Episode 66

I ran.

To catch the person who had failed to recognize me and passed by without notice.

The person who used to greet me with wide-open arms whenever we met. The one I hadn’t seen for weeks. The one who used to pat my head and give me candy.

I reached out my hand.

That person saw me, then pushed my hand away.

Standing there awkwardly, I couldn’t comprehend the situation. The other person muttered something and sighed deeply…

'Innocent fool. Do you really not understand how the world works?'

There was no sweet greeting, no strong embrace.

He gazed down at me with his arms crossed. His eyes were cold.

'If you weren’t ... why would I have treated you so kindly?'

As a child, I was profoundly shocked.

The other person remained indifferent.

'You aren't ... anymore, so what do you expect?'

'You said you liked me… that you loved me very much.'

'That was all just…'

He continued to explain. I listened blankly.

I stood there, dumbfounded, unable to cover my ears or interrupt him.

He spoke softly, as if bestowing his final kindness.

'There’s no such thing as kindness without a price in this world.'

'…'

'It’s only possible if there’s something to give and take. Sonnet, I have no reason to be good to you anymore.'

---

The cold scent of herbs. The sharp smell of disinfectant.

As I blinked, the blurry figure gradually became clearer.

“Sonnet.”

Once, twice, three times.

The distorted face became calmer each time I opened and closed my eyes.

The firm lips. The densely lowered silver eyelashes.

Ute spoke calmly, his glasses hanging from the pocket of his gown.

“The pain will remain.”

“Ah.”

As I grabbed my neck with one hand, lukewarm water was immediately offered.

The window was covered with curtains, making it hard to discern the time of day.

“It’s evening.”

“The lady—”

“Don’t worry about that. You are a patient.”

“How can I not worry?”

An unexcused absence—though not entirely without reason—could be fatal to my work evaluation.

‘If one person silently drops out, the rest must work their fingers to the bone.’

Even with a reason, it’s easy to get on someone’s bad side in this world.

“The butler said he’d handle it. So lie back down.”

“Then, okay.”

I instinctively lowered my raised upper body.

It was difficult to move anyway, with the needle stuck in the back of my hand.

“We did some simple checkups. Fortunately, no additional tests seem necessary.”

“Tests?”

“What, did you think we’d leave your head split open and bruised?”

He spoke in a strangely angry tone.

Ute bit his lips tightly.

“Your head is stitched up, so come back in a week to have the stitches removed. I’ll prescribe medication, so take it on time.”

“Okay.”

“Your hand was injured too, so we treated it. It looked like scratches...”

“Ah, right.”

“Do you have any questions?”

“No... Thank you.”

“Now, can you tell me what happened?”

Thud.

The medical chart was carelessly placed on the desk.

Ute removed his glasses and rubbed his face with both hands. His eyes, visible between his fingers, were red.

“It’s nothing serious.”

“Nothing serious, hah... I get it. Just tell me.”

As a patient being examined, I couldn’t keep silent.

“It’s really not a big deal. The lady was drunk and caused a scene.”

“So?”

“Yeah.”

“What did that lady do?”

“She just... swung a candlestick around.”

“What? A candlestick... sorry. Continue speaking."

“That’s it. I got hit a few times by the candlestick.”

“...And your hand?”

“It probably got injured while I was supporting her. I’m not sure.”

Ute was silent for a while.

He opened and closed his mouth several times. His green eyes swirled with emotions, seeming to reproach me.

“Ute?”

“You...”

His Adam’s apple moved up and down significantly.

“What would you do without me?”

“Huh...?”

“It could’ve been really serious. Do I need to explain how important your head is?”

His gentle eyes furrowed again.

Ute repeatedly brushed up his bangs.

“Yeah, it’s my fault from the start. I should have... approached this more carefully.”

“Your fault? How is it your fault here—”

“Let’s take a break.”

He spoke concisely, tapping his right foot.

“Let’s take a break and then enter the possession.”

