Chapter 20
Only the sound of small footsteps brushing the carpet echoed in her ears. After descending alone to the first floor, Prina looked around. On one wall stood a large grandfather clock.
As she stopped in her tracks, the ticking, ticking of the clock filled the hall.
In the center of the hall was a large flower vase. Drawn in by the enticing flowers, Prina approached and inhaled their fragrance.
They were roses. When she touched the petals, they felt as fresh as if they were alive.
“Ah…”
As she touched the stem, Prina let out a small gasp from a sudden pricking sensation. She should have been more careful. It seemed she’d been pricked by a thorn. Dark red blood welled up on the tip of her thumb.
Without thinking, she brought it to her mouth to suck on it, glancing warily around.
She took in the dining room, the parlor, and the door to the room she’d entered before while following Lucky. Through the half-open door, a faint light was leaking out.
‘That must be his room…’
Just remembering that earlier encounter when she’d seen him unclothed still made her dizzy, but if something had happened to the man, she had to step in and help.
At the sanatorium, she’d cared for all the patients equally. Even if they cursed at her or kicked her. Because every life was precious. And now, she couldn’t just ignore the person who, for no reason, had given her a home and food.
As Prina was cautiously making her way in that direction—
Creak… Thud.
From behind her, she heard a large door open and close.
It was from the entrance.
Startled, Prina froze in place.
Damp air from outside brushed the back of her neck. Prina held her breath, her fine hairs standing on end.
Step, step, step.
Heavy footsteps grew closer and then stopped. When she slowly turned, a well-built man with bright yellow eyes was looking down at her.
“Prina.”
Their eyes met in the air.
“Were you waiting for me?”
His low voice asked softly, as if in passing, and Prina could only stand there, speechless like a cat who’d eaten honey.
Had she been waiting for him? Yes, she supposed she had.
Admitting it felt strangely embarrassing, as if her feelings had been found out. She’d been worried something might have happened to him and wanted to look after him, but even to herself, it felt like a strange sentiment.
The man had his arms full of bundles.
“I haven’t been able to take care of your meals, so you must be hungry.”
“N-No…”
It wasn’t because she was shameless.
She felt embarrassed and tried to protest.
Growl…
But her stomach growled at just the wrong moment, and Prina’s face turned bright red.
“I haven’t eaten yet either. Shall we eat together?”
“……”
The man let out a soft laugh.
“Of course, only if you’re comfortable with it, Prina.”
For some reason, her heart dropped. She thought she was startled, but looking back, it felt more like relief.
He had come back.
She had worried something might have happened, but thankfully, he was fine.
Now, she could have a meal with him, safe and sound.
* * *
It was the first meal they shared together. They sat across from each other, separated by a long dining table. Gentle candlelight warmly illuminated the room.
There was hardly any conversation between them.
The dining room, like the rest of the mansion, was wrapped in quiet stillness.
Only the faint clinking of tableware and the occasional crackle from the fireplace on one side of the room could be heard.
It all felt so awkward.
Prina’s gaze stayed fixed on her plate the whole time. It seemed like she was the only one who felt uneasy about the silence. He didn’t seem to mind at all.
Even though they were sharing a meal in the same space, nothing really felt different from when she’d eaten alone in her room. Prina, hiding away, watched him warily like a timid herbivore, and he, as always, seemed to take the awkward silence as perfectly natural, making no effort to break it. There were no questions, no attempts at eye contact.
Lucky had his own dish set in a corner and was hunched over, eating diligently.
Should I try speaking to him first?
Wasn’t that the polite thing to do? He’d helped her, and she’d been depending on him all this time.
She’d thanked him with notes, but maybe it was better to say it in person.
But what if she bothered him by starting a conversation? Was she the only one fussing over this?
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