-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Jayden's Request
-----------------------------------------------------------------

I’d noticed Jayden’s attitude toward me had grown somewhat strange over the past few days, but it had now reached a point I could no longer ignore.

‘This is beyond unsettling.’

I decided to confront him and get to the bottom of it, so after dinner, I waited for the right moment.

It was crucial to snatch a moment of his free time, which was a rare thing.

Unlike me, who did little more than eat and laze around, Mr. Jayden Lindsi was the heir to the family, burdened with heavy responsibilities.

Jayden's days were packed with a schedule of studying, swordsmanship training, and social activities.

But even he had his moments of leisure, namely his afternoon walk.

“Ah, Sister.”

The central garden, one of the prides of the Marquis Lindsi estate. Spotting me, Jayden's eyes widened.

“Have you come out for a walk as well, Sister?”

“Yes, the weather was so nice. What a coincidence running into you.”

I walked toward Jayden, who stood among the colorful flowers.

“This is unusual. I don't think I've ever seen you strolling here at this hour, Sister.”

“I-Is that so?”

*Of course it is! It's because facing you is so awkward!*

The real Charlotte and Jayden were like cats and dogs, and I, too, had tried my best to avoid his frosty demeanor.

“Anyway, the garden is truly beautiful.”

At my attempt to casually change the subject, Jayden lowered his gaze.

“…The gardener always tends to it with great care. My mother in heaven would be pleased to see it so well-maintained.”

In that moment, a fact I had forgotten came to mind.

Come to think of it, I remembered hearing that this garden was a place cherished by the former Marchioness Lindsi—Jayden's biological mother—who had passed away from an illness.

I’d considered it to have little to do with me, so the story had gone in one ear and out the other.

Jayden scanned every corner of the garden, his eyes filled with a faint, wistful longing.

“…Erm. I'm sure she would.”

I awkwardly agreed with him, wondering how to bring up the main topic.

*Damn it! I was going to give him a piece of my mind, but now that the mood has turned like this, it's hard to say anything!*

But then, Jayden suddenly posed an unexpected question.

“Speaking of the garden, Sister, which of these flowers do you like?”

“Hm? Well, they're all so pretty.”

“Then I shall select some for you and send them to your room.”

“Send? Send what?”

“The flowers, of course.”

“You're going to send the flowers to me?”

“Yes.”

“…Why?”

He replied as if I were asking the obvious.

“Decorating a room with flowers in full bloom is pleasant to the eye and fills the air with a lovely scent, is it not? Or perhaps you dislike having them in your room, Sister?”

“No, no, that's not the issue. I'm asking if it's okay for you to pick the flowers from here and give them to me.”

“Is there any reason why it wouldn't be?”

“A-Aren't these flowers precious to you? You come to look at them on your walk every day…”

I couldn't fathom why he would offer me flowers from the garden he cherished so much. To me, of all people, whom he’d detested until just recently.

“You say the strangest things.”

Jayden said kindly, with a gentle smile I had never seen on his face before.

“Flowers are meant to bloom and wilt with the seasons, are they not? If they can bring you joy, even for a few days, then that is enough for me.”

“Jayden…”

Jayden, revealing his tender feelings for me in the tranquil garden.

If this were a scene from a novel I was reading, I might have been moved. The younger brother who had always hated his sister was finally opening his heart.

But my heart remained cold as ice.

‘Has he lost his mind? What's with him?’

It was starting to go beyond absurd and was becoming downright frightening.

Suspicion gnawed at me. Had I done something wrong? Or had *he* done something to wrong *me* and was trying to make up for it?

And Jayden's strange behavior didn't end there.

“Ah, right. Sister.”

He added, as if something had just occurred to him.

“When I send the flowers, I'll also send a Mont Blanc cake. I hope you enjoy it.”

“A M-Mont Blanc…?”

“Yes. I noticed yesterday that you were eating sweets, which you didn't used to. Has your palate changed?”

“Uh, yes.”

“I had an appointment this morning, did I not? I bought it from a patisserie on my way back. I hear their Mont Blanc cake is famous.”

I was speechless, my mouth just opening and closing. I could feel the goosebumps prickling on both my arms.

This can't go on. I have to do something, right now.

“Jayden!”

Jayden started in surprise at my desperate cry.

“…What is it?”

“Cut it out! You're scaring me!”

“Scaring you? What is?”

“You! You're scaring me! Why are you suddenly acting like this toward me?”

“What have I done?”

“Talking about sending me flowers all creepily, buying a cake just for me. No matter how I look at it, you're acting suspiciously.”

“‘Creepily’ is a bit much.”

