Chapter 9
Reynier closed the door and stepped out, but because he spoke right outside, I could still hear the conversation.
‘Is Lady Leila all right?’
‘No. She needs rest, so please leave for today.’
‘I’d like to see her face before I go.’
‘Please leave now, Viscount Bruce.’
Reynier’s harsh voice made me feel an odd tension. I had no idea why he was acting like that.
‘Then can I come tomorrow?’
‘No.’
‘Then the day after tomorrow?’
‘No.’
‘…Then when am I allowed to come?’
‘When the young lady has regained her composure, you may visit.’
With that, Reynier reentered the room. Through the crack of the door, I saw Sonet’s flustered expression, which quickly sobered me up.
“Leila?”
When Sonet called, I instinctively reacted.
Click.
The door shut quietly in the meantime.
“Can’t we even talk?”
“No, you cannot.”
“But Sonet is a guest.”
“That guest is the reason you’re hurt, my lady.”
Reynier approached with a smile, and maybe because I was dizzy, he looked even more handsome than before. Maybe I’m getting weaker and more vulnerable to good looks because I’m closer to death.
‘Leila, I’m sorry. I should have been more careful—’
“Ah…!”
‘Leila?’
Sonet was about to say something through the door, but unwrapping the cloth around my hand stung so badly that I yelped.
“It hurts.”
Knock, knock, knock.
‘Leila, are you all right?’
He sounded so flustered that he slipped back into formal speech without realizing it. That made me focus a little.
“Sonet, next time… ahh… I said it hurts!”
“Relax your hand.”
‘I’ll come again tomorrow. I’m sorry, Leila.’
Suddenly, it went quiet. Then I heard soft footsteps fading away—unlike Hugo’s heavy stomps, these were calm as they left the hallway.
Sonet was gone.
“Ah…”
“Your hand is torn.”
“Do I need stitches?”
“Not quite, but if it had been any deeper, you would have.”
Reynier’s cold expression made me shrink a little.
What was his real reason for coming here? And why on earth does Sonet want to be engaged to me?
I haven’t even done anything significant yet, so why is everything already so different from my previous life?
“Ugh…!”
When he touched the wound, I flinched and tried to pull my hand back without thinking. At that moment, he gripped my hand tightly, and tears welled up in my eyes.
“A-are you crying?”
“My head hurts. I feel nauseous. And my hand… it really hurts.”
No matter what, I need to stay on his good side. Just one drop of his blood could solve everything.
Honestly, I considered knocking him out and draining some blood, but that wouldn’t work. It has to be blood he gives willingly for it to be effective.
If this restriction didn’t exist, the imperial family could never have kept their throne. They would’ve been dragged around like slaves, used as living medicine.
“Why is your hand shaking like this?”
“Because I’m cold.”
Reynier let go of my hand when he said that. But then he grabbed it again, and when I looked at him as if asking why, he started squeezing it tightly.
“Ow! What are you—!”
“Stopping the bleeding.”
It actually worked—the bleeding stopped. But now his face looked noticeably gloomy, so I couldn’t bring myself to say anything harsh.
If I want to get closer to him, I need an opportunity. A friendly situation, a positive atmosphere.
Right now wasn’t the time—he seemed too upset.
Maybe I should at least thank him.
“Thank you for helping me, Reyn. Thanks to you, I’m getting treated.”
His expression softened slightly. Was he upset because I hadn’t thanked him earlier?
No, Reynier’s a complicated man. He’s probably just pretending to be fine in public.
“Where were you before you came here?”
“Are you curious about me?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Do other nobles take such interest in commoners?”
So he knows I’ve been pretending he’s a commoner. That’s… actually good to know.
“Doctors…”
“Doctors are usually semi-nobles. My father was one, but since I didn’t inherit the title, I’m a commoner.”
“I see. Still, you must be skilled if you were called to the Count’s estate.”
When I complimented him, his eyes curved with a faint smile.
“From now on, I’ll take full responsibility for your health.”
“I see.”
“So whoever you meet from now on, you need my permission first.”
“What? But that’s my personal—”
“For your health.”
Since he was holding a bottle of antiseptic, I didn’t argue. I dreaded the pain I’d feel once he poured it.
“Wait—just a second!”
“No.”
“Ahh!”
“It’s all for your health.”
