“Are you feeling unwell, my lady?”

Lilline brought it up the moment they returned from their meal.

“What are you talking about?”

“Your complexion doesn’t look very good.”

Lilline gazed at Amel with concern.

In truth, she had been watching her carefully ever since they left the dining room.

She was worried, but said nothing, simply keeping an eye on her. If a mere maid like herself started telling her lady what to do, it would be presumptuous and only make her feel more troubled.

Amel leaned against the corner of the bed as though she had collapsed onto it.

“My lady, you’ll get indigestion if you lie down right after eating.”

“My stomach doesn’t feel right.”

“Let me see. Are you feeling very uncomfortable? Did you get indigestion?”

Amel gently rubbed her upper abdomen. Perhaps the lunch she had eaten had disagreed with her, because the area beneath her breastbone felt hard and tight. She had forced herself to eat despite the awkwardness of the situation.

Amel pressed the space between her thumb and index finger repeatedly.

“Do we have any digestive medicine?”

“Just a moment. Is there any in the room? I’ll go get it for you.”

Lilline started to move, then suddenly seemed to remember something and looked flustered.

“Wait. I don’t have any with me right now…….”

“You don’t?”

“We have some in the carriage. Should I go out and get it?”

Lilline stood up as though she were about to leave at once.

Amel glanced out of the window. Thick streams of rain slashed across the sky. Outside, everything was a mess, as though someone had tipped a bucket of water over the world. The people outside were already completely soaked, looking like drowned rats.

“No. Forget it. You’ll get swept away by the water.”

“Will you be all right?”

“Yeah. It’ll pass eventually. I think I’m feeling better just sitting still.”

Rumble, rumble.

A rush of damp air swept in, carrying the smell of rain.

“Then don’t take any medicine for now. If you’re still feeling that way by dinner, I’ll bring you some digestive medicine.”

***

That night.

‘What time is it?’

Amel had skipped dinner and gone to bed, but she woke up sometime during the night.

‘Ah, I was worried about this. Did I get indigestion? I should have taken some digestive medicine before going to sleep. I thought I’d feel better after getting some rest.’

“Lilline? Are you there?”

Amel stared blankly around the room.

“Ahem. Is anyone there?”

No one was there. It was late, and she had booked separate rooms for everyone. Since she had told them she was tired and would be going to bed early, she had instructed them not to wake her and sent everyone away.

‘What time is it…?’

She was about to check the time, but gave up when she couldn’t find her pocket watch. Instead, she draped a shawl over her shoulders and put on her slippers.

If everyone was asleep, she planned to go back to bed.

Just as she was about to leave her room, she saw someone standing in the hallway.

The first thing she noticed was a pair of shoes.

Looking down, she recognized them as a man’s dress shoes. Their toes were polished to a glossy shine.

There was only one person in this rural inn who would wear shoes like that.

Amel slowly raised her gaze.

Cervel was standing opposite her.

“I haven’t even knocked yet.”

Cervel lowered the arm he had been about to raise toward her door. When Amel staggered, he immediately reached out to steady her.

“Are you all right?”

Amel nodded and grasped his hand in return. Cervel glanced down at their joined hands before speaking.

“Stand up straight.”

“Thank you. You can let go now.”

“Can you stand on your own?”

In her confusion, she had grabbed hold of whatever was within reach, leaving her practically hanging from him.

Amel carefully steadied herself before turning to face him properly.

“But why are you here?”

‘You don’t seem like the type to mistake someone else’s room for your own.’

As she stared at him in bewilderment, Cervel spoke.

“I heard you didn’t eat dinner. The madam mentioned it.”

“She told you that?”

“No. You don’t seriously think the madam came and told me herself, do you? I happened to overhear it while passing by.”

He looked at her with a faintly concerned expression.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Amel pressed firmly against the pit of her stomach. Her chest felt tight and constricted, and the sour taste rising in her throat made it clear that she was in no condition to feel better anytime soon.

“My stomach is upset.”

“Is it that bad?”

“I think I have indigestion. I feel bloated and uncomfortable. I’m sorry.”

Cervel leaned his shoulder against the wall and folded his arms.

“Do you think I came here expecting an apology from someone who’s sick? From the looks of you, you’ve been suffering from indigestion for a while. There’s nothing more miserable than feeling sick and helpless in a foreign place.”

Helpless? Is he talking about me?

Amel’s dry lips parted slightly. Cervel gave a casual shrug.

“You got sick after eating with me. Since I gave you the illness, I should give you the medicine, too.”

“What?”

Give me what?

As Amel stared at him blankly, Cervel held something out.

“What is this?”

“What do you think? Digestive medicine.”

The medicine came in individual packets, each containing a single dose. Cervel pointed toward it and offered it without hesitation.

“Take it. You said your stomach feels bloated.”

“Where did you get this?”

“I bought it while I was out.”

“You went into town?”

“Yeah. I had some business there, so I took care of it while I was at it.”

