Chapter 66
“Your Grace… Did you find the young master?”
“…Yes. You may leave now.”
The servant closed the door as he left. The murmuring voices outside gradually faded away. From the situation, it seemed quite a few people had been mobilized to search for him.
But he’d only gone to the attached bathroom, and hadn’t even been there long… Despite his brother’s concern, there hadn’t been any sign of him leaving the premises—surely that wouldn’t warrant such a commotion? He racked his brain, suspecting there must be some other reason he wasn’t aware of.
A long sigh sounded beside him.
“Hah…”
His brother, who had been pacing around restlessly in an uncharacteristic manner, went to the bathroom and brought back a towel. Ja-hyun awkwardly dried himself with the offered towel, still puzzled by the situation.
But apparently dissatisfied with Ja-hyun’s efforts, his brother sat beside him and took the towel away. Then he pulled Ja-hyun onto his lap by the waist. The gesture was remarkably gentle and natural.
Leaning sideways against his brother’s chest, Ja-hyun stayed quiet and docile as his brother tended to him. After wiping his damp face and arranging his wet hair, his brother wrapped him in a blanket from the sofa. Then, in a low, somber voice, he murmured at the nape of Ja-hyun’s neck. The sigh-laden words made the fine hairs on his nape stand on end.
“…Didn’t I tell you not to go to the bathroom alone? I said to call a servant. The pull cord is right there.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Though unsure what exactly he’d done wrong, he apologized anyway. He felt sorry for his brother, whose condition seemed to have worsened in that short time, though he wasn’t sure why. But wait… surely not. Had they really been searching for him? In that brief moment?
“……”
“Brother, I only went to wash my face. It wasn’t dangerous. And I’m feeling much better. Thanks to you, I can feel myself getting healthier…”
“So you decided to do as you please?”
“No, that’s not it. I thought you might have worried I’d gone outside somewhere…”
Ja-hyun carefully probed. But his brother, face hidden, remained silent.
“……”
No way, really? Ja-hyun lowered his head to hide his smile. His brother was being too adorable to bear. Whether some memories had returned or he’d simply grown fond of Ja-hyun, either way was fine.
“…Brother.”
Ja-hyun called out to his brother again, trying to suppress his amusement.
“Yes?”
But his brother’s voice still carried traces of displeasure.
“I’m worried you might collapse somewhere, coughing up blood again.”
“……”
Well, he had no defense against that.
“…I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t say that to hear your apologies.”
What’s gotten into him? He was definitely different from before Ja-hyun fell ill. Somehow kinder, perhaps.
Then again, even in the past, his brother would always soften slightly when Ja-hyun was sick, despite his usually cold demeanor. Even during the times when his brother had been violent.
Though his sturdy constitution meant he rarely fell ill, there were times when he’d almost welcomed sickness, just to experience that tenderness.
Feeling elated, Ja-hyun clung to his brother.
“Haha, your worry… Where else would I go besides your side, brother?”
He had no foolish intentions of running away somewhere on his own feet. His body wouldn’t allow it anyway.
‘But if I can’t go on my own feet, I could always use someone else’s hands.’
Nevertheless, he would eventually return to his brother’s side. At the very end…
Well, at least it wasn’t a lie. Ja-hyun searched for more words of flattery for his silent brother.
“Don’t worry. I… brother…”
What should he say? That he liked his brother? That he respected and was grateful to him, so don’t worry?
But his words were cut off by his brother’s soft call.
“Raijin.”
“…Yes.”
“When you were lying sick, you said something quite interesting to me. Don’t you remember?”
…Huh?
“…I did?”
What? Something quite interesting? He couldn’t remember. He must have spoken nonsense due to the fever. What could it have been? His brother wouldn’t make such a heavy point about something trivial.
…Surely he hadn’t babbled about his past life?
He felt cold sweat forming on his palms. With his brother holding him wrapped in the blanket, his weak body couldn’t change position. He couldn’t see what expression his brother wore as he spoke.
Ja-hyun, feeling preemptively guilty, spoke up.
“I must have talked nonsense while delirious. Since I was very sick, whatever I said, you shouldn’t take it too…”
“Nonsense, you say?”
“…Yes. It must have been delirious rambling. Sick people often talk nonsense.”
“What do you think you might have said?”
Ugh, his brother’s arms tightened around him. You’re really going to break me, brother… When he let out a pained whimper, the grip loosened again.
“Brother…”
After maintaining silence for a while longer, his brother murmured from behind. His voice was somehow complex and heavy, humid with emotion.
“…You said you loved me. You said over and over that you loved me, that you liked me… seems you don’t remember?”
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