My Sister Was the Male Lead - Chapter 78

“…!”

I found myself even more startled than when I first saw this man who so closely resembled my sister. As the bandage was pulled away, it revealed none other than the Triangle. It was an emerald colored mark identical to my sister’s eyes. The very source of the anxiety that had once plagued her and me was right there before my eyes. My brows furrowed instantly.

“How, how did you get this?”

It was a sight I could hardly believe, even as I stared at it. After all, I knew better than anyone that the Triangle does not manifest in just anyone. Furthermore, I was acutely aware of how dangerous this mark was when it appeared on a woman. I had even witnessed that shocking scene where my sister was subjected to harsh words from the Viscountess because of it.

“Do you still not believe me?”

He gazed into my eyes as if there were no evidence more certain than this. It was a strange feeling. I felt like a mouse backed into a corner. There was no trace of anxiety on his face, as if he knew I would have no choice but to believe him. If anything, it was my voice that trembled.

“Is it really you? Are you really Sister?”

“In a sense, yes. Though I no longer look the part of a young lady.”

“Ah.”

I bit my lip, letting out a small groan of internal conflict, unsure of how to respond. It was true. He looked like a young man through and through, and no one would ever doubt his gender. It seemed a correction of titles was necessary, but I had no idea what to call him. While I hesitated, he spoke in a steady tone.

“There is no need to rush your thoughts. We still have plenty of time.”

“…”

Plenty of time. He might feel that way, but I certainly did not. The ending was drawing near, and I was in a situation where success was anything but guaranteed. While my mind was a mess for many reasons, he offered an alternative.

“It is only natural that you are still suspicious. You may observe me for a while longer.”

The man, who just moments ago had been intent on persuading me, stepped back and offered words of consideration. Those words finally moved my heart.

It is true. Rushing will not change the situation.

Assuming this person truly was Sister, there had been far too long a gap between us. How could that span of years be filled overnight? I decided to lean toward watching him over time. As the saying goes, when in a hurry, take the long way around.

“I will watch you.”

“Thank you. That is what I hoped for.”

Perhaps utilizing the remaining time wisely was a strategy in itself. If so, it seemed best to settle on a title first.

“By the way, what should I call you now?”

“Pardon?”

“I cannot call you Sister anymore. You are not a sister anymore, after all.”

Feeling awkward, I turned my gaze out the window. I could no longer call Sister by that name, and it had happened so suddenly, overnight. To make matters worse, I was in a bedroom late at night with a strange man. Suddenly, the memory of spending a day in her bedroom under the pretext of a pajama party came to mind, making the back of my neck feel hot. Unlike me, he spoke calmly.

“Lavie.”

“Pardon?”

“Just call me Lavie, like you used to. That should not be difficult.”

He was not wrong. Since it was the nickname I had set at the beginning of the game, it was a familiar name to me. However, it felt awkward to omit the word Sister that used to follow it. Perhaps that was why that simple name would not easily cross my lips. Thus, I decided to ask again.

“If you do not mind, could you introduce yourself properly once more?”

“As many times as you like.”

“Thank you.”

“Do not mention it. It is no trouble at all.”

Did he notice my guard had lowered? He curled the corners of his mouth into a relaxed smile.

That smile.

It was exactly like Sister’s. For a split second, I lost myself. I saw a vision of dazzling sunlight reflecting off snow-white hair, even though I had confirmed with my own eyes that it was dark outside. The latch I had placed on my heart threatened to unlock all at once. When he gave me a bright, radiant smile, my heart began to race faster than ever before. The adrenaline spreading through my body made me acutely aware of the current reality.

“My name is Razenka Viviana Eckmort. You may call me Lavie.”

Razenka Viviana Eckmort. Razenka Viviana.

Eckmort. I repeated his name several times in my mind. Even so, the name still felt foreign to me. Especially the new surname, Eckmort.

“Wait! Eckmort? Did you say Eckmort?”

“That is correct.”

Suddenly, a memory flashed through my mind. Eckmort was a region located near the North, and I had recently come across an article about it in a small corner of the newspaper. It stated that the Count of Eckmort had no children, and upon his death, the title had been inherited by a distant relative. Looking at it this way, it might have seemed like a common occurrence. However, the reason it had been publicized was not just because of the inheritance.

