My Sister’s Man - Chapter 31

Entering the lounge prepared for the Duke’s family, Larne sat down.  Perhaps it was because she was facing an unexpected situation, she felt weak as she hugged her knees.

Leandro’s unexpected behavior bothered her more than the pain in her shoulder that had been caught.

Leandro didn’t bother with the fuss on the terrace, instead he got angry with the man and trusted her without misunderstanding the situation.

Even that was not enough, he even put on her shoes and gave a comment.

 “You should have asked for help.”

At his indifferent words, Larne somehow choked.

 “…  Who, who am I going to ask for help? You?”

How could she say that to someone who hated her and getting help from him was worse than dying?

 “I’m not shameless enough to ask for help from someone who despises… hates me.”

There was no room for improvement between Larne and Leandro.

It wasn’t a relationship that would go well just because Larne sincerely apologized and atoned. Because he didn’t want to.  It was only Larne’s greed to push the apology here and hope that they would get along better.  Even knowing that, she still had some expectations.

“Isn’t insulting you the same as insulting me?  So I can help you with that much.”

She was hurt by his words. Her face was hot with disappointment, expecting to be alone.

“It’s an unnecessary burden. If you wanted to divorce me, you shouldn’t have acted like this.  And your wife… ?  We’re getting divorced soon.”

She didn’t want to show herself shaken from being called his wife. She didn’t want to show her disappointment from her own expectations.

She said that to hide that she was hurt.  The only thing she could do for Leandro was to get a quick divorce without damaging the Marquis’ reputation.

“I’ll show my appearance at this banquet.  As soon as the banquet is over, we can have a period of contemplation.”

She even ran away from the scene, mentioning the divorce that she didn’t want in the first place.

 ‘…  Seriously, I’m pathetic.’

Thinking so, Larne buried her face in her knees.  She thought of taking a little break and going back to the banquet hall.  However, as if taking a short break was a luxury, the door to the lounge was thrown open.

“Rene!”

 ‘… Has the incident on the terrace been reported already?’

Since she caused a commotion at her first banquet as a member of the Duke’s family, it was unlikely that Deron would say anything good.  Seeing Deron looking around as if he hadn’t found Larne still sitting there, she wished he would never find her.  Because she had no desire to deal with his one-sided anger, and she did not have the strength to do so.

“Rene.”

However, contrary to Larne’s hope, Deron, who found her and strode towards her.  Perhaps trying to meet her eye level, he also lowered his body.  The first words he spat out were kinder than she thought…

“Are you all right?”

Her chest heaved.

“You must have been very scared, but are you hurt?”

Larne’s brows furrowed at the gentle inquiry. The worried gaze toward her was too unfamiliar.  And it was also frightening.

“Ha… I’m going to make a formal complaint to Count Argen. Is there a disposition you want?”

It wouldn’t change anything, but she didn’t know how long his changed attitude would last.

Larne didn’t want to be hurt any more.

“Why are you doing this to me?  Since when did you care about me…  ?”

“How could I not care? It’s about you.”

And Deron’s behavior… it seemed like she was watching herself in replay.

As if nothing had happened in the past, she was more repulsed because it seemed like she was seeing herself, thinking that they could change their relationship and get along better.

“You’ve lived a good life as if I’ve never existed.  It’s disgusting that you’re trying to be a big brother, it’s uncomfortable.”

Moreover, did he ignore her when she pleaded for help because of she had lost her memory?

Even after seeing her at her weakest, he coldly turned away…

“Don’t you dare call me sister.  If you had a conscience, you wouldn’t have contacted me like this.  It’s a nuisance to those who want to forget what happened back then.”

Larne recalled how he had trampled on her heart most cruelly and coldly.

Larne rose from her seat.  She wanted to get out of the room with Deron right away.

Just because she lost her memory didn’t mean that what happened wasn’t there.

She still couldn’t find all the blanks of the past four years, and had no idea what happened to her family. She didn’t know what she had done wrong.

Or how she had suffered.

“…  our parents have already left us.  I know you will feel uncomfortable when I’m doing this late, but I want to treat you  well since I haven’t been able to do in the past.”

She didn’t want to accept his apology.

“Even if I don’t want to?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s something that only puts your mind at ease, how could that be for me? Besides, I…”

Larne chewed her lips.  ‘I’m dying soon,’ she couldn’t bear to say. Her head was a mess.

“Because of that, I can’t just leave you alone.  If I don’t make the first step, nothing will change between us.”

At Deron’s words, Larne slowly blinked her eyes.

“I want to be with you from now on.”

****

Despite Deron’s sincere words, Larne kicked him out. She called a maid to the lounge to help change her clothes and return to the banquet hall.

As if rumors had already spread, people approached Larne.

They were the ones who didn’t even look at her when she first entered.

“I heard something happened on the terrace.  Was it lord Logan Argen?”

“The rumors are not very good as it seemed serious.”

“When will the banquet be held at the Marquis’ residence…?”

“I heard that you’ve decorated the garden, but the herbs are…  ”

Larne couldn’t hear people talking properly. Only a hum lingered. She didn’t respond, just staring at the floor.

She had no reputation left to lose anyway.

The people tried talking to her a few times left when Larne didn’t respond.

As the surroundings quieted down, she could smell a familiar scent.

When she raised her head, Leandro was standing there. Larne blinked her eyes slowly.

“I’ve thought about what you said, and I’ll do what you wish.”

Even now, Leandro’s gaze did not reach her.  The man who looked elsewhere and spoke was completely different from the person who had protected her a while ago. After staring at him a a long moment, Larne also turned her gaze to the center.

“Thank you.”

It was what she had hoped for, but somehow her heart ached. In a strange feeling, Larne gripped the hem of her skirt.

“…is it because I told you not to do anything?” (Leandro)

Larne blinked her eyes lazily. She didn’t know if he cared what he said.

“No, I didn’t want to apologize to the point of hurting you. I think it’s my greed.  Also, if it weren’t for that, I think it would be better to divorce quickly.”

Leandro did not show much reaction to Larne’s words.

“…  That’s right, I understand what you meant. I’ll go now.”

With that said, Leandro left her side. When the familiar scent left, all that remained was the cold air. Larne stood alone for a long time.  Soon, the dance of the emperor and the empress began the dance that marked the end of the first day.

After the music ended, the emperor and the empress left, and the banquet began in a relaxed atmosphere.  People left their seats and gathered in groups of two or three to talk or dance.

“Rene.”

If it wasn’t for Deron, Larne would have left right away.

Larne frowned as she saw Deron reaching out his hand to her.

“I can’t dance.”

“I can help you.”

She didn’t want to go through something like today, and perhaps it was better to let her intentions known.

“It’s okay.”

Doing your first dance with someone from your own family, not your spouse.  What could it mean anything other than divorce?  Deron pulled Larne towards the center.

Her sloppy steps were hidden by the width of her skirt. From a distance, Deron’s smooth lead made it seem like she was dancing pretty well.

“… I think it’s still a little hard to face my sister. Can’t we get a separate room in the imperial palace?”

It was a rule for people in the family to use one place. They may have to get another VIP room if they requested it, but the procedure was quite complicated.

Larne thought that Deron wouldn’t listen to her request because she had been turning him down.

“I will ask His Majesty. It may take some time, so stay in the lounge for now.  I’ll send an attendant when it’s ready.” (Deron)

His acceptance was more readily than she expected made Larne feel stranger, and she  avoided Deron’s gaze.

***