Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 239

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 239

I forced my trembling lips open and managed a response.
“……That’s impossible.”
“What’s impossible?”
“If you have your memory, how could you…….”
My body shook uncontrollably. My knees threatened to give way beneath me at any moment. My head throbbed.
I steadied myself, refusing to let weakness show before this man. Even when I’d been driven to the brink of death, I’d never looked this fragile. Despite my will, my fingertips trembled visibly, and the man watched them with an odd expression.
His face bore the imprint of a gnawing, relentless hunger.
“Why is it impossible?”
“…….”
“Because you originally meant to poison Bibi?”
“…….”
“Because I despised you?”
“…….”
“Because you wielded a sword until your whole body was in tatters trying to turn back the world, endured hell itself, and then vanished without leaving a single word about the truth?”
“…….”
I had so much I wanted to say, yet not a single word would come. Raymond no longer seemed to be the man I’d always known. He didn’t seem to be that betrothed, who had appeared so flawless through the eyes of a foolish, childish Titania…….
Even when the entire world became rags and tore apart, he didn’t look like that man who’d fought without yielding until the end, slaying Magic Beasts.
Why? How could this be? We hadn’t parted on bad terms. If I could just know everything, then I…….
“I.”
My throat felt closed. I scraped together what little strength remained and forced my mouth open.
“Have done many things.”
Raymond gazed at the forced smile I’d painted on my face with an expression strangely alien to him.
As if he knew that this smile was donned merely for empty pretense. As if such a deceptive act meant nothing before him.
As if every expression I’d ever worn was merely a mask to deceive him.
As if my mask were nothing but something I’d merely looked past until now. As if he could shatter it in an instant with barely any effort…….
And yet, knowing all this, I continued trembling and fumbled through words to evade the situation.
“……Having done so much, I’m truly moved and honored that you would have me rest now in a safe place, unburdening my shoulders. That Lord Raymond would treat me with such consideration…….”
“It seems you used to be much briefer than this.”
The man’s gaze drew closer. I caught my breath at the sight.
Though he looked at me, his eyes held a distant gaze, as if seeing somewhere far away. He gently rubbed my forehead with its forced smile and wrinkled brow, and Raymond tilted his head quizzically.
“…….”
“Much more blunt…….”
“…….”
Seeing my eyes, frightened like prey caught in a spider’s web, Raymond spoke as if he’d found the answer.
“Yes, you weren’t one to look at things so affectionately. If anything, you looked as if you were starving.”
“…Raymond!”
“Yes.”
The moment I grasped the meaning, my mouth fell open. There was no room left for titles like Lord Raymond or Prince of Castrain.
I nearly cried out the words, yet the man seemed pleased by it instead, laughing.
Rather, he tilted his head toward me as if asking for more contempt.
This man could not possibly know what wish Titania had prayed to the gods for. So even though I am Titania, he couldn’t have learned that I carry memories of being raised with abundant love from my parents in Korea.
Yet rather than simply dismissing it as merely something different about the restored world, his sharp eyes seemed to be vivisecting me, measuring the differences openly and keenly.
It felt like being dissected alive. Seeing me like this, Raymond asked.
“Are you not angry with me?”
“…….”
“Don’t you even want to ask the reason?”
“…….”
“That’s strange…….”
Raymond laughed. Genuinely puzzled. Like a diligent student who’s completed their homework and waits for praise from a teacher who says nothing about the results.
“Have I ever gone against your wishes?”
“…….”
“Ah yes, that’s right. When I was young……. Yes, I did. Again and again, I hurt your feelings. Is that why you wish to turn away from me? Then, should I keep clinging to you until you feel better?”
“……What.”
“As much as you want. Until you’re satisfied. You can ignore me, blame me……. You can kick me. Actually, if that’s not enough to satisfy you, you can use your sword. It seems like that sword could deliver a mortal wound to my body.”
“That’s…….”
