Detor, knee slapping with glee, munched on a cookie. He seemed thrilled to gossip about ViolenTus Duke.
‘So fearsome that even demons would crawl away on all fours…’
“Enough. Let’s not talk about someone who’s not here.”
I didn’t want to see Detor boosting his self-esteem by belittling others. I firmly cut off the conversation, sipping my tea. The mood instantly cooled.
“Wise as always, Miss NiRiel.”
“Prince Belial, like a thin sheet of paper fluttering in the wind, gave me a thumbs-up, while Detor, his mood spoiled, grimaced and muttered, ‘I need a drink.'”
“Lea, it’s not about someone who’s not here, it’s about Detor! You’re saying he’s the most admirable guardian family head in the empire!”
Quick to catch the mood, Delia boosted Detor, giggling. Detor, whose mood had been soured, wrapped his arm around Delia’s shoulder and exclaimed, ‘Delia is the only one who gets me!’
“…Sigh.”
When they were crying about my impending death, and now, they seemed to be enjoying themselves quite well.
Time flew by quickly.
Pesor faithfully followed my instructions. Sometimes he prescribed me a hair-loss medicine, or falsely diagnosed me with high fever.
Recently, I had deliberately reduced my food intake, and as a result, I lost weight, looking genuinely sick.
‘Just bear the hunger for a little longer.’
The rumor that I was terminally ill had spread, but nothing changed. The family sent gifts to comfort me, but that was all.
No one came crying to see me or called a doctor. Even the visits from Detor and Delia were becoming less frequent.
Pesor seemed to understand a little why I wanted to leave this family.
Without any reaction from the murderer trying to kill me, time passed safely until the day before the wedding.
The emergence of the variable that I was terminally ill might have deterred any new attempts on my life.
‘That madman must be intent on killing me with his own hands, cherishing the act as his final triumph.’
He must be planning to watch me live desperately for a while before killing me.
‘It’s infuriating.’
It was infuriating to think that he acted as if my life was in his hands.
So, it was my turn to make a move before that madman acted.
“Detor, Delia.”
The day before the grand wedding.
I called Detor and Delia early in the morning and heaved deep sighs.
“What’s wrong, Lea?”
Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Delia asked me worriedly.
Right, with so much guilt, she would be concerned.
“Huh.”
I deliberately sighed louder, pressing my forehead. I could sense the two exchanging glances.
Bugs will be bugs no matter how much they conspire.
Those damn bugs.
“The wedding is tomorrow, Lea. Are you anxious? Leferentia, I will never abandon you…”
“Detor. Are you dating Delia?”
As soon as I asked, Detor’s face froze. The moment of breaking the image of the good man who wouldn’t abandon his sick fiancée.
“Tell me honestly. You two have been dating for a while, haven’t you?”
“What… Wait, Leferentia, there’s some… misunderstanding…”
I could almost hear Detor’s mind racing.
He must have planned to continue the relationship with me, marry me, then, after my death, mourn for a while before remarrying Delia.
Why didn’t Detor openly break up with me if his feelings had changed?
I thought about it countless times with every revival.
To Detor, I was a matter of reputation.
When it was first known that Detor and I were dating, how much his name was mentioned in the social circles.
People anticipated how remarkable the child born from two guardian families would be, and Detor was very proud of it.
Detor was the head of the Deverty family, and I was the only daughter of the NiRiel family. And Delia was the youngest, overshadowed by her brother for the heir position.
That’s why he couldn’t let me go.
“Outwardly, I must have appeared more advantageous to Detor, allowing him to attract the attention of the empire that was otherwise directed at the Duke of Violentus.”
“Lea, how, how did you know?”
But foolish Delia didn’t miss this opportunity and quickly seized it.
“Did you, how did you find out?”
Delia must have been itching to brag to me about Detor being her man. Surprised, Detor quickly turned his head to look at Delia. His eyes seemed to ask why she was admitting it now, but Delia feigned ignorance.
“If you’ve found out… there’s nothing I can do. Yes, Detor and I have been in love for a long time…”
“Delia!”
Detor quickly called her name, scanning me.
But seeing my hardened face, he closed his eyes as if accepting that everything was over.
What now? Actually, it was all predetermined what Detor would do.
It would be difficult for him to change my mind. Attempting to do so might result in losing both me and Delia.
Therefore, he would choose to save one. Standing by Delia’s side and marrying into the Palo family was Detor’s best option.
“…Yes, Delia’s right. I’m sorry, Leferentia.”
Detor sighed irritably, running his hand through his hair.
As expected.
You two are just too consistent. How could you never deviate from my expectations in so many repeated lives?
Now, it was my turn to act.
“How could you, how could you do this to me?”
I pretended to be heartbroken, clutching my chest and lowering my head.
“I trusted you, Detor.”
But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t squeeze out any tears. Reluctantly, I pulled out a pre-wet handkerchief and wiped my dry eyes.
“I’m sorry, Lea.”
Delia quickly brought her hands together in front of me.
“But… but you’re going to die soon anyway.”
Spewing thoughtless remarks with a gaping mouth.
Fortunately, they seemed to be fooled by my act.
“I’ll, I’ll be happy with Detor for you.”
“What if I don’t die, Delia?”
“That’s just your hope, Lea…”
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Detor and Delia never apologized to me first in any of the repeated lives. Nor did they ever reveal their relationship before the wedding.
Detor was a fool intoxicated with pretense and fame, but why did Delia have to be the same?
“You could have told me before. Before the wedding tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry, Lea.”
“I did this for you. Delia was worried about you. We thought… after you die, we could get married later.”
Such nonsense was a waste of time to listen to.
“What if I don’t die after six months?”
They had no answer.
“What if I don’t die in six months? Were you planning to kill me and then get married?”
“Lea, I… I thought of you as a friend…”
Clang!
It was time to bring the curtain down on this act.
I trembled as if shocked, dropping my teacup, and covered my eyes with my palm.
“…Detor, let’s call off the engagement.”
Delia inhaled sharply. As if she had finally achieved her long-held wish.
“…Okay, Leferentia. If that’s what you want. But remember, we really cherished you as a friend…”
“Just leave. I don’t want to see either of you right now.”
With nothing to hide anymore, they held hands and left the drawing room.
The door closed, and their footsteps faded.
I removed my hand from my eyes and got up.
“Now, let’s die.”
It was finally time for me to die.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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