TMLST C8

Chapter 8. An Unexpected Truth (3)

After Livius left, Elia found herself unable to fall asleep, an uneasy feeling lingering in her chest. Now that she knew Livius had once been her fiancé, she couldn’t help but think that there might be other important things she didn’t know. Of all people, she had transmigrated into someone who was barely even mentioned in the original novel.

If only she had possessed Lote instead, she could have taken the fastest route to a happy ending with Aaron. After all, everything about Lote—from her past to her future—was laid out clearly in the novel. In contrast, what little she knew about Elia was so insignificant that it felt like wandering through a maze.

“The only thing I know is…”

The fact that this body’s original owner was Llewellyn’s half-sister was something she had learned from the part of the story where his inferiority complex was emphasized. The nobles would constantly bring up her name whenever Llewellyn made even the slightest mistake, comparing him to her.

“If it had been Her Imperial Highness, she would have done it perfectly,” they would say with regret.

Since there was only one imperial princess in the Rier Empire—Elia—it was obvious who they meant even without saying her name.

Even after ascending the throne and purging all nobles except those who supported him, Llewellyn would lose his composure at the mere mention of the words “Imperial Princess” or “Elia.” His inferiority complex ran that deep.

The one who managed to suppress it was Lote, and that journey alone took up nearly half of the original story.

“That’s really all there is.”

No matter how hard she tried to squeeze her memory, she had reached her limit.

After all, Elia wasn’t an important character in the novel—she barely appeared at all.

If she wanted to work toward Aaron’s happy future, she first needed to understand her own situation. She already knew she was in a precarious position, like a duck egg drifting down the Nakdong River, but what mattered more was whether there were any hidden obstacles. Just as Livius had turned out to be an unexpected variable, there could be others.

“Ugh.”

The moment she tried to think further, a sharp pain throbbed in her head. It seemed her body wasn’t just physically weak—it was also vulnerable to stress. She hadn’t even been thinking for that long, yet a headache surged through her, followed by her breathing growing increasingly labored.

“Hah… ngh…”

Her body collapsed, and with a loud crash, the chair she had been sitting on toppled over. The cold floor pressed against her skin. Unable to move, she curled up, writhing in pain—there was nothing else she could do.

“My… breath…!!”

An indescribable agony overtook her, and until the moment her eyes shut, not a single person entered the room.

Even though the sound of the chair crashing had been loud enough to ring clearly in her ears.

When she opened her eyes again, she was no longer on the cold floor but lying in bed. She had been changed into nightclothes—likely by a maid—and they were damp with sweat.

“So someone did come in.”

Letting out a slow breath, Elia reached out and gently rang the bell placed on the table.

Ding.

“Your Highness, you’re awake! Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Her nurse rushed into the room and hurried to her side. When the nurse had been constantly around, Elia had often wished she would leave, but now, seeing her again after so long, she felt unexpectedly glad. Ever since Aaron’s visit, the nurse had been absent more frequently.

People say you don’t notice someone’s presence, but you feel their absence—and it was exactly as they said. When she had been alone in the sickroom, she had craved attention, yet once she grew used to having someone by her side, she found herself taking it for granted.

“Mm… I’d like to wash up and change clothes.”

The moment she spoke, her voice cracked, and she let out a small cough. She didn’t know how long she had been unconscious, but her throat felt parched, like a drought had passed through it. Her heart briefly began to race after coughing, but it soon returned to a normal rhythm. Startled, Elia pressed a hand to her chest and took a slow, deep breath.

She did not want to experience that pain again.

“I will prepare a dose of medicine first.”

“Okay, thank you.”

She disliked bitter things, but with a body this fragile, she couldn’t afford to be picky. Sadly, she had to be grateful that she could take care of herself even in this way. At the nurse’s signal, a maid hurried out to fetch the medicine, while the nurse soaked a towel in water and gently wiped Elia’s face. The warmth of the cloth felt surprisingly comforting.

