Becoming the Guide of the Mysophobic Villain? Absolutely Not! - Chapter 349

I was momentarily stunned, unable to grasp the situation right away.

“She… she’s in pain…”

“……”

“Please, stop…”

His last words were so faint, they were barely audible.

It was strange. Even though he was threatening the therapist, Claude looked as if he were the one being threatened, utterly terrified.

The rehabilitation therapist and I exchanged bewildered glances.

“…What are you talking about, Claude? Even if it hurts, we have to do this. It’s a necessary process. This is how I’ll heal.”

Of course, it hurt, and of course, I resented the therapist in the moment, even cursing a little. But rehabilitation was essential, and the therapist was here to help me recover.

Even as I tried to reason with him, Claude was completely obstinate.

“Let’s not do this, Rose… Forget about rehabilitation… Please…”

“What do you mean? I have to do this to be able to walk again. Rehabilitation hurts, but it’s something I have to endure…”

“I’ll… I’ll carry you for the rest of my life. I’ll bear the burden… Just don’t be in pain anymore…”

Claude broke down, sobbing. I was at a loss for words.

This wasn’t the first time I’d seen him cry.

Ever since I got hurt, he had cried almost every day.

I hadn’t realized it at first because he tried so hard not to show his emotions around me.

Claude usually broke down at night.

Once, I had woken up in the middle of the night with an odd feeling. At first, I didn’t notice anything because the room was so dark. But once my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I saw him.

He was gripping my hand, his head bowed over my bed, silently sobbing as if in prayer. If not for his trembling hands and shoulders, I might never have noticed.

While I was surprisingly calm about my injury, he clearly wasn’t able to handle it at all.

After I became aware of this, I couldn’t sleep deeply anymore. Every time I drifted into light sleep and woke up at dawn, I would find him crying by my side, just as before.

I felt flustered to acknowledge it, so I always pretended to be asleep, never saying a word.

In the morning, he would act as if nothing had happened, waking me up and helping me wash, but as time passed, he wasn’t getting better.

In fact, he seemed to be deteriorating, consumed by guilt for not being able to protect me.

“Claude, let go of the doctor.”

“……”

“Now!”

When I spoke firmly, he finally released the therapist. His hands were still shaking.

I didn’t want to comfort him, but I also didn’t want to leave him like this. I wanted to tell him that I was truly okay.

That while the kidnapping had been terrifying, the moment I saw his face, everything else disappeared and I felt safe.

That, as the strongest person in the world, I had always believed he would defeat my captors and come to rescue me.

When I injured my ankles, of course, it hurt. But I passed out almost immediately, and when I woke up, the anticipation of seeing him outweighed the pain. I knew I would wake up in our cozy home.

And really, what did it matter if I couldn’t walk? I could just ask Claude to carry me everywhere.

Even when my legs were perfectly fine, he often carried me around. So, if I cheekily demanded it now, he’d probably oblige without a word of complaint, letting me cling to him.

But… I didn’t expect him to fall apart like this.

“Carry me for the rest of my life? Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t want that!”

“……”

“‘Burden’? What burden? Why would this be your fault, Claude? How is it your fault that I got hurt? When a madman’s swinging a knife around, it’s only natural that those nearby might get hurt! I’m the one who got injured, so why are you the one acting like a victim? Stop whining!”

Even as I yelled in frustration, Claude continued to cry quietly.

A surge of heat rose within me.

“…This isn’t working. Claude, leave. I’ll do this alone.”

I made my decision and declared it.