-Drip...
"Haa... Haa..."
The anxious heart did not easily calm down. Although my stamina was abundant, perhaps due to my nervousness, my throat felt parched, and harsh breaths continuously escaped my lips.
The Young Lady, who had been battling a headache, had fallen into a light sleep, and now, only my small breaths filled the desolate street.
Various thoughts crossed my mind.
I wondered if perhaps searching for a doctor alone would have been less burdenso for the Young Lady, or if I should have used Rehabilitation’s Touch.
Though I wasn’t sure if it would work, I felt an impulsive desire to cling to even the smallest hope. That was how my heart felt at the mont.
-...Drip. Drip. Drip.
There were no more hospitals left to visit. Not a single person had co out to help.
"Ricardo... It’s cold."
The Young Lady was trembling.
"...Haa."
My steps back to the estate were heavy.
No, it would be more accurate to say I couldn’t bring myself to return. After all, the only thing I could do upon returning was to replace the wet towel on her forehead.
I didn’t have the courage to go back to the estate.
"..."
Had I been standing blankly on the street where the rain had stopped for about ten minutes? Closing my eyes tightly, I began to take heavy steps, resolving to wait for the early morning.
-Splash.
I started heading toward the estate.
-Bang.
It was at that mont.
Just as I was about to leave Hal’s marketplace, a small light appeared.
"...Over there!"
It felt warm.
*
-Drip...
In soone’s room, where droplets of water fell from their hair.
Looking down at the Young Lady, who was sound asleep on the bed, I let out a sigh of relief.
"Haa... Thank you so much."
"No, it’s nothing. I didn’t do much."
"You must have been sleeping. I’m truly sorry for disturbing you."
The lady before bowed her head slightly, her humility evident as she said she would have done the sa for anyone, offering a small smile.
’...’
Looking at the lady before , I felt a mix of emotions. I couldn’t help but think that this was not the kind of encounter I had wanted.
The place I was in now was a restaurant called [Youlam]. I wasn’t sure why I had ended up here, but... she had found wandering aimlessly.
-Why is it so noisy... Huh?
-Doctor...! Could you please call a doctor?
-J-Just a mont. Please co inside first.
-The Young Lady’s fever isn’t going down. I gave her cold dicine, but it’s not working... Please, a doctor...!
-I know a doctor! Quickly, let’s...!
Ella had extended a hand of salvation to , who was in a state of panic. I was grateful for that.
Ella.
She was Mikhail’s mother.
The person who left, leaving a wound in Mikhail’s heart.
"..."
The Young Lady, oblivious to my burning heart, was sound asleep, breathing softly as she lay on Ella’s bed.
"Mmm... Hehe, it’s warm."
"..."
"Huu... Cough! Cough! Ugh... I’m dying! Mmm..."
Ella rubbed her sleepy eyes and handed a warm cup of tea and a towel.
"It’s black tea. You must be cold, so please have so."
"Thank you."
Ella said the words I most wanted to hear before I could even ask.
"There’s a guest staying on the second floor of the inn who is a doctor."
"Is that so...?"
"He’s a young doctor. Would that be alright?"
"It’s fine."
Nodding at Ella’s consideration, I agreed. I wasn’t in a position to be picky. Whether the doctor was young or old, the re fact that there was a doctor was a trendous relief.
Ella nodded and stood up, speaking as she did.
"Then please wait a mont. I’ll go wake the doctor on the second floor."
"Thank you so much. Um..."
"Feel free to call Ella."
With a gentle smile, Ella headed upstairs.
Left alone in the room, I placed the towel Ella had given on my head and ran my hand over my forehead.
"Haa..."
I must have been too tense.
Judging by how dry my mouth felt.
The black tea tasted sweet, sothing I hadn’t felt in a long ti, which made realize just how tense I had been.
-Sip.
The black tea, which felt unusually sweet today, brought a faint smile to my lips. I wondered how I could repay this kindness.
"Alright, let’s focus on the task at hand for now."
I gently caressed the Young Lady’s fingers as she slept soundly. Her fingers felt so delicate that I feared they might break if I held them too tightly.
"..."
Thinking of how such small hands had been involved in so many fights, I couldn’t help but chuckle, recalling the tis when the Young Lady strode through the streets like a fearless man.
-Stomp! Ricardo, step on it!
-They’re just kids.
-I’m a kid too.
-Well, that’s true.
-They called a crazy woman!
-What did you do?
-Oh! They were eating sothing delicious, so I took it.
-...?
"Is it so hard to stay healthy...?"
Despite her frail body, she had such a strong appetite for at. I couldn’t help but worry as I looked at her delicate fingers. With a bittersweet smile, I carefully clasped her palm.
"Ugh... Ricardo, the chocolate hit ..."
"Are you seriously talking about chocolate right now?"
"Ugh... Mmm."
When I held her hand, the Young Lady, who had been frowning, smiled faintly and smacked her lips.
"Mmm... Hehe..."
"..."
"You’re all dead. Ricardo is here."
