I Became the Youngest Sister-in-law of the Ruined Reverse Harem’s Male Leads - Chapter 209
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#. 04
“No, this can’t be happening….”
Terrified at the thought that something might have happened to the girl, Edgar ran like mad.
His heart felt like it would burst, not from the long sprint but from worry.
The girl was coming down from the tower barefoot. Her eyes were red and bloodshot, her face a mess from tears.
“Grrgh.”
Edgar bit down hard on his lower lip.
Why is all I can do for her limited to giving food or combs as gifts?
His nails dug into his palms. Edgar whispered in as calm a voice as possible to comfort the girl.
“I think it would be best if you went to the guest room.”
It’s all because of that witch-like woman, Rebecca.
But it’s also Marius’s fault. The dead Leopold bears no small guilt either.
In truth, Rebecca Marchione was merely the flint. The real culprits were his brothers.
Ah. If only my brothers hadn’t committed such wrongs.
If I had met you in a peaceful world, it would have been so happy.
Edgar suppressed his desire to cry and spoke.
“Please escape with Emilia.”
“You know… my sister?”
“I’ve been helping Emilia.”
It was from that day that he began helping Emilia Berchio.
“Oh, Caliban. Free me from this life.”
The day he secretly watched her solitary performance.
Beyond the role, the actor’s desperation poured out through her entire body, and even Edgar could feel the deep sadness and yearning for freedom through the crack in the door.
What did that rippling passion touch within Edgar? As if enchanted, he set things in motion.
So that the prisoner trapped in the tower could board a ship with her two sisters and safely reach paradise, he racked his brain—still untainted by adult political schemes—and laid out a plan.
Edgar couldn’t distinguish whether his resolve was betraying the Empire, mocking the wizard, or simply trying to save an endlessly pitiful and lovable girl.
But what if it was betrayal, what if it was mockery?
In a world where some have waged wars for love, all Edgar wanted was one smile from this small girl.
At least among Edgar’s circle, there was no one qualified to condemn a boy’s innocent love.
That day, Edgar watched over the girl who had cried herself to sleep for a very long time before leaving the tower.
* * *
The wizard, having regained his senses, noticed that the frightened girl was hiding in the guest room of the palace where Edgar stayed, but said nothing.
Perhaps he judged it would be better for her to recover her health, as her already gaunt face showed an even worse state than before.
“How are you feeling?”
“Same as always.”
It meant she was in pain.
“Is there really no medicine at all?”
“I hate imagining myself as an adult. I don’t think such a future exists, but even thinking about it makes me miserable because the reality is so obvious. But if I’m lucky, maybe I could become a healthy adult.”
Even if you’re terminally ill and dying soon, I want you to leave this place. No, because you’re that kind of person, you had to leave this place.
“I wish you weren’t in pain.”
“….”
“I mean it.”
As Edgar said this, his eyes caught sight of the comb placed on the nightstand.
Though only half remained due to being partially turned to ash and crumbled, it was definitely the comb Edgar had given as a gift.
The girl, noticing his gaze, turned her head away pretending not to know.
Edgar quietly curled his lips in a silent smile.
Though she hadn’t shown him treasuring it, using it carefully, or combing her hair with it, he was happy just knowing she hadn’t thrown it away and was still using it.
“Can I ask you something?”
“What?”
“Do you ever have days when you wait for me?”
Under the sunlight filtering through the window, her deep blue eyes blinked slowly.
Edgar didn’t avoid her gaze. The girl didn’t avoid his gaze either.
In this moment, they looked at each other. The name Edgar became meaningless, and he felt the shy sensation of becoming simply a boy and a girl.
The girl remained silent for a long time before answering with difficulty. Her face seemed slightly flushed as she replied.
“On days when I finish reading the books you brought.”
“Were they interesting?”
“One out of the three.”
“I thought they’d be to your taste. I’ll bring something more interesting next time.”
No. Now that I think about it, there would be no next time. She would be leaving tomorrow.
