Chapter 22
From Now On, I’ll Become Your Dog, Sister
Because I fell off a cliff, I suddenly became a seriously ill patient and was confined to bed.
My claim that I only had minor scratches and no trouble moving was easily dismissed by the family physician’s diagnosis.
“Externally, there are no major injuries, but there may be aftereffects—”
“This is serious. Rest and avoid going out for a week.”
“Excuse me?”
‘Serious?’
Even though doctors usually give vague advice like “just rest and you’ll be fine,” the duke ordered me to stay put and recover.
Not only that, but he even placed armed guards inside and outside the annex.
And that wasn’t all.
That night, Karlot, who had returned to the mansion, suddenly hugged me and burst into tears out of nowhere.
I spent the night awake, unable to understand what was happening, and in the morning, the duchess herself came to visit me.
The duchess. Personally visiting me!
I thought she might at least ask about my condition, but I never expected her to come all the way to the annex, so I was a little surprised.
‘The annex is where my birth mother used to stay… well… maybe they’re only doing this because I still have some value, since my ability is useful.’
If my power could be of use to her and reduce even a little reason for her to hate me, that alone would be enough.
But why… did she bring those two with her?
At my puzzled gaze, the duchess glanced back and smiled softly.
“We happened to meet on the way. They said they were coming to visit you as well.”
“Ah… yes…”
Perhaps because the duchess was present, they didn’t speak up, but standing behind her still felt extremely oppressive.
Even though they said nothing, their presence alone was suffocating.
Yansi was smiling brightly at me as usual, while Karlot stared at me intensely, almost as if he wanted me to acknowledge him.
‘Yeah. Let’s ignore them.’
Busy talking with the duchess, I had no time to pay attention to those two.
The duchess asked about my condition.
“How are you feeling? I heard you need to rest for a week.”
“I’m fine. My father is overreacting.”
“No, Elodie. You’re naturally a weak child, so you should rest properly to avoid future complications.”
I am indeed somewhat frail, but after regaining my past-life memories, eating and sleeping properly had improved me a lot.
It seemed my weak body had been caused by irregular meals, poor sleep, and stress. That probably also explained why my personality had been so sharp.
“By the way, I never got to meet your benefactor. A mercenary named Ian happened to pass beneath the cliff and saved you, is that right?”
“Yes. If it weren’t for Ray—no, Ian, I wouldn’t have survived. I was lucky.”
At that moment, the stares directed at me intensified even more. When I glanced at Karlot, he looked like he was about to cry, his eyes shimmering.
‘Ugh.’
Why is he acting like that?
Forcing myself to ignore it, I continued speaking with the duchess.
“That mercenary must be properly rewarded.”
“He said he would visit the estate soon.”
“Yes. We can’t just send a benefactor away.”
I carefully brought up what I needed to say.
“About the… gift you gave me.”
By “gift,” I meant poison.
During the assassination attempt, I had used the poison she gave me, and as a result, the sample needed to create the antidote had been lost.
If I said it directly, sharp-minded Yansi might notice our secret dealings, so I had to phrase it indirectly.
Fortunately, she seemed to understand my coded message and smiled gracefully.
“I heard, Elodie. It seems you made good use of it. Do you need more?”
“Yes.”
“Very well. I will send more. Let me know how it works.”
That meant: hurry up and make the antidote.
“Yes, my lady.”
As soon as I answered, she stood up.
“Then I should be going. It seems the siblings should have some time together.”
…We don’t need that!
I desperately wanted to stop her from leaving and leaving those two behind, but I held back.
“Thank you for coming.”
“No need to see me out. Get well soon, Elodie.”
Just as she had entered, she left with the same elegant stride.
Now only one problem remained.
No—two.
‘What is wrong with these people?’
I looked back and forth between the two men.
“So why are you both here?”
Yansi answered first.
“I was worried about you, Riri. I’m your older brother, so of course I had to come.”
He smiled gently, and I smiled back at him.
‘Yeah, right.’
No one knows better than me how fake that smile is.
He was probably thinking something like, “So she didn’t die. Her life really is persistent.”
Given his personality, he likely came to confirm her condition personally.
As for Karlot… his visit made no sense at all.
“Karl. Aren’t you supposed to be training right now?”
“It doesn’t matter. I can skip a day.”
