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

Episode 2

 

I thought it would take quite some time to find the way, but I didn’t expect my body to be like this.

 

‘The road has become much longer than before.’

 

It was evident that my illness was deteriorating much faster than before.

 

‘This is not the time to be leisurely.’

 

With a clear mind, I struggled to sit up from the bed. Leaning against the bed, I mustered all the strength I had to pull the string.

 

Not long after I pulled the string, the door opened, and a girl with red hair, similar to mine, entered with a surprised expression.

 

“Young lady!”

 

As soon as Lia saw me, tears welled up in her eyes, and she choked up with emotion.

 

“Young lady! You’re awake, right?”

 

“Yeah. How long has it been this time?”

 

While Lia’s emotions were overwhelming and her heart was pounding, I asked calmly.

 

“It’s been a week.”

 

“A week?”

 

A whole week.

 

More time had passed than I expected, and I looked up at Ria with a surprised expression.

 

‘Last time, it was only five days.’

 

But this time, a whole week has passed.

 

I had never experienced an extension of two days before, so I felt flustered and anxious.

 

‘No, stay calm.’

 

Now I know what this illness is.

 

I know the treatment method too.

 

No matter how much the illness worsens, as long as there is a cure, I can survive.

 

I tried to suppress the turmoil in my heart and calm myself down.

 

“Really, I… I!”

 

Without even trying to wipe away the tears that kept flowing, Lia continued to sob, and I immediately opened my arms towards her.

 

Upon seeing this, she immediately embraced me.

 

“Young lady! This time, I really…”

 

“Hush, I am awake now. Stop crying.”

 

Since I had known Lia since she was young and how much she cared for me, I understood how affectionate she was towards me.

 

I gently stroked her back.

 

“Sniff, yes, okay. But the tears won’t stop.”

 

That’s when it happened.

 

While trying to comfort Lia, who was almost crying hysterically, the door suddenly swung open.

 

“Is Ayla awake?”

 

“Ayla!”

 

It was my parents’ voices.

 

“I knew it. Today, I felt like not going anywhere. Ayla is awake!”

 

The next voice I heard was from my third older brother.

 

In this manner, the three of them rushed into my room, all excited.

 

As soon as Mother came in, she approached me, who was sitting on the bed, and hugged me tightly.

 

“Ayla.”

 

“Mother.”

 

Mother’s unique scent filled the room.

 

Her body trembled as she hugged me, showing how worried she had been while I was unconscious.

 

To reassure her, I snuggled deeper into her embrace, as if a child were misbehaving and seeking comfort from their mother.

 

Feeling Mother’s tender touch in my hair brought a sense of relief and happiness.

 

“Ayla.”

 

Amidst the coziness and comfort in Mother’s arms, Father and my third older brother had approached.

 

I slightly turned my head while still in Mother’s embrace and met their eyes, one by one.

 

Just like Lia a moment ago, Father’s eyes were moist with tears.

 

Outside, he might be someone awe-inspiring, firm, and intimidating in the Empire, but to me, he was always a father who showered me with deep affection.

 

With the biggest smile I could muster, I spoke to Father.

 

“Father, I woke up. Were you very worried about me?”

 

“Is that even a question?”

 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know I would sleep for so long.”

 

“What is there for you to be sorry about? Don’t say such things. Now that you’re awake, I’m fine.”

 

“Yeah. Ayla, there’s no need for you to apologize, so don’t say such things.”

 

I quietly closed my mouth and nodded at Father and Mother’s words.

 

“Ayla! You finally woke up!”

 

A mischievous voice, familiar to me, came from beside me.

 

It was Luke Anaïs, my third older brother.

 

“Brother, did you do well while I was asleep? What have you been up to?”

 

As if today was just an ordinary day, I chatted with my brother like we usually did.

 

“I’m always the same, you know.”

 

“You didn’t do anything weird again, did you?”

 

“W-what are you talking about! W-w-why would you think that!?”

 

Seeing his embarrassed expression and stammering, I sensed something suspicious.

 

I glanced at Luke with eyes full of suspicion.

 

“Is that all you have to say to Father as soon as you wake up?”

 

“Hmm, suspicious.”

 

“No, I swear! I didn’t do anything!”

 

As I continued to press on, Luke gradually stepped back.

 

It seemed like he wanted to escape before I could find out something.

 

But what did he really do? Why is he acting like this?

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“Oh, I’m not going anywhere! I haven’t seen Brother in so long!”

 

“Ayla, stop teasing Luke. If you keep it up, he might not come home for a while.”

 

“But no, I really have a place to go with Brother.”

 

In that moment, without realizing it, I blurted out words that seemed to confirm Mother’s suspicion that Luke might leave the house.

 

“Where?”

 

“Where are you planning to go?”

 

“Ayla, where are you going?”

 

With my announcement of going somewhere, Father, Mother, and Luke all widened their eyes and bombarded me with questions.

 

Quickly organizing my thoughts in my complex mind, I opened my mouth to calm them down.

 

“Well, it’s not like I’m going somewhere far. I just wanted to get some fresh air since it’s been a while. I thought if I went out alone, you might not let me, so I was going to go out with Brother…”

 

Perhaps due to my chronic illness since I was young, I found it difficult to go out alone for most things.

 

Especially after sleeping for quite a long time this time, there was a high chance that my parents would not let me go anywhere if I said I was going out.

 

That’s why I needed my third older brother’s help to move around a little more freely.

 

Though he liked to joke around and play pranks, Luke had a heavy sense of responsibility.

 

Because we were close in age, we had similar thoughts and grew up together, sharing many experiences.

 

‘If it’s hard for me to move around alone, I’ll have to persuade my third older brother first.’

 

“Oh, that’s what it was? Father, Mother, I’ll take Ayla out.”

 

Thankfully, my brother accepted my words without suspicion.

 

“Not right now. It hasn’t been long since she woke up. Are you planning to go out already?”

 

However, as expected, I faced Father’s opposition.

 

“I’m okay, Father. I slept for quite a long time, so I feel really good.”

 

Saying that, I got out of bed and stepped on the floor.

 

To show that I was really fine, I even spun in place and walked around the room for a moment.

 

“Still!”

 

“Honey, let Ayla do as she wishes. She must be feeling frustrated. Besides, she won’t be alone; Luke will be going with her.”

 

“Cough, alright then.”

 

Mother convinced Father in one go.

 

Father was the type to always follow Mother’s words without any objections.

 

“Instead, have your meal before you go out. It’s almost lunchtime, so it’s better if we all eat together.”

 

“Yes, thank you, Father, Mother.”

 

* * *

 

As Father said, after having a meal with the family for the first time in a while, I prepared to go out and stepped outside the mansion.

 

There, my brother, who had already finished getting ready, was standing near the carriage.

 

“Ayla, let’s go.”

 

“Sure, Brother.”

 

This time, I was going out with my brother, and since I didn’t bring Lia along just in case, it was only my brother and me inside the carriage.

 

“Where do you want to go?”

 

“Huh? Um, there’s no particular place I want to go.”

 

Actually, there was a place I wanted to go, but I couldn’t openly say that I wanted to go there.

 

“Really? Then shall we just wander around the neighborhood?”

 

“Sure. But you know…”

 

However, I couldn’t miss this precious opportunity.

 

‘As long as I don’t say it directly.’

 

I hesitated for a moment on how to bring it up, then decided to take a chance.

 

“Brother, do you happen to know about the Blighton family?”

 

“Blighton? Are you talking about the Blighton Ducal Family?”

 

“Yeah, that Blighton.”

 

As soon as I uttered the word Blighton, my brother’s expression turned a little serious.