Though parting was sad, he was very much looking forward to seeing the caged bird spread its wings toward the sky. Edgar confessed for the first time.
“Maybe I brought books I wanted to see. I liked your acting, you know.”
The girl staring at him blankly was someone he wouldn’t be able to see after tomorrow, so Edgar smiled sadly.
* * *
“Lilliana!”
The girl’s name was Lilliana.
Lilliana Berchio.
Edgar was certain that the name Lilliana would be remembered for life as ticklish as down feathers, and as yellow and beautiful as freesias.
“Ugh. My youngest sister. Why are you so thin? What are these wounds on the back of your hands?”
Meeting her sister, Lilliana showed a childlike side that was unfamiliar to him.
She lowered her eyebrows and pouted her lips, not knowing what to do. So she could make such an expression too.
Edgar etched Lilliana’s expression deep into his heart.
Now that they could never meet again, today would be the first and last time he’d see Lilliana like this.
“There’s no time. You must go quickly.”
Now it was time for farewell.
A buzzing sound echoed in his chest as if a noisy insect had crawled inside.
Emilia Berchio grabbed Lilliana’s hand. Their footsteps began to fade away.
One step, two steps, three steps… The young boy watched the girl growing distant. So he could engrave her small retreating figure deep in his eyes.
Then at some moment, Lilliana stopped walking and came running back.
Edgar, thinking something had gone wrong, panicked and swallowed hard. But Lilliana asked an unexpected question.
“Hey. Why are you helping me?”
“Pardon?”
“If you help me, you’ll be in danger.”
Edgar felt like laughing. And he wanted to cry a little, and felt incredibly anguished.
“You know why.”
“I don’t know.”
I liked your plays. When you read scripts, you looked free.
And I was happy stealing glances at your performances. Only then could I see the smile you made.
Though it was a false smile created by the role, Edgar had spent countless hours savoring that smile, rejoicing alone and grieving alone.
“Why were you kind to me? Why…”
His heartbeat echoed in his ears. Edgar became a young boy once again.
Neither Runtvolenu nor Edgar, but a boy facing his first love.
Dozens of unspoken feelings lingered at the corners of his mouth.
After cutting away unnecessary values and reducing complex emotions again and again, only one thing remained.
Lilliana.
The one who had given him courage to overcome countless pointing fingers, who had made the whole world question his right to love.
What gilded that trembling name was an affection that could not be ignored by anything.
The purest love of an adolescent boy, grown by overcoming hatred.
“I…”
Edgar met her blue eyes.
Just once.
Just once, he wanted to see this child smile sincerely.
Without any sign of crying or fear, a pure smile.
“You-“
I want to see you smile.
As he opened his mouth to speak, the sound of soldiers’ footsteps came from the distance.
Edgar woke from his dream and quickly returned to reality. Placing his hand on his sword hilt, he spoke to Lilliana.
“Go. Quickly.”
Sometimes, very occasionally when their gazes met, Edgar saw himself reflected in Lilliana’s eyes.
He always had an unfamiliar expression then. Trying to stay calm but not okay at all, always excited and not knowing what to do, which made him look somewhat pitiful.
As Edgar turned around, Lilliana called out to him.
“Edgar.”
It was the first time. The first time Lilliana had called his name.
Edgar reflexively turned his head to look at Lilliana.
Under the dusky sky, through the raindrops, Lilliana bid him farewell.
“Take care.”
Ah.
Finally I saw it. Your smiling face.
Lilliana’s smile was so bright that the raindrops seemed to scatter like drops of light.
Radiant, lovely, and beautiful enough to make his nose tingle.
It was quite sorrowful, and joyful.
Just before facing Marius who was pursuing Lilliana, Edgar thought.
Since some people would destroy nations for love, this trivial betrayal was nothing at all.
Though he was later imprisoned and suffered hardships, having seen that smile meant Edgar had obtained everything he desired.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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