“Even though I’m doing my utmost to be kind to you.”
Raymond lifted himself up. Then he took my trembling hand and brought it to his face.
“You’re terrified, aren’t you?”
The human head has many vital points, it’s simple to target the throat. “You now” would know at least that much information, wouldn’t you? The soft voice continued to shake my mind.
I had a strong instinct that this man would accept it even if I broke his neck with these hands right now. As I remained rigid, the man spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, as if seeking confirmation.
“So, will you vent your anger?”
“……That’s madness.”
“Ah…. Yes, that’s true. If you want to kill me because your anger isn’t sated, that would be fine too. But I have things I must do right now. I apologize.”
“What have you been saying all this time? Going on and on.”
“Are you afraid of me?”
“…….”
The man brought my hand to his face as he pleased, and pressed his lips against my fingertips. Each time he spoke, thin breath and warmth transmitted through my fingers, creating an odd sensation.
My heart continued to race. Whether it was simple fear or something else, I couldn’t tell. My hands were terrifyingly cold, yet heat rose in my face, my cheeks and ears burning. Blood rushed through my entire body far too quickly.
“This is difficult. I truly did my very best.”
The light in the man’s eyes as he looked at me was genuinely perplexed, and I truly had nothing to say. He was waiting for some reaction from me. It didn’t matter whether I grew angry or picked up a discarded sword to stab him.
“…….”
“Will you remain silent like this?”
At the end of a soft laugh suggesting this was troublesome, his lips touched my fingertip. Something hard pressed down, then something moist and warm……. I gasped in revulsion, and Raymond rubbed my fingertip with his lips once more. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end.
I felt a primal sense of danger.
At this rate, I’ll be devoured.
This man is a creature that could swallow me whole and have room to spare.
“Or perhaps…….”
The man slowly set his teeth against the innermost knuckle of my left ring finger.
A faint sting bloomed and faded. The emotion gleaming in his golden eyes…….
Could that even be called an emotion? It was so deep, so dense that calling it yellow light would be impossible. If it had simply been a very dark light, I might never have noticed the depths of the emotions pooling there. It was like amber, a fossil that had sealed away all the memories and soul and feelings of the living past.
“Will you run away again?”
“…….”
“Without telling me a single true word, judging everything as you see fit……. Think about it. Will you disappear before my eyes again?”
“……Lord Raymond.”
“Again this time too…….”
Raymond, seeing the finger marked with a ring-like imprint of teeth, slowly buried his face in my shoulder. He wrapped my trembling upper body in his arms, pressing his forehead, nose, and lips against my bare skin.
Regardless of whether I was taken aback by his unhesitating action and tried to push him away, he placed his cheek directly above where my heart beat.
Thump. Thump-thump. Thump….
Faintly, as if confirming the sound of my heartbeat.
“Arbitrarily.”
“…….”
“Trying to die.”
“…….”
Those words alone sounded as though all emotion had been stripped away. The voice was clipped like that of a machine, not a person.
As if a ghost wearing Raymond’s body were speaking……. As if any trace of emotion would let him see the pulsing heart before his eyes stop beating.
That time when I vanished into the Underground before his eyes.
That time when I pushed him away and willingly fell.
…Such a future was unimaginable.
How could I imagine it? In all my expectations, this man always triumphed. I had thought ‘Titania’ would remain in that shabby corner of the Imperial Palace she was originally assigned to, living as a disregarded Castrain Family betrothed, only to be disposed of as is.
I had thought that until he recovered his sword, he’d only retain limited memories, and if he wasn’t a fool, there would be no reason for him to become entangled with me more than necessary.
It’s fine. It’s fine.
This is the end that suits me.
Let those blessed people disappear into the light, receiving a reward befitting their sacrifice. I need only watch from the shadows. So.
So…….
“Raymond Oberon El Castrain.”
The man’s body trembled faintly. He seemed both fearful and expectant of what would come next.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————