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 21

Chapter 21
Lionel’s Thoughts

　As Edith finished clearing the lunch dishes and walked across the courtyard, pushing Lionel’s wheelchair, Lionel looked back at her.

“What’s the matter, Edith? You seem a little quieter than usual. …”

　Edith was surprised at Lionel’s keen intuition, but she returned the smile.

“I was just thinking about something. … I’m glad you noticed.”
“I’ve been spending more time with Edith than anyone else lately. Has something happened?”

　Lionel looked at Edith with a concerned look, and she stared back.

“I don’t think there is anything I should hide from you, Lord Lionel, so I will tell you. I just met with Lord Craig, and he told me about a letter he had received from Lady Eugenie. It was an invitation to tea.”
“…… Really”

　Edith asked Lionel, who had a thoughtful look on his face.

“I’m not sure if I should be asking this, but Lady Eugenie is a childhood friend of Lord Lionel’s, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. We have a villa that we use for summer vacation, and the Spencer family’s villa is close by. Until my mother became ill, we used to go to that villa every summer, and every time we went, Craig and I would hang out with her, who was close to our age. I think Arche was still too young to remember at that time.”

　Lionel continued speaking with a somewhat faraway look in his eyes, as if he were reminiscing about days gone by.

“We were both from the Marquis family and were close in age. Our parents also thought it would be beneficial for both of us in terms of our family businesses, so our parents had apparently discussed getting us engaged when we reached a certain age. And so, Eugenie, the only daughter of the Spencer family, and I, the eldest son of that family, were set to get engaged… I hope you weren’t upset about not telling this story.”

　Edith smiled, sensing Lionel’s kindness in considering the feelings of his current fiancée.

“Yes, it’s fine. Besides, as Lord Lionel said before, I’m sure that, as someone staying with the Marquis of Granvelle, I will eventually hear the details. In that case, I would be grateful if I could hear the story directly from Lord Lionel.”
“Thank you, Edith. As you know, after I fell ill, Craig became engaged to Eugenie, not me, and I took you as my fiancée. … I guess that’s about it.”

　Edith hesitated for a moment, then looked at Lionel. It seemed to her that, strangely, there was something about that Lionel hadn’t told her yet, as if he was trying to confuse her. Edith was also a little put off by the fact that Lionel, who was usually a gentle man, seemed a little distant to Eugenie.

“What do you think of Lady Eugenie, Lord Lionel? I’m sorry to intrude on your question, but is there something that’s bothering you?”

　Lionel looked back at Edith with a wry smile.

“…You are very clever. You get to the heart of the matter. Eugenie has some sensitive aspects, but I think she is a good-natured woman…. However, there is one thing that has been bothering me a bit.”

　As Edith listened intently to Lionel’s story, he continued.

“You met her parents the other day, didn’t you? They are quite power-minded people. Well, I guess this is not uncommon among aristocratic families… but Eugenie has a strong desire to marry the heir to the family in the future. And it seems that she is doing whatever her parents tell her to do.”

　Lionel was silent for a moment, then slowly began to speak again.

“Eugenie was originally meant to be engaged to me, the eldest son, but when my condition began to deteriorate rapidly, she changed her engagement partner to Craig. It’s not surprising, then. As I told you before, there were hardly any women who would want to be engaged to a man like me who was suffering from a serious illness. …But then she told me, she had been in love with Craig for a while.”
“…!”

　If Lionel had any love for Eugenie, to whom he was to be engaged, Edith’s heart ached at the thought of how cruel those words must have been to him in his sickness.
　As if he had sensed Edith’s feelings, Lionel suddenly laughed.

“Eugenie was my childhood friend and like a little sister to me, so I was surprised by what she said, but it didn’t really bother me. So there’s no need for you to look like that. Besides, it was only at that time that I found out that Craig had feelings for her too, so I guess I wasn’t really paying attention.”

　Lionel let out a small sigh as he recalled that time.

“However, from the perspective of the Marquis of Granvelle, there was no problem in the first place if Eugenie had been engaged to their second son, Craig. Eugenie wasn’t engaged to me yet, and if they were to marry in the future, their families would have become related. If I had heard their feelings before I fell ill, I would have simply given them my blessing. However, I felt that the fact that she only spoke like that at that stage, when my life was in danger, was a reflection of her parents’ wishes. I think Eugenie’s words were based on the conclusion that Craig would succeed the family.”
“So that was the background story….”

　Lionel looked intently into Edith’s eyes.

“If that were to happen, then if my condition continued to improve, it would end up being inconvenient for Eugenie’s parents. Edith, you are more important to me than anyone else, and you are indispensable to me. I don’t want to involve you in any trouble.”

　Edith smiled at his words and shook her head.

“Thank you for your kind consideration. However, please don’t worry about me. I want you to focus only on your health and on recovering from your illness.”
“It’s precisely because you’re such a nice person that I’m worried…. Also, if Eugenie really does love Craig, then there’s no problem, but I’m worried that she might be taking advantage of his feelings. I know that I might be meddling in Craig’s affairs, but…”
“Oh really……”
“If Eugenie had been able to wait a little longer until I died, she would probably have gotten engaged to Craig and married him without any problems. But because she or her parents gave up on me a little too early, I was saved by meeting you, and I am now on a miraculous recovery. … Fate is an ironic thing.”

　There was silence between them for a while. Lionel gave a bitter smile and looked at Edith.

“Maybe I’ve spoken a bit too much. But this is just my opinion. When something happens, I think everyone sees it through their own filter. There are as many interpretations of a single fact as there are people. … I know I’m telling you this, but if you’re going to have tea with Eugenie, Edith, I want you to talk to her with an open mind. I trust your instincts.”
“I understand, Lord Lionel.”

　Edith was worried that she had tired Lionel out by making him talk too much, but when she thought about how he must have felt, she felt a weight floating in her chest. She couldn’t help but think that he would be hurt, at least a little, if, in the midst of his difficult situation and ill health, his childhood friend, to whom he was to be engaged, suddenly told him that her younger brother was the one she loved.
　Edith vaguely imagined that the way Eugénie looked at Lionel might have contained some regret, but she still wanted to talk to her someday.

(Some things can’t be understood just by imagining them… Also, I’m curious as to why Lady Eugenie made the effort to invite me to tea.)

　Edith recalled Eugenie’s beautifully written letter and once again put more strength into pushing Lionel’s wheelchair.