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

Episode 34

 

“Duke?”

 

Feeling the pain creeping up, I motioned downwards to call him.

 

“Oh, sorry.”

 

Lloydin, with a startled expression, gently released the strong grip he had on my hand. I was afraid his hand might slip away, but fortunately, it remained connected to mine.

 

‘But, was there something wrong?’

 

His expression remained stiff, and upon reflection, he hadn’t seemed particularly happy since he returned earlier.

 

If he had been with Father, there shouldn’t have been any problems.

 

Nevertheless, I couldn’t shake off my worry about the unknown incident.

 

“How was your time with Father?”

 

Instead of directly asking if something had upset him, I turned the conversation around with this question.

 

“It was a meaningful time.”

 

Without hesitating at my inquiry, he replied promptly.

 

I hadn’t known Lloydin for long, but he didn’t seem like someone who easily showed his emotions outwardly.

 

However, despite saying it was meaningful, he still seemed displeased, his expression stiff.

 

“Is there something bothering you? You don’t have to hide it from me.”

 

It seemed like beating around the bush might not get me any answers, so I cautiously asked him directly this time, with a careful expression.

 

“The Duke of Anaïs was with us, so there was nothing for the Lady to worry about.”

 

“Really? That’s a relief.”

 

Lloydin responded cleanly, making sure not to delve into further questions. Perhaps he understood why I asked that question in the first place.

 

Even though his expression still didn’t seem good, it would be impolite to drag him down further when he assured me everything was fine.

 

Above all, he wasn’t obligated to share every emotion he felt, so I nodded silently to signify that I understood.

 

Gradually, the banquet was reaching its conclusion.

 

‘Ah!’

 

After sipping the wine, a good idea struck me, and without hesitation, I stood up from my seat.

 

“Milady?”

 

Lloydin looked at me with a puzzled expression as I stood up.

 

“I have somewhere to take you.”

 

“Where are we going?”

 

“You’ll see when we get there. Let’s go.”

 

I took his hand and pulled him up from his seat. With Lloydin following me willingly, we quickly left the banquet hall.

 

As we left the hall, I led him to a place far from the garden where the banquet was being held—an area near a small pond.

 

When I looked out of my room’s window, especially on nights when the moon shone brightly, the pond reflected the moon’s light, creating the illusion of two moons.

 

I led him to a small bench near the pond.

 

It was the best spot to see both the moon and the pond at once.

 

“This is my favorite spot. After being in a noisy place, it’s nice to be in a quiet place like this.”

 

I said to him, looking at the familiar scenery in front of us.

 

Upon reflection, today’s banquet must have been quite challenging for him.

 

I brought him to this quiet place, thinking that he might have been tired from tension throughout the banquet.

 

“Wasn’t today quite difficult?”

 

“It was fine.”

 

He said it was fine again.

 

Every time I asked Lloydin something, he always answered that he was fine.

 

Could there really be anything not fine with this man?

 

No, would there ever be a time when he told me that something wasn’t fine?

 

“I’ve always been tired.”

 

“Is it very tiring?”

 

Lloydin looked surprised when the word ‘tired’ came out of my mouth.

 

“Shall we go back and rest now?”

 

With a gesture suggesting he’d take me back to my room immediately, I quickly spoke up.

 

“I couldn’t relax and enjoy events like this. After collapsing in front of many people a few times, I was always filled with fear and tension. And after my illness worsened, well, I couldn’t even think of attending parties or gatherings.”

 

Noticing that the conversation was veering in a direction he might not have expected, Lloydin quietly listened to my words.

 

“But, there’s Duke. For the first time today, I felt liberated from my illness. I wasn’t tired with a mind filled with worries anymore.”

 

As I said this, tears welled up in my eyes from the overwhelming feeling, but I didn’t feel sad at all.

 

Rather, I felt so good that I wanted to open my mouth wide and laugh out loud.

 

I kept talking with a wide smile on my face.

 

“And I could do all this because of you, Your Grace. I wasn’t afraid at all with the thought of you by my side.”

 

As Lloydin listened silently to my words, his hand suddenly came close to my face.

 

Then, gently wiping the moistened corners of my eyes, he smiled faintly.

 

I flinched slightly at his unexpected gesture, but soon I accepted his touch comfortably.

 

“Thank you. I’m so grateful for giving me this opportunity.”

 

And I clasped his hand with both of mine, placing it on my cheek, and thanked him continuously.

 

“From now on, the life of a duchess will be completely different from now. I’ll make sure of that.”

 

His sincere words touched my heart deeply.

 

“Thank you. But I feel the same way too. I heard that Your Grace doesn’t usually come to events like this. You told me it’s fine, but I actually thought you wouldn’t be okay with it.”

 

After releasing his hand, I looked at him with a determined gaze.

 

“Just as it must have been difficult for you to come to the banquet, Your Grace probably couldn’t be free from people’s gazes either. So, I promise too. I’ll make sure you can come to events like this without any worries.”

 

As I finished speaking, I carefully observed his reaction.

 

But although he didn’t seem moved by my words, his face, which I had expected to nod calmly with understanding, subtly twisted.

 

“Of course, the Lady is saying that because of our contract, right?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

In the moment of confusion, even though I understood what he was asking, a questioning remark popped out involuntarily.

 

“Oh, a contract is a contract. Our marriage itself is made up of a contract from the start.”

 

As soon as I mentioned the contract, Lloydin’s expression turned as cold as ice.

 

‘Why such a reaction?’

 

Feeling perplexed by his strange reaction, suddenly a memory of a similar incident flashed through my mind.

 

‘Back then, too, his expression changed drastically when I brought up the contract.’

 

Of course, that day passed in an instant, almost making me wonder if I had seen it wrong…

 

But today, his expression clearly showed no intention of hiding.

 

“Sigh.”

 

Lloydin sighed heavily, running his hand over his face.

 

“Your Grace…”

 

A tense atmosphere hung in the air like walking on thin ice.

 

Without knowing exactly why Lloydin was suddenly like this, I watched him cautiously.

 

“I’m sorry. I must have looked pathetic. I just… No, it’s better to stop talking about this here.”

 

He stopped abruptly in the midst of what he was about to say.

 

Then, it seemed like he was trying to thaw the frozen atmosphere as he forced a smile, lips twitching upwards.

 

“It seems like the party is ending, so let’s go back now.”

 

“Huh? Oh, yes.”

 

With Lloydin turning his back to me first, I stared at his back absentmindedly, not even considering following him.

 

It was because his expression from a moment ago was still vivid in my mind.

 

His expression, desperate yet tinged with resignation, continued to replay in my head.

 

“Lady?”

 

Lloydin called out to me, realizing I wasn’t following.

 

“Ah, let’s go.”

 

Only then did I shake off the thoughts that were coming to mind, gathered myself, and returned to the banquet hall with him.

 

* * *

 

After the party ended, and all the guests were sent off, my parents, Lloydin, and I gathered in my father’s study to discuss our future plans.

 

“I will properly introduce myself again. I am Lloydin Blighton.”

 

Feeling bothered by the fact that he had only briefly greeted my parents when the party started, Lloydin respectfully greeted my parents.

 

“Oh, that’s enough. Now that we’re going to be one family, there’s no need for such formality.”

 

During the short time they spent together earlier, whether there was some conversation between the two or not, my father had stopped talking to Lloydin.

 

“That’s right. Make yourself at home.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Take a seat. Ayla, you too, sit down.”

 

“Yes, father.”

 

Lloydin and I took seats side by side on the sofa opposite my parents.