IWMHWD 64

<Chapter 64> Father’s Daughter
January 3, 2024

“You should’ve called me, even if it was in the middle of the night, if you were in so much pain! I’ll go get the physician right away.”

“Thank you.”

Unfortunately, the physician who had been looking after Cordelia had left the capital for another matter. In haste, they summoned a different doctor for the examination.

The relatively young physician inspected her ankle and frowned.

“When did this injury occur?”

“About five or six days ago, I think.”

“It seems like a simple sprain, but the progress isn’t good. After six days, the swelling should be going down by now. I’ll prescribe you some medicine for now—make sure to take it. And don’t put any weight on your foot as much as possible.”

After leaving his instructions, the doctor departed. This time, Cordelia stayed holed up in her room, despite how restless she felt.

“Looks like Master is quite busy these days.”

“Really? Well, it can’t be helped.”

She thought he’d cool off in a day or two, but Leonard didn’t see her at all for more than three days. Even when she asked if they could share a meal, he only responded with indifferent replies.

Layla awkwardly laughed and tried to change the subject.

“How’s your leg doing?”

“It’s fine.”

Cordelia answered out of habit. But in truth, it wasn’t fine at all. The swelling had barely gone down, and she occasionally developed a fever, even vomiting after drinking water.

Yet more unbearable than her injured leg was her mentor’s sudden coldness.

Though their time together hadn’t been long, Leonard had always stayed by her side whenever she was hurt or sick.

But now, for three days, he hadn’t come to see her even once. To Cordelia, it wasn’t just upsetting—it was a shock.

Since childhood, she had learned to take care of herself whenever she was sick. It wasn’t like it should be shocking that no one was around when she was unwell again… But clearly, she had come to rely on Leonard as something more than just a teacher.

‘Or… has he grown tired of me?’

Once that thought crept in, a deep fear took root. She even dreamt of Leonard coldly saying, “I don’t need someone as stupid as you anymore.”

The night she awoke from that nightmare, her fever spiked. She vomited the few pieces of fruit she’d managed to eat that morning and couldn’t sleep until dawn.

Late at night, something cool touched her forehead.

Thinking Layla had come to change her damp towel, Cordelia opened her eyes—only to meet someone unexpected. Leonard was pressing his hand gently to her burning forehead.

“…Master?”

“Go back to sleep.”

“Don’t go.”

When he rose from the chair beside her bed, Cordelia shot upright like a spring, grabbing tightly onto his arm to keep him from leaving.

“I was wrong. I won’t go anywhere without telling you ever again. I’ll listen to you, I’ll study hard—so please, Master…”

Despite having been too weak to eat properly the past few days, she clung to his arm with surprising strength.

She looked almost desperate, like a duckling following its mother.

“…Okay, I get it. Just go to sleep.”

“Don’t abandon me. If you leave me behind, I’ll follow you no matter where you go and cling to your ankle… Hic… I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please, please…”

She thought she had cried all her tears already, but seeing Leonard’s face again made them well up anew.

An overwhelming sense of anxiety dragged Cordelia deeper into despair.

She kept begging for forgiveness, half-asleep, gripped by the fear that Leonard might leave her forever.

“I’m not abandoning you. So stop crying, you’ll wake everyone.”

Though blunt, his hands were gentle as he wiped away her tears and damp cheeks.

The cold and distant Leonard Atilay was gone—replaced by the mentor she had known before.

Cordelia felt both relieved and uneasy.

Having Leonard by her bedside in the middle of the night, wiping her tears—it felt unreal, like a dream.

Maybe this is all a dream.
A strange certainty took over her.

So she sat up and wrapped her arms around Leonard’s waist, burying herself into his embrace. He was startled and tried to push her away.

“What are you doing?”

“You’re not going to leave, right?”

“Get off me.”

“Master, promise me. Say you won’t go.”

“I said I won’t. Now let go.”

“If you’re not going, then it’s fine to stay like this, isn’t it?”

“Don’t say ridiculous things…”

He was about to insist she let go when he saw her eyes redden again. When it looked like she might burst into tears, he gave in.

“Just go to sleep.”

Cordelia lay down, clinging tightly to him. Naturally, Leonard lay beside her. When she couldn’t quite wrap her arms around him comfortably, she grabbed a tight hold of his shirt.

They were so close that she could hear his heartbeat—its steady rhythm was oddly comforting.

With her eyes closed, she murmured softly,

“I’m not going to sleep.”

“Why not?”

“I’m going to make sure you don’t leave.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I said I’m not going anywhere.”

“…Master.”

“Go to sleep.”

“You forgive me now, right?”

“….”

Truthfully, his coldness hadn’t been because she left the mansion without telling him.

It was because Cordelia had become his weakness. Because the emotions he felt for her were too confusing to name, he had pushed her away.

When he didn’t respond, Cordelia opened her eyes wide and looked up at him.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Tell me you forgive me.”

“…Seriously.”

Her demand for forgiveness left him dumbfounded. He let out a sigh. Cordelia widened her eyes and shook his shirt.

“Hurry. You did the same—asked for my forgiveness, remember?”

“When did I do that?”

“The day you first said you’d take me in as your student. Don’t you remember?”

As he searched his memory, he vaguely recalled the moment. It was only four months ago.

Leonard was once again struck by the realization—how much she had already come to mean to him in such a short time.

“I forgave you once, so you have to forgive me too.”

“I’ve already forgotten about it. You’re an adult—you don’t need my permission to go out.”

“No. From now on, I won’t even step outside without your permission.”

She said it with solemn resolve, like making an oath. For some reason, Leonard found it more amusing than touching.

“Now sleep.”

“I said I’m not sleepy. I can’t sleep, and… yawn…”

Without a sound, Leonard chanted a sleep spell.

Cordelia blinked a few times, then quickly fell asleep.

Even her grip on his shirt gradually loosened. Though nothing was physically holding him anymore, Leonard couldn’t bring himself to leave.

He looked down at her silently, then brushed aside her sweat-damp hair.

“…Cordelia.”

He still didn’t know what to call this feeling.

It was too deep to be pity or sympathy, and blaming it on her being his “first disciple” was no longer a convincing excuse.

In the past four days, he had realized just how deeply she had become a part of his life—so much so that he could no longer imagine being without her.

As the moon set and the sun rose, Leonard remained by Cordelia’s side, just as he had promised.

Early in the morning, Layla came in carrying a silver basin filled with water. She stopped cold at the sight before her.

“Wh-Who…?!”

Amazingly, the basin didn’t fall—it hovered in the air, not spilling a single drop.

But Layla wasn’t impressed by the magic. She was far more shocked to see the master of the house lying beside her mistress.

“Quiet.”

“S-Sorry, Master.”

Leonard pressed a finger to his lips, silencing the maid. He carefully sat up, trying not to wake Cordelia.

“She only just fell asleep. Come back later.”

“Yes, of course.”

Without another word, Layla left the room with the basin. She found herself thinking that perhaps this room—designed for the lady of the house—might actually be receiving its true mistress.

But wisely, Layla didn’t voice a single thought aloud. She simply resolved to serve Cordelia with even greater respect from now on.

“Time to get up.”

“….”

“The sun is already high. You lazy thing.”

She must be hearing things. Cordelia scowled and pulled the blanket over her head.

But a sharp, rude hand yanked the blanket down again.

“What the—huh, what?”

“What do you mean ‘what’? Do you know what time it is?”

“M-Master?”

“Yes, you lazy disciple.”

Leonard stood beside the bed, impeccably dressed.

Cordelia rubbed her eyes furiously. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.