It was a long while before the situation cald down.
Throughout it all, Keirseys gaze never left .
Helen, Thein, the other servants, even Grandma, whatever they said, Keirseys eyes were fixed solely on .
It seed like she couldnt believe I was still alive. Even though she must know every detail of my appearance, she looked as if she was trying to etch into her mory.
By now, she didnt even open her mouth. Knowing well that she could only make unintelligible sounds, she refrained from making herself look pitiful.
I was still reeling from the shock that Keirsey had developed aphasia.
According to Helen, the doctor said it could heal. Its a condition that might improve over ti... but the key is that the cause of the trauma must be removed.
Now that Im alive, the cause of her trauma has disappeared, so she should naturally recover.
In other words, if I had truly died, she might have lost her ability to speak forever.
Despite the doctors reassurances, I was consud with fear.
The anxiety was so overwhelming that my mind was filled with the worst-case scenarios.
If she never recovers... I might never have a proper conversation with her again.
The sister who used to follow around, parroting Oppa! Oppa, might be gone forever.
Of course, I had once left her behind, giving up on everything, but I didnt want to lose her like this.
...We need to calm down for now.
Gathering information from all the servants, Helen, Thein, and Grandma, I roughly concluded the situation with Keirsey.
I shifted my gaze to Keirsey.
She was still staring intently at .
Though she looked frail, her eyelids barely lifting, her eyes were piercingly focused on .
Keirsey, I am alive, really... Please, stop staring and get so rest.
Keirsey blinked weakly but seed disinclined to heed my words. She watched as if she was reading a book, her gaze solely on .
She still didnt spare a glance for anyone else.
...Sohow, even without words, I could feel her intense love through her gaze alone. It felt like I was being overwheld by the weight of her love.
But that didnt make want to escape this mont or flee from her sight.
How could I leave? Especially with my sister in front of , having lost her ability to speak.
...Sigh.
With a heavy sigh, I turned to face the next problem.
Despite the chaotic events, Asena hadnt opened her eyes.
...Asena...
Before I could finish, Helen understood and responded.
...She cant eat. Even trying to feed her thin porridge, her mouth wont open, as if its locked... and even when we manage to get food in, she coughs it up without swallowing.
...Shes not eating at all.
...Yes. She can sohow manage water, but no food at all.
I heard that she had barely eaten since I left. When she did eat, it was only a bite or two, and after hearing of my supposed death, she stopped eating altogether.
She locked herself in her room, refusing als and avoiding people.
Then one day, she left her room, entered my bed, and... just fell asleep, never waking up since.
Its been nearly fifteen days since I left the Pryster mansion. The attack happened about eight days ago... so its been about seven days since she last had a proper al, and around seven or eight days since she stopped eating altogether.
My heart felt heavy.
I wanted to be angry, but there was no one to direct my anger towards.
Her refusal to eat wasnt a protest against . She believed I was dead, so who was she refusing to eat for?
She was simply withering away in solitude, believing in my death... it just made my heart ache.
Once again, I let out a deep sigh.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.
Theres no point in worrying now.
...Helen, prepare so rice porridge. For Asena and Keirsey to eat.
......
Helen paused for a mont, likely feeling the sa way I did - recalling old mories.
When I first ca to the Pryster household, the twins had refused to eat, and it was that rice porridge that they first accepted.
...Yes, Cayden.
...Ah. The kids didnt like it too bland... Can you, sohow, take care of that part too?
Understood.
Despite Helens previous remarks about the impossibility of feeding Asena, we couldnt just give up because it was difficult.
Perhaps the silver lining was that Keirsey was still awake.
I said to Keirsey.
...You need to eat.
Keirsey was still gazing intently at .
...Got it?
.......
She weakly nodded her head.
As Helen issued orders to the servants, the chaotic atmosphere began to settle.
Grandma, who had been watching us, moved away with the help of Thein and Max.
As everyone left, one person erged from the crowd.
Judy.
- Flinch.
At the ntion of Judy, Keirsey flinched.
Looking at Keirsey, I noticed her eyes finally shifting from to Judy.
Judy asked .
...Cayden, is there anything I can help with?
Regret swirled in her expression. She must have been equally shocked, perhaps by the sa things that had jolted .
Seeing the twins, who were able to converse until just before coming to find , now collapsed like this, must have shaken her.
Beyond everything, she might be mostly worried about whether they would be able to recover or not.
I smiled at her, trying to reassure her.
...Its okay.
Suddenly, Keirseys hand touched the back of my hand.
......
...Why?
I gently focused on her, trying to understand her intent.
Keirseys eyes moved back and forth between Judy and .
