GAVAF 13

Chapter 13

I was doomed. That was all I could think. How was I supposed to know? I didn’t even know whose room this was.

“Ah, this is Harna’s mother’s room.”

I snapped out of my daze while looking around the room that still bore the traces of my mother, who had passed away after giving birth to Harna. This wasn’t the time for nostalgia.

“Alright, let’s think this through.”

From Haren’s perspective, I had locked the door even though I knew the handle was broken. That meant I had to explain why I had done it.

Now was the perfect time to use my specialty: ad-libbing.

Back when I was filming as Yoon Seung-ah, almost every line I improvised stayed in the film. If even the directors acknowledged my quick thinking, I could handle this crisis too.

I swallowed hard and thought about how Harna would act. The answer came immediately.

“If I didn’t do this, you wouldn’t give me any time at all, would you? We’re trapped here because you wouldn’t even listen to me, oppa.”

Saying it with a tone sharper than carbonated soda, Haren, who had shown no expression until now, looked bewildered.

But there was no way I could apologize by saying I didn’t know the handle was broken. So I decided to act even bolder.

“So this is your true nature showing?”

“Yes. You asked me what I wanted earlier, right?”

“……”

“I want to tell you my story. That’s what I want to talk about.”

Like Harna, with cat-like upturned eyes, Haren’s handsome but cold expression was intimidating even with just a slight glance.

Sitting in front of an angry, cold young man, I wanted nothing more than to run away.

I should have been satisfied just improving my relationship with my father. I muttered a curse inwardly at my past self, who had resolved to fix things with my older brother because we were family.

“…I realized that hurting people wasn’t right. Seeing Dad cry because I did the right thing and live normally like everyone else made me decide… I wouldn’t hurt anyone weaker than me anymore.”

“……”

“No, I won’t ever treat anyone carelessly again.”

Even I thought that sounded convincing. I smiled as prettily as I could to Haren, meaning I acknowledged my past mistakes and had become a new person.

“I understand if you don’t believe me, oppa. I’ve made too many mistakes before.”

Seeing Haren sitting there silently, just listening without a reaction, I slightly lowered my head. Pretending to be pitiful now would add dramatic effect.

“Could you give me just one more chance?”

“……”

“I want your forgiveness, oppa.”

I had said everything I wanted to, but there was no response. I gave up waiting and buried my face in my knees. I had defended myself as best as I could; whether Haren would believe me now was his choice. I felt his gaze on me but didn’t lift my head.

The night was deep, the room dim, and perhaps because I was too comfortable, my eyelids grew heavier.

“Ah, I can’t sleep like this…”

I desperately tried to keep my eyes open, but someone once said the heaviest thing in the world is a person’s eyelids.

Blinking slowly like a sloth, I finally drifted into sleep.

“Is she asleep?”

When Harna, head bowed, began breathing evenly, Haren, who had been silent, spoke.

“Yeah. You’ve always been a heavy sleeper since you were a kid.”

Haren shifted uncomfortably, carefully sitting beside the sleeping Harna. Then he gently helped her rest her head on his lap so she wouldn’t wake.

Seeing Harna sleeping peacefully, he suddenly remembered a cherished memory with Grendia, the mother of the siblings and the owner of this room.

Grendia would sit on the rug, place young Haren on her lap, and gently stroke his hair. With her warm touch, Haren would happily nap or read a book.

Looking around the room filled with warm childhood memories, Haren recalled his mother’s final request. Weakened after giving birth to Harna, Grendia had held Haren’s hand and whispered her final breath.

“My beloved child, will you protect your little sister in place of me? I’m so sorry, my child. Truly sorry.”

Tears streaming as she apologized for leaving her young son and newborn daughter, her words became a final wish.

Was I reminded of my mother because I was in her room? Or because seeing Harna—whose hair and eyes were like my father’s but whose face reminded me of my mother—brought back memories?

Haren gently stroked Harna’s head.

“Can I trust you?”

He braced himself, fearing disappointment if he trusted her again. But he already knew—his heart had shifted the moment she called him oppa.

As she stirred slightly, a small box fell from her embrace. Haren picked it up after a brief hesitation.

