Episode 42

Translator : Missme Editor: Aru

I couldnt stand it. I was afraid to become a stranger with Ash. I feared that someday I would not be special for him causing him to kill me with his own hands without any hesitation.

That was my greatest fear since I knew the future.

So I wanted to run away. I wanted to run away completely even if I couldnt guarantee what life would be like after I ran away.

Whatever happens after that, it will obviously be better than watching me become nobody to Ash.

Im not a fool.

I couldnt hate Ash. When he held my hand, I couldnt really hate and I respect the warmth that he conveyed, as normal and warm as other people.

So idiot.

Even though I know he would kill me.

Dullard..

Sitting absent-mindedly on the bench, I tilted my head.

I tried to look at the clouds. I tried to watch it just flow, but the sun invaded my vision. At a moment, my eyes were dazzled and I frowned.

Then I heard a rustle.

Sir Davery?

Or Bessi? Alex? Did she come looking for me?

He isnt Ash, is he?

I turned my head with a throbbing heart. And I soon became perplexedly firm.

Hiss, hiss, hiss.

. a snake?

What, what?

A long snake with a yellow body and a speckled pattern fluttered its tongue at me from the grass. I was caught in a daze watching it. First of all, it was a shock.

Why a snake in the garden?

Was there a snake originally in the garden? No, it cant be.

I broke out in a cold sweat. Slowly I lifted myself up from the bench.

The snake turned its head in my motion.

Dont do that.

Dont look at me. Dont pay attention to me, snake.

Unfortunately, however, the wish did not seem to have been conveyed. The snake kept its eyes on me. The long, vertical pupil looked straight at me.

Hiss, hiss, hiss.

Perhaps because of my feeling, its tongue was more threatening.

Is this is this dangerous?

Thats the situation, isnt it?

My body stiffened. Honestly, I dont know what to do.

Should I turn around and run away? What if it comes after me? Can I avoid a sudden bite from behind?

I had all kinds of thoughts. My mind has become complicated. Why did I have to face a snake-like this one on one?

I was still relieved to find out that the snakes head was round in the midst of this.

Theres no poison.

They said that the poisonous snake had a triangular head shape.

Its a relief that hes round everywhere. Yeah, poisonous snakes arent common anywhere.

If there was Ari here, it would have become common, but fortunately or unfortunately, it was just me here now.

In a good way, its a crisis, but at least its not a death crisis.

I swallowed my saliva.

It only hurts when bitten of course, I didnt like it but I felt a little bit brave to think that I wouldnt die.

I kept my eyes on the snake and moved my feet slowly. Really. slowly.

The snake just looked at me as if it was watching me and did not move from its place.

Thats right, you are really good. Stay still like thats like what youve been doing.

Until Im completely .

!

Murphys Law!

Why did that come to mind at this moment? Yeah, thats probably because I made the mistake, spraining my feet on the ground, that I didnt usually do well at times like this.

I stumbled heavily and fell.

And it seemed to provoke the snake.

Oh, please, I hope it wont hurt as much as possible.

I closed my eyes tightly to see the figure of a snake running at me.

..

But there was no pain even if I waited.

I crept open my eyes when I felt something, a shadow, instead of the pain of being bitten by a snake.

Soon, my mouth opened.

Eh, Ash?

Are you all right?

I could see Ashs face in front of me. Ash, who lowered his upper body as if to wrap me around, was looking down right at me when I fell on the floor.

I stared blankly at the unexpected face. Then the next moment, I shouted as if I were screaming.

Ash!

The snake was biting Ashs arm. I could see a thin stream of blood flowing from Ashs left arm with a snakes fangs in it.

Ash, who slightly narrowed his forehead, broke the snakes head with his other hand and took it off without a groan.

I couldnt shut my mouth while seeing the vivid lice soup with fresh blood. But Ash didnt seem to care too much about his wounds.

Rather, he looked at me and asked.

Are you all right, Noonim?

Now

Am I in the danger? Im fine. Of course, Im alright. It was Ash who wasnt okay.

I raised myself up in contemplation. The fingertips, which held Ashs arm to avoid the wound, trembled weakly.

