Chapter 2.7

Until Brienne Ford had come along, Herace’s goals had been perfectly clear.  

First, to find the Marquis faster than anyone. Second, to make sure Brienne Ford never shed a tear.  

Though the unexpected addition of Brienne as a companion had been a variable, in the end, Herace Belif’s plan had succeeded. He’d even used that variable as a good opportunity to get closer to Brienne.  

He’d gotten a few injuries in the process, but really, so what? In the end, he’d been supported by Brienne Ford—wasn’t that a good thing?

“I understand, Young Master. Then I’ll just do it myself!”  

So what was this situation now?  

Was this another chance to make a move?  

Herace lowered his gaze, deep in thought. It wasn’t polite to get lost in thought with someone right in front of him, but he was just that cautious. This unexpected situation had him a bit flustered.

“Could you give me a moment?”

Herace whispered softly as he brushed back his hair and looked up at Brienne. His lowered eyelashes revealed mysterious dark gray eyes.

“I need to prepare myself.”

Prepare himself, yes.

Herace was a man who knew very well how his appearance brought him certain advantages in life. He was used to winning favor with a smile or saying what people wanted to hear, and gaining others’ goodwill.

But physical matters were an exception.

At least in this, he could not act shamelessly as he usually did.

“Ah, I see…….”

Brienne, who had no way of knowing what he was thinking, tightly clenched the hand that had almost touched his gown and stepped back.

“I, um, thought you were so injured you couldn’t even move your arm.”

She had only wanted to finish quickly and leave, but now that Herace was being so serious, she suddenly felt even more nervous. Now, instead of feeling heavy inside, she felt like something might actually burst out of her mouth.

“I see, too injured…”

At that moment, something flickered across Herace’s eyes, which had been fixed on Brienne without even the slightest intention of moving a hand. Unfortunately, Brienne didn’t notice because of the glow from the hot fireplace.

“Huh?”

“Just as I said. Right now, I’m so hurt I don’t think I can even lift my arm.”

If that was the case, he should have said so sooner. 

Brienne sighed openly, feeling drained. Herace, who had made her so nervous and dragged out the time, seemed so unfair.

“So?”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to do it.”

When Brienne shot Herace a slight glare, he smiled faintly. After a brief hesitation, Brienne pressed herself closer to the bed and slowly moved her hands.

She kept telling herself, she was just treating a patient.

“Th-then, I’ll take it off.”

With trembling hands, she untied his gown, instantly revealing a firm chest. Across the beautiful muscles, as if sculpted by myth, a long strip of medical cloth stretched from his chest to his abdomen. It looked like it had only barely covered the wound as a temporary measure.

“…….”

Brienne hesitated for a moment and then carefully peeled away the cloth. Seeing the wound was even deeper than she expected, Brienne’s eyes widened in shock.

“Are you crazy? Why would you try to hide a wound like this?”

Forgetting how nervous she’d been, Brienne now looked angry. She bit down on her lower lip and then stepped back.

“This won’t do. I can’t handle this. I’ll have to call another doctor…….”

“No need for a doctor.”

But before she could turn around, a strong hand grabbed Brienne’s arm. With Herace’s firm tone, Brienne was left speechless.

“Didn’t you come in here to nurse me yourself?”

“Well, I suppose it did end up that way…….”

While Brienne looked on the verge of tears, Herace smiled languidly. Leaning his back against the headboard, he gently pulled Brienne’s arm so as not to hurt her.

“Then please continue.”

Glancing back and forth between the closed door and Herace, Brienne finally sighed and picked up the disinfectant from the tray.

“I can’t promise it won’t hurt. But…… I’ll try to make it hurt as little as possible.”

Brienne sighed nervously and furrowed her brow. Soon, the cold cotton touched the wound. Herace let out a low groan right away.

Startled, Brienne pulled her hand away from him.

“D-does it hurt?”

“…A little, yes.”

“Then……!”

“My heart does.”

But even that seemed to be a joke. At Herace’s light laughter, Brienne raised her voice in disbelief.

“You don’t look hurt at all. How can you still be joking in a situation like this?”

