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

Episode 35

 

“I tried to come early before the party started, but my younger brother woke up. So, I was delayed checking on his condition. I apologize.”

 

“Lord Blighton’s awake?”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

“Well, that’s good. Now, let’s comfortably discuss the wedding preparations. Shall we?”

 

We discussed the date and venue for the wedding, as well as the number of guests.

 

“Then let’s set the wedding for early next month. It’s said that day is considered a blessed day when the gods briefly visit the mortal realm.”

 

“Yes, we’ll do that.”

 

“Yes, Father.”

 

“Unfortunately, it seems we can’t have it at the temple. The Head Priest is quite stubborn, and I couldn’t convince him. So, what do you think about having it here? We’ll prepare it as grandly as a temple wedding, or even more so.”

 

In the empire, nobles mostly held their weddings at temples. The Grand Priest would act as a witness, invoking the blessings of the gods.

 

Although things had become more lenient now, considering Noah’s initial strong reaction and the unlikelihood of permission for Lloydin at the temple, I hadn’t even thought about having it there.

 

“I’m okay with it, but I apologize if Lady and Anaïs families face unfair treatment because of me.”

 

Lloydin answered with a stern face.

 

“I’m fine. Most importantly, I feel comfortable here.”

 

I deliberately smiled brightly, raising my voice to lighten the mood.

 

“We’ll prepare the wedding here with the most precious things in the world, just as grand as our daughter’s wedding.”

 

“Oh, Mother, thank you.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Thanks for what? We should be the ones thanking you.”

 

“That’s right. We’re more grateful to you. Just seeing my daughter staying awake for so long is worth everything. So, if you ever need anything or need help, don’t hesitate to ask.”

 

“…Thank you.”

 

After a long conversation with my parents, we finally left the study. Immediately, I informed Noah that Ian had woken up and, along with my brother, prepared to leave for Blighton Duchy.

 

“Ayla, are you coming too?”

 

“Yeah, I should go too.”

 

As I was about to get on the carriage, Noah grabbed my hand.

 

“It’s too late at night, it’s dangerous. You should stay home.”

 

“No, I want to go too. I want to see the Lord’s condition for myself.”

 

“It might be better for Lady Anaïs not to go today, as Lord Anaïs suggested.”

 

“Why? I want to go together.”

 

Lloydin shook his head as a refusal.

 

“Anyway, you won’t have anything to do even if you go. I’ll be back soon, so just rest.”

 

“But…”

 

“Let’s go quickly.”

 

“Yes, okay.”

 

Noah pushed me back and got on the carriage first.

 

Then, when Lloydin tried to get on, I quickly grabbed his hand, expressing concern, and spoke.

 

“Are you sure it’s okay? I think it’s better if I go with you…”

 

Honestly, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving Noah and Lloydin alone together. Although Noah wasn’t impolite or tactless, he could be quite straightforward in his speech.

 

“I’m fine, so just rest for now. Ian can see me tomorrow.”

 

Lloydin lightly smiled, patting my hand as if he read something from my face.

 

I reluctantly let go of his hand, showing a helpless expression.

 

“Okay, then. Be careful and see you tomorrow.”

 

“Yes. Sweet dreams.”

 

“You too, Your Grace. Now that Lord Ian is awake, there’s nothing to worry about anymore.”

 

“Yes, you’re right. Well then.”

 

With that, Lloydin got on the carriage, and with the powerful neighing of the horses, the carriage departed.

 

I kept watching him until the carriage was no longer visible.

 

* * *

 

Creaking.

 

Only the sound of the carriage wheels rolling and the occasional neighing of the horses echoed around.

 

Lloydin and Noah sat facing each other, not exchanging a single word, heading towards Blighton Duchy.

 

Though it was late at night, the bright moonlight coming through the cracks in the window made the interior not too dark, revealing each other’s expressions clearly.

 

The two men remained expressionless throughout.

 

After a while, it was Lloydin who broke the silence first.

 

“I’m grateful just for making the medicine, but I don’t know what to say about taking care of Ian like this.”

 

“Just as Your Grace treated Ayla, it’s nothing more than that. We both couldn’t bear to see our siblings suffer.”

 

Lloydin gently nodded in agreement.

 

“If by any chance Ian’s situation leaks out and the temple accuses him of wrongdoing, I will personally clear his name.”

 

He didn’t have the power to confront the temple, but he couldn’t risk Ayla’s family. Thanks to Noah, Ian was now stable, so if anything happened, he intended to turn everything around.

 

“Ayla mentioned it, didn’t she? That I won’t return to the temple.”

 

Noah casually uttered his words as if it were an everyday conversation.

 

Seeing him like that, Lloydin’s expression stiffened for a moment.

 

“…I didn’t hear that.”

 

Ayla didn’t even give him a hint about such an important matter.

 

Of course, even if he had known, there wouldn’t have been much he could do, but still, it felt like a line was drawn with her.

 

“By not returning to the temple… do you mean to quit priesthood?”

 

“That’s correct. Your Grace, I apologize for bringing up such a matter, but as you know, the temple categorizes demons and magic as the most harmful things in the world. I used my powers without permission to stabilize Lord Ian Blighton’s magic. That action is clearly an affront to the gods.”

 

Noah paused briefly before saying the word ‘affront,’ but eventually, it came out.

 

Since what he said was a fact with no falsehood, he didn’t want to beat around the bush.

 

Nevertheless, the man before him, whether he liked it or not, would become his sister’s husband, his one and only brother-in-law.

 

Before departing for Blighton Duchy, Ayla had stubbornly insisted on going for a reason Noah was well aware of.

 

Ayla was worried about Lloydin Blighton.

 

Therefore, he was being cautious with his words, thinking about his sister as much as possible.

 

“If the word ‘affront’ was unpleasant, I apologize.”

 

If Ayla were to know later, even if it was an excuse, Noah immediately apologized to Lloydin.

 

“No, it’s okay. It’s not unpleasant at all because it’s the truth.”

 

However, Lloydin’s response was unexpected.

 

Normally, anyone would feel upset hearing such words, but Lloydin was accepting it without any sign of discomfort.

 

“I really don’t know what to say. Because of my younger brother, you eventually had to quit being a priest…”

 

“No, it’s not because of your brother that I’m quitting being a priest, it’s because of my sister.”

 

“What?”

 

Lloyd seemed confused, so Noah quickly interjected to clarify.

 

And he continued to speak to correct his misconception.

 

“I became a priest to cure Ayla’s illness. Her illness couldn’t be treated by conventional means. So, I wanted to gain strong divine power to heal my sister. But unfortunately, even with divine power, I couldn’t cure Ayla’s illness.”

 

Noah shrugged with a bitter expression.

 

“But then I found out that Ayla’s illness could be healed with magic, and that was the truth. So, there’s no reason for me to stay in the temple anymore.”

 

Even if he had committed blasphemy, he could continue to be a priest after apologizing and undergoing a long purification process.

 

But for Noah, the temple and divine power no longer held any meaning.

 

Noah spoke in a relieved voice, as if he had no regrets at all.

 

“…I see. Nevertheless, I will never forget what Lord Anaïs did for my brother.”

 

“I just need Ayla’s illness to be completely cured. She may seem very dignified and cheerful on the outside, but inside, her illness has festered. She might even force herself to smile brighter to hide her pain.”

 

Noah frowned as he recalled Ayla, who would collapse and fall asleep at any opportunity.