After that day, she disappeared for a whole year.
Father, who had originally promised to go to the Human Tribe for medicine on my behalf, never left.
Seeing his face grow more and more haggard from worry, I understood—she must have convinced Father to let her seek the medicine herself.
During that time, peace returned around me, as if that person had never been here at all.
The clan whispered that she must have been discovered and killed by the humans; otherwise, how could she have been gone for an entire year?
I thought so too.
But whenever I recalled what she said that day, the resolute look in her eyes when she looked at me, I still foolishly held onto a glimmer of hope.
It must have been because of that idiot infecting me with false hope…
And so, a lonely year passed, my body nearing its limit, and Father’s as well.
Then, one day, she suddenly returned…
“Bang!”
The door to the wooden hut slammed open.
I lay on my side on the bed, not even looking up, thinking it was Father again, bringing that useless bowl of medicinal broth.
“Sis!”
A familiar voice reached my ears, and at that moment, my heart seemed to skip a beat.
I struggled to turn over, and the first thing I saw was that delicate, familiar yet dirt-streaked face.
Her hair was a mess, her body covered in dense scars, and even her ears at the top of her head looked half-bitten off.
“Little… sister—”
Realizing I almost said something I shouldn’t, I quickly covered my mouth, feeling my cheeks flush.
“Where… have you been?”
I forced my voice low.
“Of course, I went to get medicine for you! Look!”
She said as she dug into her filthy pocket and pulled out something—a piece of paper with something written on it.
“This is the medicine’s formula. We’ve tried it; it definitely works!”
“Tried it… how did you try it?”
“I made myself sick first and then used it. Before long, I actually got better!”
“…You idiot.”
Could this medicine really heal my body?
I doubted it, but when I saw that beautiful smiling face, I couldn’t help but feel hopeful.
Following the recipe, I brewed the medicine and stared hesitantly at the yellow broth in the bowl, afraid to drink.
“Ah, want me to feed you?” she suddenly blurted out, making me think back to that day.
My cheeks blazed again.
“I have hands and feet, I don’t need you, idiot.”
She said nothing, just smiled at me.
I gritted my teeth, took a deep breath, and swallowed it all in one gulp.
It was still bitter—no better than that broth Father brought.
“How do you feel?”
She looked at me expectantly.
I wanted to curse her, telling her no medicine works the moment it enters your stomach, but under that gaze, the words wouldn’t come.
She had searched for this medicine for a whole year, endured such hardship, and just thinking about it stirred something uneasy in my heart.
“A… little better,” I lied.
“That’s really great!”
At that moment, her eyes shone like stars.
Since I could remember, I had spent almost every day on this sickbed.
I’d never seen the sea of flowers people talked about, nor did I care for them in picture books.
But when she smiled at me so brightly, it felt as if countless flowers bloomed right before my eyes…
Not long after, my body truly began to slowly recover.
I could get out of bed by myself, go outside to see the flowers and plants, and even smile in front of her…
All things I once thought impossible.
But this medicine seemed to work only on me, barely helping Father or the other clan members.
Only today did I learn the truth—the medicine was just an ordinary fever remedy, and the humans had tricked her.
But why, then, had I truly recovered?
Whenever I pondered this, her radiant smile would rise in my mind…
Perhaps the real cure wasn’t that fever medicine after all?
***
Time passed.
My body was almost fully recovered—about eighty percent of a normal person’s strength.
Father passed away not long after she returned, and before he died, the Clan Leader position was entrusted to me.
“Your little sister can be your most capable right hand. Once you become Clan Leader, you must make good use of her.”
Those were his last words to me before passing.
“I understand, Father.”
That was my reply.
Only then did I realize she was the truly pitiful one, treated as a tool—but I would never do that, because she had become the only person who cared for me, and the only one I cared about.
She saved me; her place was above me.
She deserved to govern all of me, including my life.
I vowed to give her everything because only she could accept this filthy, wretched heart of mine.
After Father’s death, I tore up his will and hid it deep inside, along with my ugly feelings.
I publicly released a forged will in advance, making her the new Clan Leader, while I took care of her daily needs.
Selfishly entrusting her with everything, I felt no guilt.
She must think I’ve changed—become kind, become pure.
But only I know my jealous, resentful heart still beats strongly, and the bitterness of that red broth still lingers on my tongue.
My jealousy never stopped; it just shifted.
No longer directed at her, but at anything she cared about besides me.
Even the few-year-old children who gained her attention would make me jealous to the point of madness.
I thought this life would go on for a long time. But just a year later—she was noticed by the Demon King.
I wasn’t surprised anyone would fall for her; someone so outstanding deserved to be adored by all.
But ever since the Demon King took her away, the time she spent with me grew less and less, and her spirit grew more and more exhausted.
She didn’t deserve such treatment.
She should be revered by all—even the Demon King must respect her!
Yet that Demon King humiliated her, mocked her, and she had to endure it all for those who didn’t matter…
I wanted to do something for her but was utterly powerless.
That day’s wedding— I was the one who dressed and styled her.
Looking at her delicate and lovely face in the mirror, no smile could form on mine.
“Cheer up. Look on the bright side; our clan won’t starve anymore!”
I remained silent and nodded.
But, Clan Leader, in my heart, your smile is more precious than their lives.
It had taken so much effort to abandon thoughts of death, to finally be able to do something for the Clan Leader.
And now, am I really going to die so simply here?
Suddenly, I recalled the vow I once made—to give everything to the Clan Leader, including my life.
And now, the Clan Leader hasn’t let me die.
The Clan Leader still needs me. I cannot die yet!
So, flowers, please bloom a little slower.
Let me die only with her permission—I’ve sworn it…
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