The Fiancé's Sudden Cough of Blood

“Young Master!”>

Albert's face flushed bright crimson as he shouted. It sounded like it could shatter glass. Noah, furrowing his brows just slightly, scratched behind his ear roughly. >

“What exactly is the problem? I'm the one who was supposed to ruin Adeline, soil the family name. It's just that I got sick.”>

Noah's plan had been simple. >

One day, he would suddenly fall ill. A terminal illness, no less—the infamous teflu. With a high fatality rate, Adeline would panic and break off the engagement so she wouldn't become a widow young. >

Once free, he'd sulk a bit, then miraculously recover in a flash. >

“We can't let the servants discover this lie, so we'll have to keep it tightly controlled. Of course, at the Billet Duke's house too. I'll toss in one estate, one mine—whatever the hell you want. We'll draft a secret oath, pay a reward. The Miller Duke's already stuck me with a good groom, so the Billet Duke won't complain and will tear up the contract without a murmur.”>

The public would hear that the parties couldn't agree and would publish the announcement. >

“Then… will the Billet young miss accept it?”>

“What else can I do? She's about to become a widow before the wedding even happens. She doesn't love me anyway. She just…”>

Noah's face darkened at the thought of Adeline. A swirl of emotions crossed it—something like bitter melancholy among them. >

“She's only tormenting me. Ruthlessly.”>

Of course, that was just a momentary slip. >

“Ah… I can't allow that. Even if Duke Miller has entrusted all duties to Young Master and gone to recuperate with his wife, I must wait until the master returns.”>

“I'll handle it. Just do as I say.”>

“This is madness. You'll regret it later!”>

“Regret?”>

Noah sneered and picked up his fountain pen. >

“I don't do regret.”>

At last, the truth that he was free sank in, and Noah's chest swelled with hope. >

He had overlooked it. >

How crazy Adeline really was. >

Why she had earned the nickname “leech”! >

* * *>

“Noah! If I only get one more point this time, I'll beat you! Think about giving up the western lands!”>

“Insane. Come on, let's see who can do it.”>

A soccer bet was in full swing. Playing soccer in summer was the work of crazy people. Noah and his group were all completely out of their minds. >

Noah, on the other hand, took a strange pleasure in the burning sensation that filled his body. Sweating until his head grew foggy actually made him feel refreshed. When his breath hit his throat and his heart pounded as if it might burst—that was the peak. >

Boom-!>

“Young Master Miller has scored another point!”>

It happened then. >

“Young Master! Young Master, I'm here!”>

Noah, who had been drinking the water brought by the servant, turned around. Gulp, gulp. With his head tilted back, sweat and water flowed coolly down. >

Unlike his relaxed demeanor, Albert, panting heavily, dropped to one knee. >

“Albert. Exercise a little. You ran only this far and you're already out of breath?”>

“Big trouble! Hic, big trouble!”>

“Big trouble?”>

Before Albert could explain, he suddenly grabbed Noah's wrist and pulled him toward the mansion. >

Albert was a man with clear lines between work and private life. Noah, who had never once been rude to a subordinate, felt more bewildered than angry by his actions. >

He pushed Noah into the bedroom before finally letting out a long breath. >

“Bi, bi, bi…”>

“Slow down. Who’s chasing you?”>

Noah wiped the sweat with a towel in perfect calm, and Albert's anger flared. Perhaps the scorching heat had made his nerves even more raw. >

“The Billet young miss has arrived.”>

“What? Who?”>

“The Billet young miss, your fiancée—Miss Adeline Billet!”>

“When?”>

“Right now…”>

Before Albert could finish. >

Knock, knock, knock, knock. >

The hurried footsteps climbing the stairs sounded alarmingly urgent. They stopped right in front of the door. >

“Young Master. This is the butler. The Billet young miss has come to visit. Shall I show her into the drawing room?”>

