Published at 24th of December 2021 02:58:10 PM

Translator: Yonnee

Chapter 47

Amoide, where does it hurt?

As he leaned against the window, he looked frailer than usual.

Even his eyelashes seemed different than usual whenever he blinked.

And apart from that, his voice sounded heavy.

Amoide.

I quickly put my hand over his forehead, at which his eyes opened wide in surprise from the sudden contact.

And yet he didnt push my hand away.

Youre warm

He stared at me silently, blue eyes unwavering.

Then, he lifted his hand to place it over my hand that was on his forehead. The touch his hand provided wasnt the same as usual.

His hand was incredibly warm.

It wasnt just a matter of body temperature. Even his eyes and breath seem to have heated up. And just looking at him made me think Id be burnt beside him as well.

You.

His voice was hushed.

Youre too loud.

Then he collapsed.

Its simply a common cold caught during spring.

Raymonds calm explanation allowed everyone to sigh in relief.

Amoide, Amoide is

Camilla repeated his name with a blank face.

Its just a mild cold. A slight fever. His condition is stable and hes only asleep. Ive prescribed the necessary medicine so that he can recover quickly. Hell be fine.

Raymond kept repeating his words to appease Camilla.

The medicine hes been taking has weakened his immune system. Hes always had a cold around this time of the year. Theres nothing to worry about.

Raymond looked at me and let out his reassuring words again, his eyes on Amoides hand that I was clasping so tightly, but I gradually loosened my grip.

Really? Is that really true?

Of course. There are fewer complications this time. He was sick several times more around this time last year.

Ah

Come to think of it, I heard that he collapsed a lot more often last year. Compared to that time, what Raymond said about the number of times Amoide collapsed was right.

Perhaps its because of the Duchess taking good care of the Dukes health.

I dont deserve that praise, Raymond, I said as I flushed in embarrassment.

Even so, I look forward to working with you more in the future, Your Grace.

Raymond smiled warmly as he helped Camilla out of the room.

Watching them leave, I could feel a twinge of guilt.

Sorry, Raymond.

Because Im still doubting you. Honestly, Im not completely sold on what you said just now.

Ugh

Hearing the groan from the bed immediately made me rush towards Amoides side.

Are you awake?

He stared at me through bleary eyes, expressing his confusion. With a gentle tone, I explained what happened.

You have a fever but the doctor said youll be fine. I heard its just a cold that you usually get this time of the year.

I said this lightly. Im sure hes tired of collapsing like this.

Amoide, do you want some water? Are you thirsty?

He nodded weakly.

As I beckoned Rona, who was standing at attention at one corner of the room, she came running with a glass of water and the medicine that was on the table.

But before Rona could give me the glass, someone stopped her midway.

What is it, Emma? Rona snapped back at the person who was holding her back by the collar.

Its my job. With her eyebrows raised, Emma glared straight at me.

Are you really staring at me like that?

Emma was an extremely loyal maid who had been serving as Amoides maid even before he fell sick.

But the problem was that there was something different about it.

Whats so important about who brings the water to me?

Emma stared into my eyes.

Because its my job. I dont want to be a maid who neglects her work.

Emma answered me with her chin raised. No wonder it seemed like lasers were shooting out of her eyes.

Fine. Then cananyonegive me the medicine?

Rona glanced back at me and handed the bottle back to Emma, but Rona didnt forget to side-eye Emma. She didnt look intimidating though, because of her round eyes and bangs that were cut above her eyebrows.

Emma approached the bed with the medicine bottle and stood next to where I was sitting. I looked up to see her face, which was slightly menacing, but only because she was towering over me.

Its my duty, Young Madam, Emma said with a clear voice. In fact, its like she was insinuating something beyond the bottle of pills.

For some reason, an unexpected spirit in me bristled.

But behind me, I heard Amoides voice.

Give me the bottle, Emma.

At that moment, Emmas expression obviously bloomed, and at the same time, I could hear something breaking in me.

Young Madam, Ill go ahead and give His Grace the medicine

I blocked her hand on the bottle while Amoide was reaching for it.

As I did this, at the corner of my eye I saw Amoides expression flicker.

Its fine, so just leave it to me.

I tried to take the bottle from Emmas hand, but

Huh?

The grip over the small glass bottle was tighter than I expected.

Emma?

As her hand was shaking to maintain her grip, her lips were trembling equally as much.

I couldnt win with brute force anyway. How could I beat someone with that much determination? So I changed my method.

I shifted my grip and placed my hand over hers in a caress.

Hiiek

Perhaps she found the touch creepy, but Emma relaxed her grip at once, and with that opening, I quickly took the bottle from her.

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Thank you for bringing the bottle, Emma.

I smiled as I pulled away with the bottle in my hand.

Now, drink your medicine.

I was looking at his hand, but he didnt readily accept the medicine.

Come on.

Would the medicine turn into poison if Im the one giving it to you? Why are you staring at me like that?

Do you want me to feed it to you again this time?

Tak.

Before I even finished talking, he took the bottle from my hand.

Happy?

After bringing it to his lips, he shook the bottle upside down to show that it was all finished.

Everyone, get out.

Alright. Go out now.

I repeated what he said, which made him widen his eyes as if he were startled by my words.

What? You told them to leave.

I answered back as casually as I could, and under my chin, I brought up both hands to cup my face.

Im not leaving.

Lets add a bit of a nasal tone for a cutesy effect but, uh

Why are you looking at me like that again?

Of course, I didnt give up.

Amoide, Ill stay right next to you, I crooned, putting back his arm under the covers and patting it. What are you all doing? Everyone, out.

At my command, everyone but Rona and Emma left the room at once.

What are you doing? His Grace said he wants to rest, Rona said as she was practically yanking Emma out the room.

Emma looked back at Amoide with expectant eyes while she was being manhandled by Rona, but Amoide said nothing.

Click.

The door clicked shut, and after everyone left, there was only the two of us there, a blanket of silence falling over the room.

Amoides blue eyes were fixed on me, but I didnt avert my gaze.

I brazenly made eye contact with him.

But how long has this staring contest been going?

My eyes were a bit sore now.

Um, Amoide?

I was blinking rapidly, but even so, I could see a very slight smile on his lips. The iciness that he exuded melted just because of that small smile.

As I rubbed the tears from my eyes, I said, Youll be sleepy soon because of the medicine you drank. Lean back now.

Wordlessly, he closed his eyes just as I asked and after a while, the steady rhythm of his breathing echoed quietly through the room.

I changed the towel over his forehead and admired his face as much as I could.

Somehow, I didnt want other people to see his sleeping face.

But though his beauty was otherworldly, it was of the poisonous kind. His illness made it impossible to openly praise him.

It was ironic, but his precarious physical well-being, which made him face the dangers of collapsing at any given time, enhanced his beauty.

I once heard a conversation between the maids in the garden.

[ That delicate beauty just makes it so that His Grace is not like any other man in this world! ]

One of the maids had burst into admiration then, and the others responded readily with Youre right, youre right.

[ You have to enjoy it when you can. We dont know when hell be gone for good, so well really have to admire him now while theres tiOUCH! ]

The babbling maid immediately stopped talking when the maid next to her, whose face turned white the moment she saw me watching them, pinched her side.

And just like that, they fell into a hush, as if they werent talking about an ominous thing just then.

Everyones fated to die someday. Especially when theyve been poisoned.

No. Never.

I shook my head.

Ill save it for sure.

Your life and my life.

Dont die, Amoide. Ill save you.

I clasped his hand over the duvet.

Even though he was asleep, it felt like his hand had moved slightly.