My Sister Was the Male Lead - Chapter 76

“What on earth is this?”

I found it nearly impossible to process the situation. My head spun so violently that I couldn’t distinguish between illusion, dream, and reality. I was clearly in a familiar space, yet everything felt alien. The deep green walls I had decorated with such care, the white lace curtains draping to the floor, and even the colorful ornaments on the shelves felt foreign.

That wasn’t all. The chandelier hanging from the ceiling began to sway as if caught in a draft, and the drawing room floor seemed to undulate like a powerful wave. It felt as if I were suffering from seasickness; my stomach twisted painfully.

Ugh.

It felt as though the ceiling and floor were about to merge into a chaotic blur. I hurriedly pressed my fingers to my temples, my brow furrowing in distress.

Ah, my head.

My heart rate accelerated. The sound of my own pulse seemed to vibrate through the entire room. Involuntarily, the world began to spin, and my vision blurred. A cold sensation, as if my brain were freezing, washed over my body. My center of gravity shifted forward.

Thud.

In an instant, the strength left my legs, and I lost consciousness, collapsing where I stood.

“Goodness.”

Razenka caught Sei as she fell helplessly against his chest. She was light—too light. Her waist was so thin it felt awkward even to touch, and her limbs, visible beneath her dress, were equally fragile.

However, now was not the time to fret over her delicate frame. While he hadn’t expected a grand welcome, he certainly hadn’t anticipated her fainting. The sight of her looking so startled just by his appearance weighed heavily on his mind.

“Anne! Fetch a doctor, quickly!”

Razenka kicked open the drawing room door and rushed out. His urgent cry echoed through the hallway. Hearing the commotion, Anne came running from a distance.

“What happened—! Gasp! Wh-what is going on!”

She was briefly confused that a stranger knew her name, but the sight of Sei unconscious in Razenka’s arms turned her face pale with shock.

“What on earth did you do to our Lady!”

“Calling a doctor is the priority right now. We don’t have a moment to lose.”

Razenka’s voice was sharp, and his expression was as cold as ice. The chill emanating from him was enough to send a shiver down one’s spine.

“Ah—yes, right away!”

Anne scrambled away, her usual composure replaced by a frantic desperation.

The situation finally stabilized once the family physician, Mac, arrived. Fortunately, he had been tending to business nearby and was able to reach the mansion quickly. Mac emerged from Sei’s bedroom, quietly closing the door behind him.

“Doctor!”

Anne, who had been waiting anxiously in the hallway, rushed toward him the moment he appeared. She had been so worried that her eyes were moist and the tip of her nose was bright red. Seeing her so restless, Mac responded with a calm demeanor.

“It appears the Young Lady has suffered from a significant accumulation of fatigue.”

“Accumulated fatigue?”

“Yes. Fortunately, she is now in a stable, deep sleep.”

“Phew. I see. To be honest, she hasn’t been able to sleep well lately.”

“Lately? Did something happen?”

“Well, the Young Lady isn’t exactly the type to share every little detail.”

Anne’s eyebrows drooped, and she nervously fidgeted with her fingers.

“Well, who doesn’t have worries? Her age is often the most troubled time of one’s life.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. If only she could put her mind at ease.”

“I feel so terrible that I couldn’t be of more help to her.”

Anne looked as if she were about to burst into tears. She felt as though it was entirely her fault that the Lady had collapsed. As the person closest to her, she felt she should have noticed even the smallest changes, and she was haunted by the thought that she had let things get to this point. She felt she wouldn’t be able to face the Lady once she woke up.

Seeing Anne’s growing gloom, Mac gently patted her shoulder.

“Anne, don’t worry too much. I’ve administered the necessary nutrients, so she’ll be fine once she wakes up from a good rest.”

“Truly?”

“Of course. I’ve known her for a long time. She is much stronger than we think.”

“You’re right. Our Lady is exactly like that.”

“So, stop worrying and take this.”

Mac handed her a white medicine envelope. Anne took it, blinking in confusion.

“What is this?”

“Give this to the Lady along with some thin rice gruel once she wakes up. It’s a medicine I prepared with special care.”

“Thank you, Mac. Thank you for always doing your best for our Lady.”

“I simply did my job. However, I think your gratitude should be directed toward that gentleman, not me.”

“That gentleman?”

