Chapter 32
That one thought alone was enough to bring back all the fears she had been holding down, surging at once until she found tears welling up without realizing it.
He was someone like a benefactor to her. And yet, this was all she could do.
Why… Why couldn’t she make him better?
She thought of the deaths of the people who had once been in her care.
Not many patients had walked out alive from that place.
Could she really heal him? Did she have the right to call herself a healer at all?
Her insides shrank tight with helplessness.
“Lord of All, please…”
She had used every means she had.
With nothing left but prayer, Prina clasped her hands together at his bedside and squeezed her eyes shut.
“Please, let Hunter recover. I beg you.”
It was an earnest prayer.
Praying for a patient’s recovery was something she did as a matter of habit, but tonight, it was more heartfelt than it had ever been.
Just as He had let this man return home, just as He had allowed him to come back to her side, please let this night pass without harm.
Lord of All.
What must I do for You to let Hunter wake?
Whatever it is, I will do it, if only this man can open his eyes unharmed.
Prina prayed with all her heart.
Like the sky clearing after the rain, she wished—over and over—that by tomorrow morning, he would be completely recovered.
* * *
There was the scent of a wet forest.
Yes…
Perhaps it was the smell of rain, or of grass and soil.
In the dim hour before dawn, Prina awoke suddenly.
The pounding curtain of rain that had seemed ready to pierce the ground was silent now.
She recalled the events of the previous night.
Her last memory was praying by the side of the man who had returned through the downpour, looking as if his life might fade at any moment.
But when she opened her eyes, she was buried in soft bedding.
‘…What… happened?’
As she rubbed at her blurry vision, the image of the man bleeding flashed through her mind.
‘Hunter… Hunter, where…?’
She lifted her gaze and met bright yellow eyes looking down at her.
Like seeing the sun rise in the middle of the night, Prina froze for a moment, breath caught in her throat.
“Good morning.”
He greeted her with a soft smile.
At some point, he had risen, now wearing a nightgown and leaning against the headboard, looking down at her.
“Or should I say good dawn. It’s not morning yet.”
Could it be a vision? Or was she still dreaming?
His voice was so calm that he didn’t seem like someone who had been gravely wounded.
Uneasy, Prina reached out and brushed his nightgown with her fingertips.
Not an illusion. He was right there.
“I’m alive. So don’t worry.”
Hunter, who had been quietly watching her movements, murmured it as though sharing a secret.
“H-Hunter, are… are you alright? Why am I here—”
“You looked exhausted, so I laid you down. It’s your bed anyway.”
Good heavens.
She must have fallen asleep while tending to him, praying all the while.
“Your… Your fever…”
“Thanks to you, it’s fine now.”
“Really?”
“If you’re not convinced, check for yourself.”
Still holding her worried gaze, he gently took her hand and drew it toward himself.
Then he lowered his head, pressing her palm to his cheek.
“……”
The sudden act sent a rush of heat to Prina’s face.
Thankfully, it did seem his fever had gone.
Yesterday, he had been burning hot, damp with fever sweat.
Now, he was warm and soft. Alive and well.
Unconsciously, Prina stroked his cheek, then startled at her own action and quickly pulled her hand away.
She was glad he had recovered, but she was embarrassed. After all, she had fallen asleep in the middle of caring for him, and now she was waking in bed.
“I-I’m sorry…”
Prina lowered her hand carefully, apologizing.
“For what?”
“For… falling asleep while tending to you. It was irresponsible…”
Even as she spoke, she felt deeply ashamed of herself.
Healing was the only role entrusted to her in this house, and yet it seemed she had failed to carry out even that one duty properly.
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