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 3

Chapter  3
Meeting with Lionel

　The young man in the wheelchair in front of Edith was clearly suffering from a serious illness. He had probably had been tall and well-built body when he was healthy, but now he was extremely thin, with sunken eyes and sunken cheeks in his sallow face. His black hair was dry and dull.

“It’s nice to meet you, Lady Edith. I’m Lionel, from the Marquis of Granvelle household.”

　Lionel looked at Edith from his wheelchair. His voice tone was clear and low, with a well running voice, in contrast to his pitiful appearance, but Edith could tell that just sitting in his wheelchair was painful for him.

“…It’s nice to meet you, Lord Lionel. I’m Edith, the second daughter of the Earl of Oak Ridge.”

　Lionel smiled warmly at Edith, who gave him an awkward curtsey. Edith saw his clear, tanzanite-like blue-purple eyes, and thought they were beautiful, revealing his sincere personality.

　As Lionel’s attendant moved the wheelchair closer to Edith, Lionel offered her his right hand.

“I’m sorry that I’m in such a disabled condition that I can’t even stand up.”
“No, that’s not true…!”

　Edith quickly reached out and took Lionel’s hand in hers. It was nothing but skin and bones, but it was still warm.

　Seeing the two in front of her, Edith’s stepmother’s face finally relaxed a little, and she spoke to Lionel and his father, who were sitting on the sofa next to him.

“I’m sorry to have kept Edith waiting. The marriage proposal was originally intended for my eldest daughter, Dahlia, but as happened just now in front of Lord Lionel, Dahlia is frail and often has sudden convulsions, screaming and collapsing. I thought that the stronger Edith would be better suited to supporting Lord Lionel…”

　Edith’s stepmother’s words gave her a headache and made her dizzy.

(Oh my goodness. The scream I heard from my stepsister earlier was when she saw Lord Lionel…)

　Edith shrugged her shoulders, feeling sorry for Lionel, thinking that not only had her stepsister been extremely rude, but that she had hurt him. Naturally, her stepmother’s words were nothing more than a convenient excuse, and Edith had rarely seen Dahlia collapse, let alone catch a cold. However, Edith could understand Dahlia’s attitude, considering her personality. While Dahlia had a weakness for beautiful things, she had an extreme dislike for things that she considered ugly. It was not surprising that Dahlia could not bear the sight of Lionel, who looked so haggard as if he had been possessed by the Grim Reaper, and screamed and ran away.

　Lionel’s father spoke slowly to Edith’s stepmother.

“…This is the first time I’ve heard about the second daughter of your household.”
“Oh, um, haven’t I told you? This child is my husband’s niece by blood, but she lost her parents in an unfortunate accident and was only adopted into this family about a year and a half ago.”

　Outwardly, Edith’s stepparents had tried desperately to hide her existence, so it was no surprise that they didn’t know about her, or so Edith thought. As her stepmother hurriedly put on a fake smile, Lionel’s father continued.

“One of the reasons I brought up the marriage proposal for my son to your household is that he has recently been taking your household’s medicine and has shown signs of recovery. After he was suddenly struck by an unknown illness, he was bedridden until recently and was unable to go out in a wheelchair… If there is even the slightest possibility that it could lead to my son’s recovery, I would like to bet on it.”

　Lionel’s father looked at his son with a slightly bitter look in his eyes, then turned his attention back to Edith’s stepmother.

“Your family has a long and distinguished lineage of white magicians, which is why you still deal in potions today. Is that correct?”

　Edith’s stepmother nodded towards Lionel’s father and asked in a searching tone.

“Yes, that’s right. The ancestors of the Oakridge family were renowned white magicians, and are said to have excelled in healing magic. I heard that this led to the family starting a business dealing in potions whose effects were enhanced by healing magic, and the potions we sell have a good reputation… Perhaps you are expecting such invisible powers from our daughter?”
“That aspect cannot be completely denied. Although it is said that magical power has been almost completely lost, I also believe that it has not completely vanished from this world… However, of course, if you are willing to cooperate with us, my household will not hesitate to provide financial support.”

　Edith’s stepmother’s eyes lit up with greed, and then she broke into a broad, good-natured smile.

“I see. I wouldn’t be surprised if Edith inherited the powers of her ancestors as white magicians. After all, she is of the proper bloodline of the Oak Ridge Earl family. Right, Edith?”

　Edith gave an ambiguous smile as her stepmother spoke in a soothing voice. It was said that in ancient times, when monsters still lived in this world, there were quite a few people who could use magic. However, after the monsters disappeared, the number of people who could use magic gradually decreased, and several centuries ago, it was said that almost all of those who inherited magical powers had disappeared. The only traces of what kind of magic their ancestors used remain in each family in the form of a family business, but in rare cases, perhaps due to the influence of the blood that remains in the family line, there are people who have a faint manifestation of their ancestors’ magical powers.

(… Lionel-sama, your body must be suffering from bad health, I’m sure.)

　Edith’s heart ached when she saw Lionel, looking pale and weak, and his father, looking desperate. Though the Earls of Oak Ridge were an ancient line of white wizards, it was easy to imagine how desperate they must be to pin their hopes on a power that was said to be almost lost.

　Lionel looked around at the people present there and then began to speak somewhat hesitantly.

“If you don’t mind, could I speak to you alone for a moment? If you don’t mind, that is.”