Soon, the maid returned with the medicine. Perhaps because they had heard she had collapsed, the prescription seemed stronger than usual—it tasted even more bitter than before. Just what had they added this time?

After swallowing both the medicine and the pills beside it with a deeply furrowed expression, she was finally able to go and wash up.

After bathing in silence, she returned to her bedroom and lay down beneath fresh, soft blankets. In her previous life, she would have had to lie back down in damp sheets until a nurse came to change them. At times like this, being an imperial princess wasn’t so bad.

“How long was I out?”

Peeking her face out from under the covers, she broke the silence, addressing the nurse who was tidying the bedding.

“You regained consciousness after fifteen days. His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and His Highness the Crown Prince were all very worried about you.”

The nurse answered immediately, as if she had been waiting to say it.

Worried?

Whether they had merely pretended to care or the nurse had fabricated it to comfort her, Elia felt no warmth from those words.

Either way, it was a lie.

“I suppose I should inform them that I’m fine… but I’d like to rest a little longer.”

Though she didn’t mean it, she forced the words out as a response. Despite having consumed nothing but medicine, her stomach churned unpleasantly, yet she managed a faint smile.

“They will understand. Your Highness must prioritize your health.”

“Mm.”

With a soft “Excuse me,” the nurse placed a lukewarm hand on Elia’s forehead, and her eyes naturally drifted shut.

She fell asleep once more, and when she awoke the next day, she felt noticeably refreshed.

However, it seemed the world had no intention of letting her enjoy her improved condition.

“Llewellyn?”

Startled by his sudden visit, she could only stare at him blankly. It was only their second meeting since she had transmigrated into this world, but it was the first time he had come to her room, making it all the more unexpected.

“Are you refusing to let your half-brother enter your room?”

Though he spoke with a bright smile, his tone carried an unmistakable hint of threat.

Shouldn’t he be asking after her health first?

Ah, right. He wasn’t normal.

As soon as that question was answered, another arose.

Why had Llewellyn come to see her?

Surely not to kill her outright.

“Of course not. Come in.”

Though he was someone who could threaten her life, he was also her only younger brother. She couldn’t simply turn him away—and even if she did, he wouldn’t leave so easily.

As they sat facing each other, a maid quickly began preparing tea.

“What brings you here, Llewellyn? It’s rare for you to visit my room.”

“I heard you collapsed again when you should have been resting, so I came to check on you.”

Seeing Livius before losing consciousness and now seeing Llewellyn upon waking made her feel dizzy, as if her mind refused to settle. Of course, she couldn’t say that out loud, so she swallowed the thought.

After taking a steady breath, Elia smiled gently.

“I suppose I’m sensitive to stress. But thanks to your concern, I’m feeling better now.”

“That’s a relief.”

She was certain Llewellyn had no genuine concern for her health. If anything, he would probably prefer she disappear from this world altogether. So what exactly had he come to confirm?

“Are you feeling unwell anywhere in particular?”

Although it seemed like a simple question, Elia hesitated before answering, wondering what hidden intent might lie behind it.

“Sister?”

“Oh—no, nothing in particular.”

Even if there was, she had no reason to tell him the truth. Quickly composing herself, she offered a faint smile.

Why had she been so flustered over such a simple question? Even she didn’t understand her own reaction.

“That’s good to hear. But if anything troubles you, please don’t hesitate to tell me. We are family, after all.”

“…Yes, that’s right. Thank you for your concern.”

“Not at all.”

A brief silence followed his short reply.

He clearly had something to say—so why was he hesitating? Should she wait for him to get to the point, or try to lead the conversation there?

If resolving his purpose was the only way to end this meeting, she couldn’t afford to waste time.

“Llewellyn.”

“Yes?”

Clink.

Just as she was about to speak, a teacup was set down on the table. Though she had been aware of the maid’s presence, she had momentarily forgotten, and her body flinched slightly.

Feeling Llewellyn’s gaze observing her every move, Elia cleared her throat as if nothing had happened and spoke.

“What business do you have with me?”