Cervel fell silent after that, as though he had said all he intended to.

“Aren’t you going to take it?”

“Yes. I’ll take it later…”

“Then take it after I leave.”

Cervel seemed ready to go, saying that he had finished his business.

He was wearing a thin tunic, and shadows fell across his back. The faint contours of his muscles showed through the fabric.

As he turned away, Amel called out to him.

“Did you come here because of this?”

“Yeah. You kept sighing, so I figured you were still awake.”

“How could you…?”

“The rooms here aren’t well insulated.”

Amel suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

So he heard me.

She hadn’t expected soundproofing in an inn like this, but she realized she would have to be more careful over the next few days.

“I’m sorry. I tried to be careful, but…”

“It’s fine. I didn’t come here to hear you apologize.”

Amel picked up the medicine packet and asked out of courtesy.

“Then how much do I owe you?”

“Forget it.”

“…Still, you went out of your way to buy it for me.”

“What am I supposed to do with three copper coins?”

Amel reached toward her waist, searching as though she might find a coin purse there. Only then did she realize.

“It’s so late that even if I wanted to pay you, I don’t have any money on me right now.”

Lilline was carrying the money. Amel lowered her hand again.

Cervel folded his arms and silently looked down at her before asking.

“Are you in a hurry?”

“What?”

“I’m asking if you’re in a hurry to get where you’re going.”

‘Why is he suddenly asking me that?’

There was no reason for Amel to be in a hurry. She had come here to recuperate after being dumped by her fiancé, after all.

She shook her head.

“That’s a relief.”

‘A relief? What is?’

As she looked at him, Cervel pointed toward the window.

Rain lashed fiercely against the glass, carrying the strong scent of wet earth. The smell of the rain was cold and faintly metallic.

“It’s raining. I hear it’s supposed to continue for the next few days. You won’t be able to go anywhere.”

“…I suppose not.”

“Looks like we’ll be seeing each other for a few more days.”

‘But why is that a relief?’

Was he suggesting that, because of the dangerous conditions caused by the rain, she didn’t need to rush off anywhere?

The ground was muddy, and it was raining harder than earlier that evening.

He looked like a gentleman. He wore a pristine white tunic shirt, trousers, and a coat. His attire was plain yet neat.

Yet there was something incongruous about his otherwise composed face.

“See you again, Miss Amel.”

He lightly tapped the door with his hand.

***

After Cervel left, Amel tossed and turned for a long while before finally falling asleep again.

When she opened her eyes, morning had arrived.

“Are you awake, my lady?”

Lilline entered carrying fresh water for washing. She had brought a brass basin filled with water and a towel.

Amel stretched and welcomed her maid.

“Is it morning already?”

“The sun has already risen, but it’s still gloomy outside. Let me help you wash your face.”

The sky outside was dim beneath a dark cloud cover. Even after sunrise, the clouds remained overhead, keeping the day overcast. She hadn’t seen a single ray of sunlight for days.

Lilline put down the basin and rolled up her sleeves, preparing to help Amel bathe. After testing the water’s temperature with her hand, she asked,

“How’s the water? Is it too hot?”

Amel gently loosened the muscles around her shoulders before dipping her hand into the basin.

“It’s just right. Give me the water. I can do it myself.”

Amel splashed the water onto her face. A faint, warm mist rose from the basin, and the water felt pleasantly lukewarm.

After washing, she patted her cheeks several times with a clean towel.

Lilline cleared away the used water and asked,

“How are you feeling?”

“What about me?”

“You went to bed early yesterday because you said you were tired. You even skipped dinner. You told me not to wake you, so I left you alone. Are you feeling all right?”

“Yes. I slept deeply, so I feel refreshed.”

“I’m glad you slept well. Oh?”

“What is it?”

“Your body feels rather cold.”

“There’s a draft in here. It was a little cold last night.”

The building was old, and cold air seeped through the gaps in the outer walls. The walls were thin, and the insulation was inadequate. Although the fireplace kept the air warm, drafts still crept in through the cracks.

“That’s true. There’s always a draft in my room, too. The air is already cold this late in autumn. It was so cold that my throat hurts, and my nose has turned bright red and feels all tingly.”

“Be careful not to catch a cold. Boil some water and drink it warm.”

Lilline was tidying the basin and towel when she suddenly asked.

“Did someone visit your room yesterday?”

“Other than you?”

“Yes. I think I vaguely heard a man’s voice while I was half-asleep.”

Amel paused for a moment, but fortunately, Lilline wasn’t looking in her direction.

Gently loosening the muscles in her shoulders, Amel continued her answer.

“Other than my voice?”

“It was a man.”

“It must have been one of the soldiers. Clear away the washbasin and bring me some warm soup. I skipped dinner yesterday, so I should eat something.”

“You’ll be eating in your room, right? I’ll bring it to you.”

Lilline gathered the basin and left, saying she would be back soon.

Amel shrugged.