One Day My Sister Died - Chapter 47

The priests began to pray for eternal rest.

The former imperial couple quietly paid their respects and listened to the sound of their prayers.

“I think it would be better if you decide what to write on the gravestone.”

In the midst of the prayer sounds, Clard whispered very softly.

Yuan nodded her head several times.

Looking at the white gravestone with nothing engraved on it, Yuan thought quietly.

‘Louise.’

“…And thus we pray for the eternal rest of Louise Peliesse.”

‘Goodbye.’

Behind her trembling shoulders, Clard’s large hand enveloped her. It was neither cold nor warm comfort.

Yuan quietly lowered her head.

‘Goodbye, Louise.’

Words of apology. Words of gratitude. They all seemed useless.

‘Don’t feel sorry for me anymore. Not for our parents’ death. Not for your illness. You don’t need to try to take care of me or worry about me.’

I will become this person’s real family.

I will try to protect our new home this time.

So elder sister, you can go to a good place with peace of mind.

To a place where you no longer need to try to be responsible for me.

I will do my best here.

To the point where you would be proud of me.

‘Wait just one year. I’ll find a way to call for you within a year. I’ll come to get you.’

In this place you brought me to.

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After the brief funeral.

Clard entrusted Yuan to Mr. Mazarin and moved to another part of the vast cemetery. It seemed he had other gravestones to visit while here.

“He’s going to see the former emperor and empress.”

Mr. Mazarin said bitterly, casting a fond glance in the direction Clard had disappeared.

“They’re here too.”

Yuan flinched slightly and scanned the snow-covered cemetery beyond the open carriage door.

It was well-maintained but somehow looked lonely.

To think that the former emperor and empress were in a place like this…

“They should have been buried in the imperial cemetery originally…”

The former imperial couple had always wanted to be buried in the red brick mansion.

They always wished to be buried in the small family cemetery past the maze-like garden in the backyard, to be together with the mansion.

However, their status as imperial family made it difficult to be buried in such a private place, and after being buried in the imperial cemetery, they were later moved to this place, the family cemetery of the Lev Marquis family, the former empress’s family home, under pressure from Emperor Igor.

Yuan imagined Clard’s feelings as she listened to Mr. Mazarin’s voice tinged with the passage of time.

Even if it were possible to move the former imperial couple’s remains again and enshrine them in the backyard of the black mansion, would Clard actually do it?

Could a man who no longer wanted to experience any more deaths there endure it?

Lost in useless thoughts, she sat blankly until Clard finally climbed into the carriage after quite a long time, bringing the cold air with him.

The carriage departed without delay, and neither Yuan nor Clard said anything to each other.

Yuan kept looking down at the floor, then for the first time slightly raised her head to look at Clard sitting across from her.

He was resting his chin on his hand, silently staring out the window.

It must be the first time he’s come out this far since going to the hunting grounds near the mansion with Emperor Igor’s party not long ago, is he really alright?

Warm sunlight caressed his half mask and beautiful face as it passed by.

While the sunlight caught and slipped away from his long eyelashes, his crystal-clear eyes rippled with an indifferent light as if looking at a road he passed by every day.

He looked so peaceful that Yuan stared at him for a long time.

It was a peaceful yet somehow melancholy sight.

“I’m sorry.”

The sparkling yet indifferent gaze turned towards her.

She felt that she shouldn’t just let it go like this even if he didn’t ask anything.

Above all, she wanted to share this subtle feeling with him.

Yuan looked at his lightly closed lips and said.

“About my elder sister… for not telling you.”

Yuan apologized for hiding Louise’s existence from him.

“I’m sorry. Yesterday too, and in many ways… I’ve only been a burden.”

And for other things as well.

The things she had done to justify her place in the mansion as if blaming him for Louise’s death.

The things Clard had to go through when Emperor Igor Yufris came to the black mansion because of her lies.

Whether it was something she had already apologized for, or something she hadn’t yet, or sincere feelings that could never be spoken.

Yuan apologized sincerely for everything.

After compressing and compressing numerous contents, the words she barely managed to say were.

“I’m truly sorry.”

This was all she could say.

She didn’t want to shed tears and seek sympathy.

Yuan stubbornly tensed her eyes, enduring to not let tears fall.

And she moved her gaze from his tightly closed lips back to his eyes.

He wasn’t looking at her.

His eyes that had been shining on their own were now blended with the scenery outside.

Only his mouth.

“Don’t worry about it.”

With one simple phrase, he put an end to all her anxiety.

It was the driest and kindest answer in the world.

The floor of the carriage running on the well-paved stone road seemed to be swaying.

