Because I was Terminally Ill, I Married the Male Lead's Brother, and Now He's Obsessed with Me

 

Episode 13

 

“If you say such things again, I won’t look at you anymore.”

 

However, she sternly warned him with a sharp gaze.

 

“Ayla, what are you doing!”

 

“Father, magic isn’t something dirty. The blood flowing in the Blighton family isn’t impure blood.”

 

Ignoring Noah’s words, I spoke firmly to my father.

 

“Ayla, really….”

 

“Leave, all of you.”

 

Just as Noah was about to say something to me again, Father commanded the attendants.

 

“Father!”

 

“We should be here too!”

 

“Please let us stay together.”

 

“Leave.”

 

Although my brothers insisted on staying together, all three of us reluctantly rose from our seats at Father’s command.

 

We all knew how frightening Father could be when he was angry.

 

With a lingering look of regret, my two brothers left Father’s study. Before leaving, Jade gently tapped my shoulder and offered words of encouragement.

 

As the door closed, an immediate silence enveloped the room.

 

“Ayla.”

 

Father’s dignified and firm voice quietly echoed in the study.

 

“Yes, Father.”

 

“Now that it’s quiet, we can calmly discuss things.”

 

I nodded and began explaining to Father, step by step, what had happened today and how I ended up seeking out Lloyden.

 

“I once heard a man talking on the street before. Back then, I thought the story was inconsequential and passed by without paying much attention, but I shouldn’t have.”

 

“What story?”

 

I recounted to my father and mother what I had told Lloyden.

 

“That man had the same intermittent deep sleep disorder as me. He mentioned that after barely escaping from a place infested with monsters, his condition miraculously improved as if the illness had washed away.”

 

“Do you believe those words?”

 

“At that time, I didn’t believe it either because I always believed that someday the illness could be cured.”

 

Before remembering my past life, I never gave up hope.

 

I believed that my family, scouring the continent to find a cure for my illness, would surely succeed.

 

“But as time passed, and the cycles of falling into deep sleep became faster and longer, it became frightening. If I sleep like this today, will I wake up tomorrow? Or will I…”

 

However, as the illness deepened, anxiety was slowly consuming me.

 

Although I hadn’t told my family, every day the prospect of falling asleep was terrifying.

 

“Ayla…”

 

Tears welled up in my mother’s eyes as she listened to me.

 

“I know that you’ve tried everything to cure my illness. Yes, you really did everything you could. But, Mother, Father, there was just one thing you hadn’t tried. I’ve only realised it now.”

 

“So, did you go to the Blighton Marquisate to see if it would work for you, like that man?”

 

“Yes. That’s right. And the moment I held his hand, something inside me began to come alive.”

 

The moment I met Lloyden and grasped his hand, I would probably never forget it in my lifetime.

 

The ecstatic and vibrant sensation, as if everything inside my body was pulsating.

 

“I can’t believe it…”

 

“But it’s true. Why would I lie to you, Mom and Dad?”

 

“Well, our daughter would never lie to us.”

 

My mother affectionately whispered as she stroked my head.

 

“Did you tell Lord Lloyden Blighton the truth about your illness?”

 

“Yes, I told him. I thought if I told the truth, he might help.”

 

“So what happened?”

 

“He said he would help me get better.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. He’s much nicer than I imagined.”

 

It was true.

 

Before meeting Lloyden, I only knew him as the older brother of the male lead in the novel, and I had no particular feelings toward him.

 

Even when he asked me to become his husband the moment we met, I was filled with apologies and guilt for trying to use him, and I didn’t really care about what kind of person he was.

 

However, after just a few hours of conversation with Lloyden today, I came to know that he was not only decent but also an incredible and kind person.

 

That’s why the pledge I made to him alone was still valid and even stronger now.

 

“But, Father.”

 

“I’ve told you everything, so now it’s time to keep my promise to him through an agreement.”

 

“Why is that?”

 

“Recently, there have been strange rumors circulating about Lord Lloyden Blighton returning quickly from a subjugation. What happened?”

 

I first asked my father to understand the truth behind the rumors.

 

“Rumors? Are you talking about the rumor that the seal was broken?”

 

I thought my father would surely know, and my expectation was correct.

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

“As you well know, there are countless nobles who fear and despise the Blighton family. They use them for their own safety while being afraid of them at the same time, just because the Blighton family is different from us.”

 

“But Father, the rumor is not true. Lord Lloyden hasn’t done anything. But if the false accusation that the Marquis broke the seal becomes a reality…!”

 

“I know. It doesn’t matter if the rumor is true or false. What’s important is how many people believe it. If the majority believe it, the rumor becomes a reality.”

 

“Father…!”

 

It must not become a reality.

 

With a fervent heart, I called out to my father.

 

“Ayla, do you really believe in Lord Lloyden Blighton?”

 

“Yes, I believe.”

 

“You and Lord Lloyden Blighton met for the first time today. How can you believe him so easily?”

 

“Father, I don’t think trusting someone is necessarily about the time spent with them. I had a genuine conversation with him today, and that’s what matters most to me.”

 

“Well, I see.”

 

“Father.”

 

As my father raised his hand, indicating for me to be quiet, I closed my mouth and anxiously waited for him to speak.

 

“I cannot trust Lord Lloyden Blighton.”

 

“Father!”

 

The moment my father said he couldn’t trust Lloyden, I felt a sense of disappointment.

 

“But my daughter, who believes in him, I will always believe.”

 

As soon as my father said that he believed in me, I stood up with gratitude and hugged him tightly.

 

“Father!”

 

“Oh, you rascal!”

 

“Thank you so much, Father!”

 

“I can’t do anything if it’s about curing my daughter’s illness. I will take care of that rumor.”

 

“Thank you so much, Father.”

 

As I cheered happily in my father’s embrace, I remembered something about Ian.

 

“Oh, right. And Father, I have one more request.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“I need medicine with divine power from Ian Blighton.”

 

“Medicine with divine power?”

 

“Yes, I’m in a lot of pain right now, and I really need to take that medicine.”

 

“If it’s medicine with divine power.”

 

“Can it be made secretly so that no one knows?”

 

“For that, we need Noah.”

 

“Then I’ll talk to my second older brother about it.”

 

“Alright. Is there anything else you want to ask?”

 

“No, there isn’t. Thank you so much, Father, and Mother.”

 

I alternately looked at my parents, smiling broadly, and expressed my gratitude.

 

*

 

After finishing the conversation with my parents and leaving the study, I found my three brothers standing in a row at the door.

 

“Ayla.”

 

“Should we talk with us too?”

 

“Where should we go?”

 

“Alright. Let’s go to my room.”

 

Since there was something I needed to talk to Noah about, I took my three brothers to my room.

 

As soon as we entered the room, Noah’s voice burst out loudly.

 

“Ayla, what were you thinking?”

 

“Yeah, Ayla. Didn’t I tell you not to go near Lord Lloyden Blighton?”

 

It was a firm reminder from Luke during our previous conversation about Lord Lloyden Blighton.

 

“Calm down, and please, let’s have a calm conversation. Okay?”

 

“Yeah. Please stop jumping around and sit. Do you know you got kicked out earlier because of you guys?”

 

As always, he was the smartest and mentally mature first brother in our house.

 

“Thank you, brother.”

 

Jade sat next to me, smiling, and gently stroked my head.

 

Following Jade’s lead, the rest of my brothers took their seats on the opposite side.