Instead of My Stepsister, I Have Become Engaged to the Son of a Marquis, Who Is Said to Only Have a Year Left to Live - Chapter 13

Chapter 13
Over lunch

“Lord Lionel, it’s good to hear that you have an appetite. If you can eat a proper meal, it will also help you recover your strength. …Do you have a favorite dish or food, Lord Lionel?”

　Lionel frowned a little and laughed at Edith’s words.

“In the past, there were a lot of foods I liked, but now my stomach can’t handle things that are hard to digest. Also, I don’t have much of an appetite, so it’s difficult for me to eat meals with my family at regular times. I usually have food that’s easy on my stomach brought to this room, and I eat it.”
“I see…”

　Edith’s heart ached as she imagined Lionel eating his meals alone in his room, away from his family.

　At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and Lionel’s father’s face appeared on the other side.

“Lionel… Oh, Edith is still there too.”

　Seeing his son Lionel facing Edith with shining eyes and the relaxed atmosphere between them, Lionel’s father seemed touched, and his eyes welled up with tears.

“Sorry for interrupting you. I came here to ask Lionel about today’s lunch. I also wanted to ask Edith about it, so it’s perfect timing.”

　He smiled gratefully at Edith before continuing.

“Today, if Lionel was feeling well, I was thinking of having everyone gather around Edith for lunch to welcome her back. However, seeing how Lionel was feeling earlier, I think that might be a little difficult. I was wondering what to do.”

　Edith saw that Lionel’s appetite had improved a little, but she still didn’t want to push him too hard. Realizing that it would be difficult for him to eat the same meals as the others, she raised her eyes to Lionel’s father.

“If it’s not a problem, would it be okay if I had lunch with Lord Lionel today, separately from everyone else?”
“Oh, sure. Edith, can I bring your lunch over here? Lionel, I’ll have something easy to digest for you.”
“Excuse me……”

　Edith asked Lionel’s father hesitantly.

“I’m sorry to bother you, but if it’s possible, could I borrow your kitchen for a little while? I’d like to make you the herb porridge that I often make at home, if you don’t mind, Lord Lionel.”

　Seeing Lionel looking happy, he nodded with a smile.

“Oh, thank you very much. Edith, you can cook too.”
“Yes, to a certain extent. Although it’s only a common food, I used to cook meals often.”
“In addition to the large kitchen that the chefs usually use, there is another small kitchen not far from this room. If you’d like, please feel free to use it. From now on, you can use it whenever you like. I’ll have my servant show you around later. I’ll have him prepare the necessary ingredients.”
“Thank you very much. Also, I will make two servings of herb porridge, including my share, so there will be no need to bring lunch for me.”

　Lionel also smiled at Edith.

“Thank you, Edith. I’m sorry to bother you, but I’d love to try that herb porridge. Father, I’m still not in top condition, but thanks to the medicine Edith made for me earlier, I’m feeling much better.”
“That’s good for you, Lionel. And it seems like your expression has brightened up, like that of a different person. Thank you so much, Edith.”

　When Edith watched Lionel’s father leave the room, and then turned her gaze back to him, she saw, outside the window facing the courtyard over Lionel’s shoulder, that part of the shrubbery appeared to move slightly.

(……?)

　Edith couldn’t help but squint her eyes and notice Arche’s magenta eyes peering out from behind the bushes. When her eyes met Edith’s, she opened her eyes wide in shock, turned around, and ran off.

(Arche-sama, I wonder how long you’ve been in that place. I wonder if you’ve been watching us…?)

　Edith shook her head inwardly. Soon after, a servant came to greet her and lead her to the kitchen, so Edith left Lionel’s room for a moment.

＊＊＊

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Lord Lionel.”

　Edith was carrying two steaming bowls of herbal porridge on a large wooden tray. She carried the enamel pot over to Lionel, and the appetizing aroma quickly filled the room.

“It smells good; it looks delicious.”
“I hope it suits your taste…”　

　Edith picked up a bowl of porridge and was about to offer it to Lionel along with the spoon, but seeing that Lionel still looked unsteady in his hands, even though he seemed to have recovered a little, she pulled the bowl away. Then, she put a mouthful of porridge on the spoon and brought it to Lionel’s mouth.

“Lord Lionel, it’s still a little hot, so please be careful when you eat it.”
“…Um, Edith?”

　Lionel looked confused as the spoon was held up to his mouth, and even though his face was still pale, the flush of embarrassment was clearly visible on his cheeks.

“It’s a bit embarrassing to be so dependent on you, but…”

　Edith chuckled when she saw Lionel’s cheeks flush.

“Please don’t look like that. The bowl filled with herb porridge is a little heavy, and as your fiance, leave it to me to handle today. First of all, it’s most important that Lionel-sama recovers from his disease.”

　Seeing Edith waiting for Lionel to open his mouth, he finally opened it as if he had made up his mind and took a sip of the porridge from the spoon Edith had brought to him. As soon as Lionel had the porridge in his mouth, his face lit up.

“…!! This is delicious.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It’s called herbal porridge, but I don’t detect any distinctive medicinal smell. Instead, it has a spicy flavor and is very delicious. To be honest, the porridge I usually eat is a bit bland, but the more I eat this the more my appetite seems to increase. I feel like I could eat as much as I want, and it warms me up from the inside.”
“Fufu, I’m glad to hear you say that. This is a recipe I learned from my mother, and it actually contains a variety of highly effective medicinal herbs as secret ingredients. I’ve made a lot, so if you’d like a second helping, just let me know.”

　Edith had made this herbal porridge with the hope that it would have a positive effect on Lionel’s body. Seeing Edith with a big, happy smile on her face, Lionel’s cheeks flushed even more, and he quietly muttered to himself.

“This is bad for the heart…”
“? Did you just say something, Lord Lionel?”
“No, it’s nothing. But I do know that, from the bottom of my heart, I am glad that you have become my fiancé.”

　Lionel looked at Edith with such dazzling eyes that Edith’s cheeks turned a little red. As if to hide her embarrassment, Edith brought the spoon with the next bite to Lionel’s mouth, and this time he also opened his mouth easily.
　The plate was empty in no time, and Lionel refilled his porridge several times as Edith happily brought it to his mouth. Edith quickly finished her own porridge and enjoyed an after-meal chat with Lionel.

　Edith did not notice that Arche’s eyes were still fixed on the two of them from the courtyard.
　When Arche heard her brother’s bright laughter, a sound she hadn’t heard for so long that she could no longer remember it, coming from the room, she looked at Edith, blinked, and finally, a bright smile appeared on her young face.