life turnaround.

For a brief moment, Regina thought about how similar her situation was to Lady Ariesta’s and chuckled.

She, too, had experienced a reversal of fortune, rising from a commoner to a noble lady.

“Do you think Lady Ariesta’s true love might have been His Highness the First Prince? Originally, the Grand Duchess was—”

The moment the conversation shifted to the fallen prince, the atmosphere at the tea party turned heavy.

Regina, intrigued by the sudden topic, perked up.

“Was there something between Lady Ariesta and the former prince?”

“They were originally engaged. For a very long time, and they were quite close.”

“But what’s the point? As soon as His Highness’s fate took that turn, Lady Ariesta—”

The gossiping young lady lowered her voice further, leaning in as she whispered.

“It’s a well-known story that she screamed and fled from the mansion after visiting him.”

Signs of sympathy mixed with giggles of amusement. Though Regina was excited to hear this news for the first time, she tried her best not to show it.

“And right after that, rumors spread that the Grand Duchess became engaged to His Highness, Prince Bolonico, her cousin. But it turned out to be false. Perhaps His Highness the First Prince’s true love lies elsewhere.”

Lady Celetina, who had been sitting primly, as if she had no interest in gossip, narrowed her eyes as she scrutinized Regina before speaking.

“Didn’t you say you first met His Highness, Prince Bolonico, at that wedding anniversary party at ‘that’ Black Mansion?”

The mysterious wedding party at the Black Mansion was an exclusive event, with only selected individuals invited. Regina felt a surge of pride at the mention.

The Celetina family, being one of the emperor’s closest allies, had also been invited, though it was said that the Duke had been reluctant to bring his daughter to such a dangerous place as Loxenhardt.

“That’s right.”

“And is it true that the former prince is truly as hideous as they say? What about your cousin, the former princess consort?”

Regina confidently set down the teacup she had been pretending to sip from and replied with a smirk.

“As for His Highness, the former prince—”