SOKM CH 06

Episode 6

After causing a commotion, I ignored everyone trying to stop me and went back to my study.

“Master, shouldn’t you be lying in bed?”
“Forget it. You can leave too.”
“Young Lady told me to look after you while Sage brings the medicine.”
“Then do as you like. If you’re bored, eat this.”

Seeing that I seemed fine, Amon relaxed and closed the door. I handed him a plate of fruit and popped the last grape in my mouth.

Amon reached out naturally.
“Shall I peel it for you?”
“What for?”

I used to like being treated with care, but after Amon died, I never took another disciple. When I was younger, I had ordered Amon around with little chores, not realizing how troublesome they were. After learning the hard way, I became a little more easygoing. The price had been high, but the lesson stuck.

Amon didn’t ask twice and just pulled a whole plate over to himself.
“Master, yum-yum. What are you writing?”
“Juice is dripping. Don’t mind me, just sit over there.”

I pressed his forehead and pushed him away, making him pout as he went back to the sofa.

When the room grew quiet again, I leaned on my hand and tapped the paper with my pen.

“This year… recovered a high-class magic tool from a small town, purified a temple or two…”

But those things happened every year. Nothing unusual.

Then why did God send me back to this time? There had to be a reason. It couldn’t be without cause. But no matter how much I thought, I couldn’t recall any big event.

“Damn it. I need to know something before I can begin.”

I scratched my head with the pen tip. Amon bit his lips nervously, but I ignored him.

Special event… event…

“Ah! Amon!”

I suddenly shouted. Amon, who was eating grapes after finishing a banana, quickly looked up.
“Y-Yes, Master? Cough, cough!”
“Am I late for work?”
“Work? Ah! Lunchtime just ended.”
“Already?”

Seeing me nearly scream, Amon nodded. His small lips parted, showing his neat white teeth.
“Shall I call for lunch?”
“No.”
“If it’s about the Kayan Knights, don’t worry. I already told Hayden you were too sick to come again today.”
“Today too…? You said I was sick again?”
“Yes!”

I clenched my teeth.
“And Hayden believed you?”
“Well… sort of.”

The bright smile faded, and he dodged my eyes.

“Ugh.”

Should I go now? When I was younger, I used to make trouble just to annoy Hayden. But after signing the new contract with him, I had never been late or absent without reason. He must think I’m faking sickness. By now, he must be furious.

Knock knock.

“What now?” I snapped.
“A guest has arrived, my Lady,” the servant replied.
“Guest?”

Just when my head was about to explode. My voice shrank.
“Who is it?”
“Count Hayden Seginoble.”

Oh no.

I pressed my cheek to the cold desk. Amon’s face stiffened.
“Master, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Do I have a fever?”

He touched my forehead and shook his head.
“Should I tell him you’re too feverish to meet?”
“…You’re sharp, aren’t you? Forget it. A guest has come—we have to receive him.”

If Hayden was here, then he was already standing outside that door. Ever since I once made him wait four hours in the parlor, he always came straight to wherever I was.

If possible, I really don’t want to see him now.

I stood up. Amon clumsily straightened my clothes.
“….”

I looked down at him, ruining the ribbon instead of fixing it, and pushed his hands away. He mumbled quietly,
“Sorry… I tied it well yesterday…”
“This is fine.”
“But the ribbon’s messy.”
“So what.”

I touched the badly tied knot with my fingers. Amon stared at me wide-eyed—because I, who used to fuss over the smallest detail, now brushed it off.

With a faint smile, I opened the study door myself.

Through the crack, I heard a voice:
“You cannot open the door without permission.”
“My Lady!” the servant bowed.

I glanced sideways. A large hand was gripping the servant’s shoulder, as if to push past.

How dare he put hands on my servant?

I raised my brow in displeasure. The hand quickly dropped.

“Quite a polite visit,” I said coldly.
“I heard you were ill. You look healthier than I expected—good to see.”

Our tone was too curt for guest and host. My eyes slid away from Hayden’s face to his clothes: perfectly pressed shirt, fancy ornaments, expensive coat casually in hand.

“Hmph.”

He used to say I wore rags, yet he dressed himself like this.

I couldn’t even meet his eyes, so I turned away.
“Come in. We can’t talk at the door. Where’s the tea?”

The servant flinched—since I usually refused to see him at all.
“It’s ready, My Lady. I’ll bring it right away.”

Hayden put his coat on the sofa, and Amon, quick as ever, took it out of the room.

I didn’t sit opposite him but leaned against my desk, eyes fixed on his shoes.

“Will you stand all day, my Lady?”
“…My Lady?”

I hadn’t heard him call me that in years—he’d been used to calling me “Suilen.” The honorific felt oddly distant.

“I came right away when I heard. And now you ignore me?”
“Mm.”
“Will you just stay silent? Even if you’re stubborn, I won’t be fooled today.”
“Hm.”

I wasn’t doing it on purpose. Every time I tried to speak, it was like a thorn stuck in my throat. I just fiddled with the hair falling over my chest.

Strange. Why won’t my voice come out?

Losing patience, Hayden sighed heavily and said nothing more. The silence somehow felt natural.

Soon servants came with a cart.
“My Lady, what tea shall we serve?”
“I’ll handle it. Leave us… Oh?”

My voice suddenly returned as if nothing had been wrong. Hayden’s tapping fingers froze.
“Truly amazing.”
“Ah…”

It wasn’t on purpose. But I couldn’t explain. So I just waved the maids away.

While I slowly prepared the tea, we didn’t exchange a word. I licked my dry lips and cleared my throat.
“I wasn’t ignoring you.”

My tongue felt stiff, but my voice came out fine. Hayden warmed his fingers on the teacup.
“If that wasn’t ignoring, then what was it?”
“I was… distracted.”

He laughed quietly—not in amusement, but clearly disbelieving.
“If you say so, then at least look me in the eye.”
“….”
“Even if you’re stubborn, I’m not leaving today.”
“Of course.”

When had he ever left quietly? I sighed deeply.

I had thought, if I met him again, I’d yell at him, demand answers. But now, with his suspicious voice, I felt a lump in my throat.

“Um, Hayden.”
“Yes, my Lady?”
“…Ugh.”

I called him, but said nothing. He clicked his tongue softly, sighing in disappointment. His sigh made me even sadder.

As I brushed back my hair, my eyes met his directly.

“Ah…”
“My Lady?”

And then I was speechless—for a different reason.

Because Hayden’s face looked so different from what I remembered.

His calm silver-gray hair and stern expression were the same. His neat appearance and composed aura too. But—

So you did have a childhood once, Hayden.

He looked surprised too, frowning slightly as I stared.
“My Lady, are you really sick?”
“No, it’s not that.”
“Then what happened?”

His questions finally shook me out of my thoughts.
“I’m fine.”