At that moment, Noah's brows furrowed sharply. >

“Why is that woman here?”>

* * *>

The halls of the Miller Duke's residence were quiet. Adeline stepped on the familiar-yet-strange carpets. >

It's been a while. >

The last time she saw Noah, it was when they were sixteen. Nearly four years had passed. It should have been a reunion with her now-adult fiancé, but heavy anxiety enveloped her instead. >

“Perhaps…”>

As she followed the butler, Adeline opened her lips slightly. >

“Y-yes?!”>

The butler, who hadn't expected her to speak, jerked his shoulders. Adeline's wide eyes made him realize he'd overreacted and awkwardly scratched his cheek. >

“Ah. Sorry. I've been distracted lately and showed poor manners.”>

“That's all right. It's only natural.”>

Adeline offered a gentle smile. The master of the family was gravely ill. How could a servant remain calm? The young master's well-being was cause for such worry. >

“Before meeting Young Master, I wanted to hear a little about his condition.”>

“Ah… Young Master's condition.”>

The butler's pupils trembled greatly. He quickly turned his head to avoid her gaze, deepening Adeline's worry. >

It's bad. >

She had expected as much. The letter Noah sent had been unusually serious. >

My dear Billet young miss, >

Young miss. I fear I must deliver unhappy news. Even as I write, I don't know how to put it so that you'll feel a little less troubled. >

I'll go straight to the point. >

I have fallen ill. >

Do you know teflu? I've caught that deadly disease with an extremely high fatality rate. Currently there is no cure in the kingdom, and most who contract it die, leaving me to spend a gloomy day. >

Forgive me for not telling you sooner. >

Since receiving your letter, it seems inappropriate to delay any longer, so I will convey my heart this way. >

As you said, we have passed our prime, and I have fallen ill. To hide my condition and marry as is would pull you into hell. >

Thus, I request that our engagement be dissolved. >

Please forget this sick fiancé and begin anew. >

—Noah Miller>

Just remembering the letter made her heart flutter. >

“It would be better for the young miss to see the letter herself.”>

The butler led the way again. He had raced the seven-day journey in only three days, driven by worry. >

Adeline walked in silence, longing to prepare her heart even a little. Her condition was so poor it hurt even to speak of it. >

“This is the butler. I have brought the Billet young miss. May I show her in?”>

There was no reply. >

A moment later, the door burst open with a bang. >

“Come in.”>

Noah's aide, Albert, stepped aside. Adeline, who hadn't expected anyone else, started in surprise but quickly tightened her grip on her handbag. >

The sound of her heels clicking on the marble floor echoed unsteadily. >

Cough, cough…! >

Suddenly, a coughing fit erupted. Her steps halted. >

Noah, who had just raised his upper body from the bed, had his back to her. His broad back had grown far more muscular than before, but the steep rise and fall of his ribs looked painful. >

Knock. >

Knock, knock. >

Her heart began to race uncontrollably. >

“Miller Young Master.”>

Adeline maintained her composure as best she could and stood beside the bed. Calling him carefully, Noah turned his head. >

The Noah who had reached adulthood had changed greatly. >

The boyish face had vanished, replaced by one as sharp as finely crafted engraving. Beneath his rolled-up eyelids, clear lake-like eyes came into view. >

The moment their gazes met, Noah's eyes widened slightly. >

“Adeline?”>

The changes weren't only in Noah. >

Adeline, who had once looked like a little girl, now stood before him as a complete lady. Her face, once chubby with baby fat, had matured beyond imagination. Her finely sculpted features had taken on a woman's grace. >

‘Was her face always like this?’>

Even in the modest dress that covered her entire body, the feeling wasn't suffocating. Instead, the tightly buttoned collar at her throat drew his gaze. >

While Noah stood frozen, stunned by the changed fianc��e. >

‘Blood….’>

Only one thing entered Adeline's eyes. >

A blood-stained handkerchief in Noah's hand. It was the one he had pressed to his mouth to stifle his coughing just moments before.