Chapter 76
Because of such emotions, she had driven Bjorn to this state, and she felt terribly petty. The scale of her heart tipped toward him in an instant.
“I’m fine, so don’t worry about that. You’re the one who ended up like this… you look so hurt and exhausted. If I could, I’d release you right now, but I don’t know how.”
As Leila muttered anxiously, Allen, who had been watching everything, added in a hopeful voice.
“Miss Bailey, Sir Bjorn’s mind seems to have recovered quite a bit at this level. He shows no sign of attacking or rampaging. If stabilization proceeds well like this, the confinement will be lifted.”
At that moment Bjorn reacted to Allen’s voice and twisted his body. A far more violent reaction than before. He struggled as if he wanted to tear off the restraints and stand immediately.
“Is someone beside you? Is someone there with you?”
Afraid he might get hurt, she quickly tightened her hold on his hand and patted his back with the other. His grip, stronger than before, tightly clasped her hand.
“Leila, don’t go. I was afraid you would leave me behind, even in my dreams…”
His trembling voice was pitiful. Thinking all of this had begun because of her filled her with crushing guilt. How could she reassure him?
“I’m not going anywhere. The person beside me is Sir Bain. I won’t leave until you recover. I’ll stay until you’re released— No, even after that, I’ll stay by your side.”
Only after she repeated several times that she would never leave did Bjorn calm down a little.
“I thought I would die. I wanted to see you so much, yet I could not even see you… it really is you, Leila? No, it must be you. I can finally breathe properly…”
Even with his face pressed to the cold stone floor, Bjorn spoke in a tone that sounded happy. That made her ache, and Leila slipped her hand between his cheek and the hard floor.
“No. Your hand will get dirty. The floor is cold too…”
Feeling the warmth, Bjorn flinched and stiffened, fidgeting as if trying to shake his head.
“It’s fine. I want to do this. Even if you dislike it, please endure it, Sir Bjorn.”
“I don’t dislike it. How could I possibly…”
“Then stay like this for a moment. I want to help you even a little.”
Afterward Bjorn tried several times to stop her, but when she refused to yield he finally sighed and rubbed his face against her palm.
“Leila, I truly missed you…”
As if the warmth calmed him, he murmured that several times, then lost consciousness as if his strength had run out.
“Sir Bain, Sir Cameron. Sir Bjorn s-suddenly lost consciousness…”
Sitting on the cold floor while supporting his cheek, Leila asked Allen and Todd for help.
“He hasn’t been eating or sleeping properly… it seems he fainted for a moment. I will call a priest and a medic to examine his condition.”
“Then I’ll guard this place, Sir Allen!”
Allen left the basement, leaving Leila and Todd behind for a moment. After some time of staring endlessly at Bjorn’s sleeping face, Allen returned along with the sound of three or four people talking.
Perhaps because of the noisy presence, Bjorn opened his eyes again and regained consciousness.
“You were still here, Leila. I’m sorry. My condition is so poor… how much time has passed?”
Seeing him clearer than before he lost consciousness, Leila finally felt somewhat relieved.
However, the High Priest Callas, summoned in the middle of the night, did not seem to think so at all.
It was troublesome enough that a paladin had nearly entered a divine power rampage, and now an unexpected disturbance had occurred as well, so his mood was understandably foul.
“Sir Allen and Sir Todd! Are you in your right minds? I left you on watch and you brought in a civilian devotee! Do you know how dangerous a divine power rampage is!”
But a moment later, Callas, who had spoken only in angry rebuke, checked Bjorn’s condition and his temper softened at once.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.