Episode 51

"Shall we open the door first?"

Sonnet, who had been pressing her forehead, nonchalantly suggested as if nothing happened.

Slurp, slurp!

The sound of sucking and slurping continued to resonate clearly through the bugging device.

Ute Velvet was utterly exhausted.

"Oh, right, we need to get them out…."

They had even removed the bed to prevent any nonsense in the locked room.

Their audacity in making steady progress without being confined by the interior decor was truly protagonist-like.

A large hand slowly swept his pale face. Sonnet quietly waited for Ute to regain his composure.

"How do we get them out naturally…."

"Huh?"

"If we just open the door, they'll know we were up to something. The main leads may appear clueless, but they are not completely oblivious."

The lavender eyebrows under the bangs twitched upwards.

Sonnet, who had been murmuring softly, proposed clearly.

"You stay here."

"What?"

"I'll start from over there."

Without further explanation, Sonnet's straight back quickly disappeared. She positioned herself at the end of the corridor and proceeded to walk at a fast pace while shouting.

"Ute! Have you seen Madam?"

"Huh, what?"

"Madam! I can't find her! Our Madam! Ah! Where could she have gone!"

The voice was very loud, enough for those behind the thick door to hear.

Realizing his friend's intention, Ute did the same.

'If we do it this way, we can also solve that problem…'

A glimmer appeared in his green eyes.

"Madam? I'm looking for her as well!"

"Why you?"

"Do you remember the illness you asked me about? Madam wanted me to find out the cause. I've discovered it."

"Sonnet! Sonnet!"

The bait was quickly taken.

"Sonnet! I'm here! Let me out!"

"Oh my, Madam?"

Sonnet raised her voice with feigned innocence.

"Madam? Is that you?"

"Yes, it's me, Sonnet! Let me out!"

"Just a moment! I'll get you out right away!"

As Sonnet assured confidently, she removed the bugging device from the wall.

It was Ute's responsibility to hastily pack the device into a suitcase.

Unlocking the spare lock, soon, a head of silver hair popped out.

"Sonnet!"

"Madam! Why are you in such a place? I was so worried when I couldn't see you!"

"I didn't want to be here, but the door wouldn't open…!"

"The door wasn't even locked?"

"…Huh? It wasn't locked?"

"No. I just pushed it with the doctor."

Sonnet and Ute pushed while the Count pulled. The combined strength opened the door, but…

The Countess's face bore questions, unaware of these details.

'For someone trapped for hours, her complexion is good.'

Although her eyes and lips were slightly swollen.

Ute decided not to ponder why her lips were swollen.

Meanwhile, his collaborator, with a worried expression, brushed the silver hair.

"Nothing happened, right? Your face is red."

"No, no, it's nothing…! By the way, about what the doctor said earlier…."

"I'm sorry, Madam. I know you wouldn't want to ask the house doctor, but he’s the one I know best—"

"That doesn't matter."

"Stop with the excuses. You said you found the cause of the illness?"

The Count, who had remained silent, urged Ute.

"It's just my hypothesis, but…."

Ute, not wanting to be held accountable later, laid down a cushion word under the urging of the Count and Countess.

"Initially, Sonnet explained the symptoms to me, claiming they were from a friend of the Madam's."

"Skip the trivial details. What's the disease? What's the cure?"

"One thing before that. The person Madam mentioned, they are from Ronda, right?"

No need for an answer.

As soon as the protagonist nodded, Ute continued.

"Ronda people mainly consume cold vegetable dishes. They use minimal spices, quite different from Selcing, which you both are aware of."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Such a diet is best suited to the bodies of Ronda people. On the contrary, if they keep eating food that doesn’t match their constitution, it may cause serious problems."

"That means…"

"It was rare even in Ronda. While traveling is fine, there are very few Ronda people who live long-term in other countries. Isn’t that right, Madam?"

"Do you mean all the symptoms I mentioned are because of unsuitable food conditions?"

"Not just for a day or two, but for a very long period of consuming only Selcing food."

"…"

"It's more of a preventive measure than a cure. Simply avoid overly spicy or hot food, and continue eating Ronda-style cuisine."

The Clara Edwell who had returned was now more accustomed to eating Ronda-style meals.

'There were several discussions in the kitchen, and Sonnet had been mindful of it.'

Thus, if they continued as they had been, the disease that took the life of the previous Countess wouldn't recur.

The male lead would know this best.

Clara Edwell slowly blinked. Her pink lips trembled slightly as they parted.

"Haha, ha…. Really? Because of such a reason, really…."

From her perspective, it was understandable to feel let down.

'But everything turned out well, so that's good.'

After all, she gained an extra life and a supportive family.

"Madam."

A thick palm rested on the Countess's shoulder. The rounded shoulders slowly began to speak.

"I'm really glad…."

At that moment, Ute witnessed it clearly.

The numbers floating above the two protagonists' heads changed in real-time as the Countess leaned on the Count's chest and muttered something.

Why Do You Keep Obsessing Over Your Terminally Ill Wife? (955/998)

Why Do You Keep Obsessing Over Your Terminally Ill Wife? (979/998)

Why Do You Keep Obsessing Over Your Terminally Ill Wife? (998/998)

Following that, an unfamiliar phrase appeared in midair.

Congratulations!

Fragment of ■■ (1/3)

---

The romance story ended.

Though it didn't feel entirely real, the softened atmosphere of the mansion was proof of it.

'Even Ute confirmed it was over.'

Although he appeared more anxious than someone who had just overcome a significant ordeal.

Without taking off his examination glasses, Ute scribbled down 'original timing,' 'male protagonist candidate,' and things of that nature.

"By the way, do you want anything?"

"Huh?"

"Thanks to you, we could finish it. It’s the first time I’ve completed a story. I’m really grateful, so don’t feel burdened and tell me."

There's no need to be thankful for simply completing what was in the contract.

'As for what I did….'

Hmm, maybe being a little grateful isn't wrong.

I observed my well-manicured nails and said,

"Can I call you an angel?"

"…Huh?"

Ute's side profile was beautiful, and his front was even more so.

The man, late to take his eyes off the desk, asked in a bewildered tone.

"Do you like my face too?"

"Is there anyone who doesn't like your face?"

Even with eyes stuck to the ground, no one would think that.

Ute Velvet's appearance was closer to a universal truth than a value judgment.

"Well, um, that's a bit…"

"I'll only call you that occasionally."

I used to be flustered, thinking he might misunderstand that I wanted to date him, but not anymore.

Ute Velvet had completely excluded me from the risk of confession.

"…If it's very occasionally, well, okay."

"Got it, angel. By the way, what’s this?"

Beside the scribbled paper was a colorful catalog.

"These are newly imported amulets."

"…Huh?"

"Stones that save you in a crisis, bracelets that grant strong wishes, mystical cards that predict the future…."

I wished it was a joke, but the green eyes were deadly serious.

'Those are all scams.'

Most of the items in the catalog were marked with circles.

"Why are you trying to buy things meant to swindle outsiders…?"

"No, Sonnet. This world is where romance wins."

"Does romance fill your stomach? Are you really going to buy them?"

"Yes. I was about to order—"

"Absolutely not."

What would he do without me?

When I firmly stopped him, Ute pouted and protested.

"Originally, these things work best with sincerity, but extras never have that chance—"

"This! Can't this just work?"

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