My Sister Was the Male Lead - Chapter 75

I could not believe my eyes, so I read Bernois’s message over and over again. I wondered if I was seeing things. Although a significant amount of time had passed since my sister left, I was still not free from my own illusions. There had been many times when I saw someone on the street who resembled her and chased after them without thinking. Thus, I doubted myself once more, fearing I had misread the letter.

Fortunately, the message did not vanish. While I was relieved that it was not a hallucination, the contents of the letter offered no comfort at all.

“Rosely Viviana? Wait, if it is Rosely Viviana, then is it the Viscountess?”

If the information about the family relations had not been there, I might not have recognized the name. I never expected to encounter her name in such an unexpected place.

“So, if Charles is Viscount Viviana, then is he Sister’s father?”

I was so shocked that I could not even blink. Instead, I covered my mouth with both hands. The strength left my legs. If there had not been a sofa behind me, I might have collapsed straight onto the floor. I leaned against the sofa, gasping for breath. I could even hear the loud thumping of my heart. What kind of cruel joke was this?

“How could this happen?”

I was so startled that no matter how hard I tried, my heart would not calm down. I managed to reach for the water bottle on the side table and poured a glass. I gulped down two glasses in a row. I thought drinking cold water might settle my racing heart, but it did not. I furrowed my brows deeply, quickly tracing back through my old memories.

“Now that I think about it, when I commissioned that portrait a long time ago, I did think something was strange.”

When I showed him the photo of Sister, Charles’s voice had trembled slightly. At the time, I simply thought it was because the request was difficult. But that was not it.

“He recognized her. He knew Sister’s face.”

I sighed. How flustered he must have been to receive my request. While living with a hidden identity, a customer suddenly brought a photo of his daughter and asked him to paint her as an adult. He must not have been at peace while painting it.

“I do not know why the two of them are separated, but there is definitely a story here that I do not know.”

To think I missed the chance to hear news of Sister right in front of me.

“You idiot!”

I gave my head a light, resentful flick. I sighed in regret. Even though there was nothing at the time to connect Charles and Sister, and it was natural that I did not know, I could not help feeling miserable.

“No wonder. That is why I could never see him whenever I visited the Viscount’s estate.”

It was because they did not live together. At the time, I never thought it was strange that Viscount Viviana was never at the estate. Perhaps the answer to that was simple: in my own home, Father was often away for work. That environment probably prevented me from having even a shred of suspicion.

Of course, I could not be one hundred percent certain that Viscount Viviana was her father. Long ago, thanks to Bernois, I had confirmed that the Viscount and his wife had no daughter.

“But still.”

Whether she was their adopted daughter or if she grew up in the Viscount’s estate for some other reason, I still did not know. However, based on common sense, if the Viscountess was her mother, then the Viscount had to be her father. Because I had learned such a shocking fact, my head began to throb. I groaned and lay down on the sofa. I did not want to do anything right now, absolutely nothing.

Even the next day, I could not pull myself out of my daze. I finished a simple meal and slumped back onto the sofa.

“I could have asked her at least once.”

Even though I had chosen her as my target and stayed by her side every day, I realized I knew far too little about her. That was evident from the things being revealed one by one now. I did not even know her real name. I did not even know who she truly was or how she was doing now. I resented my past self for being so confident just because it was my ninth life. In reality, I was nothing more than a fool who thought she was smart.

“How am I supposed to find her like this?”

Was it because the ending was not far off? It felt as if a brake had been applied to my brain. I had no idea what to do. Clearly, just a few days ago, I had encouraged myself to try again. Now, it felt like it was all for nothing.

“It is all over now.”

No matter how much I struggled, I was only draining my own strength. All my efforts felt like a waste.

“Maybe I should just go and drown myself in a bowl of water.”

Morbid words spilled out of my mouth. If she knew I was acting like this, would she regret saving me in the past? Would she think I was weak-willed?

“As if. She probably does not even have me in her thoughts.”

That might be why we could go so long without any contact. Thinking about it now, she probably found me quite annoying, always smiling and hovering around her every day.

“Wait, was I cut off?”

It made sense. I was so clueless that I tried to search the entire Empire for her. If she knew I had put up flyers, she would have found it even more creepy. Maybe I should go and take down the flyers I posted all over Delmon right now. While I was wallowing in self-pity and thinking foolish thoughts, there was a knock.

I heard a presence outside the bedroom.

“My Lady, a guest has arrived.”

“Who is it?”

“They say they came after seeing the flyer.”

“A flyer?”

“Yes, a flyer.”

“Just send them back. No, I will be right there.”

“Yes!”

