My Sister’s Man - Chapter 42

It was Larne’s first time eating at a restaurant. She wasn’t sure what to expect. Everything on the menu was unknown to her. Thankfully, Leandro ordered for her otherwise she wasn’t sure what to do.

Surprised by the many plates filling the table, Larne wasn’t sure how she would eat it all. It was very different from the food served by the household. While every menu Calvary produced was delicious and refined, this food did not appear as appetizing. She wasn’t sure what to do or where to even start. She wasn’t even sure whether to use her fork or spoon. Larne was sure the food was something terrible.

Perhaps seeing Larne hesitate, Leandro put various things on her plate. “Take a bite, and see if you like it.”

“I’m eating well.” Larne protested. “Please don’t give me anymore!”

“How could someone eating well be so thin?” Leandro joked. He put a little more where Larne’s plate was empty.

One by one, Larne tried the food Leandro gave her. Contrary to her first impression, it was edible—barely. While it was more delicious than she thought, it still didn’t suit her taste.

The flavor was too strong, just the smell irritated the interior of her nose. It didn’t look as though it was burned but Larne felt like something had gone wrong with the food somewhere. The color was strange. She was sure Calvary would never serve it in the house.

“So how does it taste? It must be delicious food since it is your first time eating out.”

Looking at Leandro, whose anticipation was clear in his eyes, she did not dare answer honestly. How would he take it if she said she did not care for the food he served her so preciously?

“It tastes very wholesome.” Larne put her tableware down.

Leandro, seeing that he had eaten all the food on her plate, served her again with more. His expression looked happy. A transparent glass was filled with wine. Larne thought it surprising to see Leandro pouring wine himself instead of calling an attendant, but everyone seemed to drink it that way here.

All the waiters did was take orders and serve food.

Leandro poured wine into Larne’s glass, but did not invite her to drink. Rather, it was more of a holding back. “You don’t have to drink. It’s just in case you’re curious.”

Larne stared at her glass.

I don’t like alcohol very much, but it’s my first time in a restaurant.

She closed her eyes and took a sip.

A sweet scent filled her mouth. She was surprised to discover the flavor of the wine blew away the strong aftertaste of the food. Larne happily emptied her glass.

Throughout the meal, she sipped wine to get rid of the aftertaste of spices in her mouth.

She couldn’t help but get drunk, not knowing how much to drink.

*

“Oh,” Leandro looked at Larne, whose eyes were relaxed.

Even though he prepared a strong, sweet liquor, he still seemed to feel that the alcohol was high. It reminded him of someone.

“I thought you enjoyed drinking because you drink well.” Leandro looked at Larne, who was drunk and unable to control herself, with bewildered eyes.

Refusing to ride the carriage because it was hot, Larne stood on the side of the road.

She laughed like a child, watching people come and go. Her happiness was pure and innocent.

Leandro considered her.

It was the first time she was out on the street because she had been unwell as a child. He couldn’t understand it, but it didn’t look like a lie. Larne was fascinated by every trivial thing from the girl selling flowers to the vendor selling food from a cart. It couldn’t be a lie that it was all new to her.

It was as if she had never had a drink before that night.

A woman no better than a prostitute who doesn’t do anything on the pretext of being sick, and doesn’t care about what man lays next to her.

He laughed bitterly when he recalled the rumors that once circulated in the social world. What is the probability that Larne, who has not been able to go out on the street because she is sick, would meet a man?

Not to mention, it became known very late that there was a youngest daughter at the residence of Duke Atrice. Because she’d never been seen once in the social world. If no one had met her, how could those rumors be true?

What is the probability that a woman who has never been out in the social world, let alone a woman who has not made her debut, met this man and that man?

If he looked closely, he could see how malicious and absurd the rumors surrounding Larne were. The gossip-crazed socialite just needed someone to chew on. It was sad to think of it that way.

And what I still don’t understand…

Why did she take Aria’s place next to me—a man everyone feared? Surely she knew someone better than me? That’s what I didn’t understand the most.

The strength in his arms went up as Larne shut her eyes and leaned against him. Leandro lifted her from her feet, watching her fall into his hands as if she had fallen asleep. Grabbing the Marquis’ carriage, he stared blankly at Larne.

Really, it’s a strange thing.

I wonder why the memories of the masquerade are clearer when I see Larne than when I met Aria without her mask?

The fact that she dances like no one has ever showed her how. The fact that when she drinks, her whole body becomes bright like a flower blooming. She hates the smell of alcohol, so she frowns every time he drinks. Also, sometimes the expressions that I don’t know the meaning of looking at when she looks at me.

and…

Thinking that far, Leandro was surprised at his absurd idea.

Am I crazy? Was this woman at the masquerade?

I’ve been confused for a long time already.

Moreover, back then…that night…I said, ‘Lian.’ When I knew it was not her—could not be her.

Leandro’s gaze reached Larne.

If….what if….

What if the person who originally grew up in love with Leandro at the masquerade was not Aria from the beginning, but Larne.

How is it possible?

Even the night when I was drunk and confused and misunderstood…what if I was right at that time? In fact, I saw the truth then and didn’t know it?

Leandro’s heart beat faster.

Do you think so because I want it to be so?

Or is there really a reason to be confused?

It was difficult to even know what he hoped for.

Upon arriving at the mansion, Leandro moved Larne to his bedroom.

There was nowhere else to sleep anyway. As she was about to leave the room, her hand grabbed Larne’s collar.

“Please, water—”

Leandro took the teapot from the table. I filled the cup with water and handed it to her, but Larne couldn’t hold it in her hand.

The cup didn’t break, but all the water spilled into the cup and made a mess on the floor.

“Oh, it’s heavy—” He could hear her clearly, even though her voice was muffled.

Leandro tousled his hair roughly.

Oh, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, but I’m having a hard time keeping my hands steady.

Don’t apologize shamelessly. What exactly is it that you want? Be honest. Don’t offend my intelligence.

It reminded him of the night Larne first visited the office. At the time, he thought it was a clumsy attempt at seduction.

Leandro filled a glass with water and held it in his mouth.

He hesitated, wondering if it was right to kiss a drunk person. But she couldn’t even raise my glass but asked for water.

When he lightly kissed her to pass the water to her mouth, Larne seemed a little taken aback. After a while, water flowed from mouth to mouth, and she began to drink it obediently. The strength of the hand holding his collar was weak, but the will was clearly visible.

After handing water to her mouth a few more times, Larne let go of her hand holding his collar as if satisfied. Larne leaned on Leandro’s shoulder and let out an even breath.

He laid her back on the bed and was about to leave when he saw Larne’s clothes soaked in water.

She’ll get sick. As soon as he thought about it, he acted quickly. There was no hesitation in the hand untying the straps of the clothes. Then, the moment he untied the ribbon halfway, Leandro paused.

Can I do this to an unconscious person?

He rose from his seat. I was about to call the lady-in-waiting now, but I bit my lip at the clothes that were already half-dried.

What should I do?

I was too eager.

He went into the office and retrieved his dressing gown. Wrapping it around Larne’s body, Leandro brought his hand back to the ribbon I was untying. What worked easily when he was not thinking about it, now his hands were shaking. He tried not to look at the white skin, but he couldn’t help but look at it.

Leandro managed to undress her and wrap her in a robe, tying the sash of the robe around her waist like wrapping a present.

Leandro turned his head and looked at the window at the light pouring into the room before he knew it.

Dawn was breaking.

***