What about your arm? What do I do, doesnt it hurt? What about the bleeding? Shouldnt we stop the bleeding?

Do not worry about it.

How can I not worry about this! Its bleeding like this..

Noonim.

..

are you crying?

Ashs face came close to me as if looking around my eyes.

Only after hearing that did I realize that my eyes were filled with tears. I blinked my eyes. Tears welled down under gravity.

Noonim?

Ash immediately voiced embarrassment.

As soon as I found myself crying, Ashs face was clearly shaken as soon as he saw me crying, but he had been bitten on the arm by a snake.

Whats wrong, is it hurt? Are you hurt?

Ash, who still neglected his wounds, held me and looked around for observation. Worries and nervousness were reading in his eyes, checking if I was really hurt.

Tears rolled up more.

Thats why.

Because youre like this.

Look at me. Noonim. Why are you crying?

I cant hate you because youre like this.

How can I hate you when youre like this?

Noonim.

Waahh Waahh Waahhhh.

Whats wrong?

Why are you so nice to me?

Why do you care about me? Why do you care so much about me?

Because Im your sister?

Because Im your only family, is that why?

Is that so important?

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I let myself down and cried. I could feel Ash fidgeting in front of me, who had left the blood running on his arm.

Tears rolled up in my throat.

Ash was devastated. But I was more devastated.

In the end, I am a stranger to him. I have no choice, so I have to do all this.

It was so hopeless and devastated that I couldnt cry even when Ash was embarrassed and finally took me in his arms as if to appease me.

***

Oh, no, what the hell is going on?

Bessie couldnt shut her mouth with a look of astonishment.

I understand. Id do the same.

I and Ash returned to the mansion with my eyes puffed up and his arm swollen. Of course, it was because I cried, and Ash was hurt, so there was only one patient.

Im sure its quite absurd to come back like this from a morning walk. Thats how I feel.

I opened my mouth at Bessie, who was about to go back.

He was bitten by a snake in the garden. Come on. Call a doctor for him. We need to treat the wound.

Oh, my God, Alex! Alex!!

After a while, the doctor, who had been called hurriedly, examined and treated Ashs arm in a nearby parlour room.

I sat a little far away and silently watched the doctor disinfect the affected area.

I watched.

Sir Davery spoke to me while keeping his place together.

Are you alright, my lady?

Im alright. As you can see.

No, your eyes arent very good. You look like youre stung. Was there a bee in the garden beside a snake?

This guy.

Anyone can tell that Im crying, but hes still making fun of me with these eyes?

Looking at his expression, I seemed to be right that he meant to tease me. I raised my eyebrows slightly and deliberately snapped in an exaggerated tone.

Sir, do you feel like youre joking about a person being hurt? You must be having fun, arent you? You must have had a lot of complaints about Ash.

What? No, no! Absolutely not.

Sir Davery has actively denied it.

It was almost equivocal that I cried like a child in the garden because I was surprised to see a snake.

I thought it would work even though I made excuses, but it worked. Thanks to it, Im in a position to be teased like this.

Come to think of it, I think I saw a clock tower the other day and cried because I was so moved.

I wondered if my tear glands were okay as it is, but I decided to give up on him because I couldnt tell him why I cried.

At that time, the doctor arranged the medical equipment as the treatment was finished.

The treatment was done. Im glad the wound is not deep. If you just watch out for the water for a while, it will heal without any further damage.

Ashs left arm was wrapped with a white bandage from the wrist to the middle of the arm.

Ash raised his arm and moved lightly. The doctors voice followed.

For a while, you may feel a little uncomfortable with your arms. Its a species with paralytic poison.

Poison?

I reacted unconsciously to the word poison. The doctor talked soothingly about how I looked.

Its literally just paralyzed poison. Theres nothing else to do but limit the movement, so you dont have to worry.

How much is the limit? Would it be too uncomfortable?

Hmm

At Bessies question, the doctor drew the answer as if he were agonizing for a moment and looked back at Ash.

Your Excellency, how do you feel?

Its not like I cant use it.

As soon as he answered like that, Ash and I met eyes. Suddenly his words changed.

Im fine.