Chapter 16
Marsha had a lot going on since the morning.
She needed to make stew because she ran out of it and boil medicine, but there was only one stove.
Since there is no meat, I will add a lot of potatoes and mushrooms.Â
And carrots too…
Marsha finely chopped the ingredients she had piled up and generously put them into the stew.
Normally, sheâd cook something simpler, but it was for a patient, so she had no choice.
Medicine has some nutrients too, but it canât compare to proper food.
Marsha stared intently at the stew in the bowl.Â
The bowl was small.
Would a person of that size be full with just this?Â
But there was no bigger bowl in the house.
…
Suddenly, she remembered Claudioâs annoying comments from the day before.Â
Now the bowl didnât look so small anymore.
This much is something to be grateful for.
Carrying the tray, Marsha stood at the door and took a deep breath.
âAre you awake?â
She spoke toward the door.
âGood morning.â
His voice was low-pitched as usual, but seemed even deeper in the morning.Â
Marsha flinched for no reason and continued.
âIâll leave the stew and medicine here. Please eat them.â
âIâm sorry, but I probably canât eat like that.â
âYesterday, I saw you sitting up. I think you might be able to walk a little.â
Marsha said firmly.
âI think I overdid it yesterday. I can barely move a finger now.â
It was a surprisingly quiet voice, as if it was coming through a crack in the door.
â…So?â
âIâd like you to bring it to me.â
Marshaâs eyes narrowed.Â
He was annoying, but he was still patient.
â…Excuse me.â
Marsha opened the door and went inside.
The annoying man from yesterday was still lying in the same bed.Â
Soft sunlight shining through the curtain gently touched his face.
When Claudio met her eyes, he smiled gently, narrowing his eyes.
Even if he smiled, he didnât look kind.
âAre you sick?â
Marsha said as she set the tray on the bedside table.
âAre you saying that after seeing my wounds?â
Claudio frowned, looking hurt.
â…Eat your food and take your medicine.â
âI want to, but as I said, I canât even move a finger.â
âSo?â
âCanât you feed me?â
What was that?Â
Mashaâs green eyes twisted in anger.
âDonât say strange things. You ate by yourself yesterday, didnât you?â
âI overdid it. Thatâs why Iâm like this now.â
He made a pitiful expression that didnât suit him and lowered his head.
âOr maybe Iâm being punished for misunderstanding my saviourâs sincerity last night?â
He turned his head toward her.
Their eyes met again, and he narrowed them once more.
âAre you joking now?â
âNo joke. Iâm sincerely apologising.â
Thatâs one dramatic apology.
Marsha pursed her lips and somehow didnât feel entirely bad.
â… Anyway, eat on your own. I have a lot to do.â
âWhat are you busy with?â
âHousework has piled up. I have to gather herbs, too.â
âYouâre going out alone, leaving me here?â
âItâs just outside the house. If I scream, youâll hear me, so donât worry.â
âNo, itâs not that Iâm worried.â
Claudio chuckled.
âArenât you trusting me too much?â
âI donât trust you. But thereâs nothing valuable in this house.â
To Masha, everything in the house was precious because of memories with her grandmother.Â
But usually, no one stole ordinary dishes.
âEven if you try to search, itâll just be a waste of energy. And right now, your body canât handle it anyway.â
Marsha answered dryly.Â
How could he open such big eyes so lazily?
âEven if there were great jewels hidden, I wouldnât search, and I definitely wouldnât steal. Iâm not in such a bad situation.â
Marshaâs fingers twitched.Â
It was the first time he had talked about himself.
â… Anyway, Iâll go now. Call me if you need anything.â
âWait.â
He stopped Marsha as she turned to leave.
âThereâs something I want to ask.â
âWhat is it?â
Marsha tried to calm her nervousness and asked,
âArenât you curious about me?â
Her heart was pounding.
Curious?Â
Of course, she was curious.Â
But she didnât feel ready to face the truth.
âHmm? Youâd want to know how I got these wounds and ended up like this, right?â
â……â
âWhen I asked if anyone was looking for me before, have you ever thought about why I asked that? I guess you worried, thinking âMaybe this man is being chased.ââ
Claudio spoke without hesitation.
Marshaâs freshly trimmed nails dug into her palm.
Why is he saying this? Is he trying to test me?
If so, what was he trying to find out?
Marsha felt uneasy, but also had a thought.
Should I ask him?
She wanted to say, Iâm not curious about anything.Â
I donât care who you are, and Iâll do my best to follow your wishes.Â
Just one thingâplease, letâs pretend we never met.
Donât ask why, donât be curious, just think youâre repaying the kindness of saving your life, and please agree.
Instead of asking, Marsha gently bit the inside of her cheek and lowered her gaze.
Claudio, watching her face, muttered softly,
â…Iâm someone you donât need to worry about.â
Masha slowly looked up.Â
His steady red eyes stared right into her confused green ones.
âItâs because of things I did before, and how the situation looks, that youâd think of me as âthat kind of person.â Iâm explaining this so you donât worry unnecessarily.â
Claudio slightly raised one corner of his mouth.Â
It was a somewhat sly smile.Â
Strangely, seeing that eased the tension Marsha felt.
âHow can I believe that?â
âHmm, thereâs no way to prove it right now. I guess Iâll have to show you every day with my actions.â
He sure talks well.
Marsha pursed her firmly closed lips.
âRelax. When the time comes, youâll never have to see this handsome face again, so feel free to look at it now. And if you sneak into my room, Iâll tolerate it.â
â…Judging by what you say, you can eat alone.â
Marsha put her hands on her hips, looking displeased.
âI canât bother someone who cares about me this much. Iâll bear the pain and try to do things myself.â
That annoying man.Â
Marsha wanted to quickly get out of his space.Â
But before that, she had to ask something.
â…I have one question.â
âWhat is it?â
âIf someone comes looking for you… What should I do?â
Claudioâs eyes widened.Â
The woman who seemed confused and helpless earlier now stood firmly.
Thatâs strange. Sheâd want to ignore my situation.
So why is she asking first?
At that moment, Marsha swallowed hard.
Am I saying something I shouldnât?
He said he would leave on his own, so all Marsha had to do was quietly wait for time to pass.Â
That way, she wouldnât get caught up in Claudioâs troubles and suffer because of them.
But just because of my situation, I donât need to make his situation worse.
Maybe Claudio is also looking for the knight who came to see Berry.
If you happen to be someone from the Gloria Duke family…
Then it might be right to step in so he can get treated in a better environment.
I might be overthinking and caring about others too much…
Anyway, Marsha is his lifesaver.
Even if he finds out sheâs an illegal resident, he might pretend he doesnât know.
…Or maybe not.
Marsha pushed down her anxiety and waited for Claudioâs answer.
***
Brilliant sunlight streamed through the leaves.Â
Even though it was a very lovely sight, Marsha kept picking herbs without looking up.
Thatâs enough. Letâs stop for today.
The basket full of herbs didnât head to the dining table as usual.
â……â
Claudio glanced once at the herbs in front of him, then turned his gaze to Marsha.
 She furrowed her eyebrows.
âAlright, letâs do it again today, shall we?â
We need to take a moment to reflect on yesterday to comprehend what this meant.