Like Grandma, she seed confused by Judys presence.
If it had been Asena, who conversed with us, she might have understood why Judy was here, but Keirsey wouldnt know.
...Ah. Judy..?
Keirsey weakly nodded her head.
...Judy saved .
Keirsey inhaled sharply. Her mouth opened, her eyes widening and trembling.
Confused, Keirsey tried to sit up.
Seeing her condition, Judy, who had been waiting outside the door, hurried in.
I moved to help Keirsey sit back down, trying to calm her.
Keirsey, dont get up. You need to rest.
Soon, Judy was standing beside , speaking to Keirsey as well.
...Just rest for now.
Keirsey looked back and forth between and Judy, who was now next to .
After a mont of dazed expression, she shuddered slightly and then began to bow her head deeply, showing her gratitude to Judy.
Judy, steadying Keirsey as she leaned forward, said, Its okay, you dont need to thank . I did it because I wanted to.
...Keirsey, just rest for now. Lets not overdo it today.
As I helped Keirsey to sit up straight, she looked at and nodded.
This was how we could communicate now, with nods and head shakes from her.
It was a significant change for us, who used to share so many conversations.
...Judy, thank you. There should be a room where you can rest. Get the servants to show you, and take a break there. Ill co to see you later.
Okay. Cayden, take your ti.
Will do. See you later.
Judy offered one more greeting to Keirsey, paid her respects to the sleeping Asena, and then turned to leave.
Now, it was just the twins and left in the room.
I adjusted my posture and looked at Keirsey.
The blank expression she had earlier while staring at was now revealing a variety of emotions.
Just Judys arrival and departure had brought significant change to her.
...Uh... Ah...
After being silent since her earlier outburst of tears, Keirsey finally made a sound, as if she had sothing she desperately wanted to say.
But the incomprehensible words that followed only deepened Keirseys frustration, making her furrow her brows in despair.
Watching her struggle, I called out loudly for a servant outside, requesting paper, a quill, and ink.
After a short wait, Keirsey, now with the writing materials, dragged her frail body to the bedside table and began to write.
I had to support her waist and shoulder to prevent her from collapsing as she wrote.
Once she finished, she handed the paper.
Please tell Judy thank you again, Oppa. Really... I will definitely repay this kindness.
I read her ssage and nodded in understanding.
...Is this what you wanted to say?
Keirsey shook her head. Her eyes flickered uneasily before she started to write again.
But... I thought your relationship with Judy worsened after the broken engagent. Is everything okay now?
Pondering how to respond, knowing her romantic feelings, I cautiously replied. It wouldnt be right to say I had plans to accept Judy now.
If there was sothing safe to say...
...Things with Judy... theyve improved.
Then I saw it.
At my words, Keirsey shuddered like a fragile animal, but barely bit her lip.
...It was clear to now.
Jealousy.
Even in this state, her body weakened, there was a faint trace of jealousy. Paradoxically, her every action started to make sense. Such a profound love explained her shocking actions.
It seed, for everyones well-being, what I needed to focus on wasnt why they had taken those actions, but the depth of their love.
Lost in thought, watching Keirsey, she relaxed her bitten lip and softened her expression.
Then her face turned woefully sorrowful.
What was she feeling? Without her words, it was impossible to know. Even if she could speak, she might not have told .
She attempted to rise again, moving towards the paper.
...Keirsey, thats enough. Rest now.
I naturally supported her, but I wished for her to rest now.
Despite my concern, Keirsey continued to dip the quill in ink and wrote diligently on the paper.
She then held up her final note for to see.
Happy for you. Glad youre getting along better.
...?
I couldnt comprehend her words. Knowing her unspoken affection, I understood why she had been so harsh and sensitive towards Judy and Daisy all this ti.
Every ti I grew closer to them, Keirsey expressed her displeasure to , acted coy, or got angry.
But now, her congratulations felt awkwardly out of place.
I looked at Keirsey.
Her mouth was hidden behind the paper, but her eyes looked incredibly sad.
It was clear she wasnt happy about this situation, nor was she genuinely congratulating .
Noticing my expression, Keirsey adjusted hers.
Struggling, she forced a smile, her eyes quivering pitifully.
...Ehehe.
She forced out a laugh. Since it wasnt words, she could mimic the sound of laughter.
...Just rest until the al cos, Keirsey.
Realizing I was unintentionally pushing her too hard, I decided to conclude the situation.
Keirsey didnt resist any further. She nodded weakly and lay down powerlessly on the bed.
Then, she pulled the blanket over her head, covering herself completely.
She remained motionless like that for a long while.
--- End Of The Chapter ---
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