Chapter 50

Applying medicine and wrapping bandages wasn’t something Bleria was doing for the first time. Yet, she behaved like someone seeing blood for the first time.

Her hands trembled so much that the bandage was clumsily applied. Feeling uneasy, she muttered under her breath.

“Shouldn’t we call a doctor? What if there are shards in the wound—”

“I’d know if something was in there. My senses are sharper than a civilian’s. I’ll have it checked by a doctor once I’m back.”

“Promise me you will.”

“Anyway, I’ll need to throw away these gloves.”

Gopher casually took off the glove he was still wearing. The sight of his bare hand felt strangely unfamiliar to Bleria. As she stared at the discarded gloves, a forgotten item suddenly appeared.

At that moment, Gopher spoke.

“You sent me a lot of letters. I couldn’t reply because I had too much to look into. Were you that anxious?”

“……”

“If you have something to say, just say it. Or do you want me to reassure you instead?”

Her chest tightened at his words, but looking at his face, it didn’t seem he was mocking her.

Gopher looked somewhat exhausted. His weariness was apparent in both his expression and voice. Because of that, he didn’t seem like someone who had come to confront her about meeting Mixel Luke alone.

As the unsettling thoughts dissipated, all she could feel was pity for the fatigue etched across his face.

Is it because of me?

Her throat tightened with guilt. Once again, her gaze fell to Gopher’s bandaged hand. Looking at that hand buried any desire to complain or ask for more from him.

Bleria trusted him—she had decided to.

Gently, she caressed his hand.

“Don’t overdo it.”

“Is that what you want to say? Your only request?”

“Just… if you’re not too busy, I’d like you to reply, even with just one sentence.”

For some reason, Gopher stared at her intently. His reply came slowly.

“I will, once I get back.”

With that, Gopher stood up. Bleria nearly expressed disappointment, wanting to ask him to stay longer. She thought she had managed to hold it in, but it must have shown as he smiled teasingly.

“If you’re that disappointed, I can’t leave. Should I stay?”

Even if I ask you to stay, you’ll still leave.

Suppressing the urge to nod, Bleria lowered her gaze to the gloves left on the table. If Gopher was this exhausted, she might not see him again for some time.

“Wait. Just a moment.”

“Bleria?”

Ignoring his curious tone, she hurried out of the room. Worried he might leave as suddenly as he came, her steps quickened. Fortunately, when she returned, Gopher was still there.

She handed him an item without a word: a pair of men’s gloves.

“What’s this?”

“I ordered them the day I visited the new atelier.”

“It’s not my birthday, and you’re giving me a gift? That’s rare.”

“Well… I just felt that no matter what I gave you, it might seem out of place…”

She had gotten into the habit of hesitating to give him gifts, afraid they wouldn’t meet his standards. Now, the gloves she had carefully chosen suddenly seemed plain.

As she debated whether to take them back, Gopher picked them up.

“Gopher…!”

“They’re mine, aren’t they?”

Both his bandaged and uninjured hands were covered by the black leather gloves. Contrary to her worries, they suited him perfectly.

“I like them. I’ll make good use of them.”

He looked at her again, his gaze lingering. His slow blink gave his eyes a languid expression.

“I still don’t know why I’m doing this.”

Before Bleria could dwell on the meaning of his words, Gopher cupped the back of her neck and pulled her close. Their lips met. Instead of deepening the kiss, he lightly nibbled on her lower lip before running his tongue over it and pulling away.

“……”

Feeling unsatisfied, Bleria’s eyes drifted to his face. He wore his usual faint smile.

“Everything will work out in the end.”

Those words, like a magic spell, reassured her. She nodded, her expression visibly lighter.

***

Perhaps Gopher’s words, indeed, were a magic spell. The next day, Duke Heaven woke up.

As soon as she heard the news, Bleria rushed to his chambers. Yet, she couldn’t step in right away when she reached the door.

The ominous thoughts she had suppressed surged all at once. For some reason, she felt seeing the duke would bring something terrible. Overwhelmed by unease, she stood frozen, staring at the gap in the door.

The first thing she saw was the duke’s physician, Kyle. Standing beside him was Damian while Harriet fretted over the duke. She also caught a glimpse of the steward.

