Chapter 20
The next morning, the spot where Raven had been was warm when I brushed against it without thinking. Strangely, whenever I slept and woke up with him, I always felt a warmth like this. It was almost hot.
Besides, the bed sheets were slightly disheveled, and they were rumpled even in places a crow’s body couldn’t have reached, no matter how large he was.
‘Did I sleep a little restlessly last night?’
Could he have returned to his original form during the night and slept like that?
At the thought that suddenly occurred to me, I looked suspiciously at Raven, who was still lying beside me. As if he felt my gaze, he turned his head and looked up at me.
I had clearly been full of the desire to interrogate him just a moment ago, but the instant I met those innocent eyes, that feeling vanished all at once.
It would be much later before I learned that his true identity was Grand Duke Barietsch. So I couldn’t suddenly ask him whether he had turned into a person last night.
‘And what would he gain by returning to his original form and sleeping side by side with me? He’d just be sleeping a little more comfortably.’
In the end, I suppressed my curiosity, got up, and headed to the bathroom. Just in case, I carefully checked every corner of my body while bathing, but there were no unknown traces or suspicious marks anywhere.
‘…He really only slept.’
Feeling a disappointment I couldn’t quite understand, I clicked my tongue.
‘Well, I’m seventeen right now, so it would be stranger if he touched me.’
Only belatedly realizing my age, I understood why nothing had happened overnight. Even so, that unknown sense of regret lingered.
Keeping the newly formed, peculiar secret buried in my heart, I returned to the room. Then I took care of Raven as usual, pretending nothing had happened.
Before I knew it, two weeks had passed.
I cared for him devotedly, personally preparing his meals at every mealtime, checking whether his fractured leg was alright, and watching over and managing him so it wouldn’t break again.
I also called James from time to time and asked him to examine Raven. Each time, James gave a positive diagnosis, saying the bone was healing well.
The place beside me, which I had clearly said I would allow only once, continued to belong to Raven.
Although I had repeatedly told him it was only for today, he climbed onto the bed and settled in every time, perfectly matching the moment I was about to sleep. Then he refused to budge. When I tried to move him to the cushion, he made a pitiful face and cried, so my heart weakened, and in the end, I gave him the spot.
Two weeks was enough time for Raven’s broken bone to heal completely, and it was also enough time to finish preparing for parting.
It would be somewhat lonely, but thinking of the day we would meet again, I steeled my heart.
However, one problem arose.
Even though exactly two weeks had passed since James’s examination, Raven was still limping. As if his broken leg hadn’t yet healed, he dragged his left leg slightly whenever he walked.
I had removed the bandage thinking he must have recovered cleanly, so I felt somewhat flustered.
“Why is he limping like that?”
“Right…”
The maids who had watched him after I removed the bandage beside me answered as if they had no idea either. Their gazes were fixed on Raven’s back as he limped on his left leg.
“It’s his left leg he’s limping on right now, isn’t it?”
Unable to trust my own eyes, I asked once more. The maids all nodded at once.
“Yes, Miss. It’s definitely his left leg. The side where the bandage was removed.”
“Why is he still limping? Last time, the doctor clearly said he would recover completely without any problem…”
“Perhaps he just needs a little more time to recover? I don’t know why, but it seems his recovery has slowed a little. How about watching him for a while longer?”
When I murmured worriedly, Anna urgently poured out words that might reassure me. It was because she knew how much I cherished Raven.
As if helping her, the other maids each added their own words after that.
“That’s right, Miss. His recovery is probably just a little slow. Let’s watch his condition a little longer.”
“Besides, when Doctor James came by a few days ago, he said there was no major problem. His health probably hasn’t worsened. So please don’t worry too much.”
“Alright…”
Only after hearing the maids’ advice did I finally ease my worries and quietly nod.
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