Chapter 69: True Love

“..no, I think you’re overthinking it.”

Weekend afternoon.

Rembrandt, who hadn’t had a day off in a while, was having tea with Beatrice. He sat across the table at the arbor in the courtyard of his mansion.

This was Rembrandt’s renaissance when she told him that she felt distressed because it seemed that only she was happy.

“Is that so? You really want her and Leo to get married, but just because two people like each other doesn’t mean they will be happy together.”

“Such a thing..”

“Otherwise, the divorce rate for commoners, who mostly married for love, would be almost zero.”

“..mm-hmm.”

“You know, Trice.”

Rembrandt continued in a voice full of dismay.

“Cases like yours and Edgar’s are rarer.”

He patted Beatrice, who still looks unconvinced, on the head.

“If the person you’ve fallen in love with also loves you, there’s no difference in status or financial problems between the two of you, and you know each other well and nurture a relationship where you can support each other..it’s kind of a miracle to have someone like that.

Not everyone can fall in love like that.”

Rembrandt stared at Beatrice, who looked up at her brother with a gaping mouth.

“What’s that look?”

“No, I just thought that when my brother talks about love, he makes it sound a bit mysterious..”

As she said that, both of her cheeks were pinched.

“..how could this mouth talk so much?”

“H-hursh! Oh, oh, bru-broshter, hit hurtsh.”

“Exactly. Maybe it’s because your body is feeling better, even your cheeky talk is doing great?”

“I’m sorry.”

Beatrice apologized with tears in her eyes, and the hand that was pinching her cheeks finally let go.

“Brother.”

Beatrice then continued to speak, rubbing her hand across her cheek, which had just been pulled by her brother.

“You said this earlier, but aren’t the status of me and the current Edgar-sama also different? Edgar-sama was born into the same Marquess family, but now he’s a commoner.”

“..ahh, that. That wouldn’t pose much of a problem, either.”

“Eh?”

Scratching his head in a troubled manner, he continued to speak as if he had no choice.

“Edgar is currently participating in the research and development of a drug that will cure your illness. If he succeeds in developing it, he will most likely be awarded a knighthood for his achievements.”

“..?”

“Well, it’s worth a lot of money. But even if he is not ordained, we have an extra viscountship. If Edgar takes the viscountcy and you take him as your groom, there will be no problem.”

“..huh.”

“You could become a commoner, but there’s no way you’d be able to do all the housework. Unless you say that falling in love automatically makes you a better cook. But the world is not so easy.”

“..”

“You’re too clumsy.”

Beatrice had even mentioned before that Edgar was probably a better cook than she was, and she felt defeated somehow. But for some reason, her brother, who spoke lightly like that, seemed very happy, so she decided to leave him alone for the moment.

“You don’t need to feel guilty about your happiness.”

Rembrandt said in disgust.

“..is that so.”

“Of course. It’s not like you were entrusted with a mission and went back in time.

Alejandro, who planned the reversal, only wanted to avoid the execution of that girl. Then the purpose has been fulfilled.

Where is the need for you to feel responsible?”

“That.. may be true, but..”

Until now, I had never envisioned a future for myself. I knew that I would eventually weaken and die.

So all I ever wanted was for the people around me to be happy.

Perhaps that’s why, when it comes time to me being surrounded by happiness, I don’t know what to do.

“Hey, Trice.”

Rembrandt smiled as he looked at Beatrice, who was thinking with a troubled look on her face.

“You have memories from before the regression. Perhaps it was because they used your body as a medium. But don’t feel responsible. You were involved in this, too.

I just don’t remember, but it’s the same for me, Leopold, and the girl that got caught up in the mess. Whether you know the future or not, we all have to take responsibility for our own lives.”

“..”

“You know, even if Edgar doesn’t know anything, he has been trying. He wants to help you, and he wants? to make you his wife someday. And it looks like he’s going to do just that.”

“..brother.”

“I’m not making fun of him. I’m just saying what’s normal.”

“That’s.. normal.”

It’s okay to be happy from your own happiness. You can wish for it.

And I will do so.

Rembrandt gently stroked the head of his little sister who was muttering softly.

“Yes, Trice. You deserve to be happy.”

At these words, Beatrice looked up.

In front of her eyes was the smile of her kind brother.

“I mean, by all means, be happy. Beatrice.”

..

..

..

The next day, a letter from Edgar arrived.

As usual, she saw some fresh flowers he had collected which was then made into a bookmark.

When she first heard that he decided to study abroad, Beatrice did not know that Edgar had decided to travel to a neighboring country for her medicine.

So, not wanting to worry Edgar, who was in a distant land, she wrote only good things in her letters as much as possible.

She didn’t mention anything about her health or worsening symptoms, but filled her letters with only good things, even if she had only heard about them, and only about interesting and enjoyable things.

In the end, Edgar was never fooled by it, and he came to see her every three months, revealing her symptoms and such. But when she later found out that he was trying to develop a drug for her, she tried to write about the truth as it was without being stubborn or pretentious.

Even small changes, such as palpitations due to irregular heartbeat, worse dizziness when standing, weight loss, loss of appetite, and other such things, were all written in detail.

It was very good, Edgar said.

According to him, the medicine he is trying to make could, in a way, be too strong instead of being very effective, and could be too much for people who do not have a certain level of physical strength.

Therefore, he would always send her medical herbs that would increase her strength, which were not directly related to her illness, or herbs that would help her sleep well.

They even created a medicine that temporarily improves symptoms.

Now, Edgar and his team are searching for “something” to sustain the effects.

They hope to complete it next year.

Edgard told her that she should never fail to drink herbal tea to improve her constitution, so even though it was very bitter, she would drink it immediately when the medicine was successfully made.

Atie, I will always think of you.

This added sentence at the end made her cheeks blush.

Edgar’s recent letters have been getting sweeter by the day.

He is really looking forward to a future with Beatrice, so much that every time she reads about it, she realizes that she’s also looking forward to it.

“I can’t wait.. to see him.”

Beatrice gently held the letter from Edgar to her chest and muttered quietly.

The next scheduled visit from Edgar is still a month and a half away.

Someone who is important, who I love, who I don’t want to leave, who makes my heart ache just by thinking about him.

Beatrice is now really in love.