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

Episode 73

I explained everything to Ian, from what happens when I fall asleep to the severity of the illness, and even how to treat it.

“So magic heals the illness?”

“That’s right. When I come into contact with someone with magic, it feels like life force is being infused into me. It’s like my cells inside my body come alive and start breathing.”

“…Ah, I see.”

Ian, after listening to my explanation, nodded as if he had realized something.

“Do I need to stay here?”

“No. As I said, I’ll be fine for a while.”

“Then I’ll head back now.”

Ian seemed to be in a hurry, as if he had left something behind.

“Alright. Take care. Oh, Ian, I almost forgot. I asked in the letter, but are you okay now?”

“Yes. Those guys won’t bother me anymore.”

“That’s a relief.”

A calm smile naturally appeared on both Ian’s and my face.

After Ian returned to the academy, I got up as if nothing had happened.

Now accustomed to the routine, I went about my business and eagerly awaited the day when Lloydin would return.

And finally, after some time, Lloydin returned to me with a great victory.

It had been a whopping two months.

* * *

Boom!

Just like when Lloydin left, the entire capital was filled with the sound of horns announcing the return of the expeditionary force, victorious.

Last time, when I went out with my mother to the bustling streets, there must have been a huge crowd gathered in the square and throughout the streets to welcome the expeditionary force.

But back then, I didn’t see Lloydin.

This time, too, he seemed to quietly return without participating in the celebration, just as expected.

So instead of going out into the streets, I waited for Lloydin to come back at the mansion, and my expectations were exactly right.

A man riding a horse approached the mansion at a frightening speed from afar.

There he is!

I swung open the door of the second-floor bedroom and dashed to the entrance of the mansion.

‘He’s here!’

Perhaps because of the anticipation of seeing him soon, my body felt light as a feather.

So much so that I reached the entrance of the mansion first.

Maybe because I ran at full speed after so long, my breath was caught at the tip of my throat, and my body kept bending forward, but my head was facing straight ahead.

Lloydin, sitting atop the horse, was gradually approaching.

After a while, the horse stopped nearby, and he quickly dismounted and set foot on the ground.

Seeing him after a long time, he looked a bit haggard, but his handsome appearance remained as captivating as ever.

“Duke!”

“Madam!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, we ran towards each other.

And finally, as I embraced him in his firm arms, his familiar scent rushed into my nostrils, filling my brain.

At the same time, a refreshing and invigorating sensation enveloped my entire body, sharpening my senses.

‘It feels so good.’

The feeling of being alive, the energy bursting within my body, was so ecstatic that it was indescribable.

But more than anything else, I was just glad that he had returned safely.

I hugged his waist tighter.

At this moment, I wanted to feel him with my whole body, without any interruptions.

Lloydin, too, perhaps due to the long separation, was exuding an immense amount of energy.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

Struggling to calm my heart, I lifted my head slightly and poured out my longing for Lloydin while looking at his face.

“Are you injured anywhere? Are you okay?”

“I didn’t get hurt anywhere because you told me not to, madam.”

“Ah, thank goodness.”

With a slight sigh of relief, I gently stroked his broad back as a sign of approval for his obedience.

He listened to my words so well that I felt immensely proud of him.

How tightly were we holding onto each other?

Without averting my gaze from Lloydin for a moment, I finally realized that we were outside and that the servants were all watching us.

“Um, should we go in now?”

“Yes, let’s.”

But neither I nor Lloydin seemed to want to let go of each other, as neither of us made any attempt to release our arms from the embrace.

“Duke?”

When I lightly tapped his back, he finally moved away from me slightly and immediately clasped my hand with his large hand.

Smiling widely at him, I walked into the mansion with him.

“You’ll want to bathe right away, won’t you?”

“Yes, I would like to.”

“I thought so, so I had hot water prepared in the bathtub as soon as you arrived.”

“Thank you, madam.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s what a wife should do.”

“I couldn’t properly bathe throughout the battle. I managed to wash up right before arriving in the capital, but do I smell bad?”

Worried that he might emit an unpleasant odor, Lloydin wrinkled his brow slightly.

“Not at all. There’s no smell at all.”

I smiled reassuringly, as if to say, ‘Don’t worry.’

Actually, there was no way someone who had been on the battlefield for two months wouldn’t smell.

Though I couldn’t tell if it was the smell of blood or whose it was, there was a faint scent of blood, but it wasn’t unpleasant, rather it mixed with his scent, giving me a greater sense of comfort.

While conversing with Lloydin, we arrived at the bathroom on the second floor.

Feeling reluctant to let go of his hand as he had to go bathe, a sense of regret washed over me.

“Duke, shall I lead you to the bathing facilities?”

So, without releasing his hand, I impulsively blurted out.

Lloydin looked at me with wide eyes, seemingly surprised by my words.

“You seemed so tired. Since you always bathe alone without any attendants, I thought today might be particularly tough for you.”

Even I, the one who uttered those words, felt bewildered, so I quickly launched into a long explanation.

Lloydin stared at me without saying a word.

In the silence, I gradually realized what I had said and my face turned red with embarrassment.

‘I must be crazy.’

How could I blurt out something like that without even considering what bathing etiquette entails?

If he were to bathe, he would need to undress, and then…

Suddenly, a scene flashed in my mind, and embarrassment overwhelmed me.

Moreover, Lloydin had been silently watching me with an inexplicable expression since earlier, making me increasingly uneasy.

‘Why isn’t he saying anything?’

Is it okay to bathe?

Or is he struggling to find the right words to refuse?

Considering his usual demeanor, the latter seemed more likely.

Since he always says it’s okay, is he really okay this time?

‘Oh, maybe that’s it.’

After deliberation, I finally came to my own conclusion about his reaction.

Then, I awkwardly smiled and said, trying to lighten the mood, “I was joking! Were you surprised?”

“Ah, a joke…”

Huh? What’s this?

For a moment, it seemed like disappointment flickered across his face.

But it was so brief that I wondered if I had seen it wrong.

“It was a joke.”

Lloydin quickly smiled in apparent disappointment.

With his smile, the tension that had been lingering around us disappeared instantly.

“Yes. Oh, then I’ll go and prepare dinner for you as soon as you finish bathing.”

“…Alright.”

Once I confirmed that Lloydin had entered the bathroom, I heaved a sigh of relief.

“Phew.”

‘Please, let’s think before we speak.’

Even though I adore him, I couldn’t understand why I blurted out whatever came to mind like that.

‘But he wouldn’t really be disappointed just because I said it was a joke, right?’

Feeling puzzled by his ambiguous reaction, I resolved to be more mindful in the future and headed down to the dining room.

While Lloydin soaked in the hot tub after a long time, I prepared dinner for him.

Of course, I didn’t cook the food myself, but I instructed the servants to prepare dishes that he would enjoy.

Shortly after, Lloydin emerged from his bath with a refreshed face and sat down in the dining room.

“Please, take a seat, Duke.”

As Lloydin sat opposite me, the dishes were brought to the table one by one.

Even though we had lived together for several months, I could easily tell what kind of food he liked with my eyes closed.

From a stew with a perfect balance of potatoes and meat to a salad full of fresh herbs, crispy bread with a moist interior, and a perfectly cooked steak with the finest texture, I prepared a generous feast for Lloydin to enjoy.

Throughout dinner, we indulged in delicious food and light conversation.

After dinner, just like the day before his departure, we took a stroll in the garden to aid digestion.

The only difference this time was that his attire was much lighter.

If two months ago it was winter with heavy snowfall, now it was early spring where you could feel the warm sunlight amidst the chilly breeze.