Don’t Be Holy! - Chapter 73

“Uh…….”

It was just as Eir was about to say something.

Suddenly, a rough, forced cough—ahem—echoed, and the presence of someone else was felt at the doorway. Eir flinched and turned her head in surprise, but Rubel, unfazed, looked at the newcomer with a familiar expression.

“Ah, it seems the young lady has awakened.”

The voice belonged to an old man who seemed to have a habit of trailing off at the end of his sentences. He was bald in the center, with a small, thin frame that gave off a sharp, meticulous impression. At a glance, he seemed as strict as a stern grandmother.

‘Is he the owner of this house?’

It didn’t seem like this was the first or even the second time he had entered without knocking. He had likely barged in like this multiple times while Eir was unconscious, bothering Rubel. Yet, far from looking annoyed, Rubel stood up quickly, showing proper manners.

“You’ve come.”

It was the first time Eir had seen Rubel act so respectfully.

Is he someone important?

The old man nodded with a hmm and gestured briefly for them to sit before asking.

“How are the injuries?”

Eir wondered if Rubel was the one who had been hurt, but Rubel calmly replied.

“Both my wrist and side have mostly healed. Thanks to you. I’m grateful.”

Wrist? Side?

Those were familiar areas. Though Rubel’s side was hidden under his clothes, his wrist looked perfectly fine.

‘Wait, could it be that the conversation isn’t about Rubel but about me?’

Suddenly struck by that thought, Eir lifted her right hand, the one she had injured before passing out.

“Ugh. What is this?”

Her arm was wrapped so tightly in bandages that it looked like the torso of a large cat. Was her side the same? Coincidentally, her injured side was also the right, so Eir used her left hand to feel around and assess her condition.

Fortunately, the wound on her side didn’t seem as severe as her wrist, so it wasn’t wrapped as excessively. But as she fumbled around, Eir realized that under the blanket, she was only wearing a thin nightgown—nothing else.

‘Uh, how long was I out? And who washed me and changed my bandages during that time?’

The thought suddenly crossed her mind.

‘Surely it wasn’t Rubel, right?’

But the way he had so naturally placed the ice chip in her mouth right after she woke up was suspicious.

He had acted as if her body were his own, without any hesitation. Even before this, he had always been unhesitatingly familiar with her.

Meanwhile, the old man, who had been watching Eir’s eyes dart around as she processed her shock and scattered thoughts, suddenly spoke.

“Are you a d**g addict? I used a very strong painkiller, but you seem used to it.”

Rubel glanced at Eir and replied calmly.

“My wife was an herbalist.”

“Ah, is that so? Well, that’s fortunate. Her condition was quite serious, but if she can manage on her own from now on, that’s good. You should stop working yourself to the bone and go gather herbs together in the mountains. It’ll be less taxing.”

“You already charged me only half the price for the medicine.”

“Even so, those herbs are expensive. Where did you say you used to live?”

“Solvik.”

The old man clicked his tongue in sympathy.

“Tsk, how did you end up all the way out here? The northern and southern ends are so different—the terrain, the herbs, everything. It might not be much help. But I’ll lend you some of my books. Read them and go gather what you can. Herbs are scarce here, but if you’re lucky, you’ll manage better than now.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Young lady, young lady!”

The old man called out to Eir, who was still dazed. She stared blankly at them. The initial shock of what she had heard was so great that nothing else registered afterward.

‘What did Rubel just call me? Huh?’

At that moment, Rubel casually repeated the title that had made Eir flinch.

“My wife’s hearing isn’t great.”

He added the lie so tenderly.