WDHTMU | CHAPTER 37

 Chapter 37

Claudio had never comforted anyone before, and he certainly had never held anyone in his arms. 

He wasn’t sure if what he was doing would truly soothe Marsha, but pulling her gently closer to rest against his chest was instinctual.

Marsha didn’t push him away. 

Normally, she would have recoiled in shock and escaped his embrace—but this time was different.

She’s still trembling.

Not just trembling—her sobs continued without pause, heart-wrenching and raw.

What should I do…?

After a brief hesitation, Claudio slowly moved his awkward hand that had been resting on her back and began to gently pat her. 

His large hand felt feather-light against her, unsure and unfamiliar with the gesture.

He was skilled at many things, effortlessly mastering skills he hadn’t even been formally taught.

Yet this simple, gentle pat felt clumsy and strange.

Fortunately, his fumbling comfort seemed to work. 

Marsha’s trembling eased, and her breathing grew steadier and more rhythmic.

He let out a quiet sigh of relief and continued to pat her back. 

His neck ached from the uncomfortable angle of holding her close, but he barely noticed.

Time passed. 

The endless darkness around them began to glow with a soft blue light. 

Marsha’s trembling ceased; her breathing slowed to a peaceful calm. 

Yet she remained nestled in his arms.

Claudio knew exactly what that meant.

She’s fallen asleep.

Really now. 

Could she just fall asleep like that?

Won’t she forget all this by morning?

Unaware that he cared so deeply, that he had worried for her through the night.

What a loss… Such a heartbreaking loss.

Despite these thoughts, Claudio didn’t move to free her from his embrace.

He kept gently patting her back, afraid that stopping might wake her.

He wondered if the sofa might be more comfortable for her—but then again, maybe she needed the warmth of a living body more. 

The days were growing hotter by the hour, but the early morning still carried a chill.

Maybe she needs this warmth just a little while longer.

***

When little Marsha awoke from her nap, clutching her favourite bunny doll, she suddenly burst into tears.

Startled, Count Emelide rushed to her side.

“Sweetheart, why are you crying?”

“I had a scary dream,” she sobbed.

“Oh? What kind of scary dream?”

The count scooped her up gently and asked with a soft voice.

“Marsha did something wrong, and Daddy… Daddy was mad at me…”

“Me? Really?”

The unexpected confession made the count break into a nervous sweat.

“Well, that must have been a truly awful nightmare. In my entire life, there’s never been a reason to be mad at our precious daughter.”

“Even if Marsha did something wrong?”

“Of course.”

He said it with the certainty of the sunrise and moonrise—an undeniable truth.

At that moment, the countess’s warm laughter drifted in.

“Oh dear, this is serious—our Marsha might get spoilt.”

“Marsha needs to get spoiled. She’s just too good, just like you.”

“Our daughter truly is like an angel sent from the heavens.”

The countess took Marsha from her husband’s arms, cradling her gently. 

She whispered in a sweet voice:

“Marsha, even if the world falls apart, we will never stop loving you. We love you more than our very lives.”

“That’s right.”

The count smiled happily as he embraced both his wife and daughter.

Marsha giggled warmly in her parents’ loving embrace.

“Even if scary nightmares come again, don’t ever forget—our love for you is forever.”

“Yes. As long as you’re happy, I can do anything,” said the count warmly.

“Oh my, what a loving father you are. Right, Marsha?”

The countess playfully rubbed her nose against Marsha’s, making her burst into delighted laughter.

The proud parents gazed adoringly at their daughter—too precious for words.

They continued to gently soothe Marsha, whispering sweet words filled with love, until her swollen eyes finally closed.

Perhaps even after she drifted off to sleep…

***

Chirp, chirp, chirp… Pleasant bird songs drifted in from afar.

Marsha slowly opened her eyes.

The worn, low ceiling above her felt like a gentle reminder that this was reality.

How can I keep having such dreams, one after another?

She closed her eyes again.

How foolish I am.

Maybe her father really did resent her. 

Maybe that’s why he insisted on visiting her even in her dreams. 

