The Male Lead Is Targeting Me, Not My Younger Sister - Chapter 48

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Male Lead Targets Me, Not My Sister 048
“Joachim!”
When she threw open the door, the first thing that caught her eye was a small, huddled figure on the bed.
“Are you alright? Let me see.”
Even though Lydia had arrived, the child remained unconscious.
“Oh…… Lydia?”
Only after a long moment did Joachim manage to crack his eyes open, his voice barely a whisper.
“Lydia…… I’m fi…… fine…….”
“Fine? What’s fine about this!”
Lydia reached out and pressed her palm against Joachim’s forehead.
‘He’s burning up.’
His condition was far worse than she’d expected.
“How long has he been like this?”
At the question, Joachim flinched and curled in on himself even more.
‘Oh no.’
Lydia softened her voice and spoke with deliberate gentleness.
“I’m not angry, Joachim. If you’re in pain, you need treatment. I’m asking because I want to help you feel better.”
Yet inside, her anxiety was mounting.
‘This hasn’t just started today or yesterday.’
According to the servants’ report, they’d only noticed Joachim’s condition yesterday.
But looking at him now, it seemed to have been going on for at least four days.
‘He was hiding it? But why? Because I wasn’t here?’
That probability seemed disturbingly high.
What ailed Joachim now was no ordinary fever.
Awakening Fever.
A tremendous ordeal that those who had awakened their Ability endured during their growth — a crucible of pain.
‘If he’d tried to explain his condition properly, he’d have had to reveal that he’s an Awakener. Which he couldn’t do.’
Lydia smoothed back Joachim’s disheveled hair and spoke.
“Don’t worry. You’ll feel better soon.”
Then she glanced behind her.
Ludwig, who had entered the room with her, stood with his arms crossed, gazing down at Joachim in silence.
As Lydia nodded, Ludwig stepped closer to the bed.
Joachim, half-conscious, let out a small whimper before catching sight of Ludwig and startling in alarm.
“It’s alright. He’s not a bad person.”
The hand gripping Lydia’s was desperate, urgent. Sensing his fear, she squeezed his hand in return.
“Really. He’s someone you can trust. Joachim, you trust me, don’t you?”
‘Oh no. I just said the most untrustworthy thing possible.’
But fortunately, it seemed to work on the child — despite the pain creasing his features, Joachim managed a small, tentative nod.
Only then did Lydia give Ludwig a meaningful look.
“Classic Awakening Fever symptoms. It appears he’s been left untreated far too long. I’d recommend accelerating his entry into the next stage as quickly as possible.”
“The next stage?”
Ludwig reached out with an indifferent hand and tilted the child’s chin this way and that, examining him.
“Awakeners typically undergo two phases of Awakening. Awakening Fever is a sort of preparatory process before entering the next stage.”
‘Twice through preparation like this and you’d kill someone.’
Lydia furrowed her brow.
“Most pass through it without serious complications. However…… this case may warrant careful observation.”
“How do you mean?”
“If the Ability they gain afterward is exceptionally powerful, the pain that arrives can sometimes threaten their very life.”
Ludwig added the words in an emotionless tone.
“In severe cases, it can lead to death.”
The color drained from Lydia’s face as the reality struck her — Joachim could actually die.
“Then what should we do now?”
Instead of answering, Ludwig slowly examined Joachim’s condition. His unhurried movements only made Lydia grow more anxious as she watched.
At last, Ludwig completed his examination.
“Fortunately, it’s not too late. You’re fortunate.”
At those words, Lydia released a breath of relief.
But relief was premature.
“I’ll treat him directly. Wait outside for a moment.”
“What? Directly?”
Lydia had assumed Ludwig would merely examine Joachim and then suggest a solution, so his words caught her off guard.
“An hour should do it. Don’t worry.”
“But…….”
Lydia’s eyes moved between Ludwig and Joachim.
‘……Can I really trust this?’
Joachim, who had been listening to the entire exchange, seemed anxious as well—his pupils trembled slightly.
Yet.
“I’m…… fine, really. I’ll accept the treatment, Lydia.”
Joachim spoke with quiet resolve.
‘That’s right. We’ve come this far—there’s no turning back now.’
Lydia nodded in agreement.
“Understood. I’m grateful for your help.”
And as Ludwig had requested, she left the room, leaving the two of them alone inside.
