297 – Monsoon -3-

-Drip…

“Ha… ha…”

The anxious heart wouldn’t settle easily. Though my stamina was overflowing, perhaps due to my impatience, rough breaths fell from my lips without pause.

The lady, battling her headache, had fallen into a deep sleep, and now only my small breaths filled the silent street.

Various thoughts crossed my mind.

I wondered if it would have been better for me to seek a doctor alone, so as not to burden the lady, and I felt the impulse to reach out for rehabilitation.

I wasn’t sure if it would work, but I felt an impulsive urge to cling to a small hope. That’s how my heart felt right now.

-…knock. knock. knock.

There was no hospital left to go to. Not a single person had come out to help me.

“Ricardo… it’s cold.”

The young lady was shivering.

“…haah.”

The steps back to the mansion felt heavy.

No, it would be more accurate to say I couldn’t go back. All I could do if I returned was change the wet towel on my forehead.

I didn’t have the courage to return to the mansion.

“…”

Had I been standing there, dazed, for about ten minutes while the rain had stopped? With my eyes tightly shut, I began to take heavy steps forward. Thinking to myself that I would wait for the early morning.

-splash.

I started to move toward the mansion.

-slam.

It was at that moment.

As I was about to leave Hamel’s bustling district, a small light shone.

“…over there!”

It felt warm.

*

-drip…

In someone’s room, droplets clung to my hair and fell.

I let out a sigh of relief as I looked down at the young lady sleeping soundly on the bed.

“Haah… thank you so much.”

“No, it’s nothing. I haven’t done anything.”

“You must have been sleeping, and I’m really sorry for disturbing you.”

The woman in front of me bowed her head slightly, expressing her humility. She smiled gently, saying, ‘I would have done the same for anyone else.’

‘…’

I looked at the woman in front of me, feeling a complex mix of emotions. I thought to myself that this was a connection I didn’t want to have.

The place I was in was a restaurant called [Cruise]. I didn’t even know why I had come here so suddenly, but… she had found me wandering aimlessly.

-Why is it so noisy… uh…?

– Doctor…! Could you possibly call a doctor for me?

– Just… wait a moment. Please come inside for now.

– The young lady’s fever isn’t going down. I gave her cold medicine, but it’s not working… Please, a doctor…!

– I know a doctor! Just hurry…!

In my panic, Ella extended a hand of salvation. Thankfully.

Ella.

She was Mikhail’s mother.

The one who left, leaving a scar on Mikhail’s heart.

“…”

Oblivious to the burning worry, the young lady lay on Ella’s bed, breathing softly in her sleep.

“Mm… heh, it’s warm.”

“…”

“Ugh… cough! Cough! Oh no… I’m dying! Mm…”

Ella rubbed her sleepy eyes and handed me a warm cup of tea and a towel.

“It’s black tea. You must be cold, so please drink some.”

“Thank you.”

Ella had spoken the words I most wanted to hear.

“There’s a doctor among the guests staying on the second floor.”

“Is that so…?”

“He’s a young doctor; will that be alright?”

“That’s fine.”

I nodded at Ella’s consideration. I was in no position to be picky about food or doctors right now. Whether he was a young doctor or an old one, I was just grateful that there was a doctor available.

Ella nodded and stood up.

“Then please wait a moment. I’ll go wake the doctor on the second floor.”

“Thank you so much. Um…”

“Just call me Ella.”

Ella smiled gently as she headed upstairs.

Left alone in the room, I placed the towel Ella had given me over my head and wiped my forehead.

“Ha…”

I must have been too tense.

—

Seeing my mouth dry out.

It feels like it’s been a long time since black tea tasted this sweet; perhaps I was that tense.

—Hoh.

Today, the black tea felt particularly sweet, and I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. How should I repay this kindness?

“Alright, for now, let’s just think about the task at hand.”

I gently caressed the fingers of the young lady, who had fallen into a light sleep. Fingers that seemed like they would shatter if I held them too tightly.

“…”

Why did she fight with such small hands? Sometimes, I couldn’t help but laugh at the memory of the young lady striding through the streets like a true warrior.

—Chirp! Step on Ricardo!

—But they’re just kids.

—I’m a kid too.

—That’s true, but…

—They call me a crazy woman!

—What have you done?

—Well! I saw them eating something delicious, so I took it.

—…?

“Is it really that hard to just stay healthy…”

Her body is so delicate, yet why does she love meat so much? I couldn’t help but worry for the young lady’s fragile fingers, and I offered a bittersweet smile as I carefully grasped her palm.

“Ugh… Ricardo, the chocolate is hitting me…”

“Are you really looking for chocolate right now?”

“Ugh… Mmm.”

As I held her hand, the young lady, who had been frowning, broke into a bashful smile and licked her lips.

“Mmm… Hehe…”

“…”

“You’re all doomed. Ricardo has arrived.”

I liked the bright smile of the young lady.

Sleeping Beauty in the woods…

“Ricardo… I’ll step on you…!”

