I Became the Younger Sister of a Dying Woman

 

That was supposed to be Letty’s life?

 

The only thing this fragile girl wanted – to fall in love to her heart’s content.

 

Linzel knew she was capable of engraving something monumental.
Polarized words of cruel fate may have dictated many things to Letty, but–

 

Linzel wanted her to live.

 

Linzel wished desperately for her life.

 

In order to do so, she had to set food in the Imperial Records Room as soon as possible.

 

“Letty, listen.”

 

Letty didn’t answer, but she continued her story anyway.

 

“Do you remember that day? The day we saw the victory ceremony from the highest point of the duke’s residence?”

 

Letty answered in a low voice this time.

 

“…….Yes, I remember.”

 

“Actually, that day, I fell in love with Hernan at first sight.
All his surroundings seemed to shine.”

 

“Are you serious?”

 

“Of course.
I can understand when you said Izekiel’s cloak was cool.”

 

But actually, Linzel had been focusing on Letty rather than Hernan that day.

 

Letty’s long hair, which was fluttering in the gentle breeze, and her fragrant smell carried in the wind.
The fancy dress with frills that Letty was wearing.

 

‘Linzel, look!’ 

Letty’s lovely red lips saying, ‘Aren’t they really cool?’

’

 

When she smiled, a thin smile lingered on Letty’s lips as well.

 

If she had been a man, if she wasn’t a sister to Letty, she might have fallen in love with Letty that day.

 

And she would have suffered for a long time from the love she felt in an instant.

 

That day was terrifyingly clear.
As if she truly had experienced it herself.
It was strange.
All of that was before she possessed Linzel’s body…..

 

“So, don’t cry because of me.
Because I didn’t sacrifice myself.
I’m more selfish than you think!”

 

“Linzel…….”

 

“It means that I also want to marry the person I like.”

 

“I like Linzel much more than Izekiel.”

 

“Obviously.”

 

Letty repeated many times that she liked her sister more than Izekiel.
Linzel patted her on the back like an answer.

 

Letty’s fingertips gripped her back tightly.
The tingling on her back…..maybe tomorrow, she’ll have a big bruise there as a result.

 

But it was fine.
The lump Letty engraved on her seemed warm.

 

There seemed to be no pain in it.

 

***

 

That night Linzel slept in the same bed as Letty.
It was because Letty said she wanted to sleep with her sister.

 

In fact, they slept together almost the whole time since she had become Linzel.

 

Her bed was as wide as the open sea, so she could sleep with ten Lettys comfortably.

 

They fell asleep talking about what they would do tomorrow…..
what the weather would be like, what dress they were going to wear tomorrow.

 

Naturally, she couldn’t tell who might have fallen asleep first.

 

Just before dawn, she woke up thirsty.
It was quiet, except for a small sound that seemed to ache in the dim room.

 

A low sob could be heard cutting through the silence.

 

The owner of the cry was Letty.

 

She was crying, softly.

 

Linzel pretended to be asleep and hoped that she would stop crying.
She felt helpless, and couldn’t figure out how to appease her.

 

Fortunately, the sobbing soon died down.

 

Letty took her sister’s defenseless hand and whispered brokenly, “Linzel, I really want to live.”

 

It was Letty’s earnest wish, which she couldn’t bear to confide to her sister in the cruel light of day.

 

This time Linzel was the one crying, but she pretended to be asleep.
Until Letty fell asleep again.

 

***

 

The next day, there was a visitor to the Duke of Valencia’s residence early in the morning.

 

“……..What? Prince Hernan came to the duke’s residence?”

’

 

Mini nodded vigorously.

 

“Yes, yes! Please, he is waiting in the drawing room.”

 

“You said he came to see me?”

 

“Yes! That’s right! Miss, you don’t have time to be like this.
We have to get you ready quickly!”

 

Mini took Linzel’s hand, as she had lounged on the bed until the sun was up in the middle of the sky.

 

Linzel followed her as if she couldn’t win.
Eventually, when she sat down in front of the dressing table, Mini skillfully began to decorate her.

 

“Where’s Letty?”

 

“She got up early in the morning and went back to her room,” Mini answered.

 

“Is she sick or anything like that?”

 

“No, she looked very good.”

 

Linzel wondered if she could be okay after crying so much last night.
She decided to look for Letty after meeting Hernan.

 

After sitting in a chair and dozing off for a few minutes, Mini victoriously shouted that her make-up and hair were done.

 

Linzel opened her half-closed eyes.
Her face in the mirror was really beautiful.

 

When she was wearing make-up, her rather pale face seemed to have been revitalized.

 

She didn’t like Linzel’s fragile body, but she really liked her appearance.
Pretty is the best.

 

There was no time to rest.
Mini started dressing Linzel up in a dress.
What she wore was a little uncomfortable, but it was a mermaid dress that accentuated her body.

 

“Wow! You’re so beautiful.
Prince Hernan may fall in love with the Miss at first sight.”

 

“You’re so good at flattering.”

 

Linzel patted Mini a couple of times on the cheek.

 

“Mini, go to the kitchen and get a cheesecake with me as an excuse.
It’s an award for your flattery.”

 

“Miss.
I’m not flattering, I’m serious……”

 

Linzel leaned over and whispered in Mini’s ear, “If you’re sincere, you should get an even bigger prize – can you handle it?”

 

Mini answered loudly, “Yes! I can handle it!”

 

How cheerful.
Cute.

 

“But I think cheesecake will suffice for today.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Linzel turned around and waved at Mini as she walked towards the drawing room.

 

It was just one cool gesture.

 

“I’ll be back.”

 

But anyway–

 

Why had Hernan come to see her?