In response to Anne’s puzzled question, Mac gestured behind her. Standing there were Razenka and a man presumed to be his guard.

There was only one visitor earlier; when did they enter the mansion?

She must have missed him while she was frantic over the Lady’s condition. Since she wasn’t in charge of security, she had only just noticed him. Soon, Anne’s expression began to stiffen.

!

Upon recognizing the man presumed to be the guard, Anne couldn’t help but gasp. She hurriedly covered her open mouth with both hands.

Pa—Parker?

It was definitely him. The guard of Lady Razenne, whom she had missed for so long. At that moment, Razenka and Parker stepped closer. As they approached, she felt as if her breath might stop. Anne barely managed to keep herself from hyperventilating.

Meanwhile, Mac, oblivious to the underlying tension, was busy expressing his sincere thoughts.

“This gentleman brought a herb that is extremely difficult to find in Delmon. It will definitely be effective, so the Lady should be up in no time. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you once again.”

Mac smiled and bowed politely to the man.

“Think nothing of it.”

Razenka shrugged, acting perfectly composed. Mac found himself deeply curious about the man’s identity. The man was nearly 190 centimeters tall with a striking build, and his broad shoulders were enough to make any heart flutter. His shimmering silver-white hair glowed as if it were made of finely ground pearls, and his eyes were like brilliant emeralds.

Moreover, his charcoal-gray eyebrows exuded masculinity, and the long eyelashes beneath them made his gaze even more piercing.

I have never seen such a stunning appearance in my life.

Anyone would find it impossible not to be captivated. Even his voice was incredibly sweet. Mac felt a strange urge to keep talking to him, decorum be damned.

Who is he?

Mac had been born and raised in Delmon, but he had no memory of such a figure. Furthermore, every one of the man’s actions overflowed with such elegance that only a fool would fail to realize he was someone of extraordinary status. Even as a man himself, Mac felt a magnetic charm that made him tense with nerves.

Mac swallowed hard and licked his dry lips before asking.

“By the way, may I ask who you are?”

Mac found himself stealing glances at the man, uncharacteristic of his usual self. Even though he knew it might be rude, he simply couldn’t look away. He also noticed a small, skin-colored bandage beneath the man’s eye. He presumed it was to hide a scar.

Perhaps he is someone who frequents the battlefield.

That would mean he might hold a position far greater than Mac could imagine—perhaps someone who commanded a vast number of soldiers. When the man met his gaze but didn’t reveal his identity, an impatient Mac spoke again.

“Since you brought such a precious herb, it seems you must have a very special relationship with Lady Sadie.”

Otherwise, why would he so easily give away such an expensive herb? Even though Mac had offered to pay for it, the man had firmly refused, even joking that he owed the Lady a great debt and would use the herb to settle it. However, to Mac’s eyes, he didn’t look like the type of man who would ever live in debt.

“Special, indeed. You could say that.”

“I knew it!”

At that answer, Mac’s face brightened. He thought that a celebratory event might soon occur in the Cleo Baronry. He began to wonder if the reason Lady Sadie hadn’t yet debuted in society was because of this man. Thinking so, he felt immensely honored just to be in his presence.

“Then, may I step into the bedroom for a moment?”

Mac, who had been lost in his own imagination, was startled by the man’s sudden request.

“Pardon?”

“I think I’ll only be at ease once I see her for myself.”

“Well, the Lady hasn’t woken up yet.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Th-that is…”

Faced with such a bold statement, Mac stammered, unsure of how to respond. His gaze quickly shifted to Anne, signaling for help. Recognizing Mac’s intent, Anne stepped forward. Though she had been dazed by shock moments ago, she was ready to act faster than anyone when it came to her Lady.

“I’m sorry, but that is not possible. The Lady needs more rest.”

“I am aware. So, I shall wait inside until then.”

“No. Before that, I believe you have something to say to me.”

Anne’s gaze shifted to Parker, who was standing a short distance away, before returning to Razenka. That look was enough. Everyone except Mac understood exactly what kind of answer Anne was seeking from Razenka. Her piercing gaze carried more impact than any words could have.

“Yes, I do. But I don’t think the hallway is the right place for this conversation.”

Razenka gave a light nod, signaling for her to look at their surroundings. Anne was certainly aware of the situation, but she needed confirmation. Mere suspicion was not enough. She also had to decide if she could allow this man to be near her peacefully sleeping Lady.