“I’m good at enduring things, and I like to joke.”

At his cool reply, Brienne was at a loss for words. Still, her worries about whether she could do the treatment disappeared, and she moved her hands more confidently than before.

A little blood, yet to heal, seeped onto the white cotton. Of course, even then, Herace’s expression didn’t change at all. Brienne, who was watching his face carefully, asked,

“…Why did you do it, anyway?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why did you save me, even getting hurt like this?”

She could have just said thank you. Because it was hard to say those words, she ended up circling around the topic. Brienne muttered as she set down the disinfectant tools, unable to stop her words from coming out.

“If you did it just because I’m a woman and weaker, and you thought you had to protect me no matter what……”

“That’s not it.”

Herace immediately denied Brienne’s words.

“Of course, it would be a lie to say it had nothing to do with that, but I did not protect you just because you are a woman and weaker than me, Miss Ford.”

Herace whispered softly, raising his upper body slightly. Their eyes met at quite a close distance.

“It’s just that I wanted to.”

So it was pure chivalry? Throwing himself in harm’s way for someone else out of nothing but a sense of justice. The more she got to know him, the harder he was to understand. Brienne stared into those inscrutable dark gray eyes.

“You’re…… a very selfless person, Young Master. Like my father.”

“I’m not sure about that. Rather, it was purely out of my own selfishness.”

“Selfishness?”

“Yes, a lowly sort of selfishness.”

The faint smile on Herace’s face faded. His usually gentle face now looked quite serious.

“If my selfish choice made you feel guilty, I apologize. But.”

“…….”

“If I can think that I’ve grown just a little closer to you because of this, is that arrogance?”

Brienne’s eyes trembled slightly. Herace’s gaze, as if seeking the truth, swept across her face and paused at her small lips.

“…No.”

Brienne consciously avoided his eyes and turned her head, picking up the ointment from the tray. For some reason, the back of her neck felt hot.

“Um, earlier I said I had something to say. Actually, I came to thank you.”

“Did you?”

“…Yes, truly, thank you. For saving my life, and my father’s, and the lives of the people of the territory.”

Thank you. Herace looked down at the small hand applying ointment to his wound. If he could get this kind of special care, he might be willing to get hurt several more times.

Why did time always have to move on? Just when he was wishing this moment wouldn’t end—

‘…Ha.’

As Brienne started wrapping the bandage, she ended up resting one knee on the bed.

Herace’s eyes lingered on the soft line of her leg, visible through the thin dress fabric.

Why did that catch his eye?

It was really nothing, just the line of a small knee.

“It’s almost done.”

Brienne cut off the bandage she’d wound around his broad chest. Now that one knee was on the bed, weren’t they sharing the same bed? Herace thought it was ridiculous how his mind worked, focusing on something as small as a knee……

“You took your medicine earlier, right?”

“…Yes.”

He wanted to spend more time with her, but it seemed like it really was over now. Brienne tied the bandage securely so it wouldn’t come undone and pressed lightly against his side.

Her efforts to avoid touching him as much as possible just felt ticklish. Her hands, as careful as if she were tickling a tree with a feather, didn’t give him any sensation—just caution.

But for some reason,

As Herace watched that small hand, he grabbed Brienne’s arm and pulled her toward him.

“Y-Young Master……?”

Brienne, suddenly sprawled across the bed, opened her eyes wide in surprise. No, to be precise, it wasn’t quite the bed. Only her knees were barely on the edge of the bed, and her upper body was completely in the man’s arms.

“What are you, what are you doing?”

Brienne looked up at the man in a panic, her face flushed with heat. Herace gently stroked Brienne’s cheek with his fingertips as she lay in his arms.

“Well, is this another move?”

A different kind of smile appeared on the man’s shadowed face. It was a mischievous grin. Reading the unknown mischief in his lowered eyes, Brienne hurriedly tried to pull herself away from the man’s chest, which was only covered by a bandage.

If it was a joke, it was too much; if it was sincere, it was too intense.  

But it couldn’t possibly be sincere.  

To do such things with such a gentlemanly face and polite tone, really……  

‘……This sly snake!’