Only Realized After Losing You

62. You’re In Love With Her

It wasn’t difficult to persuade Baltan Roymon.

Instead of going directly to Baltan, who lived in the countryside, Lannon ordered his men to intimidate him.

The coercion was both violence and financial.

As a result, Baltan spouted out a series of anecdotes related to the Phever siblings.

It was an easily obtained confession.

Among the details of the Phever siblings’ past, there was one piece of information that shook Lennon to his core.

It was,

‘When Hannah was young, she apparently had a chronic illness. It was almost like a hereditary disease, and my brother, the father of the Phever siblings, also had the same illness… He probably died of that heart disease. Of course, I don’t know if Hannah still has that illness. As an adult, Hannah seems to be healthy.’

Lennon immediately recognized the death of her predecessor, Count Phever.

As Baltan said, he died early from ‘heart disease’.

Strangely enough, it was said that the heart disease had almost no outward symptoms.

And it was also said that the heart disease was genetic, meaning it was likely to be passed down to future generations.

It was just as Baltan said.

Lennon summarized the information he had found out from Baltan and the facts he knew.

A disease that had no outward symptoms.

In other words, one could have heart disease and not look like it.

And it was a disease that was more likely to be inherited genetically.

Simply put, Hannah might have inherited the illness her father suffered from.

Lennon thought of the kid who had stuck close to his sister.

That guy who had quite a manly look in his eyes despite being a child. Hardwin Phever.

Lennon’s investigation revealed that there was not a single cousin that was friendly with the Phever siblings.

Perhaps because they lost their parents at an early age, their cousins ​​were eyeing the county.

As a result, Hannah and Hardwin seemed to have formed a strong bond and trusted only each other.

Lennon had a theory.

Hannah suffered from the same genetic disease that her father had.

The disease was destined to kill Hannah at an early age.

Hannah knew that she was going to die.

She wanted to pass the county to Hardwin after she died.

However, Hardwin was not old enough to inherit the county.

She could not afford to hand over the Count’s title, which would be vacant upon her death, to her cousins, who she did not trust.

So Hannah made a plan.

‘I must find someone who resembles me and set up a stand-in until Hardwin can inherit the County.’

And then, just in time, Ellie appeared in front of them.

A woman named Ellie who looked quite similar to Hannah.

Hannah must have asked Ellie to take her place.

For about a year, until the day came when Hardwin could inherit the title.

Ellie must have been conflicted, but she would have eventually granted Hannah’s request.

It was obvious that the reason Ellie ran away was because of her father, who only saw her as a means to make money.

Ellie, who suddenly ran away one day without anything, must have not had a way to survive.

For her, the count’s house was a safe place, the best place to hide from her father’s eyes.

Hannah’s request to act as her substitute must have been a temptation that Ellie couldn’t resist.

Honestly, Lennon didn’t really care if Ellie ran away because her father had made ‘some more fatal demands’ on her.

What mattered to Lennon was that Ellie had run away from him and was fooling him by pretending to be Hannah.

It was a matter of uncovering her true identity piece by piece and bringing her back to his side.

Nothing else mattered.

And so this was Lennon’s conclusion:

There is a high possibility that they have been switched.

No, it had to be true

The real Hannah was dead, and Ellie was taking her place.

And the one who was helping her was a young man named Hardwin.

After researching their past and present, Lennon became completely convinced that Hannah was Ellie.

There was not a shred of doubt in his mind.

He prided himself on coming to a very clear conclusion.

There was some evidence to support it.

In her demeanor, in the way she acted like Hannah, in the occasional glimpses of her.

In Hardwin’s attitude towards her, the way Hardwin’s eyes changed from time to time.

Without realizing it, Hardwin had begun to see his sister, or rather, her, as a woman.

It was definitely not the way one would look at their biological sister.

Lennon was convinced.

Because he had the ability to judge people just by their eyes.

He had met a lot of people.

Whether it was a woman he had casual relations with, someone who got in his way, or someone who approached him with ambition.

