Chapter – 20
The Engineered Accident
──I could hear people screaming, and the scenery around me seemed to move in slow motion.
Though my thoughts were frozen, I instinctively twisted my body and leaped with all my strength, managing to narrowly avoid a direct hit.
“……ugh.”
However, I hit the ground hard, bruising my whole body. I couldn’t breathe properly, nor could I get up. A crowd had gathered around me, and I could hear people shouting to call the guards. Slowly, I managed to push myself upright.
“Miss, are you alright?”
“Yes… I think I’m fine. I don’t seem to have any broken bones.”
The carriage had apparently stopped just in front of me, so I was spared from a life-threatening injury, but I had scraped my arms and legs badly. My favorite dress was torn at the sleeves, blood seeping through, and one of my shoes had gone missing somewhere.
“Oh, what a terrible thing to happen to such a young lady! My family runs a pharmacy around the corner, come with me. We’ll get you settled first.”
The woman who helped me up spoke with concern, trying to guide me to somewhere safe, but I stopped her.
“N-no, I’m fine. I can go home.”
“Fine? In that state…!”
To anyone else, my appearance might have seemed pitifully painful, but surprisingly, it didn’t hurt that much. Lilliana was nearby. If she saw me like this, after hearing the commotion, I shuddered to imagine what she might say.
“It’s close by, so really, I’m okay…”
The carriage was clearly from a noble—one of those slightly nouveau-riche types. If they found out I lived at Lord Margus’s villa, things could get complicated… Today had turned into an awful day. I had looked forward to this invitation from Lord Margus, but now I just wanted to get back to Polka and the others as quickly as possible.
“Hey! You didn’t even apologize! Just because you’re a noble, you nearly ran someone over!”
A man, perhaps frustrated by the situation, raised his voice angrily toward the carriage. Others who had been lightly injured in the fall were nearby as well. For someone like me, who just wanted to leave, this meant I couldn’t just say goodbye and go.
“I-I’m sorry. I… I panicked…”
As I said this, the carriage door opened, and I felt my misfortune peak in that instant.
Peeking out of the carriage, as if to mock fate itself, was none other than Lilliana—someone I least wanted to meet.
Seeing her adorable appearance, the men who had been angry immediately softened. Surely, such a charming young woman could never be intentionally cruel.
“Oh, how dreadful. My carriage almost ran someone over… How can I ever apologize properly?”
Tears streamed from Lilliana’s eyes. Seeing this, the men around her slowly started to defend her, claiming she wasn’t the one driving the carriage.
Wiping her tears, Lilliana descended gracefully from the carriage.
“I work at the Healing Institute. As atonement, please allow me to treat your injuries…”
With a faint smile, a magical circle appeared at her feet, surrounding the area in a gentle pink light—Lilliana’s healing magic.
The unusual sight drew cheers. Receiving treatment at the Healing Institute usually cost a fortune and was rarely accessible to ordinary people. Lilliana, displaying her talent freely for the common folk, would surely appear as a noble and virtuous figure.
“Are you all right? If there are still untreated injuries, please come to the Healing Institute. I will treat you free of charge.”
…It seemed that Lilliana’s magic healed even minor injuries unrelated to the accident. People thanked her profusely and departed.
Except for me.
“…Ah, sister! What a surprise to meet you here…!”
Lilliana spoke as if she had only just noticed me, feigning coincidence.
The carriage had gone out of control, and I had happened to be in its path. She had healed everyone around me but intentionally left me untreated—an almost astronomical coincidence. Clearly, Lilliana had been watching me all along.
But still… I didn’t want to believe that my own sister would go so far as to intentionally harm me for her own amusement.
Despite her inner cruelty, she knelt before me, dirtying her beautiful dress without hesitation, and took my hand. From the outside, she looked like a saint.
“I’m sorry your favorite dress got ruined. Should I send some old clothes from home? I have plenty of new ones in the wardrobe.”
Whispering in my ear, so that others wouldn’t hear, Lilliana made her intentions obvious. A golden bracelet gleamed on her wrist, and William, standing behind her, looked far better dressed than I remembered.
“…No, that’s fine.”
“Don’t be shy. You were in front of the clothing store earlier, right? Let me buy you a new outfit as an apology.”
Lilliana’s brightly painted lips twisted unnaturally.
“I’m just out buying dinner ingredients.”
“Dinner ingredients? But Lord Roland is elderly, isn’t he? You shouldn’t be serving meat from a street market. Nobles have their special suppliers, you know. Unless… you want him to eat poorly and become a widower faster?”
“My husband is perfectly healthy.”
I spoke with a hint of sarcasm. Lilliana still believed that I was the wife of Lord Roland Browning, Lord Margus’s grandfather. His death was still a secret.
“I see… Well, that’s good. I hear you’re well cared for. Isn’t that nice, William?”
William mumbled, “Well…” His clothing was splendid, but his attitude remained uncertain.
“I hope you find a good match, sister. We’re getting married soon too. You must come to our wedding.”
“…Yes.”
Saying no would likely create more trouble. Attending their wedding was no big deal.
“Well then. Be careful not to get into another accident.”
As I tried to stand, Lilliana grabbed my hand tightly.
“I can’t let you walk home in that muddy state. I’ll escort you.”
Was she showing off her elegant life, or wanting to hear about my misery? Or maybe both.
“…I’m fine.”
“You don’t need to refuse.”
The firm grip on my arm sent jolts of pain through me.
“…ugh.”
“You’re hurt. Let me heal you.”
Lilliana smiled, showing that same mischievous grin from childhood. She always did this—causing me injury, then flaunting her healing magic, just like before.
Indeed, her magic healed my injuries, but with each act, my heart bore another wound.
“I said I’m fine.”
I forcefully shook off Lilliana’s hand. I wouldn’t return to that house, nor be her foil any longer.
“But you don’t have healing magic, sister. How will you walk around in tattered, bloody clothes? Stop pretending to be strong.”
“I’m not pretending to be—”
“Come on, let’s get in the carriage. It’ll be nice to relax at your parents’ home after so long. I’d like to hear about your brother-in-law too.”
She gripped my hand even tighter. I wanted to scream no. I had to say it—I didn’t have time for her.
“…I—”
“……There’s no need.”
A sharp voice, like a blade snapping, cut through the air. A black shadow appeared before me, stepping between Lilliana and me.
“Lord Margus…”
──I could hardly believe my eyes, but I knew immediately it was him.
“Apologies can wait.”
──Even if he’s late, Lord Margus is always committed to keeping his promises.
