MLCDF 39

~Chapter 39~

At Damien’s sharp observation, I couldn’t say a word.

“…Wow, you’re good at joking. How could I not be able to see? You saw me painting just a little while ago.”

“You painted well,” Damien replied calmly.

“It was an incredibly beautiful painting.”

Then what’s the problem?
I couldn’t figure out why he was acting this way so suddenly.

“But do you know how you usually act when you paint?”

“Of course.”

If I didn’t, who would?

‘The paints, the palette, the easel—they were all the ones I normally use…’

No matter how I retraced it, I couldn’t figure out what was wrong.

“When you paint normally, your gaze follows your brush.”
“But a few hours ago, when you were painting, your eyes were fixed straight ahead.”

Damn it.

I’d done everything right and yet made such a basic mistake.

“To be honest, no one would have noticed from the painting alone. Not only the painting, even your movements while walking were perfect.”

That’s true.

Even after realizing I’d gone blind, I tried my hardest not to let anyone find out.

And in fact, no one except Damien had noticed that I couldn’t see.

“So, it’s true that you can’t see.”

Suddenly, Damien’s voice was very close.

“I’m standing right in front of you, like I’m about to eat you alive, and you have no idea.”

“Huh? Wait, kyaaa!”

Startled, I jumped out of my chair.

Normally, even if I couldn’t see, I memorized the positions of furniture, so I wouldn’t bump into anything.

But because I panicked, I lost track of where I was.

Just as I squeezed my eyes shut, a firm arm wrapped around my waist and caught me.

“See?”
“It’s dangerous for you to move around alone when you can’t see.”

His warm breath brushed across both my cheeks.

‘Is he angry?’

Was he upset that I hid the fact I was blind?

“…Ha.”

I braced myself to be scolded, but what came instead was a deep sigh—not rebuke.

‘He must be really mad…’

Just as I was about to apologize honestly for hiding it, Damien gently sat me down on the bed.

Then he sat next to me and took my hand.

“If you can’t see, why were you squeezing your eyes shut?”

“Uh, um… it was instinct.”

“Looking like a scared little bunny—no, I mean…”

“You look so shriveled up, I can’t even bring myself to scold you.”

“…So you are angry.”

“Hmm.”

Damien let out a thoughtful hum.

“But Ruby, if you tell me honestly why you hid your blindness, and promise not to do it again, I’ll forgive you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. So first—”
“Let’s go get you checked.”

* * *

The examination didn’t take long.

And just in time, the toxicology results came back, which sped up the process.

The results showed temporary poisoning from a drug called Stredotoxin, which causes vision loss.

“It’s fortunate it was only a small dose, so the symptoms were temporary.”

After the checkup, Damien personally carried me on his back, saying he would take me back to my room.

Normally, I would’ve insisted on walking myself, but I couldn’t refuse after the promise I made earlier.

“When did you first notice something was wrong?”

“During the lesson a couple days ago.”

“I’d used that paint a few times before, and my vision did go dark momentarily, but I thought it was just low blood pressure…”

“Then during the lesson, half my vision went completely dark.”

That’s when Damien burst in, and I learned the paint wasn’t from the actual art shop—it had been sent by someone impersonating it.

Naturally, I suspected the Aristea family was behind it.

“How did you manage everything alone? Even if you memorized the furniture layout, there had to be limits.”

“I used the curses. They scream when I get close.”

“Fortunately, there were a lot of curses in the house.”

“Especially after Damien learned I liked scary things, he let the low-grade curses roam freely. I used them to navigate.”

“But how did you paint? The curses couldn’t help with that.”

“I memorized where the paint colors were, and based on experience, I could visualize how it would turn out.”

“Amazing.”

Just then, Damien reached my room and gently laid me on the bed.

“But see…”
“Your arm’s covered in bruises.”

Even with all my effort, relying only on memory and the curses couldn’t prevent accidents.

“Look at your beautiful arms…”

“W-what do you mean, beautiful…”

“They are.”
“You’re the only beautiful woman in the world who smiles at me.”

My face instantly flushed.

How was I supposed to stay calm hearing that?

“You’re so precious to me. I want to know—why did you keep this crisis to yourself without telling anyone?”

Even though I couldn’t see, I could feel it.

Damien’s deep, mysterious purple eyes must’ve been fixed on me, listening intently.

“…I didn’t want to be a burden.”

“To me?”

“Yes.”

I remembered how people always found me bothersome because I was sick and needed care.

“My past life’s parents didn’t abuse me openly, but they always said they couldn’t go anywhere because of me.”

“In this life, my family outright called me a burden and locked me in a back room.”

“I know you and the people in this house wouldn’t do that. But still… I didn’t want to burden anyone.”

After I finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Maybe Damien was choosing his words carefully.

“…I understand.”
“But what if it had been permanent damage? You wouldn’t be able to see the art you love.”

“Honestly… I was afraid of that.”

Even though I knew they probably couldn’t afford such a rare toxin, the Aristea family’s cruelty still scared me.

“Still, I didn’t say anything. I was scared they’d treat me like useless baggage again.”

“Ruby, everyone has vulnerabilities. And there are times in life when we become especially weak.”

Damien’s voice was calm and sincere.

“In those moments, it’s important to speak up and accept help.”

“If that’s hard to understand, let me explain it simply. Do you remember when you first saw me at the ball?”

“Of course. How could I forget? That was our first meeting.”

“Back then, I was in a very vulnerable state because of my curse. And you helped me.”

Ah. That’s right.

“Even when I lost control the first time, I was weak. And again, you saved me, accepted me.”

Now I understood.

Damien didn’t see me as a burden. He looked at me with empathy, affection, and sincere concern.

“You finally look like you understand.”

He gently held my hand.

“So please, tell me how I can help you.”

I hesitated. There was something I really did want Damien’s help with.

“Then… if it’s okay…”
“Could you contact the people listed on the document on my desk?”

* * *

Exactly one week later.

“No! Please! Not that… Aaaaargh!”

My biological father, who couldn’t pay compensation for blinding me, received the same punishment—he was blinded in return.