The ability he acquired by dealing with people face to face was something that the little brat who lived in the count’s mansion with his sister could not have.

Of course, he wouldn’t know that he was giving Ellie that look.

It was a pity.

Lennon briefly recalled the sight of them in the banquet hall of the Imperial Palace.

Hardwin and Ellie, holding each other’s hands, dancing gracefully.

Their faces had been plastered with happy smiles as they danced.

… So you do know how to laugh.

Lennon, who was watching them from a distance, felt bitter.

I thought I knew Ellie better than anyone else, but this was the first time I saw her bright smile.

That smile only made his desire to have her grow stronger.

If only he could lock her in a small cage, he would keep her there.

He wanted to lock her up and see her various sides alone.

If he felt great jealousy towards Hardwin, who was looking down at Ellie with gentle eyes…

So Lennon decided to push a little harder to get her.

“First, I have to get that kid away from her.”

Just as he set the teacup he was holding down on the table, there were a couple of knocks at the door.

Knock, knock.

“Who is it?”

“Lord Lennon. I brought Baltan Roymon.”

“Come in.”

To separate them, let’s use Baltan Roymon.

A faint smile appeared on Lennon’s lips.

A moment later, the closed door opened and Baltan came in.

He bowed his head in greeting, as if he was afraid to face Lennon.

“Lord Lennon. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Baltan Roymon.”

“Oh. Nice to meet you too. You can raise your head.”

With that, Baltan raised his head.

Lennon studied him closely in silence.

He had a habit of scanning the facial features of people he met for the first time.

Although he couldn’t be 100% certain, the shape of a person’s face could sometimes reveal the path they have taken in life and their personality.

Baltan’s brown eyes, which looked tired, were looking up.

It was too deep to be attributed to fatigue from the long journey up to the capital.

It must have been accumulated fatigue that had been building up for a while.

Life seemed tiring and difficult for him.

His sunburned skin was flaky, and a dark, scruffy beard grew on his chin.

Lennon’s gaze fell on the clothes he was wearing.

Although Baltan was wearing decent clothes, the colors of his clothes had faded, as if they had been washed and worn many times.

He must not be doing well—, Lennon decided.

Whether it was money or peace of mind, Baltan, the uncle of the Phever siblings, would be weak.

A weak mind was susceptible to the temptations of others, and Lennon was no stranger to temptation.

Whether it was sexual temptation, political temptation, or anything else.

“Sit down.”

He watched Baltan closely as he took a seat on the couch across from him.

Lennon made a polite remark.

“Wasn’t it hard to get here?”

“Oh, no! I came up comfortably in the carriage that you sent, Lord Lennon. I should be the one thanking you.”

“That’s good. The reason I asked to see you in person was because I was curious about Count Phever.”

“My apologies, my lord … may I ask why?”

There was a glint of ambition in Baltan’s eyes as he asked.

Lennon didn’t miss it.

“Sure, why not.”

To quote what Ellie had said:

‘You’re in love with her.’

Lennon smiled faintly.

“Because I’m in love with her.”

“… … !”

Baltan looked quite surprised by the sudden confession.

Lennon barely managed to suppress a laugh.

After a few coughs, he continued.

“But she refused to be engaged with me. I mean, I’m Lennon Hills, so I’m embarrassed.”

“Ah… That’s right… Hannah has been twisted ever since she was little. I understand.”

Baltan nodded with a faint frown.

Lennon briefly recalled the report from his subordinate that Baltan had been beaten to a pulp by Hannah many times while vying for the title of Count.

“That’s why I wanted to know more about Count Hannah. There’s a saying that if you know your opponent, you’ll win every battle. If I get to know her thoroughly, I might be able to figure out how to make her like me.”

“You are truly thoughtful. I wonder what that child will say …”

“That’s right.”

What the hell about Ellie that I’m so obsessed with?

Lennon ran his fingers over his smooth, beardless jaw.

The tiresome words lingered in his ears.

‘You’re in love with her.’

Lennon smirked.

If that’s truly love, what will you do?

He wanted to ask her.