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Chapter: 44
A cold, sharp voice stopped the three people who had been following behind me.
One of them faced the Marchioness with a gloomy expression, head lowered.
“Sys. You shouldn’t disturb your younger sibling.”
No one had ever welcomed my sister, nor even spoken to her, as if she didn’t exist.
And yet, she must have struggled just as much as I had before finally getting this short vacation.
I stepped forward, blocking my sister.
“She’s not disturbing anything. I just want to rest with Sys.”
“You don’t need to be so kind. Your brother will surely interfere anyway.”
After shooting Sys a sharp glare, the Marchioness shouted sternly,
“What are you doing, Sys!”
My sister flinched and began to move. It looked as though her body was reacting instinctively.
‘Locked up in your room every day—what were you even doing? Writing this kind of trash?’
My father’s harsh words from before my sister went missing flashed through my mind.
Is she still bound by that trauma?
“Then, enjoy your time!”
Before the Marchioness could react, my sister was dragged away.
Wendy pushed my stiffened back.
Something about this felt terribly wrong.
* * *
“You don’t look well.”
Bin murmured softly as he looked down at my face.
…While sitting on the edge of my bed.
Why did the Marchioness pressure Wendy to make us rest together?
Even if we’re engaged, is it really fine to lock an adult man and woman in the same bedroom?
“This scent really helps you relax! It suits you so well, miss. Oh, right—have you seen the forget-me-nots I planted in the garden?”
I resented that Wendy’s chatter, which eased the awkward atmosphere, would only last while she arranged the flowers.
I wished she wouldn’t leave.
“Do you dislike being with me?”
His steady gaze pinned me down.
Yes. That’s why.
Or rather—not because I dislike it.
“I—I’ll step outside now!”
As if fleeing, Wendy hurriedly stuffed the flowers into the vase and rushed out.
Bin stared at the closed door before slowly turning back to me.
Again, that persistent gaze trapped me.
“Are you going to cry again?”
“…Why would I?”
“If I do what I want to.”
“And what do you want to do?”
His silver lashes blinked slowly. His sweet whisper carried undeniable desire.
“Touch you.”
Me too. I wanted to say that.
“But now isn’t the time, is it?”
Rustle. The hand that brushed my hair lightly pulled away.
Without realizing it, I leaned closer to him.
“Let’s do what you want.”
“What I want?”
Touch you? The words hovered on my lips, but I swallowed them back.
And the next words made me glad I did.
“You want to leave here.”
So that was it.
I slowly nodded.
“Let’s go.”
“Mother told us to rest here.”
“Who was it that told me to overturn everything?”
Thinking about it, there was no need to obey the Marchioness so obediently.
Then why had I trapped myself here?
“I’m leaving.”
I sprang up, strode to the door, and opened it without looking back.
“….”
But when I heard no footsteps behind me, I glanced back.
Bin was still sitting on the bed, legs crossed, laughing softly at me.
“You want me to come with you?”
For some reason, this felt like déjà vu.
“…Forget it, then.”
Only after saying it did I realize—it wasn’t just my imagination.
This was exactly like when we talked about going to see the fireworks before running away.
“I don’t dislike it.”
“Then hurry up.”
A grin spread across my face.
As I took a teasing step forward, Bin jumped up, placed a hand on my shoulder, and guided me along.
“Let’s go.”
Though he acted naturally, his reddened ears betrayed his embarrassment.
“Hurry.”
He fidgeted with his hair, avoiding my gaze.
Where had that earlier intensity gone?
Suddenly, I felt mischievous.
“Alright.”
I followed his eyes persistently, smiling.
His hand froze.
Now, not just his ears—
His cheeks.
No—his whole body flushed.
Even his breath.
* * *
Without knowing where I was heading, Bin followed silently.
We finally stopped in front of the Marquis’s study.
Inside, I heard the voices of the Marquis, the Marchioness, and my sister.
“How utterly pathetic! Why do you think I summoned you during such busy work?”
“…Have I done something wrong?”
“Do you even have to ask? How shameless! Trying to steal your sister’s fiancé!”
I couldn’t listen anymore.
My sister had only stayed close to protect me. And they twisted it into such ridiculous delusions.
No matter how much they misunderstood her as homosexual, this was absurd.
I flung the door open.
“Everyone—”
I didn’t care anymore. Even if I got dragged to Doctor Saint’s hospital for defending Sys Heather.
How could I ignore her humiliation?
“I’ve had enough.”
At my words, the Marquis, the Marchioness, Bin, and my sister all froze, mouths agape.
I fired back without pause.
“Did I ever ask to be alone with Bin? No. Then why did you lock me up and strangle Sys, who only wanted to stay with me?”
“Irilyn. Sys wouldn’t want to be with you—”
“That’s your prejudice.”
“……”
“Even if we used to be rivals, why can’t you imagine we became close after serving together in the knight order? Why do you only see us as we were back then?”
“Irilyn… I’m sorry. You’re right. We judged too quickly.”
“Apologize to Sys too. Accusing her of trying to steal Bin?”
“But Sys likes men—”
The Marquis trailed off, glancing at Bin.
Do they think liking men means liking every man?
How foolish.
Whether my sister is heterosexual or not, she’s simply someone who loves like anyone else.
“Sister. Do you want to take Irilyn away from me?”
Bin stepped forward and grabbed my sister’s shoulders. She frowned and answered sharply.
“Yes.”
“…What?”
“More precisely, I want to take Irilyn away from you. She’s wasted on you. As you know, she likes stronger men, right?”
Bin grimaced, then sighed, lifting his brows as he turned back to the Marquis and Marchioness.
As if to say, ‘You heard her. She doesn’t like me.’
“Now you understand. Your shallow delusions led you to misunderstand and pressure Sys.”
The Marquis lowered his head.
Then he lifted it again.
“…Fine. I admit it. I apologize. But Sys, remember this: if our misunderstanding ever becomes reality, no matter how much Irilyn shields you, we won’t stay silent.”
Have they completely lost their minds?
“So—”
Overwhelmed with anger and frustration, I roughly swept back my bangs.
With a sharp sigh, I enunciated clearly,
“You’ve overstepped.”
The room fell silent again.
Why do they keep making me repeat myself?
Even when I explain, they say nonsense again.
Just like my father—damn it.
“Whether Sys tries to take my fiancé or not is something she and I will resolve. And it never even happened.”
“……”
“Right, Sys?”
It wasn’t enough if only I fought.
She had to face them herself.
That was what my call meant.
“…I—”
The long silence finally broke as my sister spoke.
Her trembling hands showed how deeply her trauma still haunted her.
I tightly held her hand.
The shaking stopped.
In a steadier voice, she continued.
“I did nothing wrong. Because it’s only natural for people to love.”
* * *
Chirp— chirp— the sound of insects filled the air.
Whether because of that or the scent of forget-me-nots, my mood sank deeply.
Bin, my sister, and I stood quietly in the peaceful garden for a long time.
“Why didn’t you say anything all this time? Aren’t you going to ask?”
My sister finally spoke, eyes swollen.
It seemed she had only just stopped crying.
“Why do you think? Because it wasn’t easy.”
“Wasn’t I frustrating?”
“Not really. If anything, Mother and Father are the frustrating ones. Why would I blame someone innocent?”
Even after hearing her directly, the Marquis and Marchioness hadn’t fully accepted her.
They merely muttered apologies, unable to truly face their own fault.
