Chapter 26

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"Lionel, this is a very beautiful place, isn't it? It's spacious, lush, and quiet..."

Edith sighed in admiration as she gazed at the vast garden of the villa, where the greenery was vivid under the bright sunlight. Lionel squinted at the sight of Edith.

"I'm glad you like it, Edith. This is the perfect place to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city."

In the vast garden surrounded by endless greenery, Edith was pushing Lionel's wheelchair. The blue lake, visible through the trees, sparkled in the sunlight. Edith felt a pleasant cool breeze on her cheeks and was delighted by the firmness she felt in her hands as she pushed the wheelchair. Lionel, who had been nothing but skin and bones when they first met, was gradually regaining a youthful, supple physique.

Lionel watched with a smile as Archer, who was chasing butterflies, ran around the garden. As Archer's figure grew smaller and smaller, Lionel called out to him.

"Archer, be careful not to fall."

"Okay, big brother!"

Archer's cheerful voice, carried by the wind, reached their ears. Lionel and Edith exchanged smiles.

"Recently, Archer has been smiling a lot more. For a while, all I saw was his gloomy expression, and I hardly ever saw him smile, which worried me."

"That must be largely due to your recovery, Lionel. Archer loves you very much."

Every time Edith saw Archer running up to Lionel with a smile, she couldn't help but relax her cheeks. Watching the heartwarming interactions between the siblings, Edith felt a sense of joy welling up in her chest as she realized how much Lionel's health was improving.

"...All of this is thanks to you, Edith. Since you've been supporting me, it feels like miracles are happening to my body every day."

As Lionel's condition improved day by day, and he gradually regained his original physique, Edith smiled happily.

"That's also thanks to you, Lionel. Not only do you let me stay by your side, but you also take all the medicine I recommend without complaint, and when I tell you to rest, you do so without overexerting yourself. ...I believe that the accumulation of such days is leading to your smooth recovery."

Lionel nodded at Edith's words and, while looking in the direction Archer had run, where he could no longer see his back, whispered enviously.

"...In the past, I used to run around here like that. I wonder if I will ever be able to stand and walk on my own again."

Looking down at his own thighs, Lionel was asked by Edith.

"Shall we start practicing standing? I'll be right here to help you."

"Is that okay, Edith? My body has gained weight, and I don't want to be a burden to you."

"Hehe, I'm fine. When you're ready, please grab onto me. ...It's been a long time, so it's natural that your legs won't move as you want. Don't overexert yourself."

Lionel, with Edith's outstretched arm, slowly lifted himself from the wheelchair. Edith supported him from the side as he carefully balanced his body and put strength into his legs. After some time, when Lionel stood up straight, Edith exclaimed in amazement.

"...Amazing, Lionel! You're standing on your own two feet right now."

"I can hardly believe it myself. For a long time, my legs just wobbled and had no strength. ...I never thought there would come a day when I could stand on my own feet again..."

Lionel, with a slightly moistened gaze, smiled at Edith.

"It seems my desire has grown. ...Can we try walking a little?"

"Of course. At your own pace, try to take small steps forward."

Lionel, still holding onto Edith's arm, gently took a step with his right foot. Then, he slowly put strength into his left foot and shifted his weight back to his right foot. Edith, who was lending her arm, watched Lionel closely.

"...That's wonderful! Lionel, you're walking on your own feet."

Though it was just a few small steps, Edith looked at Lionel with admiration and smiled. Lionel, who seemed to have found a sense of accomplishment, was moving his legs with determination.

"Can I walk without a wheelchair again? ...Oops,"

"Ah, Lionel!"

Unable to properly shift his weight to his feet, Lionel stumbled, and Edith instinctively supported him. However, unable to support Lionel's body, they both tumbled onto the grass. Lionel, who had fallen on top of Edith, quickly twisted his body to roll to her side.

"...I'm sorry, Edith."

"No, I'm the one who should apologize for not being able to support you, Lionel..."

Feeling Lionel's warm body through his clothes, Edith's cheeks flushed. Lying side by side on the grass, looking up at the blue sky, Lionel and Edith started to chuckle.

"Ha, Edith. You always give me hope. I had long given up on walking on my own feet. ...Meeting you, I feel so fortunate."

Lionel turned his head and looked at Edith, who was lying next to him, with a dazzled expression. Edith was taken aback by the brilliance of Lionel's smile.

(…! I've never met anyone as beautiful as him. Seeing his beautiful face so close, my heart can't take it...)

With her heart racing and her face flushed, Edith looked at Lionel, who smiled lovingly and slowly extended his hand toward her.

"...Edith"

"Y-Yes, Lionel."

Lionel gently stroked Edith's hair and slid his palm to the back of her head, gently pulling her closer.

"I'm happy, Edith. That you're always by my side. ...Now that I've met you through my illness, I even feel that being ill was a stroke of luck."

Lionel's tanzanite-like, clear purple eyes drew near to Edith's face, and his soft lips gently touched her forehead.

"...!"

Edith, surprised by the kiss, opened her eyes wide and her face turned bright red. Lionel, whispering in her ear, asked:

"...Did you dislike it?"

"Dislike it? No, that's impossible!"

After answering without thinking, Edith, embarrassed, lowered her eyes. Lionel, laughing joyfully, tightened his embrace.

"Edith, you're really cute."

In Lionel's arms, Edith felt her heart leap and a sense of joy well up from deep within.

(What should I do? I've really fallen in love with Lionel...)

Edith, who had seen Lionel's sincerity, kindness, positivity, and hard work up close, found it hard not to be drawn to him. Despite her concern that she might be a burden to him, who had even resisted the beautiful Eugenie, Edith's feelings always naturally turned toward Lionel.

After a while, a high, bright voice echoed from a distance.

"Big brother! I caught a beautiful butterfly!"

"...!"

At the sound of approaching small footsteps, Lionel and Edith quickly pulled away, exchanging embarrassed glances. Archer, who had run up to Lionel, tilted his head in curiosity and looked at the two lying on the grass.

"...Are you two basking in the sun?"

"Well, something like that."

"Hmm? You two are close. ...Hey, big brother, look."

Archer held a butterfly with his right hand in front of Lionel. It was a peacock butterfly with large, vividly colored wings.

"What a beautiful butterfly, Archer. You did well to catch it."

"Yes. It was so beautiful, I wanted you to see it up close. ...Look."

When Archer let go, the butterfly fluttered its wings and flew away, dancing over Lionel and Edith's faces. Lionel reached out and stroked Archer's head.

"You're so kind, Archer. I got to see it flutter beautifully, thank you."

"I'm glad! I wanted to do something to help you feel better, like Edith does."

Edith, startled, looked at Archer and sat up. Although she was still engaged to Lionel, this was the first time Archer had called her "sister-in-law." Feeling her heart warm as she accepted Archer's small body into her arms, Edith hugged him tightly. Lionel, watching the two, smiled happily.

Thank you all for your warm words. They really encourage me. Thank you very much.