“Do we have to?”

“...Do we have to? Sonnet, you almost died.”

“I mean, you don’t die from a simple head injury—”

“Don't die. Do you understand how easily humans can die?”

“Humans don’t die that easily—well, okay.”

He, as a doctor, would know more about life and death.

‘I don’t know why his conclusion was so lacking.'

His green eyes swirled with immeasurable emotions.

Ute sighed as he buried his face in his hands.

“Sonnet, you really... have no sense of safety.”

“...”

“I didn’t know Ruby Zephyrite was such a malicious person. That’s my mistake. I’m really sorry about that. So let’s step back for a moment.”

“We decided to take our place before the Marquisate became more chaotic.”

“We did. But the situation—”

“Did you decide this on your own?”

“...”

“Ute. We agreed on this together, and I decided to do it.”

Why does he keep taking all the responsibility himself?

‘Even if we signed a contract. Do I seem that easy?’

If I hadn’t been willing, I wouldn’t have agreed to it.

Now, the contract was merely a pretext...

I held the hand of the man I liked without any plan.

“Why are you blaming yourself? I told you before, you—”

“Don't have to apologize... right.”

“Exactly! Why are you making that face? Did you hit me? Did you tell that girl to beat me up?”

“No, but...”

“It’s quite common to face such things while working in someone else’s house.”

“...”

“It’s not the first time, so it’s really okay—”

“I hate that.”

He lowered his head.

I could only see his densely packed crown.

“Why do you keep saying you’re okay with getting hurt and sick...”

Ute mumbled from a distance where I couldn’t reach his cheek.

“You’re my friend. Who would welcome a friend getting used to such things?”

“Ute.”

“Every time you say you’re okay, my heart...”

Oddly enough.

Even though I wasn’t faulty, it felt like I had done something terribly wrong.

Otherwise, my throat wouldn’t feel this dry.

“Sonnet.”

His gaze, which had been on the floor, pierced me.

As I raised my body do to drink water, Ute bent over to embrace me.

His warm arm wrapped around my back.

'There’s no such thing as kindness without a price in this world.'

The voice I heard a long time ago echoed faintly.

The force of the embrace grew stronger. I placed my hand on his stiff shoulder blade and caught my breath.

Ute's shoulders trembled slightly.

My heart was beating too fast.

‘What if he notices?’

While I couldn’t bring myself to pull away, I worried over the fact.

---

“Take four days off.”

“Do you want me to get fired? No way.”

“At least take three days off.”

“No way.”

“Three days.”

“...”

“Three days.”

The issue was surprisingly resolved elsewhere.

“Take four days.”

The butler, who had come to the ward, explained calmly. The shadows under his eyes had deepened.

“The Zephyrite family does not lack the sense of duty to force an injured employee to work.”

The reason for my injury in the first place was because of a member of the family.

‘It’s not his fault.’

In fact, he was doing his best to accommodate within his authority.

“You can visit your hometown if you would like.”

“I’m fine.”

“If the period is an issue, it can be adjusted, so don’t hesitate.”

“I’m really alright.”

The butler tried to persuade me a few more times but then turned away, saying he understood.

‘Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?’

My personal relationship with the butler ended with the townhouse hire.

‘There’s nothing more to gain. And I don’t desire to.’

But now, he was showing such consideration for the situation of an employee who had worked for just a few days.

‘Does he want to create a connection with my mother while pretending otherwise? Is he testing me?’

How comfortably could I act when the boss told me to take it easy?

I returned to work immediately after the scheduled sick leave ended.

---

‘I’ll be fine.’

The bedroom I visited after four days.

I entered, clasping my trembling hands.

“Young lady, it’s time to wake up.”

Her fierce eyebrows twitched once, twice.

“Young lady. You have an appointment in the morning—”

The once-closed eyelids suddenly opened.

I instinctively took a step back and then moved forward again.

“If you’re awake, I’ll help you get ready—”

“Who are you?”

---

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