The box had been crushed a little from holding it too long. Inside was a neatly folded handkerchief. Haren carefully unfolded it while watching Harna sleep peacefully.

“…!”

Haren had received a handkerchief filled with confessions from many young ladies. The embroidery was exquisite, with detailed flowers and lifelike animals.

Compared to that, Harna’s handkerchief looked crude. Flowers were uneven, stems varied in thickness, and even Haren Juern’s name was different in size.

Yet imagining his little sister painstakingly sewing it for him brought tears to his eyes.

He placed the handkerchief carefully back in the box and gazed at Harna—not with the cold wintery stare, but with soft, warm eyes.

“Hmm.”

Harna stirred, pulling the blanket close. The soft texture made her smile unconsciously.

Just as she was about to fall into a deep sleep again, she suddenly snapped awake.

“I’m crazy!”

She threw off the blanket and jumped up, looking around. How had she returned to her room after being trapped with Haren?

Hurriedly, she tugged on the rope, and soon Vera came in.

“Milady.”

“How did I get back to my room?”

“A servant passing by heard Master Haren’s voice and opened the door. He personally carried you back into your room.”

“What?”

Instinctively, she grabbed her hair as if to tear it all out in frustration. Vera rushed to stop her, but Harna shook her head in despair.

Falling asleep at such a crucial moment! What a waste.

“Should I just give up?”

Haren didn’t come home often anyway, so avoiding him would prevent encounters.

“Yes! Let’s give up on improving our relationship with oppa. Families like ours rarely get along anyway.”

As she sulked, Vera, who had managed to pull her hands away from her hair, spoke softly.

“Master Haren will return to the palace soon. Let me prepare you. You want to see him off, don’t you?”

Watching Vera’s gentle hands, Harna wondered if her feelings were that obvious.

She nodded obediently, accepting Vera’s touch. She didn’t want to be hated by family, especially not by Haren, her blood-related older brother.

“Alright. Just a little more effort.”

This was only the first meeting. There would be more opportunities; giving up now wasn’t her style.

Straightening her messy hair, she quickly changed into a noble lady’s dress and hurried outside.

Many servants were lined up to see Haren off. Forgetting her noble demeanor, she quickly walked to her father’s side. Seeing him smile at her melted her heart. After only seeing Haren’s expressionless face, her father’s affectionate smile was a relief.

Soon, Haren appeared, walking to her father and bowing respectfully.

“Take care.”

“Yes, Father.”

After their brief exchange, she wondered if she could greet him.

Summoning courage, she lightly held her dress and spoke.

“I hope we meet again, oppa.”

“……Yes.”

She was relieved to hear his response and smiled slightly. Haren noticed, and suddenly a warm hand rested on her head.

“Huh?”

Startled, she looked up at the familiar gesture.

“See you soon, Harna.”

For the first time, Haren smiled kindly, not with his usual sharp eyes, and she nodded. His hand left her head, and he mounted his horse, waving slightly.

She watched until he disappeared from sight, raising her hand as if to touch the warmth he left behind.

“A curse?”

Cardin asked the mage searching his body for traces of magic. The mage frowned.

“Strange. There’s no trace of a curse or magic.”

Sensing the strict duke’s gaze, the mage added:

“You should consult a higher-class mage or priest. I’m sorry I couldn’t help.”

Cardin gestured for the mage to leave. The mage hurried out, and Cardin washed his face with his hands.

“Not a curse… then why does my will disappear and I end up begging for love whenever I see Harna?”

No matter how he thought, he couldn’t find the reason.

“Duke.”

Trin entered and called him worriedly.

“This time, I’ll find a high-ranking priest. By any means!”

Seeing Trin tap his chest with confidence, Cardin relaxed slightly.

“So you won’t look for ‘my goddess’ again…”

Hearing the words, his brows furrowed again.

“Leave at once!”

Trin timidly closed the door and left. Cardin sank into the sofa, pondering.

‘Would this work?’

He remembered the small, gentle hand that had smiled brightly at him. Thinking her face—once unpleasant—was beautiful, he flushed and stood abruptly.

“I must not meet her. Absolutely not!”