They said that territory was exceptionally upgraded from a County to a Duchy.

And to think the master of that place was Sister, or rather, this man. I looked up at him with wide, startled eyes.

“Then, are you a Duke now?”

I quickly adjusted my posture. It was an instinct. No matter our past connection, he was no longer someone I could treat so casually. My throat felt strangely tight, and my lips went dry. I wondered what rudeness I had displayed until now. It was distinctly different from how I treated Duke Bernois. After all, Bernois was someone I had successfully completed a route with before, but the person in front of me was not. Did he sense my unease?

“Even so, nothing changes between us. Please, treat me comfortably, Sadie.”

His eyes, still fixed on me, conveyed his sincerity. I could see him trying to bring peace to my heart by asking me to treat him casually. Because of that, I felt a shiver run through my body, a different sensation than before.

Not only has Sister’s gender changed, but her status has skyrocketed as well.

How on earth am I supposed to process this? If there is one relief, it is that because he is now a man, the value of the Triangle has changed.

He no longer has to bear the label of a witch.

No, perhaps there is something even more significant. A Triangle manifesting in a man is a symbolic mark proving imperial blood. Realizing this monumental fact made my head spin even more. It sounded like a story from a dream. But I could not keep denying reality by calling it an illusion or a dream forever. There was one thing I had to address. I took a breath to steady myself and spoke as if I were ready.

“There is still an important matter to discuss.”

“An important matter?”

“Yes. I have many questions, but there is one I am most curious about.”

“Go ahead, ask anything.”

“Why did you dress as a woman all that time? And while keeping me completely in the dark?”

It was a part I could not understand, no matter how much I thought about it. Looking back now, there were many strange things: a physical condition and martial arts skills that were far superior to those of his peers, and the way he reacted so sensitively that he would not allow even the slightest touch.

And I never once saw Sister’s body uncovered.

Even playing in the water, something very close friends could easily do, was never permitted for us. At my question, he looked slightly troubled. He probably did not expect me to ask so directly. During our time together, I had always been considerate of him above all else. I cannot say how hard I tried not to upset him. There were times when I hurt his feelings without even knowing why, but we always resolved it through sincere apologies and conversation. I asked him again as he hesitated.

“Why? Is it something difficult to talk about?”

Since things had come this far, he must have known it was something he could no longer avoid. This time, I took the initiative and pushed him. I felt like nothing would progress if I did not. I looked him straight in the eye with resolve. As he said, if nothing changed between us regardless of status, then it was time to focus on restoring our relationship.

Sister deceived me and left me without a word.

I could not just smile like a fool at someone who left suddenly and only revealed their identity after a long time. In truth, I was trembling inside. The person before me was a Duke. No matter how much he asked me to be comfortable, it was not that simple. I clenched my fists tighter to hide my nerves.

I have to face this eventually.

Avoiding it would not solve the problem. He seemed momentarily surprised by my bold behavior, but he soon composed himself and looked relieved.

“As you know, my mother’s mind was not sound.”

“Yes, that was true.”

“Mother began acting like a child after my younger sister’s death.”

“Your younger sister? Do you mean Razenne?”

“Exactly. Razenne was actually my sister’s name, not mine.”

“I see.”

I already knew this, but I remained silent as if I were hearing it for the first time. I did not want to break the flow of the story.

“After my sister passed away, Mother fell into a panic for a long time. She could not even function in daily life.”

“Ah, that is understandable.”

“When time passed and Mother’s sanity returned, for some reason, she completely forgot my existence as her son. She only remembered Razenne.”

Therefore, he said he had no choice but to disguise himself as his younger sister for the sake of his sick mother. However, Mother’s symptoms grew worse over time, and eventually, she began to call him Sister while acting like the younger sibling herself. He added that because of this, he could not reveal the fact that he was disguised as his sister and had lived that way for a long time. For some reason, his face was full of sorrow as he spoke. It did not seem like a fabricated story. The words that followed were all things I already knew.

It is exactly what the undertaker I met through Bernois told me.

He even confirmed that the person in the locket photo was actually his sister, Razenne. All the pieces were falling into place. However, I felt strangely uneasy for some reason.