Chapter 7

The Second Life – 3

 

… … Silvia collapsed due to her illness.

           

When that news reached us, it was the end of autumn. Although not even half a year had passed since that summer day, it had begun to feel terribly far away.

A messenger on a fast horse came flying from my parents’ house. When I saw the face of the male servant who had rushed over, I easily understood the news he was bringing wasn’t a good one.

However, I never thought it would be about Silvia. That child should have avoided her tragedy.

That was why it never crossed my mind that the shadow of death would still engulf her.   

           

That day, Soleil, who had finally taken off a long holiday, was having his breakfast with me.

Because it was a long break, we were talking about occasionally going out together.

When I remember those days, I recall I had been in a festive mood since the previous evening.

Yet, on such a peaceful day, a nightmare closed in.

In the letter engraved with my parent’s crest, it was written that Silvia had suddenly felt seriously ill.

When Soleil read this, understandably, his face turned pale.  

 

“I’ll go and see her condition.”

           

With a disheartened expression and the same tone of voice as usual, he declared so, feigning a nonchalant behavior.

But, as he stood up and made a bumping sound, his unrest could be perceived.

Despite pretending to not be affected by the news announcing that Silvia was about to die at any moment, Soleil lost his cool and blood flew to his head.

“Why would you?” said my mouth, which seemed to unconsciously move before I swallowed back my breath to endure it.

I tightened my trembling lips to keep control over my words and to not let my tongue slip.

When my mouth was filled with the taste of blood, I finally uttered with a strained voice.     

 

“… I will also come.”

           

I deliberately dropped my words slower than usual.

While ordering the steward to make preparations to leave the house, he put his arms through the sleeves of his coat, making preparation to stay overnight. 

 

“I will also come with you.”

           

As if I was chewing on them, I repeated the same words once again.

Even if I shouldn’t do it, I grabbed Soleil and pressed him to give me an answer.

Why, even though it’s about my little sister, I’m treated like I’m an outsider? 

“I’ll go and see her condition.” 

Why did you say such a thing as if going alone was obviously natural?

I want to yell that they are not words to say to an older sister who is about to lose her little sister.  

 

“No, I’ll go by horse. You should take the carriage.”

“I too, will ride a horse…!”

“With how shaken you’re now, you probably won’t be able to hold the reins properly. I’m asking you to do as I say.”

 

His feet and the tips of his shoes, were turned toward the outside, in a hurry to leave the estate.

Grasping my shoulders as if to prevent me from hindering his departure, he drove me out of his line of sight.

“Please wait,” “I also... together,” “Wait,” “Wait, please,” “Lord Soleil.”

Controlled by my emotions, I wanted to cling to Soleil who escaped from the entrance hall at a quick pace.

He had no intention of taking me along.

Eventually, I don’t know if it was because he was getting impatient with me, who was indefinitely following Soleil around, but his exclusive steward wedged himself between us and calmly informed me,

 

“Madam, the preparations for the carriage will be done shortly.”

 

Calmly but clearly, he said it with the same tone of voice he used to announce the death of Silvia on that far away day.

I vividly recalling the scenes of that day. While I was faintly flinching in front of his attitude that didn’t let anyone speak out any consent or refusal, I lost sight of Soleil’s retreating figure.

 

“Why?”

 

That single word I muttered tumbled on the marble floor of the entrance hall that had regained its silence.

For only a second, the steward turned his line of sight toward me, but from the start he probably didn’t hold that much interest.

“When the preparations for the carriage are done, I will come get you, so in the meantime please, wait in your own room.”

As soon as he had declared this in a business tone, he left that place.

 

“Why is it like this?”

 

The misgivings that were boiling inside came out of my mouth.

Even though the one who is dying is my little sister, why would the letter that arrived be addressed to Soleil?

I thought that a letter coming from my parents’ house would naturally be addressed to me.

However, from the beginning the male servant came here with the intention to directly handed it over to Soleil.

For instance, even if they were my parents, it would be far too rude to directly write a letter to the legitimate child of a higher ranked marquis house.

Even in the case they had some business with Soleil, since his wife was their blood-related daughter, it would be better to pass it through her.

No matter what state of emergency arose, a nobleman was an existence that followed the proper procedures.

And yet, despite that awfully long explanation I gave about how improper it would be, Soleil received this letter as if it was natural.

In front of me, he had accepted it himself like it was a matter of course.

The steward didn’t admonish him either. As if... he already knew Soleil would get it.       

           

An unpleasant promotion flitted through my mind.

           

Perhaps, it wasn’t the first time a letter was delivered.

Perhaps until now, the letters from my parents’ house were handed over to Soleil.

And then, the reason why Soleil never informed me of this, was because they weren’t addressed to me.

In short, to say it in other words, they weren’t letters from my parents.

Because they were people who valued such a thing as peerage.

That being the case, apart from my parents, a person who could send a letter using the name of the earl, there was no one but Silvia.  

           

Strength left my legs and my knees felt on the marble floor. I saw the maids rush over in a panic.

           

I felt sick.

The world was spinning around.

Although I promptly put my palm on the floor, my trembling arm couldn’t support my own body and all too soon it easily flopped down.

           

I must quickly go.

I have to go and visit my sick little sister. 