The antiseptic was mercilessly poured onto my palm, sizzling as it burned into the wound. I couldn’t help but scream.
I was tormented—I mean, treated—for quite a while until I finally collapsed from exhaustion. Only then did he leave the room.
Hugo was in a foul mood.
The weather was chilly, and because his trousers ripped, he had to tie his outer coat around his waist.
And then—
Rumble! Whoooosh!
A sudden downpour began.
“Damn it!”
Hugo had sent his carriage away earlier, insisting on waiting for Siever, so he borrowed a horse to get out.
On the way back, his horse tripped and was injured, so he had to send it to a vet. That meant he had to do something very un-noble—walk.
To make matters worse, when he fell earlier, he must have dropped his wallet and ID because he now had nothing on him.
Crack!
Lightning flashed, and the rain intensified. Raindrops lashed his face as he trudged toward Count Ronald’s estate, which was still far away.
Thud!
“Sorry!”
A kid bumped into Hugo, quickly apologized, and ran off.
“Hey! Do you know who I am?!”
But no matter what he shouted, the kid was long gone.
Hugo couldn’t run—if he did, his trousers would rip even more.
Wham!
“What the hell?!”
“Sorry!”
Another kid bumped into him, and that was the last straw. Hugo started chasing the kid.
“Hey! Stop right there!”
“Eek…!”
The kid bolted into an alley with Hugo in pursuit.
And then—
Rrrip!
Hugo’s pants tore completely. His left thigh was now exposed up to the upper thigh while the right leg still had fabric.
“Goddamn it!”
He cursed and gave up the chase, sprinting instead toward Count Ronald’s mansion.
Later, he would realize those kids were actually pickpockets—they had stolen everything he had left.
The next day, Hugo returned to Count Avier’s estate. Because he’d been involved with Siever and Leila for so long, the servants let him in without question.
Hugo faced Siever.
“Have you made up your mind?”
‘Hugo, I’ve been reconsidering our relationship.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Honestly, every time I saw Leila, I felt guilty… but now, I can’t do this anymore.’
Hugo remembered when he was dumped last time and glanced at Siever nervously. Her jet-black hair was messy, as if she hadn’t even brushed it.
Seeing her like this, not caring about her appearance, irked him. He had dressed up for her, after all.
“I made up my mind last time, Hugo.”
“…Siever.”
“Let’s go back to being friends, okay?”
“Why? Is this really because of Leila? What’s so special about her? She doesn’t even have long to live!”
“Hugo, don’t say that. Leila’s such a good person.”
Hugo agreed—Leila was kind. But that didn’t matter to him.
Even if Leila were the sweetest person alive, Hugo would do worse things if it meant keeping Siever.
“Are you sure you won’t regret this?”
Siever sighed heavily and nodded.
“Fine. Don’t regret it, Siever.”
With that, he turned his back on her and left.
When Leila opened her eyes, the sun was already high. Her whole body still ached, and she felt weak.
Chirp chirp chirp.
Birdsong came from somewhere nearby. Feeling like hearing it better, Leila tried to get out of bed.
Just then, the door opened.
“Huh? You’re up?”
“…Why didn’t you knock?”
It was Hugo.
Knock knock.
“Better?”
Better my ass.
Leila glared at him in disbelief.
“Get out. Can’t you see I’m in my nightgown?”
“So what? It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”
At his shameless words, Leila clenched her fists, ready to snap at him.
“Get out!”
“Nope. Stop playing hard to get and just apologize. Say you were wrong.”
“Are you crazy? What did I do wrong to you?”
“Leaving me yesterday like that—that’s on you. And Sonet? Really? You ditched me for him?”
Leila felt like she’d been struck on the head.
“Say you’re sorry now, and I’ll take you back. Maybe we can’t marry, but we can get engaged. And kids… well, fine. If you really want one, we’ll have one.”
Hugo scratched the back of his neck, stepping closer to her.
That’s when it happened.
“You shouldn’t barge into a patient’s room.”
Leila jumped. Reynier was suddenly there, gripping Hugo by the collar—without even making a sound opening the door.
“Unwanted guests need to leave.”
“You—!”
Hugo struggled and shouted, but with their height difference, it was useless.
Strangely, despite outranking Reynier, Hugo felt an overwhelming sense of being prey under a predator’s gaze. By the time he realized it, he was already out in the hall.