Not quite, but still, I cherished the smile she showed only to me, one she didn’t reveal to others.

Sometimes, I think about such things.

—

If.

If I think that my best efforts might not be having a good influence on the young lady and the protagonists of this story.

I’ve been trying my hardest in my own way, but still, my best isn’t necessarily the right answer.

The dark magic, my relationship with Mikhail, and even Yuria. Suddenly, I thought that perhaps the choices I made might have turned into poison that would come back to haunt me. Well, I’m not one to dwell on the past, but still, there’s a sense of responsibility.

“…”

‘What a lot of thoughts to have.’

Maybe it was because the young lady was in pain, but I felt like I was thinking too emotionally. It didn’t quite suit me.

Still.

I’m glad.

That we can be together like this.

-Clip-clop. Clip-clop.

Had I been holding the young lady’s hand for a long time? The heavy sound of heels began to echo from the second-floor stairs.

From the sound of the footsteps, it seemed to be a man with a sturdy build.

‘Fortunately, he doesn’t seem angry.’

I was relieved that there were no emotions carried in the footsteps. Stubborn people. No, ordinary people would have infused their steps with feelings if they were woken up at this hour.

-Clip-clop. Clip-clop.

If it’s about money, I can give enough to satisfy. I stood up from my seat to prepare to greet the doctor.

-Is this the place?

-I’m really sorry. You seemed to be in such a hurry… I can cover the inn fee instead…

-It’s fine.

The man spoke firmly and opened the door to enter.

And.

“Ha…?”

I let out a hollow laugh.

“No…”

The doctor looked at me with a puzzled expression. A look that seemed to ask why I was here. I felt the same way.

“Boss…!”

“Hmm? Isn’t that Ricardo?”

“No… Ha.”

The identity of the doctor she mentioned was.

“Long time no see.”

It was Malik.

***

After finishing the examination of the young lady, Malik looked at me, nodding his head.

“It’s the flu.”

“…”

“The fever was high, but it’s not something to worry about too much. I gave her the right antipyretics, so the fever should drop soon.”

“Thank you.”

Malik sighed, looking at me with a sympathetic gaze.

“You must have had quite a bit of worry; are you alright?”

“…”

“Ordinary medicine probably wouldn’t have worked for her.”

“Is that so…?”

“Yes, the flu that the princess caught is the one that’s been spreading in the East. Even if you had seen another doctor, it would have been hard to resolve.”

“…”

As Malik organized his examination tools, he spoke with a serious expression.

“It’s not a fatal illness, so you can rest easy.”

“You’re quite certain.”

“Well, I’m a doctor right now.”

After packing his bag, Malik patted my shoulder and smiled.

“You did well.”

I bowed my head toward Malik, filled with gratitude.

“Thank you.”

“Save the thanks for later. It’s time to rest now.”

“But, sir….”

“Shh.”

Malik glanced at Ella and then whispered in a low voice.

“Be quiet; I’m in the middle of an industrial espionage.”

“You work hard.”

“That’s because I’m the boss. And since I have a medical license, I hope you won’t report me.”

“When did you acquire that?”

“I thought it might come in handy someday, so I got it when I was 17. Of course, I obtained it through official channels.”

“…”

“I got it without my father’s knowledge, so don’t worry about it.”

What is it that I shouldn’t worry about?

I let out a hollow laugh and nodded at Malik’s words. I had given up on understanding this man.

Ella followed Malik as he headed back to the second floor and spoke to me.

“Then I’ll be going too.”

“Excuse me?”

“I can sleep in the vacant room, so please stay by the princess’s side, Lord Ricardo.”

“No, we will be returning to the mansion.”

“No. Please stay here comfortably until your condition improves. And I’m really sorry for barging into the mansion last time.”

“…”

“Really…”

Ella bowed her head to me, apologizing. Her voice trembled.

“I’m sorry.”

I couldn’t find the words.

I knew what was in her heart, and even if I couldn’t fully understand her feelings, I could grasp them to some extent, so I could only smile bitterly at her apology.

So.

“It’s alright.”

I decided to keep this debt in my heart, promising myself that I would repay it someday.

“Really… thank you. Mother.”

I bowed my head to her.

*

As time passed and dawn broke.

“Humph.”

Olivia opened her eyes.

“Olivia is back!”

“..”

“Eh?”

—

“…”

“Ugh!”

Olivia woke up feeling refreshed and tilted her head as she looked at her hand.

“…”

Ricardo was sleeping, holding her hand tightly.

He looked very tired.

He hadn’t even changed his clothes.

It seemed he had been constantly replacing the damp cloth on his forehead.

With a gentle smile, Olivia brushed Ricardo’s hair aside. And she could hear his calm greeting as he stirred and opened his eyes.

“Oh…? Are you awake?”

“Yeah.”

“Yawn… Good morning, Miss.”

Olivia replied to Ricardo’s greeting with a faint smile.

“Mm. Good morning.”

—Thump.

Her heart ached.