Yuan stared at the still peaceful-looking Clard for a long time, as if entranced.

‘Being like this really feels like family.’

Going together to the cemetery where family is buried in broad daylight.

The everyday life of not asking each other anything even when there are uncomfortable things.

That time, which was ordinary for others, felt like a miracle to Yuan.

A couple of hours later, the former imperial couple arrived at the black mansion.

Butler Gustav had lined up the servants in front of the entrance stairs.

As the carriage carrying the master easily passed through the iron fence, crossed the garden, and finally arrived in front of the entrance, the servants shouted as if they had been waiting.

“Welcome back, master!”

Clard got out of the carriage without saying much and looked them over one by one.

Yuan also got out of the carriage with the butler’s help and looked at them and Clard alternately with glistening eyes.

The servants glanced at Clard with bewildered looks, as if they couldn’t believe he had left the mansion on his own feet in broad daylight and returned.

Clard waved his hand roughly to dismiss the servants without much reaction.

Yuan stuck close to him and followed behind. And just before passing through the entrance that the butler had opened, Clard suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“About the west annex.”

Yuan flinched.

“What on earth are you doing that I hear strange noises?”

The eyes of Henna, who was preparing to receive his coat nearby, Butler Gustav, and Yuan met.

Clard narrowed his eyes and scrutinized them, then took a step back.

He looked like he might go to the west annex right away since the topic had come up.

“W-wait a moment!”

Yuan blocked his broad back with both hands and pushed him slightly.

Clard snorted in disbelief.

“Are you pushing me now?”

“Please give me just one week!”

“What?”

Clard raised his eyebrows as he took off his coat with the butler’s help, relaxing his body.

“Please take a walk with me to the west annex in a week!”

Clard ran his hand through his hair and laughed coldly, refusing outright.

“What are you trying to pull.”

“It’s not a trick!”

“Move aside.”

“I-it’s a present!”

Clard’s footsteps, which had escaped Yuan’s grasp, stopped.

Yuan quickly added, not missing the opportunity.

“It’s a present. A surprise present! So please look at it in a week.”

“A present?”

His eyes seemed to say, what kind of present could you possibly give me.

Yuan felt a little hurt in her pride, but desperately answered, not wanting to show him the west annex that wasn’t clean yet.

“Yes. So please be understanding.”

Yuan clasped her hands together and pleaded earnestly.

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“Everyone’s keeping their mouths shut as if they made a promise.”

“……”

“Fearlessly.”

“Since the madam said it’s a present−”

“So the mistress is also the master, is that it?”

Clard laughed dryly as he settled into the rocking chair.

His wife, who had asked for a week’s time, was so busy that she hadn’t shown her face for three days.

Compared to before when she would personally prepare and bring at least one meal out of three without fail, and even serve the meal, she had changed too much.

“The servants follow the madam a lot. They’re really trying their best to serve her as the true mistress.”

“Yet they keep their mouths shut to the actual master.”

“I’ll say it’s because they’re cooperating with the madam in hopes that Your Highness will become happier.”

Gustav’s response was met with another dry snort from Clard. Along with a cynical reaction of “Happiness? Don’t make me laugh.”

“What time is it?”

“Since you asked 5 minutes ago, it should be around 3:35 now.”

Clard gave a disapproving look at Butler Gustav’s biting answer.

The old butler added smoothly with an innocent-looking smile.

“Shall I ask the madam to have dinner together?”

“…Why?”

“It seems like you’re just waiting for the sun to set.”

“Waiting?”

Clard, who had been glaring at the outside that showed no sign of darkening yet, shifted his sharp gaze to Butler Gustav.

Seeing the face with a faint smile, he suddenly felt his insides twist.

“Why would I be waiting.”

He finally stood up.

Butler Gustav, who had been maintaining his smile while watching Clard heading towards the bedroom door, was not surprised to see Clard trying to go outside.

“Are you going for a walk?”

He simply opened the door quietly.

The smoothly polished men’s leather indoor shoes hesitated briefly in front of the open door.

Beyond the door that the butler had opened wide, hazy sunlight that looked as if gold dust had been rubbed on it was pouring onto the mahogany wood floor.

Clard soon ran his hand through his golden hair, which was shinier than the sunlight. His disheveled hair immediately became neatly arranged.

Soon.

He took a bold step outside the bedroom.

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The servants, who had still been buzzing in bewilderment about the recent incident of the former crown prince going out after 10 years of seclusion, now gaped with their mouths open and eyes rolling.

In broad daylight.

Without wearing a mask.

Because they saw the master of this black mansion leisurely descending the second-floor stairs like a leopard stalking small prey.