“What's the reason? You hate me.”

“No, as I said before, you've changed, Sister, and I've started to think differently about you…”

“This is too different! Sure, I've been behaving myself for the past few months. But does that warrant a complete 180-degree change in attitude?”

“That is…”

“I've searched my memory, and I can't recall doing a single thing that would make you like me. Am I wrong?”

Unable to refute my point, Jayden fell silent.

“There has to be a reason you're doing this. Just be honest with me. Receiving such burdensome favors only makes me uncomfortable.”

“…”

Jayden gazed at the garden scenery for a moment. It was a silence that frayed the nerves.

“If you insist, then I have no choice.”

At last, his heavy lips parted.

“I was originally going to tell you after we had formed a more amicable relationship…”

“It's fine. Tell me now.”

“The truth is, I have a favor to ask of you, Sister.”

Of course! The moment I heard the word ‘favor,’ my anxiety plummeted.

This was much more like the Jayden I knew.

“If that's all it was, you should have said so sooner. So, what's the favor?”

“Well…”

“Don't hesitate, just spit it out. If it's something I can do, I'll help you. Probably.”

Jayden's lips parted several times as if to speak, but then he shook his head firmly.

“I will tell you the details of the favor later.”

“And when is 'later'?”

“I will visit you tonight.”

“Uh, at night?”

“It is a very important matter, so I wish to discuss it where no one else is around.”

Just in case, I glanced around, but there was no sign of anyone nearby.

“There's no one here, so why don't we just…”

“Later. Separately. Secretly.”

After emphasizing each word, Jayden gave a polite bow and said he would take his leave.

“What kind of favor could it be?”

I tilted my head, watching his retreating back.

Time flew by in the blink of an eye, and night fell.

Knock, knock. Just as he'd promised, Jayden knocked cautiously on my door in the middle of the night.

“You're here?”

“Shh, be quiet.”

When I opened the door, I was met with his solemn face, a finger pressed to his lips in warning.

Dressed in black, perhaps to blend into the shadows if necessary, he slipped inside, his wary eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.

‘Good grief, what a drama queen.’

Anyone watching would think this was a drug deal.

Even as I thought this, I was inwardly tense.

During the day, I had been relieved to hear that Jayden simply had a favor to ask, but on second thought, it wasn't a matter I could be complacent about.

Logically, was there really anything Jayden would need to ask of me with such humility?

Money, connections, honor. In every aspect, Jayden was naturally far superior to me.

‘Don't tell me he's…?’

One possibility came to mind, but I desperately tried to deny it.

“Alright, tell me what this favor is.”

I had Jayden sit on the sofa before getting straight to the point.

“What I am about to say is a rather, no, an extremely bewildering story. But I ask that you do not think me a madman.”

As if he had come with his mind made up, Jayden spoke more easily than he had during the day.

“Because I am perfectly sane.”

“I get it, so just tell me.”

“…This is my request.”

I thought he was finally going to tell me what the favor was, but he suddenly rose from his seat.

Then, he dropped to his knees with a thud and bowed his head.

“Please, let me sleep in your bed! Just for one night!”

At the request, which was in one way unexpected and in another exactly as I'd feared, my mind went blank.

‘They say you should never say never. My past self…’

Just how far did your evil influence reach?

If I could, I would go back in time and give myself a piece of my mind.

Jayden isn't even a sub-male lead! Why is he under the bed curse too?!

While I trembled with a fierce, directionless rage, Jayden confessed the reason he had no choice but to make such a request.

It was the same old tiresome story about insomnia and a mysterious voice.

“I know. I know it sounds completely absurd. So even if you don't believe me, Sister…”

“I believe you.”

“Of course. It's only natural that you wouldn't… Huh? What did you say?”

“I believe you, Jayden. There's no particular reason for you to make up such a lie. Besides, if you were going to lie, you would have come up with something more plausible.”

“That's true.”

Jayden reluctantly agreed.

It would have been more natural to pretend I didn't believe him at first and then slowly come around, but I didn't have the mental energy for that.

“Hey, but listen.”

There was something I needed to confirm with Jayden as quickly as possible.

“What exactly did that voice—the one talking about the bed—say?”

Based on my experiences so far, the words of the mysterious voice were my old comments.

Jayden's face scrunched into a deep frown.

“Well… it was nonsensical rambling that I didn't quite understand, and I don't think you'd benefit from hearing it.”

“I want to hear it anyway.”

Finally, he let out a sigh and began to reenact the voice that periodically echoed in his head.

“Jayden… you hopeless bastard…”

The opening words alone made me reflect on my entire linguistic history.