Karina’s Last Days

Chapter 3

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The next morning, Karina didn’t show up to family breakfast for the first time ever. Since she only had a year left to live, she would rather avoid the things she hated the most. She hated family breakfast because it was unpleasant and she always ended up throwing up what little she ate anyway.

It's not as if anyone comes to see how I’m doing. It was already past noon, and Karina’s door was still sealed shut. No visitors had knocked to see how she was, which made her feel disappointed and unappreciated. She hadn’t even told her family she was sick—she had simply told them that she did not want to eat because she felt bloated—but she was surprised at how quiet things were. Every little thing that she tried so hard to avoid thinking about was now coming back to her.

After skipping breakfast, Karina sat in front of her desk holding an apple that a maid had fetched for her. Once she had decided that she would leave, she quickly began to plan. She had never prepared for a trip before, but she held the view that she could go just about anywhere if she had enough money. The most important thing was to prepare and leave undetected.

She planned to spend a week preparing for the trip. She was going to look at carriage schedules and buy necessities for the trip. Karina made a list.

Exchange gold coins for change...

Spare clothing, jerky, water, and...

“Ah! I should also bring the document to call off the engagement with me.”

She expected that the man would not say no if such papers were handed to him. She glanced down at the writing on the paper—Betrothal Nullification Paper.

She’d had no say in her betrothal arrangements when she was young, that decision belonged to her parents. Now that she was legally an adult, she had the right to decide on whether to marry or not.

Muttering her list under her breath, she realized she’d have to visit the doctor one more time. The most urgent item she required was the medicine that will keep her alive throughout the trip.

Karina calmly filled her notebook with the things she needed. After writing down ten items, she couldn’t come up with anything else to add. Finally, she put down her pen and blew air on the paper to dry it, then ripped the page out of the notebook and tucked it up her sleeve.

I would have to prepare the medicine first because I only have a week until departure. Having decided where to go first, she stood up, filled her wallet—shaped like a bear’s face—with her allowance, and changed into her outdoor clothes.

She considered calling the maid for a second, but in the end, decided against it. Perhaps it was because she had more things she needed to do on her own, but she was also growing uncomfortable in the maid’s presence.

Karina took the time to look at herself in the mirror. Her pale complexion looked lifeless and her dry lips were chapped and bloodless. Her hair color made her look plain; it also looked disheveled no matter how much she combed it. Her deep blue eyes, proving her Leopold lineage, were the only things that stood out.

She thought her eyes were her best feature—everything else was unappealing. It was true, her eyes were the only thing worth looking at, but compared to the rest of her family, they were just “pretty.”

Her beautiful parents. Enphric, who had received countless love letters from ladies. Feldon, who was outgoing and friendly. Abelia, who was sickly but always at the center of attention. They were always at the center of everything. Meanwhile, Karina was plain and didn’t speak much—just an ordinary girl.

Maybe, had she been born in another house, she could have had a decent life, made friends, and been happy. But everyone around her shined so brightly that they made her fade even more.

Karina silently left the room. Her room on the second floor was quiet and maids rarely visited. When she made her way to the main staircase, she saw someone coming up the stairs. Nocturn—with his green hair and white coat—raised his head as if he felt her gaze while she waited for him to come up the stairs.

“Lady Karina.”

“Yes. It’s been a while, Nocturn. What brings you here?”

“Ah, It’s Lia’s... forgive me.” He looked into Karina’s eyes and touched his lips. She gave no reaction, so Nocturn continued. “Lady Abelia has her checkup today.”

His eyes folded, looking friendly. He had good character and was well-spoken. He was a nice man who always returned friendliness in kind.

Karina nodded, trying to shake off the feeling of growing stiffness in her back. “Sure, go on.” She did not want a long conversation with him.

Ironically, he had been the one she had in mind when she had entertained sweet dreams. Noticing that his gaze was always on Abelia, she had nipped that feeling in the bud. She‘d heard that he had a younger sister who died at a young age. Apparently, his sister and Abelia had many things in common, so he was very friendly to Abelia. After a brief thought, Karina tried to hurry past him to the stairs.

“Your complexion doesn’t look good. Are you okay?” Karina nodded, looking into his narrow, deep green eyes. Since when do I interest you? she thought with resentment. “I just slept poorly, that’s all.”

“You can have a checkup with Lady Abelia.”

“I’m fine.” Because she was Abelia’s older sister, Nocturn showed some degree of camaraderie toward Karina, but that was all. His shallow friendliness stopped with one question and ended as soon as she declined. “I see you’re going out.”

“I need to take care of things.”

“Noc… Ah! Karina!” A young girl poked her head around the corner and came running to hug Karina.

Karina grabbed the railing hard since she was on the edge of the stairs. Noticing this, Nocturn quickly put his arm around her waist. Karina’s eyes widened at Nocturn’s arms wrapping around her. He quickly took his hands off her when he saw her shocked expression.

“Lady Abelia, it’s dangerous to hug people here,” he admonished.

“Sorry, Nocturn. I’m just excited to see my sister.”

Hearing Nocturn’s worried voice, Abelia laughed playfully and nodded her head. “Karina, why didn’t you join us for breakfast today?” she asked with a smile.

Karina looked down at her little sister, who had her face buried in the nape of her neck while clinging onto her. She tried to smile. Then, as always, she gently patted Abelia on the back.

Abelia was absolutely lovely, but Karina hated her at the same time. And what she despised the most was herself for having those feelings.

“Where are you going, Karina?”

“I have somewhere to go. Anyhow, Abelia, you have to be careful on the stairs.”

“Hehe, I knew you would catch me.”

Abelia had grown a lot and was smiling so warmly now, but there was a time when she would not speak of her wrongdoings for fear of being reprimanded. Of course, it was Karina who had always taken the blame. Now, as those moments flashed through her mind, Karina had to make a conscientious effort to keep her thoughts from showing on her face.

“Don’t believe in me,” Karina muttered in a low voice.

“Pardon?” Abelia’s reply made Karina shudder.

When she raised her head, she saw Abelia still smiling like an angel and looking like she hadn’t heard her words. Over her sister’s shoulder, Karina could see Nocturn’s strange expression.

“It’s nothing, I heard Nocturn has come to check up on you. You should go along and get it done so you can get well sooner.”

“But Nocturn is always nagging me. And I feel so much healthier now! So, I want to go out with you.” Abelia’s blond hair tickled Karina’s fingers as her younger sister recited her complaints. Karina hadn’t been granted either the beautiful wavy hair or the lovely personality.

“No. Nocturn came all the way here to look after you.”

“But...”

At least you will live. Karina bit her tongue, keeping those words to herself, and looked away.