“W-what happened?”
“His Highness said he’d examine the boy himself.”
“What? His Highness would?”
The Butler’s eyes were full of questions.
‘He’s probably wondering why someone who isn’t even a doctor would take a look.’
Lydia offered a bitter smile and led the Butler away to another room.
“He said it’s a condition he knows well. Let’s have faith in him.”
There was no other choice at this point, after all.
After dismissing the servants who had gathered to greet their mistress returning home for the first time in ages, Lydia went to the parlor and waited anxiously.
And exactly one hour later.
“How is the boy?”
Lydia returned to Joachim’s room and asked carefully.
Ludwig answered with a gesture, nodding toward the bed.
‘Ah.’
Lydia moved quickly to the bedside.
‘Thank goodness. He’s truly better.’
Joachim was sleeping soundly on the bed, his breathing steady and deep.
Though his entire body was drenched in sweat, his complexion was far healthier than before.
More than anything, unlike earlier when pain had twisted his face into every possible grimace, his expression now was profoundly peaceful. Anyone looking at him would know he had turned the corner.
“There may be a slight fever, but it shouldn’t be severe. Let him rest well for a while.”
Ludwig spoke as he approached Lydia’s side.
Only then did Lydia truly see Ludwig’s appearance.
Usually he was so impeccable that not a thread was out of place, but now there was something subtly disarranged about him.
‘What on earth has…….’
His shirt was wrinkled. Beneath rolled-up sleeves, faint blue veins traced the contours of his forearms. His tie hung loose, and one corner of his collar was slightly askew.
Chinks in the armor of a man always so composed, so perfect.
And somehow, those small imperfections held her gaze.
“……I truly can’t thank you enough. I owe you an enormous debt.”
Lydia bowed her head respectfully and summoned servants to care for Joachim.
Then she led Ludwig to the parlor.
“I feel terrible, always accepting your kindness like this. I’m ashamed.”
Once Lydia had caught her breath, she spoke to Ludwig with embarrassment.
‘I suspected him, and now I’ve received such enormous help. I feel foolish.’
The things Lydia had previously received from him were, in truth, trivial matters to him. He possessed wealth and power so vast they were never truly depleted.
But now Ludwig had spent both his precious time and his ability—all of it.
‘And it seemed to demand considerable effort.’
Lydia let out a small, involuntary cough as she glanced at his still-rolled sleeves.
“It’s fine. I’m glad it helped.”
“You might not believe it, but I do have some conscience. I know how great this favor is. So if there’s ever anything you need in the future, please tell me. I’ll repay you anytime.”
“Repay…….”
Ludwig let out a soft laugh.
“You needn’t worry about that.”
“Why not?”
“Because someday you’ll repay me without even realizing it.”
……Why would I?
Lydia felt a instinctive unease, but she pushed it aside.
‘In any case, I was so worried, and things turned out well. I’m truly grateful.’
In fact, she had spent a great deal of time wrestling with anxiety before coming here.
Should I really show Joachim to Ludwig?
What if Ludwig asks why I’m hiding an Awakener?
What if he notices the connection to Willetta?
But fortunately, Ludwig asked nothing at all. Instead, it was Lydia herself—anxious and fidgeting—who spoke first.
“After the last incident ended, I went out on a separate investigation and found this child in the Slum. Since I couldn’t confirm their identity, I haven’t been able to register them as an Awakener yet.”
……Well, a suitably edited ‘truth,’ anyway.
‘I’m hiding something, but it’s not entirely a lie, is it?’
Having thus won her internal debate, Lydia looked at Ludwig more carefully.
He was the same as always, and yet……something about him seemed subtly different just now. Was it her imagination?
‘He looks a bit tired, maybe…….’
She couldn’t be sure, but his appearance was disheveled, and it seemed he’d been through something difficult while dealing with the Awakening Fever. Had Joachim been in such agony that the child lashed out? Or perhaps…….
“Ah.”
Just then, a thought flickered suddenly through Lydia’s mind.
‘That’s right.’
One of the few valuable things Lydia could offer Ludwig.
‘I’m not sure if it’ll work, but…….’
Ludwig still sat there, knowing nothing, sipping his tea with ease.
After a moment’s hesitation, Lydia spoke up tentatively.
“Um…… would you perhaps like me to perform Purification for you?”
At those words, Ludwig hesitated for the first time.

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