Chapter 27
To be honest, I was still regretting the skinship that never happened in the garden.
A kiss from a handsome man.
How wonderful would that feel?
Hernan let out a soft chuckle.
Today, of all days, he seemed to immediately realize what I wanted.
No way… he’s not going to say something about eyelashes again like last time, right?
Before long, his lips gently touched my cheek.
Peck.
They were soft, warm lips.
There wasn’t a single rough or chapped spot on them.
It was ironic that someone born to be a warrior had such nice lips.
My cheeks flushed. Was it really necessary to blush this much over just a cheek kiss?
My heartbeat pounded loudly in my ears.
“Is this enough as repayment?”
Honestly, it felt just a little lacking, but like Hernan said, today wasn’t the only day.
I was about to say it was enough.
But the moment I opened my mouth, it felt like my airway suddenly tightened.
I couldn’t speak and frowned.
It felt like a heavy stone had been placed on my heart, which had just been beating so fast.
Even breathing felt obstructed.
This frail body of mine, for no reason and without warning, was refusing to breathe.
Because of the lack of oxygen, my hands and feet stopped moving properly.
Paralysis.
It was quite a shocking situation.
At that moment, a strange anxiety crept in.
It was fear—fear that came from death.
Death, death, death.
The word wouldn’t leave my mind.
It felt as if I had become someone with little time left to live.
Even though that shouldn’t be the case.
Hernan seemed to realize the seriousness of the situation as well.
“L-Linzel, are you alright?”
I slowly nodded and leaned my face against his chest.
Even though I was gasping for breath, I wouldn’t die right now.
My breathing would stabilize soon.
I tried to calm myself.
But the source of the anxiety only grew stronger.
It felt like I was going to die like this.
In the original story, the one destined to die was clearly Rike…
Then why was I the one feeling the fear of death?
Something was wrong.
A warm touch reached my cold hand.
It was Hernan’s hand.
His warmth.
“Should I call a physician?”
I answered in broken breaths.
“N-no. Haa… there’s no need. It’s just… lack of oxygen.”
“If my kiss caused this… then I shall refrain from doing it next time.”
He spoke as if making a solemn vow.
I immediately shouted, as if I had never been sick at all.
“Who decided that?!”
There was absolutely no connection between my breathing difficulty and his kiss!
And it was just a cheek kiss!
I didn’t like his ridiculous conclusion at all.
“You really…”
He let out a shallow sigh.
It wasn’t to scold me, but out of concern.
I steadied my breathing again.
After calming down and breathing properly, my condition began returning to normal.
As peace slowly returned, a thought flashed through my mind like lightning.
I needed to enter the Imperial Archive as soon as possible.
“I know this sounds sudden, but… I want to marry Your Highness quickly. Even tomorrow, if possible.”
Of course, even after achieving my goal, I wasn’t sure whether I’d continue living with him or divorce him.
But at this rate, it seemed more likely I wouldn’t divorce him.
Living like this with Hernan didn’t seem bad at all.
Anyway, my biggest problem right now was my health.
At this rate, I might faint even while kissing him.
To enter the Imperial Archive, I needed to marry him quickly.
“I don’t want a grand wedding. As long as you and my family are there, that’s enough.”
“Very well. I will do as you wish.”
Hernan gently patted my back in a steady rhythm.
“I’ll speak to the imperial palace.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t seem to be in good condition. Shall we return to the duchy?”
“I’m fine now!”
And it was true. Before I realized it, the suffocating feeling had completely disappeared.
“In that case… shall we leave the café and visit somewhere else together?”
I tilted my head.
“Where?”
A meaningful glint appeared on Hernan’s face.
With a face that looked more suited for a battlefield, he said something unexpected.
“There is a herbal shop Ishar often visits.”
“Pfft!”
As soon as I heard Ishar’s name, I burst into laughter as if I had never been sick.
Unbothered, Hernan continued.
“Let’s go there. I should personally check if there are any herbs that might help you.”
I giggled, completely forgetting my earlier breathing trouble.
Hernan copying his older brother was both ridiculous and adorable.
Not just clothes—now even the herbal shop?
Just how much was he going to copy Ishar?
* * *
Ishar once mentioned that he often bumped into things.
A herbal shop he frequently visits.
Perhaps it was a place he went to buy medicine for bruises.
More than anything else, I found it fascinating that Hernan had discovered that place.
Just how perfect of a copycat was he trying to become?
Thankfully, the herbal shop was near the café.
We slowly began walking there.
“Are you out of breath?”
Holding my hand, Hernan constantly checked on my condition.
“Yes, yes.”
“Do your legs hurt?”
“I think I could even run.”
“Are you thirsty?”
“My thirst is quenched just by looking at Your Highness’s face. A handsome face is the cure to all diseases.”
Hernan let out an odd laugh.
He seemed amused by my answer.
“We’re here.”
Looking ahead, I saw a luxurious-looking building.
That must be the herbal shop.
“Shall we go in—”
Just as I was about to say it—
The door opened, and someone walked out.
Someone very, very familiar.
I whispered her name.
“Rike…?”
She wasn’t alone.
Someone followed behind her.
The moment I saw who it was, my eyes widened.
“Huh?”
I was genuinely shocked.
It wasn’t Ishar.
It wasn’t anyone from the duchy either.
It was a tall, well-built man.
He wore clothes similar to a knight’s uniform.
Even from a distance, his clean, handsome face stood out.
Of course, not comparable to Hernan’s beauty—but still.
I quietly murmured his name as well.
“Sir Handsome…”
The man who made Linzel fall for handsome men in the first place.
Sir Handsome was someone the real Linzel had dated in the past.
And now he was with Rike.
That was strange.
Even if they had coincidentally met at the herbal shop, it was still odd.
Because…
“….”
I narrowed my eyes.
Through my limited view, I could see Rike and Sir Handsome talking.
They looked very close.
As if this wasn’t their first meeting.
That was what felt so strange.
Were they always this close?
“The herbal shop Lady Rike mentioned must be that one. Do you know the person she’s with?”
Hernan, unaware of my past with Sir Handsome, asked.
“…Yes. A little. Shall we go after Rike leaves?”
“That works.”
We hid to one side of the street and watched them.
Rike and Sir Handsome didn’t part ways.
They walked down the street together.
I found myself closely observing Rike’s steps.
There was no flaw in her gait.
With her back straight, she walked with elegance and grace.
Completely different from me, who had staggered my way here.
A strange feeling rose within me.
Rike, who was supposed to be terminally ill—yet looked perfectly healthy.
And me, who wasn’t supposed to be dying—yet had felt like I could die several times already.
Isn’t something wrong here?
Of course, I didn’t wish for Rike to be sick.
No one wanted her happiness and health more than I did.
I had even decided to take her place in a political marriage with a man rumored to be a killer.
That’s how much I cared about her.
And besides, only her heart was weak—so it made sense she looked healthier than me.
But still…
An unexplainable unease crept over my entire body.
As if something was going terribly wrong.
As if…
I were the one who had become terminally ill.