Unaware of how rotten I felt inside, Anne gave a cheerful reply and left. Since things had turned out this way, I decided to check on the very last person before taking the flyers down. That much would not be difficult. I slowly sat up from where I had been sprawled on the sofa. Since I had put up the new flyers, guests had visited occasionally. Of course, I did not have the same expectations as before.

As long as they are not a lunatic, it is fine.

When I first put up the flyers, the number of guests coming to the house was quite high. Back then, I was full of motivation myself. But as time passed, my disillusionment with people only grew. From people who shamelessly asked to borrow money to those who showed up disguised exactly like the portrait, there was no end to it. Everyone claimed to know my sister and prepared tragic stories that one could not listen to without tears. Among them was even someone who brought three children in a row, claiming they were her kids. It was obvious they had been gathered in a hurry, and the children looked nothing like her.

Do they really take me for a fool?

Usually, I would have given them a piece of my mind on the spot, but I held back because of the young children crying in front of me. The children were innocent. I remembered giving them a sack of rice out of pity before sending them away. Recalling those bitter days, I stepped out of the bedroom.

This is the last one.

The thought that I would not have to see such pathetic displays anymore actually made me feel more at ease. I was only heading to the drawing room out of obligation. I had no expectations for the guest I was about to meet.

When I arrived at the drawing room, I took my seat skillfully. The procedure was always the same. I kept the room where the guest waited separate from the room where I met them. Anne followed me in and asked for my instructions.

“Shall I let the guest in now?”

“Yes, do that.”

There was a reason I did not meet the guests waiting in the drawing room immediately, but instead sat in a different room and called them in.

I want to feel that first impression of meeting Sister again.

But today, I decided to completely let go of that hope. A moment later, there was a knock, and the door opened. The moment the guest entered the room, I was overcome by an indescribable feeling. The heart that had decided to let go of hope vanished in an instant.

“Huh?”

What is this? Right in front of me, what on earth is this?

“It has been a long time, Sadie.”

My thought process seemed to stop at the unexpected greeting. I was so flustered that no sound even came out of my mouth. Again, another impossible thing has happened.

I very often saw hallucinations. For example, when I was too absorbed in something, or when I wanted something desperately. Or when I was soaked in nostalgia, chewing over memories. Even when I was regretting and blaming myself. Illusions startled me in many different forms. Most of the time, it was the silver-haired girl appearing suddenly, but this time was different.

Now I am even seeing a handsome man like that?

This is truly insane. Should I start looking for a skilled doctor right now?

“What is this situation?”

The illusion is talking to me. I really must be crazy. I thought that my life might end before I even saw the ending. I was just about to turn around to call for a doctor when he spoke again.

“I did not even expect a warm welcome.”

“…”

“But I did not expect this kind of cold treatment, Sadie le Cleo.”

He said my full name correctly. Even though it was just an illusion, it sounded like a real person’s voice. It was not the first time I had seen things, but I felt unusually tense today. Even I felt strange. The moment I slowly turned toward the direction of the sound, I saw emerald eyes full of sorrow staring straight at me from beneath snow-white hair. At this point, it was not an illusion.

“Is this a dream?”

Yes, that would make sense. I had seen many illusions before, but I had never had a conversation with one. Come to think of it, he looked a lot like someone I was looking for.

No, that cannot be.

I shook my head immediately at the thought. Now I was projecting Sister’s image onto anyone. My longing for her was turning from deep to pathological.

“Have you been well?”

“…”

It was despicable how he acted close to me despite it being our first time meeting today. I almost replied without realizing it. If the real Sister appeared and asked me that, I would be so grateful.

Get a hold of yourself, Sadie.

A self-mocking laugh escaped me at my ill-timed imagination. Just as I was about to ignore him and move on, he spoke.

“Right, a greeting like this would not be enough. I need something strong for you to believe it is me.”

“…”

What is he talking about? I was so speechless that I could not even let out a hollow laugh this time.

“Sister, you must marry me when you grow up.”

“…”

“That is what you said.”

“Who said that? Me?”

Until a moment ago, I had been consistently ignoring him, but I could not hold back this time.

“Yes, you.”

My body felt like it was frozen solid at his words. Even for a joke, this was too much.

“Fine. It is just a dream anyway. It will be over once I wake up.”

Just as I was about to turn away in resignation, he stopped me.

“Look at me, Sadie. This is not a dream.”

Large hands firmly grabbed my shoulders. Then, he reached out a hand toward me.

“Let me introduce myself formally.”

Like someone possessed, I lightly placed my hand on top of the one he offered.

“My name is Razenka Viviana Eckmort. Now I am able to keep the promise I made to you.”

“…”

“Even if it is valid for a man instead of a sister, that is.”

My eyes shook violently as if they had been struck by an explosion.

This breathtakingly handsome man is really Sister?

My mind was in total chaos. There was only one person besides me who knew about that promise.