My Sister’s Man - Chapter 35

Leandro’s wounded face caught her eyes, but Larne deliberately ignored it. And it was sad. Hurt someone she loved.… . Also, she hated herself for doing something so despicable.

Still, with a selfish heart, she wanted to be by Leandro’s side, even for a moment. It was a desire that could not be hidden.

“Isn’t it unfair? An older sister who has everything should even marry someone she loves.” (La)

“…Where’s Aria?” (Le)

Rather than being angry with her, Leandro worried about Aria’s safety first. How kind of him.

‘He’ll never show me his kindness again…’

Looking at Leandro, she couldn’t hide her bitter thoughts.

“At the mansion. I’m sure she’s sleeping soundly.” (La)

Leandro’s rough movements rattled the table between them. Larne closed her eyes tightly. When she opened her eyes in the still silence, Leandro had already left the terrace.

“A person like you…!”

After that, the reception ended quickly as the fact that the bride had changed spread. The person to be congratulated had changed, so there was no need to linger any longer.

It was a terribly sad ending.

Larne stood still for a long time in an empty church where people had left.

She knew that no one would bless her, but when she saw it with her own eyes, she realized that she had made a huge mistake. But she couldn’t turn back now.

The engagement vows submitted had Larne’s signature and seal on them.

She was more afraid that Leandro would hate and despise her than she was afraid that people who would notice it would be belatedly pouring out criticism and accusations against her. She was afraid that the person she loved would loathe her.

When Larne got on the carriage and returned to the mansion, a commotion broke out.

The duke and the Duchess did not greatly criticize Larne for behaving as they pleased. Only Deron was enraged when he saw her.

“Because you tolerate her, so she behaves this way. Why are you so lenient with her? Do you know what she did?”

Her parents were being lenient because she was going to die soon. They didn’t care because she would soon be a ghost.

The words she couldn’t say crushed her mouth.

“Aria? Where is Aria?”

It was like watching a skit. Because of the stark contrast between her parents who were not interested and Deron running amok.

“I am tired. I want to go in.”

Larne just passed by, leaving Deron behind.

“Where are you going after this? Have you finally gone crazy?”

Deron grabbed her arm roughly. The ring that didn’t fit in her finger fell to the floor. The sound of the ring rolling across the floor echoed.

The ill-fitting ring seemed to indicate that she was being overly greedy.

Larne bent down and picked up the fallen ring. She tried to put them on 10 fingers, but none of them fit.

That made her immensely sad. Deron looked at Larne’s behavior in bewilderment.

“Sister is probably sleeping in her room. I did her no harm.”

Deron left immediately at Larne’s words. The silent mouths of her parents finally opened.

“So you are happy then?”

It was a tone that was colder than the ice field. Seeing that they seemed a little angry, Larne somehow laughed.

“Why? Does it bother you that I seem to have damaged the family’s reputation?”

Because they cared more about the family’s reputation than her happiness and safety. They were more worried about the family’s face than Aria’s marriage.

“What’s wrong with you? You’ve only ever taken your sister’s things, and now her marriage partner too.”

However, the spoken words were very gentle.

“… what?”

“Even if you marry the Marquis anyway, there won’t be any heirs, and if you die, it’ll be difficult for him to remarry. You’re really making a lot of people suffer.”

At that,  Larne was left alone.

When it became known that even the engagement vows had been submitted under Larne’s name, the social world was in an uproar.

The Marquis of Cartel, whom they thought would be furious with his bride who changed overnight, only quietly sent a letter to Larne.

She found it strange seeing Leandro acting rationally.

For someone who looked down on Larne, the response was passive.

He did not knock on the Duke’s door in a fit of rage, yelling that he had been scammed and demanding an annulment.

The content of the letter was also plain.

He wanted to meet and talk… Don’t ruin their lives by a momentary mistake.

It was something like that. Larne ignored Leandro’s letter.

Deron saw her again, became enraged, and yelled at her to put everything back in place, but she also ignored his words.

The duke and the Duchess did not say anything even after seeing this commotion. They simply left the mansion to the manor.

Larne was stunned. She felt strange seeing her parents who

not only did not stop her but also just fled.

As she watched the carriage leave for the estate, she remained speechless.

Did she think they would say sorry at least once? Or, say everything was a lie?

The problem subtly settled down without any solution. Larne swallowed her tears as she watched the carriage leave.

She had no idea that her parents would leave her alone like this.

She didn’t even know how she felt as she watched them leave.

It shouldn’t matter how long she had to live, they shouldn’t be this cruel. She had loved them dearly.

How they had guarded her bedside when she was sick, how they gave her presents for her birthdays.

Larne tried to remember the good times. Really, if her parents had never loved her, she would have gone crazy.

‘Just one year, just one year…?’

Let’s keep the marriage then go to the manor.

Was that even a selfish thought?

Early that morning, Larne heard the news of her parents’ death.

And… the last words her parents left her.

“Even if you marry the Marquis anyway, there won’t be any heirs, and if you die, it’ll be difficult for him to remarry. You’re really making a lot of people suffer.”

***

Larne got up and was in a daze. She was preoccupied with her flooding memories and emotions.

She wanted to collapse and die like this, but she wondered if her time to die hadn’t come yet. Larne opened her eyes as usual.

‘But before I die, I should organize the things that need to be sorted out…’

It didn’t fill her four-year gap, but the good thing was that she didn’t marry and steal the man Aria had loved, because she didn’t love him.

Larne laughed bitterly and took off her cumbersome clothes. I was thinking of taking a shower and resting again.

“…Today is the third day?”

On the first day of the banquet, she fell asleep as if fainting and woke up just now, so it meant that she had slept all day yesterday. Despite that, she wasn’t that hungry, and her body wasn’t that tired.

“Yes, do you need anything else?”

“I’m going to get ready to go to the banquet…… “

It was when Larne, with the help of her maid, was about to leave her room after she had finished her preparations, a knock was heard outside the door.

“……Rene?”

Her heart drummed.

She hadn’t figured out how to look at Aria’s face yet.

‘She knew I was going to die soon…’

She wondered if all the things she did for her, and smiled kindly even when she treated her carelessly, were all out of sympathy.

‘Maybe she still feels pity for me.’

Larne smiled bitterly and opened the door.

Aria’s eyes widened as if she hadn’t expected Larne to come out.

“What’s the matter?”

“Ah, I didn’t see you all day yesterday… I’m worried.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll take care of myself.”

When Larne stepped out into the hallway, Aria moved closer to support her and checked her clothes. However, Larne stepped back and crossed her arms.

“If you’re going to the banquet hall, let’s go together.” (Aria)

“Even after the divorce, I have no intention of returning to the duke’s residence.” (La)

“What are you talking about?”

“If I die while belonging to the family, you both will be in trouble. Don’t feel sorry for me.” (La)

Larne entered the banquet hall, leaving Aria in the hallway. People’s eyes were glued on her.

Perhaps it was because she danced with Deron yesterday and decided her post-divorce path.

‘I shouldn’t even dance with Deron.’

She felt regret belatedly, but the water had already been spilled.

Since then, several people have made comments to Larne, but she has not responded.

And, like her habit, Larne looked for Leandro.

If you like someone, is it going to be an easy task to find that person?

Larne found Leandro among the people all too easily.

***