           

That’s what I thought, but in spite of my hurry to feel better, my vision started to darken.

He said she was seriously ill. That she couldn’t even get up anymore.

Even so, far from worrying about my little sister, I started to think in jealousy of all the sentences the two of them exchanged in places I didn’t know.

The reason I was thinking I must go to Silvia’s side as soon as possible, was not because I was anxious about her.

“Goodness... such a thing... how miserable.”

Alongside the blood that drew back from my head, I recalled my former life.

My appearance as I, even for an instant, felt delight at the news of her little sister’s death reemerged.

Like this, the previous me lost Soleil.

           

This time too, Soleil had certainly chosen Silvia.

It wasn’t a presentiment; it was already closer to a conviction.

           

In reality, I had been detained alone in the mansion.

When I came chasing after him, he turned his back as if to declare this to the servant.

My parents’ home wasn’t at a particularly far distance. Even I could ride a horse, and if it had been dangerous like Soleil had said, there still should have been the means of letting me ride on his own horse.

Yet the reason he clearly displayed a behavior saying he didn’t want to go together, was merely because he had something he wanted to hide.

No, in the first place, it’s doubtful whether he intended to conceal it or not.

That day, those eyes of his, didn’t they already tell me clearly?

           

That he didn’t want to be hindered.

That he didn’t want me to snatch away his time with Silvia. 

           

In the end, I, who had collapsed in the entrance hall, without having my prayer of going to meet Silvia fulfilled, was carried out to my bed in my room.

Within a few minutes the exclusive doctor of the house was called, and after having examined me while making a serious expression, he cleared out the people and told me, 

 

“You are pregnant.”

“What?”

 

Hearing this unexpected line, I sprang up on the bed without thinking.

Seeing this, the old doctor calmly told me to rest while gently pulling me by the shoulder to make me lie back on the pillows.

 

“What are you saying?”

           

I trembled while taking small breaths.

That was the news I had been waiting for impatiently.

All along this life, I waited eagerly and prayed for it more than in my previous life.

Yet, my bewilderment was bigger than my joy.

 

“How come, why now?”

           

I have always been dreaming about this moment.

Because I was born for this sake. Because giving birth to the heir of the marquis house, was the greatest duty I had been charged with.

I thought that when that time would come, I would receive everyone’s blessing.

I was hoping that, this time surely, Soleil too would let go of his emotional reserve and rejoice.

However, almost certainly, that will not happen.

 

“Doctor, is it not a mistake?”

“… Probably.”

 “Doctor, right now, my little sister is at the grips of death.”

“… I heard of it.”

“Doctor, I, I, what on earth...”

           

“What on earth should I do?” was what I tried to say but my lips were trembling and couldn’t properly form words.

The doctor gently grasped my hand to encourage me, and told me that everything would surely be alright while showing an irresponsible smile on his face.

He said that everything would work fine. However, while he was saying this, in reality he must have already noticed.

The unnaturalness of Soleil’s figure not being here right now.

Since he knew Silvia das collapsed from her illness, then he must have already heard Soleil was on his way there.

Normally, the husband and wife should go visit Silvia together. All the more if you are worried about me, who is greatly shaken by the news.

Because there was the alternative of going together by carriage.

 

“Let me be the one who will announce it to Lord Soleil.”

“No, no, please do not tell him. Now is a terrible time.”

 

My muttering voice broke.

 

“I am truly sorry about the illness of your little sister, but what is happening to you now is also a serious affair. Because you have been entrusted with the precious successor.”

 

Until you reach the stable period, the slightest negligence mustn’t happen, so your husband has to support you, he said.

I felt encouraged by his kind words. But I knew.

That Soleil will certainly regret it.

While thinking “why at such a time?” “Why now?” I wondered if he will disavow himself for thinking of having a child with me.

And then, will he deny his own child with an even stronger emotion than what he feels for me now?  

 

 “…Madam…”    

 

The back of my eyelids was burning hot.

 

“Once I have reached the stable period, I will tell him myself.”

“Madam,”

“That is why, please, I will take great care of my body, so please, for now, keep silent about it doctor.”

           

The depths of my chest were crushed in pain.

 

“After all, right now my little sister... is suffering lying in bed.”

           

Right now, my husband is surely at her side, fighting the disease together.

So, therefore, as much as I want to tell him to stay with me, I can’t do such a thing.  

 

“Madam.”

“I am fine. Up until now, I have always been fine.”

 

The wrinkled hand of the old doctor stroked my head in bewilderment.

           

Why... was Soleil not there?

Isn’t it obvious? It’s because Silvia was about to die.

Why am I here?

Isn’t it obvious? It’s because Soleil has left me behind.   

           

After that summer day, I told Soleil I wanted children.

He smiled coldly and agreed he indeed needed an heir, as if it was his duty and another part of his job.

             

However, even like that, it had been fine. At that time, I thought it was alright.

Because I wanted a family. Simply because I wanted a deeper tie with Soleil.

Because he had accepted and resigned himself to dispassionately take a wife and have a child, as if it was his work’s procedure.  

           

Because I thought there was time.

I, despite my negative experiences, believed in an imaginary future.

           

… … Silvia will die.

           

Inside my head, someone muttered.

           

This time once again, Soleil won’t choose me. 

 

Chapter 6                                                                          Chapter 8