I liked the bright smile of the Young Lady.
Sleeping Beauty in the forest...
"Ricardo... Step on them...!"
She wasn’t, but I still liked the smile she showed only to , one she didn’t reveal to others.
Sotis, I think about it.
What if.
What if my best efforts weren’t actually benefiting the Young Lady and the protagonists of this story?
Even though I was doing my best, my best wasn’t always the right answer.
Whether it was the matter of Dark Magic, my relationship with Mikhail, or even Yuria. Sotis, I wondered if the choices I had made had turned into poison. While I wasn’t one to dwell on the past, I still felt a sense of responsibility.
"..."
’What a strange thing to think about.’
I wondered if it was because the Young Lady was unwell that I was getting sentintal for no reason. It didn’t suit at all.
Still.
I was relieved.
That I could be by her side, even like this.
-Click. Click.
How long had I been holding the Young Lady’s hand? From the second-floor stairs, the heavy sound of shoe heels began to echo.
Judging by the footsteps, it seed to be a man of sturdy build.
’Thankfully, he doesn’t seem angry.’
I was relieved because there was no emotion in his footsteps. Stubborn people—or rather, ordinary people—would usually convey their irritation through their steps when woken up at this hour.
-Click. Click.
Since I could pay him handsoly, I stood up to prepare to greet the doctor as he arrived.
-Is it here?
-I’m truly sorry. You seed to be in such a hurry… But the inn fee is…
-It’s fine.
The man spoke firmly and opened the door to step inside.
And then.
"Ha...?"
I let out a hollow laugh.
"No way..."
The doctor looked at with a puzzled expression. As if to say, "Why are you here?" I felt the sa way.
"Boss...!"
"Hm? Isn’t that Ricardo?"
"No... Ha."
The identity of the doctor she ntioned was.
"It’s been a while."
Malik.
***
After finishing the Young Lady’s examination, Malik nodded and looked at .
"It’s the flu."
"..."
"Her fever was high, but it’s not sothing to be overly concerned about. I gave her an antipyretic that matches her symptoms, so her fever should subside soon."
"Thank you."
Malik looked at with pity in his eyes and let out a sigh.
"You must’ve been through a lot ntally. Are you alright?"
"..."
"Ordinary dicine probably wouldn’t have worked."
"Is that so...?"
"Yes, the flu the Young Miss caught is one that’s been spreading in the East. Even if you had sought another doctor, it would’ve been hard to resolve."
"..."
As Malik packed up his dical instrunts, he spoke with a calm expression.
"It’s not a fatal illness, so you can rest assured."
"You’re quite certain."
"I’m a doctor right now, after all."
Having packed his bag, Malik patted on the shoulder and smiled.
"You’ve done well."
I bowed my head to Malik, filled with gratitude.
"Thank you."
"Save your thanks for later. For now, it’s ti to rest."
"But, Boss…"
"Shh."
Malik glanced at Ella, gauging her reaction, and then whispered softly.
"I’m in the middle of industrial espionage, so keep it down."
"You live quite an eventful life."
"That’s what being a boss entails. And since I have a dical license, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t report ."
"When did you even get that?"
"I figured it might co in handy soday, so I got it when I was 17. Of course, I obtained it through official channels."
"..."
"I got it without my father knowing, so don’t worry."
What exactly was I not supposed to worry about?
I let out a hollow laugh and nodded at Malik’s words. I had given up trying to understand this man.
As Malik headed back to the second floor, Ella turned to and said.
"Then, I’ll take my leave too."
"Pardon?"
"I’ll sleep in an empty room, so please stay by the Young Miss’s side, Ricardo."
"No, we’ll return to the estate."
"No, please stay here until her condition improves. Also, I deeply apologize for barging into the estate unannounced last ti."
"..."
"Truly..."
Ella bowed her head to and apologized in a trembling voice.
"I’m sorry."
I couldn’t find the words to respond.
Because I understood her feelings. Even if I couldn’t fully comprehend them, I could at least grasp part of them. That’s why I could only offer a bitter smile in response to her apology.
So.
"It’s alright."
I decided to carry this debt in my heart, vowing to repay it soday.
"Truly... Thank you. Madam."
I bowed my head to her.
*
As ti passed and dawn broke.
"Mmm."
Olivia opened her eyes.
"Olivia, reborn!"
"..."
"Huh?"
"..."
"Huhhh?!"
Having woken up feeling refreshed, Olivia tilted her head and looked at her hand.
"..."
Because Ricardo was holding her hand tightly as he slept.
He looked utterly exhausted.
Still in the sa clothes.
And it seed he had been continuously changing the wet towel on her forehead.
Olivia smiled softly as she brushed Ricardo’s hair. Then, she heard Ricardo’s calm greeting as he stirred awake.
"Oh...? You’re awake."
"Yes."
"Yawn... Good morning, Young Lady."
Olivia replied to Ricardo’s greeting with a faint smile.
"Yes. Good morning to you too."
-Thump.
My heart ached.
Reviews
All reviews (0)