17. Trust

My sudden call seemed to have disrupted his balance.

Because of this, the weapon draped over him fell to the floor. With the impact, a bright red flame-like thing that suddenly blazed in the darkness seemed to be fired, rising like a surge.

Something hot grazed past the side of my ankle. That moment was so brief that it would be more accurate to say I recognized the fact only after it had passed by.

The faintly felt heat soon returned as a belated sting.

In my wavering vision, the footsteps approaching me grew slower and slower. But before he could fully reach me, he collapsed to the floor.

I wanted to go to him immediately and support him, but the injury to my wounded ankle wouldn’t allow it. I wished he would say something, but he showed no movement or sign after collapsing.

“Young master……”

Having no choice but to give up walking, I slowly lowered myself to the floor on both knees, following him. As a result, the slightly opened wound hurt beyond imagination, but I couldn’t stop watching him.

Only after my knees touched the ground did I realize that the floor was a mess with scattered glass fragments. Fortunately or unfortunately, the wound I had just received was so painful that the scratches from the glass didn’t bother me much.

“Rosaline……?”

A coldly subdued voice called my name. Though it was a very small sound, I didn’t miss it.

“Yes, it’s me. I’m sorry for being late.”

I wasn’t curious at all about the bullet that had just grazed my leg. My mind was filled only with concerns for his well-being.

I approached him using my knees, sweeping away unknown objects that filled the pitch-dark darkness with my hands.

Occasionally I felt sharp and foreign objects, but I couldn’t see them at all.

I was worried about the young master who might have suffered abrasions from falling to the floor without any preparation. Unlike ordinary people, infection could be fatal for him.

I reached out my hand toward the faint presence I sensed in the darkness.

He remained still, collapsed in the darkness, as if he couldn’t see anything at all. He had no choice. He was now sick enough to suddenly collapse.

At the same time, I thought about the current situation.

From what I could guess, he seemed to have been placed under the threat of m*rder again. The piano wire covered in glass fragments that I had seen recently was still vivid in my mind.

He must have been desperately fighting to protect himself.

“I actually didn’t take care of the flowers and whiskey you gave me two days ago. Until someone arranged them in my room.”

I spoke honestly, making the excuses I had practiced several times on my way up here seem meaningless. Because right now, my mind was filled only with regret toward him.

“Ha……”

A faint but small laugh was heard from the collapsed young master. My guilt doubled.

Making a confession in such a worst-case scenario, I really had no tact at all. If he went mad from the shock, it would probably be my responsibility.

“Well done.”

He muttered in a very small voice.

“Pardon?”

I had to ask him back. I had no idea what I had done well.

Most of my actions until today had been tremendously disrespectful to him. Therefore, I couldn’t guess which of my actions had earned his evaluation of “well done.”

“It seems the gift I need to give has changed. Throw away the alcohol as soon as you return.”

He spoke quickly in a slightly breathless voice.

“Pardon……?”

The whiskey looked perfectly fine on the outside, but throw it away? Not return it?

“Young master.”

“……You understand, right?”

He exhaled a labored breath and spoke weakly, softly. I quickly recalled my earlier thought that his legs might be covered in abrasions, and I reached out my hand to him.

A startled tremor was briefly felt, but soon he left my hand as it was, as if resigned.

His captured hand was so cold it was hard to believe it was the same hand that had been firing flames just moments ago. His body tilted toward me as if pulled by gravity.

I was flustered but tried my best to bear his weight.

Soon, I heard regular and quiet breathing near my ear. In an instant, the young master seemed to have fallen asleep. Was it my imagination? Lately, I seemed to have become skilled at putting people to sleep.

Just a coincidence, surely.

Anyway, I couldn’t leave the collapsed young master among these odds and ends.

It seemed best to find another room to lay him down. While I was contemplating how to move him, the heavy door opened.

“Miss, what on earth have you done?”

A strange man standing at the doorway asked me with puzzlement, poking his head in without introducing himself.

“The sound stopped, so I came to check, and he’s not dead yet. How unusual.”

“Pardon me, what did you say?”

What was that attitude, as if he was certain I would definitely be dead?

Could this man be an acquaintance of the young master?

“Miss, hand the young master over to me.”

He slowly gestured as if pointing to the young master draped over me. But I couldn’t help but be wary of this stranger.

The young master was already suffering from anxiety due to the fear of being murdered. Since this person might be an enemy targeting the young master’s life, I couldn’t carelessly hand him over.

“With my appearance like this, you seem unable to trust me. If I had been born with looks like the young master’s, would I have avoided such treatment?”

“What are you saying? Even if someone had a face resembling the young master’s, I would still be suspicious of a bad person.”

The man began to laugh loudly at my answer. Thanks to his appearance, openly laughing as if he had heard a truly funny joke, my distrust of him grew even more.

“If you’re that anxious, ask that person there who I am.”

I didn’t believe the man’s words.

How could he who had fallen into a deep sleep suddenly wake up and immediately answer my question?

I thought so, but the faint breathing I had been hearing near my ear since that man entered the room was no longer audible.

Surely he’s not dead?

“Young master……?”

“It’s alright, Rosie. Do as that person says.”

As if answering my call, the young master, whose consciousness had somehow returned, whispered in a low voice. This reassured me, but his answer wasn’t what I had hoped for.

“But……”

Could the young master be being threatened by that man? If he’s being threatened with his life or something very important, forcing him to give an unwanted answer?

“That person is a doctor. Though he doesn’t look like it.”

“Pardon?”

“Bernardo, could you show her your business card?”

So his name is Bernardo.

It was a name that didn’t suit that man at all. This was because he, who was taking a step back warily as if observing the situation, didn’t seem to be “a guardian of some light or truth,” which was the etymology of the name.

“Excuse me, just a moment.”

At those words, I remembered that he was still being supported by me in the same position.

I vaguely felt the weight on my shoulder disappearing, but all sensations seemed dreamy, as if detached from reality.

“If that’s what it takes for you to believe me, I have no choice.”

Bernardo had shown an incredulous attitude at the young master’s words, yet he surprisingly took out something like a small business card from his outer coat.

He then walked over reluctantly and handed it to me.

“Here. Check it once. The association’s seal is stamped there too.”

“He really is a doctor……?”

“Of course. Keep that business card with you in case later……”

For some reason, he stopped mid-sentence. His sudden silence, as if blocked by something, felt a bit awkward. But it didn’t seem like something I needed to worry about. At least Bernardo seemed like a trustworthy person.

“You should go now, Rosie.”

The young master suggested to me first as I was pondering.

“People sent from my father will treat the wound. I’m sorry for making you experience something frightening earlier.”

The young master spoke to me as if giving instructions and walked toward the man called Bernardo. Faintly visible in the darkness, reflecting the moonlight, he looked extremely tired and distressed even at a glance.

“It’s nothing, young master. I hope you receive good care from the doctor. Doctor, please take good care of the young master. Farewell.”

The young master didn’t say anything more, but I could instinctively understand. That I should never ask him about the accident tonight or talk about it in front of others.

After saying goodbye to the two of them, I left the room through the door that Bernardo had left open.