Chapter 35
As he untied the knots, the sharp scent of iron rose strongly. It seemed the bleeding hadn’t even been properly stopped.
Damn it. Damn it! Damn… What had the physician done? Seeing this serious condition, why had he treated it so poorly… A violent impulse flashed through him—to punch that smooth, familiar face he’d known since childhood.
The wounds beneath the bandages, thanks to having ointment applied, hadn’t festered or cut too deeply, but they would likely leave prominent scars. If he had discovered and treated them just a little earlier, things might have been different. Thinking that the smooth, soft skin he had kissed would never be the same again only brought a bitter ache.
While he applied the medicine, Luirene buried her face in the blanket and stifled her moans. Even as she forced herself to swallow the sounds, the back of her head trembling from time to time visualized her pain. Hitaon soon felt his jaw ache—from clenching his teeth too hard.
After applying all the ointment, he blew on the wounds with his mouth, carefully drying the skin. Somewhat revived by the treatment, Luirene looked at him with clearer eyes than before. When their eyes met, she smiled crookedly, as if thinking of something.
“Why are you smiling?”
He barely managed to soften the words, ‘How can you smile right now?’ Luirene fidgeted with the hand gripping the blanket and answered.
“I thought I’d never see you again.”
“That’s impossible.”
“I wondered if I’d be kicked out like this…”
“That will never happen.”
“Do you think so?”
What she was really questioning was the Marchioness’s chilling disposition—the one that had torn her apart on mere suspicion. Clearly, as long as that remained, she believed she couldn’t meet Hitaon as easily as before.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing…”
“Because I’ve caused trouble for the young master…”
“Curse me instead.”
“Curse you? Why?”
“The one who made you like this isn’t you. It’s me. My status and my actions drove you to this.”
“But… I was happy.”
“…….”
“I don’t want to end it resenting the young master.”
It had felt like being lost in a blissful dream. But the pain in her calf reminded her of reality. That there were things in this world one could reach for and things one could not—and the young master was among the latter. As if waking from a trance, her half-closed eyes snapped open.
“End it?”
“…….”
“By whose permission?”
As if he had never even considered it, he muttered while carefully wrapping her calf with bandages. Luirene, her leg resting on him, blinked her throbbing eyes. She couldn’t quite understand what he was saying.
“Then you’ll keep seeing me?”
“Did you forget? You’re mine.”
“…….”
“Besides, you’ve been wounded like this. I have to take proper responsibility.”
“But…”
“My mind is made up.”
Tucking her gently treated leg under the blanket, he spoke softly, calmly, and without a waver.
“I’m going to marry you.”
“…How?”
“Somehow.”
Luirene, who had opened her mouth in surprise, soon smiled. An emotion that had begun as a smile soon blurred her eyes with heat. Though she had expected it to end, perhaps deep down she had hoped it wouldn’t—his words came to her as strangely reliable.
“The Marchioness will oppose it.”
“She’ll probably have a fit.”
“Her resolve will be firm.”
“I can see it without looking.”
“…….”
“Still, I promise you.”
“…It will be a difficult path, though…?”
“I’m prepared for that much.”
“Do you have some clever plan?”
“Roughly.”
Whether truly resolved, Hitaon remained composed throughout. She took comfort in that. He wiped Luirene’s tear-stained cheek. Exhausted from crying, Luirene sniffled and rubbed her cheek against his palm.
“I thought the young master… considered this just playing with fire.”
“Really? That’s funny. I thought you’d be the one thinking that.”
“How could I?”
“Then how could I?”
Neither looked away, then they both burst into laughter. Watching Luirene laugh with her worn, hoarse voice, Hitaon’s eyes grew dark.
“I’m the one who should be asking you.”
“…….”
“Every moment will be a crisis. I don’t know how long it will take. Maybe something as terrible as this could happen again. But still… can you trust me and follow?”
Luirene blinked.
“Is this a proposal?”
“What?”
A bewildered expression crossed Hitaon’s face, the determined tension fading as a hint of laughter emerged. He chuckled and swept back his hair.
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