A Young Lady Who Has Had Everything Exploited By Her Sickly Younger Sister Will Not Let Anyone Take Anything From Her Anymore - Chapter 15

The scenery outside the carriage window looked very different from what I remembered.

Today, I set foot in the Kingdom of Evalirut once more.

I planned to stay at the estate of a benefactor I had acquired, at least until the founding anniversary party.

I had worked tirelessly, through bl00d and pain, to get to where I am now.

At last, I could be sure—those days of curling up in a corner, silently enduring humiliation, were truly over.

Bright morning sunlight streamed through the window.

There had been someone who brought light into my life like this.

Our time together had been brief, but in all my years, I had never found anything more precious than her.

But I betrayed her.

And for someone like me, maybe I no longer had the right to see her again.

Still… if I could speak to her just once more…

I hated how selfish I was for even thinking that.

By now, she might be married.

But as long as she was happy and smiling, that was enough.

Smiles suited her best.

I had lived for revenge all this time, but maybe now I could finally stop.

I was following the final words of the one who had saved me.

(It’s getting colder…)

As I stared out the window, something caught my eye—

For just a moment, I thought I saw someone lying by the roadside.

Hair the color of olive shimmered in the light.

It looked… familiar.

(No. That’s impossible. There’s no way she would be here.

But… what if it is her?)

I could never forget that olive-colored hair and those golden eyes that sparkled like light itself.

Even though I told myself it couldn’t be, I had to be sure.

“───Stop the carriage!”

The words burst out before I could stop them.

Startled by the sudden shout, the coachman brought the carriage to a sharp halt a short distance ahead.

Before he could come to check on me, I flung open the door and jumped out.

From the carriage behind, people began to call my name and follow, but I ignored them all.

I ran—back to the place I’d seen from the window.

My heart pounded wildly in my chest.

It hit me then—just how deeply I had missed her. Just how badly I still needed her.

The girl lying in front of me wore decent clothes, but she looked far too thin.

(So it’s not her.) She’s noble. She wouldn’t be in a place like this.)

Still, I reached down and gently lifted the scarf covering her face.

───!

Even after all these years, I couldn’t possibly forget her.

But something was wrong.

The long, silky olive hair I remembered had been hacked off unevenly.

Her lips were pale and cracked.

Her cheeks were sunken… and one side was swollen unnaturally.

Her skin was terribly cold.

Panicking, I reached for her neck.

There was a faint warmth.

Her name left my lips in a trembling whisper.

Colette…?”

Just the thought that she might die like this sent a chill down my spine.

I had hoped—at the upcoming party—I might see her again, smiling, happy.

If I could have that, I would give up everything I’d been chasing all these years.

But that wish was crumbling before my eyes.

(Has she been suffering this whole time since then? No… no, that can’t be true…)

Without hesitation, I gently lifted her frail body into my arms.

A servant rushed over and asked with confusion,

Who is she?”

“She’s… more precious to me than my own life.”

“…!”

“Get the carriage ready. We’re heading to the estate.”

“Right away.”

Her whole body was ice-cold in my arms.

As I turned, the bag she had been carrying slipped from her grip and hit the ground, scattering its contents— a knife and just a handful of coins.

The sight of it made my chest tighten with dismay.

Holding her tightly, I hurried back to the carriage.

The coachman, visibly worried, snapped the reins, and we were on our way.

I wrapped the scarf around her and held her close, trying to keep her warm.

It was better than being outside, but her body wouldn’t warm easily.

Time passed—how long, I didn’t know.

Eventually, the carriage came to a stop, and the coachman announced our arrival.

A servant moved to take her from me, but I shook my head. I couldn’t let go.

Still holding her close, I stepped down from the carriage.

Meeting her again at this exact moment—

It felt like a miracle.