As they walked towards the garden, the sun set behind them, casting a warm glow over the sprawling mansion and its verdant surroundings.
The air was crisp and cool, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the trees. Mingya's footsteps were soft and measured, while Edward's were slightly hesitant as if he was uncertain of where to step.
They walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Mingya was spacing out, unsure how to speak to Edward, who seemed to hate the engagement, while Edward was nervously rehearsing what he wanted to say to her.
The only sound that accompanied them was the crunch of gravel beneath their feet as they made their way down the winding path that led to the garden.
Mingya couldn't stand the silence any longer.
"So, what is your answer?" she asked.
Edward was surprised by the question.
"My answer?" he repeated, looking at her with confusion.
"Yes, about the engagement. What do you think of it?" Mingya clarified.
Edward hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. At first, he didn't want to marry someone he didn't know, but now, after seeing Charlotte, he felt that it would be nice to learn more about her.
Before he could respond, Mingya spoke up.
"As I thought, you feel the same way. We've both been forced into this engagement, so let's keep it simple," she said, turning to face him.
"Since my father has made it clear that this engagement is non-negotiable, we'll just have to act like we're betrothed for now. Once either of us finds someone we love, we can use that as an excuse to break off the engagement."
Edward didn't know why, but upon hearing this, he felt a pang of sadness in his heart. Deep down, he had hoped that Charlotte felt the same way, but now it seemed that was not the case. He clenched his hands, hoping that his disappointment was not visible on his face. However, there was no need to worry, as his face had a tendency to become expressionless whenever he felt extreme emotions, never revealing his inner thoughts.
"I understand. We can do that," he said, his eyes fixed on Mingya's face.
For a moment, he believed he saw a flicker of relief there.
'You are a fool, Edward. Other people have their own feelings too. Why didn't you consider that,' he thought to himself. All this time, he had only been thinking of himself. He had only considered rejecting the engagement if he didn't like her, but never thought of the opposite possibility.
_____
"I understand. We can do that," he said.
Mingya let out a sigh of relief at his answer. 'At least one problem is solved for now. I'll have more time to prepare for the novel's plot,' she thought to herself.
Suddenly, the system pinged, and a translucent window opened up.
[Ding!]
[Cause of Variable - (?) has been identified.]
Mingya was surprised. She remembered the question mark that had appeared next to her health bar when she first opened her status window. At that time, the system had informed her that further analysis was needed. It seemed like it had finally found something.
'What is it?' she asked the system in her mind.
[Character: Charlotte(Mingya)
Status: Afflicted
Diagnosis: Congenital Terminal Illness
Traces of medication suppressing the illness have been detected in the character's bloodstream.
Further analysis reveals that the illness is a congenital condition that has been present since birth. The medication has been effective in managing the symptoms, but it is not a permanent solution. The illness can only be suppressed, not eliminated.
It is recommended that the character seeks specialized medical attention to prolong their life.]
Mingya's eyes widened in shock as she processed the information. Her hands began to shake, and her eyes lost focus.
[Warning!]
[Warning!]
[Illness is being triggered now.]
Mingya could feel her stomach twisting with pain.
"Excuse me," she murmured, her face turning pale.
Edward nodded absentmindedly, not noticing the paleness of her face.
Without another word, she quickly turned and ran towards the mansion, her steps unsteady and uneven.
As she hurried through the halls, she met several maids who were surprised to see her back so soon.
"Miss Charlotte, is everything alright?" one of them asked, concern etched on her face.
But Mingya didn't stop to explain anything.
"Please excuse me," she gasped out, her voice trembling with pain, and continued to rush towards her room.
Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she could feel her breaths coming in short gasps. The pain in her stomach was becoming unbearable, and she knew she had to reach her room before it was too late.
She stumbled into the doorframe as she tried to enter the room, but finally managed to make it inside. As soon as she entered the room, she felt a sharp pain in her chest, causing her to wince and gasp for breath. The pain was intense and felt like a vice was tightening around her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.
Her vision became blurred, and she felt dizzy, causing her to stumble and nearly fall. A wave of nausea washed over her, and she clamped her mouth shut, desperately trying to hold back the bile that threatened to come up.
She felt a metallic taste in her mouth, and a warm liquid rose up her throat. Mingya's eyes widened in horror as she felt a sudden urge to vomit. She ran towards the bathroom and collapsed in front of the toilet, retching violently.
Blood mixed with the vomit as it splattered into the toilet bowl. Mingya's body convulsed as she continued to vomit uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face.
The pain in her chest intensified, and she felt like her lungs were on fire. She could barely catch her breath, and her body felt weak and heavy.
Mingya's mind was in a daze as she tried to make sense of what was happening to her.
Only the sound of the System's notifications kept her conscious.
"What... What the hell?"
[Health -1]
[Health -1]
[Health -1]
Finally, Mingya's body couldn't handle the intensity of the pain any longer, and she eventually passed out.