Chapter 109
***
Daykin very carefully placed the handkerchief on the table.
“You said it wasn’t a gift for me earlier.”
“That’s because I was embarrassed…. I made it in a hurry, so the embroidery is small, and it’s not very fancy. I was too ashamed to give it to you….”
“It’s the most ornate and beautiful embroidery I’ve ever seen.”
You’re the only one who thinks that. I muttered, trying to push away my embarrassment. Daykin pulled me into a hug and peppered my head with kisses.
“You didn’t hurt your hands while embroidering it, did you?”
“I didn’t.”
“That’s a relief. I had no idea you were so skilled. You’ll have to teach me sometime. I want to do it next to you. It’s more fun when two people do it together than one, isn’t it?”
Will I be able to teach you later?
I evaded the question, just saying, “I’ll think about it.”
“Looks like we have a lot to do together in the future,” Daykin said casually.
I didn’t answer, struggling to get out of his arms. He tempted me to stay just a little longer, but I refused to be swayed.
And so began a strange game of cat and mouse with Daykin, which only ended as evening approached. I bit down hard on his mischievous hand and fled straight to the dining hall.
***
Minerva walked with a smile on her lips. Her destination was not far. Still smiling pleasantly, she opened the door.
[My love? I was waiting!]
“I’m here. I was going to come after dinner, but I had something to show you, so I stopped by early.”
She had arrived at the tower where Dale was staying. The tower’s original purpose was for research on mana overflow. Despite this serious purpose, the building’s exterior was colorful because Dale had insisted that even a research facility would be unpleasant to look at if it were drab, and so it had been repainted.
It now served as a place for both research on mana overflow and for the unconscious Dale to reside. With trustworthy researchers and medical staff on-site at all times, it was the optimal environment for monitoring his condition.
Minerva carefully unfolded a handkerchief in front of the unmoving Dale.
The handkerchief had only a tiny rapeseed flower embroidered on it, which at a glance could have seemed plain. But it was stitched with such delicacy that the dense cluster of flowers looked as if it might bloom at any moment. It even looked chic, as if it had been intentionally designed to be small.
Of course, even if the embroidery had been clumsy, it would have been adorable in its own way.
Dale admired the handkerchief, which was spread out as if displaying a treasure. The rapeseed flowers were tiny, dense, and cute.
*Why is she showing me this? Ah, did she bring it for me?*
Dale winked at Minerva with his left eye.
[Did you bring that for me? Aww, you shouldn’t have.]
“Isn’t her skill impressive? It’s so well made you’d believe it was sold in a workshop.”
Dale blinked. *I guess she didn’t bring it for me.*
“Our new daughter-in-law gave it to me as a gift. I don’t know when she found the time to make it.”
[What? She didn’t give me anything like that! She didn’t even tell me what her illness was!]
He fumed silently. He even threw a childish tantrum, waving his arms about. Fortunately, there was no one to see him.
“There was one for you, too. I saw a handkerchief identical to mine on the table, but I pretended not to. It’s only right that the child give it to you herself.”
[Hee. I nearly misunderstood. I was about to be terribly hurt.]
“I wonder if she’s finally starting to think of herself as part of the Blashur family.”
Their new daughter-in-law was like a small, wounded animal that wouldn’t let anyone offer it comfort. She was a child who had been uncertain, only trying to figure out where her safe territory was. And now, that same child had prepared a gift and extended her hand for the first time.
“I hope this marks a turning point, that she starts to feel more comfortable with us.”
[We have plenty of time. It will happen eventually.]
“On another note, she’s looked so pale since the day before yesterday. I wonder if she’s ill. Dr. Hyram won’t be back for a while, so maybe it’s best to have another mana-wielding physician examine her before then.”
[What?]
Dale frowned at Minerva’s words. *Why does she need another examination? Is she sicker? But I thought she just had one not long ago.*
“Ah, no! Please don’t! I’ve already seen—I was just on my way back from seeing a doctor!”
That was what the child had said. But judging by Minerva’s worried expression, she hadn’t been examined at all.
“I thought having her get an examination on her first day of marriage would seem like I was pressuring her to get pregnant, so I postponed it and approved Dr. Hyram’s trip. Maybe I shouldn’t have. Whenever I ask, she just says nothing is wrong, so there’s no way to know until she’s examined.”
“I sometimes bleed like this. I’m taking medicine for it, and this is just part of the healing process. I hid the blood because Daykin and you are already so worried, and I didn’t want to worry you further… so I hid it.”
It was a lie. Thinking back, the child had been terrified at the suggestion of calling a doctor right away. He recalled how relieved she had been when they’d promised not to call anyone. The floor had been slick with blood, and it had by no means been a small amount.
The fact that she lied means she either has a disease she doesn’t want the doctors or us to find out about…
Or, it was an illness that was already beyond help, so a diagnosis would be pointless. That must be why she was trying to hide it.
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