What?
The sword-obsessed Karlot skipping training for a whole day?
When I looked up at him in shock, he avoided my gaze and added,
“That stuff isn’t important at all.”
“Ah… so you got tired of sword training!”
“It’s not that—!”
He raised his voice, then took a deep breath and stepped closer.
Startled, I leaned back, and he stepped back half a pace as well.
His amber eyes locked onto me.
Then he murmured in a low voice.
“There’s something more important.”
“What is it?”
“You, sister.”
“…What?”
“You. Riri-nim is the most important thing.”
What did I just hear?
Maybe my hearing was damaged from falling off a cliff.
I covered my ears repeatedly, and Karlot’s face turned bright red as if it were about to explode.
“W-what are you doing?!”
“It must’ve been my imagination, Karl.”
“….”
“I think I need to see a doctor. Both of you, please leave.”
I politely asked them to leave, but neither of them moved.
Instead, Karlot suddenly knelt beside my bed and looked up at me.
“Riri… sister.”
“Eek!”
I screamed and covered my ears again.
When I looked at Karlot again, exhausted, Yansi was covering his mouth, clearly laughing.
‘Is this funny to you?’
Your only brother is clearly insane, and you’re laughing?
“Karl, I think your injury is serious.”
“I’m not hurt at all.”
“That’s not for you to decide. You’re… seriously unwell.”
“What do you mean?”
“I… mi—”
I couldn’t even bring myself to say “crazy,” and Karlot smirked.
“I’m not crazy. I’m perfectly sane.”
As if reading my thoughts, he responded casually.
But I was sure of it.
Karlot had gone crazy.
Yansi already seemed a bit off, and now even Karlot had lost it.
Until just yesterday, Karlot had hated me.
He despised even being my escort.
He would’ve blamed me for getting attacked during the ambush.
There was no way someone could change overnight.
Unless… it was some kind of scheme.
‘Is this a new form of revenge?’
But it seemed too self-destructive for that.
Karlot, who valued pride above everything, calling someone he hated “sister”?
Still, I wasn’t going to just accept this.
“If you have a problem with me, say it properly instead of acting like this, Karlot.”
At that, his expression stiffened.
“…It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
“…Brother, go outside for a moment. I need to talk to her alone.”
After a pause, Karlot seriously tried to send Yansi out.
Yansi, still smiling, simply shrugged and left without protest.
Bang.
The door closed.
It had already been awkward with all three of us, but now that only the two of us remained, it felt even more unbearable.
‘Or maybe he’s angry I survived?’
As countless thoughts filled my mind, Karlot finally spoke.
“Sorry.”
“…Huh?”
“I’m sorry. I was wrong. For everything… for insulting you, calling you a bastard child, picking fights with you… all of it.”
As he lowered his head, I could only blink.
Karlot was apologizing to me.
“Actually… I was always curious about what kind of person you were… but I was too stubborn and acted selfishly. I was wrong. I won’t do it again.”
“….”
As I blinked in silence, Karlot looked up at me with eyes like a drenched puppy.
“…Do you find me disgusting?”
“Have I ever said that to you?”
I didn’t like Karlot, but I never found him disgusting.
I just disliked people who disliked me.
That was why this sudden change felt so strange.
Karlot slowly raised his head.
His gaze fell on my fidgeting hands.
“…Because you didn’t take my hand.”
“Your hand?”
“At the cliff… you didn’t take it…”
“Karl, you told me not to touch you. That I was disgusting.”
At my words, his face went blank.
“Ah.”
Something seemed to click in his mind.
I wondered if he remembered that moment too.
“I’m sorry. You’re not disgusting. Not at all.”
Just moments ago, he had been joking, but now his expression completely changed as his eyes welled up.
I didn’t know what had changed him, but if he no longer hated me, there was no reason to reject it.
It might be fine to maintain a peaceful relationship until I left the ducal house.
“Alright. So—”
“Will you forgive me?”
“….”
I didn’t answer immediately, so Karlot shook his head quickly.
“No! I won’t ask you to forgive me. Just don’t push me away.”
“Fine.”
At my answer, he smiled brightly.
“I’ll protect you for life.”
“No, I’ll decline.”
“I’ll protect you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“From now on, I’ll become your dog.”
“No, you’re a human…”
Stay sane…
