Chapter 3

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The next morning, Karina skipped the family breakfast for the first time.

Thinking that she only had a year left to live, the first thing she didn't want to do came to mind.

She hated the uncomfortable breakfast that she would just vomit up anyway.

'No one will come just because of that.'

The door remained firmly closed until noon, with no one visiting.

She felt a fresh sense of disappointment. She hadn't said she was sick; she had just mentioned that her stomach felt queasy and she didn't want to eat today. Still, it was so quiet.

Things she had long ignored now began to flood in like a receding tide.

Skipping breakfast, Karina bit into an apple she had asked a maid to bring and sat at her desk.

Once she made up her mind to leave, her plans fell into place.

Although she had never prepared for a trip before, she thought that with enough money, she could go anywhere.

The most important thing was to prepare without being noticed and to secretly set off on her journey.

Karina set a week for preparation. During this time, she planned to arrange for a carriage and prepare the necessary items for the trip.

Holding a pen, she began to write on the paper.

'Change some of the gold coins into smaller denominations...'

Simple changes of clothes, dried meat, water, and...

"Ah! I need to take the annulment papers too."

As she had expected, that man would not refuse the annulment papers that would roll in.

She stared at the words boldly written on the paper.

When it came to childhood engagements or marriages, there was nothing she could do about the decisions made by her family and parents.

However, now that she was an adult, she had the right to make decisions about her marriage and annulment.

"I need to visit the doctor again," she murmured to herself.

The most urgent thing for her was to get the medicine that would help her endure the long journey.

Karina calmly wrote down what she needed in her notebook. After listing ten items, nothing else came to mind.

She paused for a moment before putting down her pen.

Blowing to dry the paper, she tore the notebook and put it in her sleeve.

'With only a week to prepare, I need to get the medicine in advance.'

Deciding where to go first, she got up from her seat.

Filling the old wallet with the allowance given to her, she changed into her outdoor clothes.

She briefly considered calling a maid but decided against it.

Perhaps because she was doing more things on her own, she now found the presence of a maid a bit uncomfortable.

She stood in front of the mirror for a moment, carefully examining herself.

Her pale skin looked lifeless, and her dry lips were parched and colorless.

Her dull brown hair, no matter how much she brushed it, always looked unkempt.

The only redeeming feature, her deep blue eyes, proved that she was of the Leopold lineage.

She thought her eyes were the prettiest part of her, even among her flaws.

However, compared to her other family members, even this was not a striking beauty.

Her beautiful parents. Her brother Infric, who received countless love letters from young ladies since childhood.

Her lively younger brother Ferdon, who had many friends, and Abelia, who, despite her frail health, always led the social scene.

They were always at the center of everything. In contrast, Karina had a plain appearance and was not very talkative.

Just an ordinary young lady.

If she had been born into a different family, she might have lived a decent life, made friends, and been happy.

However, the people around Karina were too radiant.

Surrounded by people who knew how to shine, her presence became even more faint.

Karina quietly left her room. Her room, located on the inner side of the second floor, was a quiet place where maids rarely visited.

As she stood in front of the central staircase, she saw someone coming up from the second floor.

A man with green hair in a white gown, Nocturne.

He seemed to notice her gaze and lifted his head.

"Miss Karina."

"Yeah. It's been a while, Nocturne. What brings you here?"

"Ah, Lia's... I mean..."

He smoothed his lips, looking at Karina. When she didn't react, Nocturne quickly spoke again.

"I'm here for Miss Abelia's health check-up."

His eyes were gentle and kind.

He was a good-natured man with a way with words, someone who could turn others' affection into genuine fondness.

She tried to nod, feeling her back stiffen.

"Go ahead."

She didn't want to talk to him for too long.

Ironically, he was the person she had once cherished in a fleeting, sweet dream.

But she had crushed that budding affection when she realized his gaze was always on Abelia.

She had heard that he had a younger sister who died young.

Apparently, Abelia resembled his sister, and he was very kind to her.

After a brief thought, Karina tried to pass by him and go down the stairs.

"You don't look well. Are you okay?"

Meeting his narrowed emerald eyes, Karina nodded.

She wondered when he had started to care.

"I haven't been sleeping well."

"You can have a check-up with Miss Abelia if you want."

"I'm fine."

Since Karina was Abelia's older sister, Nocturne often showed her appropriate kindness, but that was all.

A shallow kindness that ended after one offer and one refusal.

"Are you going out?"

"Just a quick errand."

"No... Ah! Sister!"

A young girl, who had appeared from somewhere, ran up and hugged Karina.

Hanging dangerously from the end of the stairs, Karina quickly grabbed the railing, and Nocturne hurriedly caught her waist.

Karina's eyes widened at Nocturne's arm around her waist. He quickly let go when she looked at him with a startled expression.

"It's dangerous to hang there."

"Sorry, Nocturne. I missed my sister."

Abelia, with a playful laugh, nodded at Nocturne's worried voice.

"Sister, why didn't you come to breakfast this morning?"

Abelia, giggling, asked Karina.

Karina, with a forced smile, looked down at Abelia, who had clung to her neck.

She then gently stroked her back as she always did.

Abelia was undoubtedly adorable.

Yet, ironically, she also disliked her.

And what she disliked and found most frustrating was herself for having such thoughts.

"Sister, where are you going?"

"Yeah, I have a place to go. By the way, Abelia, be careful on the stairs."

"Hehe, I trusted that you would catch me."

Now grown and affectionate, Abelia had once deliberately not admitted her mistakes to avoid punishment.

Of course, this always led to Karina bearing the consequences and suffering.

Sometimes, thinking about those times, Karina had to smooth her stiffening face and adjust her expression.

"...Don't trust it."

Karina murmured in a low voice.

"Huh?"

Abelia's body shuddered at her words.

Lifting her head hurriedly, she saw Abelia still smiling like an angel, not having heard her properly, and Nocturne with a strange expression behind her.

"No, I heard that Doctor Nocturne is here for your health check-up. You should go and get checked. That way, you'll get better soon."

"Nocturne is a nag, and I'm already feeling much better! I want to go out and play with you, sister."

Abelia's golden hair, which she had styled, shimmered at her fingertips.

Her beautifully wavy hair and lovely personality were things Karina had not inherited.

"No. You'll make Nocturne's trip in vain."

"Don't... You can live, can't you?"

Suppressing the words that rose to her throat, Karina turned her head.