Yet Marsha had only been trying to escape, to find comfort—piecing together happy memories from her childhood to create soothing dreams.

Or maybe, on the contrary, the anxiety and guilt she carried deep inside had twisted her father’s image into that of a monster. 

Even though, in truth, her father only wanted her to forget everything and live happily.

No matter which is true, I’m a terrible daughter.

To think her unforgiving father had forgiven her, or to have turned her loving father into a monster—it was all dreadful.

What am I supposed to do now?

Marsha would never give up on catching the one who killed her father. 

If she did, then there would have been no reason to keep living until now.

I’ve been far too complacent. I should have thought and acted more boldly

Surviving each day had become her sole goal, and she had wasted countless days like that.

Marsha despised herself for all the unproductive time she had spent. 

Of course, she understood the circumstances—she had nothing and was hiding deep in the forest. 

Her options were limited.

But just saving up tiny amounts every day won’t accomplish anything at all.

Come to think of it, after Duke Gloria’s visit, many people gathered at Sedem Market.

Maybe there were informants from other regions, too?

Though local informants were expensive, perhaps those from other areas might be cheaper.

She might be able to hire someone at a reasonable price.

Determined, Marsha decided to start looking for an informant right away. 

With the village’s security heightened and more guards stationed than usual, she would have to move very cautiously.

It won’t be that hard. I can do this.

With renewed resolve, Marsha opened her eyes once more.

The familiar ceiling still greeted her…

Wait a minute.

Her eyes widened. 

Of course—this ceiling wasn’t the one in the living room.

Startled, Marsha sprang up and looked around. 

Why was she lying on the bed where Claudio should have been?

What… What is going on?

Pale as death, clutching the blanket tightly, Marsha desperately tried to recall how she had ended up here. 

But no memories surfaced.

“Marsha!”

Suddenly, Claudio’s voice echoed in her mind. 

Bit by bit, vague memories of the previous night’s disgrace surfaced—her sobbing like a child, unable to answer his questions, and finally leaning on him…

I’m insane, Marsha Emelide!

Her face flushed as if it might burst. 

She bit her lower lip hard. 

It hurt—but more than that, she felt mortified to the core.

“Did he carry me all the way here?”

Since she had no memory of walking, that must have been the case.

“Why does someone injured keep pushing themselves so hard!”

Marsha wanted to check if Claudio’s wounds were okay, but at the same time, she didn’t want to look at his face. 

No, she simply couldn’t.

“So embarrassing…”

But she couldn’t stay like that forever.

Sweating nervously, she carefully stepped out of the room.

The moment she did, a delicious aroma teased her nose. 

Strange—there shouldn’t have been any food left in the kitchen…

Like a puppy caught doing something wrong, stretching its neck nervously as it waits for its owner’s arrival, Marsha glanced around anxiously.

“You’re awake.”

Claudio appeared from deep within the kitchen, where she hadn’t seen him.

“!”

Startled, Marsha jumped from her spot.

Wiping his hands on a dry cloth, Claudio approached her.

“What are you so surprised about? Did you think you did something wrong to me?”

“N-no, it’s just that…”

Flustered, Marsha averted her gaze, stumbling over her words.

Looks like she remembers what she did after all…

He placed a hand on his waist and leaned toward her with a lazy smirk. 

His sharp, angled eyes gleamed with an eerie red glow, and his green eyes quickly scanned the space between them.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

He tilted his head toward where her eyes were fixed. 

Startled, Marsha lowered her head completely this time.

“Well, about last night. I’ve never done that before, but I guess I’ve been tired lately, so my dreams were…”

“Ah, so you’re saying you got tired because of me?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

When Marsha looked up, she found Claudio staring at her intently, up close. 

Her face flushed bright red. 

She felt like she was about to hiccup and held her breath.

Chuckling softly, he said,

“You really surprised me.”

He’d seen grown women cry and throw tantrums plenty of times when they were young. 

Because of that, he was usually unfazed by a woman’s tears. 

But…

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone cry and fuss in their sleep.”

Marsha’s face, already bright red, turned even deeper crimson as he spoke.

Then he added,

“It’s also the first time I’ve tried comforting someone.”