“I’m fine, child. I’m just a bit dazed from all the sleep, but otherwise, I feel great.”

The duke’s reassuring voice to Harriet was so calm and familiar that Bleria’s tensed shoulders finally relaxed.

Everything will work out in the end.

Recalling Gopher’s words, Bleria knocked on the open door.

“Father, it’s me. May I come in?”

Without waiting for permission, she stepped inside. Harriet welcomed her warmly. Damian glanced at her briefly before turning away, but the steward and the physician greeted her.

The duke, however, did not look at her.

“I’m relieved you’re awake, Father. Are you feeling well?”

“……”

“Of course, my lady,” the physician interjected. “His Grace is in good health. He’s a little low on energy, but that will recover soon enough.”

The duke’s physician answered in his place.

Why is he acting this way? Swallowing her rising foreboding, Bleria grasped the duke’s limp hand resting on the bed. The cold and dry sensation against her palm chilled her chest.

But even that alien touch was not allowed to linger.

The duke withdrew his hand from hers and spoke in a cold voice.

“I appear to not have fully recovered yet. I’d like to rest, so everyone, please leave.”

Just moments ago, he had said he was fine…

His stern demeanor made everyone else quietly leave the room. Bleria, however, stood frozen in place, blinking in shock. Usually, she would have taken the hint and left, but she couldn’t. The anxiety pressing on her back urged her forward.

“Are you unwell? Where exactly—”

She reached out to retake his hand, but he swiftly hid it under the covers.

Ah.

“Didn’t I tell you to leave?”

Her outstretched hand faltered, and his cold, authoritative voice panged her heart. It was a tone she had never heard from the duke before that reminded her of Damian.

Kyle awkwardly smiled and stepped between them, blocking her frozen stance.

“His Grace seems a bit irritable due to his condition. Perhaps it’s best to leave, for now, my lady.”

Bleria mustered strength in her weakening knees and followed Kyle out of the room. Once the door was closed behind her, she asked immediately,

“What caused him to collapse?”

“We suspect emotional shock,” Kyle replied. “Physically, he’s healthy aside from the lack of energy. There’s no need to worry. People can get a bit sharp when they’re unwell.”

Kyle cast a brief glance at the door to the duke’s room. He, too, seemed to think something was off, but pressing him further wouldn’t change the duke’s behavior. Resigned, Bleria nodded.

Kyle returned to the room, leaving her staring blankly at the closed door. After a moment, she turned to find Harriet and Damian still standing there.

What could have caused the duke to act that way? The memory of seeing Eos’s scar before the duke collapsed surfaced, but Bleria pushed it away.

Perhaps Damian might know something? Despite Harriet’s presence, Bleria’s mouth moved on its own.

“I need to ask you something, Brother.”

“Later,” Damian replied curtly.

“I’ve been hearing strange rumors lately. About me—”

“Do you not understand what I said? I said, later.”

He, too.

Damian, too.

His voice, laced with irritation, silenced her. Damian glared at her with a cold expression, and she, feeling helpless, lowered her gaze.

A heavy sigh broke the tension, followed by retreating footsteps.

Yes, retreating.

The duke remained behind a closed door. Damian had once congratulated her on her engagement and left in anger.

Everything was supposed to be okay, so why? Why had all the good things vanished, leaving nothing behind but—

“Are you okay, Bleria? You look pale.”

Harriet’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts, and she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

How long will Harriet keep worrying about me?

“Yes, I’m fine,” she lied, trembling lips betraying her words. But she couldn’t let herself act childishly. Harriet might come to dislike her, too. Desperately, she donned a mask of composure.

“Thank you for your concern. You should rest as well, Harriet.”

“…You’re right. I need to rest, too,” Harriet replied softly, though she didn’t move. Instead, she took Bleria’s hand.

“So, will you help me relax, Bleri?”

In front of her was a warm cup. Harriet tilted the pot of chocolate and poured it out for her, filling the air with its sweet, comforting aroma. The warm scent tickled Bleria’s frozen cheeks.

She wasn’t in the mood to drink anything, but her tense heart began to thaw after a few sips.

Harriet opened her mouth cautiously.