Chapter 9

It was impossible to ride a horse and take Marlon to town. Fortunately, there was no more danger. However, Valery lost a lot of blood and was dizzy. He was also unsure if another danger would come, so he had to look at Marlon’s wounds and leave immediately. But, Marlon’s condition was unusual.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you, Your Highness. Cough! Please leave immediately. I need to… rest here…”

Marlon, who was struggling to speak, vomited blood and closed his eyes, blurring the ends of his words. His breathing slowed more and more, and he eventually stopped breathing. Valery hugged Marlon with a great shock.

“Marlon, come to your senses!”

“…”

Slowly, Marlon’s body became cold. Valery came to his senses. His body was getting colder.

“I will definitely come back and take you back.”

The blizzard began to hit hard again. He made Marlon lean under the biggest tree nearby and covered him with his coat.

Valery walked frantically. As his consciousness faded, he saw a small house just a little distance from the village. It was a small house without even a garden.

At first, he thought it was an empty house, as it was located on the side of the road. But there was dew on the windows. It means someone lived there.

Valery dragged his tired body to the front door. He leaned against the porch, catching his breath, and lost consciousness for a moment.

* * *

“…Wake up. If you don’t want to die.”

The delicate voice brought him to his senses. What would have happened if he hadn’t heard that voice?

The image of the woman’s figure was seen through his blurred vision. He felt a small body was supporting him. Valery managed to pull himself together and walked along somewhere, holding out as much as possible. It was an old food warehouse where she took Valery.  As if the fireplace had been lit, he could feel the warmth.

The woman let him lean against the wall and then disappeared somewhere. He heard a rattling sound from somewhere, but he was dizzy that it was hard to tell whether it was real or not.

Valery pressed his wound as he felt blood keep flowing from his body.

“It will only open your wound more if you do that.”

Suddenly, that voice came out near him. It looked like she was randomly putting a bowl of water next to him.

“I’ll mash the herbs, so wipe off your blood and apply this on your wound when I’m gone. It will be effective in stopping your bleeding and disinfection. It will also reduce the pain. But you can’t stay here long. This isn’t a hospital.”

Her tone was as cold as ice water, awakening his mind.

“…I will pay you back later.”

“You don’t need to pay me back. If you need more, I’ll put the things you need in the door over there, so use it. There is a heavy blizzard right now, and wild animals may appear, so go as soon as the sun rises tomorrow morning.”

She talked with a decisive and cynical tone, but it was clear she saved him. He didn’t even know her name.

“Come on, put it on.”

There was a strong scent of herbs. Valery nodded his head at her command. After she disappeared again, he picked up the mashed herbs and applied them to the sore spot.

His clothes were soaked in blood, and his body was frozen in the cold, so he couldn’t move freely as he wanted. Half of the mashed herbs were spilled, and half other was applied to his wounds. He felt the pain gradually lessen as the herbs permeated.

Feeling more comfortable, Valery fell asleep again. However, feeling someone’s presence near him made his hand grab them without hesitation. It was his savior’s slender arms that had been caught by him.

“…I thought you were dead.”

Valery was speechless the moment he saw his savior’s face. He thought something color red from his POV was blood, but it was her eyes.

Her red eyes were staring at Valery. Her soft eyelashes slowed closely, then opened again. Only looking at her eyes made Valery’s heart stop. The tip of her nose with the high bridge made her look less fierce.

Then Valery came to his senses.

“I’m sorry to startle you. After applying the ointment, my pain lessened, and I fell asleep. It’s also because I felt warm.”

“Is that so? I’m gonna add more water. Use it if you need it. I will go after making tea.”

Feeling pain in his side again, Valery pressed down his side. He had a bad feeling that something was flowing out from there.

“Didn’t you get any treatment there?”

Valery looked down at his side and then smiled awkwardly.

“I forgot my side wound because I applied it on the more painful spot.”

She crouched down in front of him.

“Open your shirt.”

Valerie hesitated with astonishment.

“… you’ll be surprised.”

“Open it. Because I have to see your wounds.”

“It must be disgusting.”

After hesitating for a while, Valery eventually revealed his wounds.

“You did a good job walking here.”

“There are no settlements around here… except this house.”

“Because this place is not a place for people to live. Take it off and wait.”

‘If only Marlon held out a little longer, he could have been treated like this.’

His heart suddenly became stuffy.

If Marlon had held out a little longer, he could have been treated like this. My chest suddenly became stuffy.

“Could you lift your shirt half more?”

* * *

“Urgh…”

As she said, the medicine brought enormous pain. It was the same pain as if your body were being cut by a sword.

Valery groaned and frowned.

“It doesn’t really hurt. It’s bearable.”

His pride was hurt for no reason, and he could see her smirked when he added his words.

“Do you know how to wear bandages?”

“…Yes.”

But his hands couldn’t move as he wanted. He felt really incompetent.

“…give me that.”

“I’m sorry again.”

“Take off your shirt. I have to wrap it all.”

Valery hesitated. He had never taken his clothes in front of a woman, and it was rude to take them off, no matter how injured he was. But at her urging, he reluctantly took off his shirt.

“Can you raise your arms?”

“…yes.”

Valerie followed calmly. As she got closer, he could feel the scent. He holds his breath in patience.

“It will be over soon.”

Being helped wearing bandages and even being served meals. He felt that his body, which had been on the verge of death, was gradually recovering.

“May I ask what your name is? I want to know the name of the person who helped me, may I? You can call me Valery. I will definitely pay you back.”

“You don’t need to know my name. Because I’m just here to help. When tomorrow morning comes, please leave and completely forget about this place. Don’t die,” she said cynically.

When the morning came, he was going to leave and take Marlon, but he felt bitter without realizing it.

‘Am I still out of my mind?’

“Don’t even come here to give thanks. Forget this place like someone who never came here in the beginning. But if you really want to remember, just remember that I saved your life. Forget everything else than that, okay?”

“…”

“I’ll leave another bag of herbs over there, so if you need it, take it with you along with the blanket. It will be fine to use it as a coat for a while.”

He didn’t see her again after the end of her words. Valery took a little more rest and left the door with some herbs and blankets. Then he hurried to the place where Marlon lay.

I’m really satisfied with the new house I moved into. There’s no need to cut firewood, and it also has a garden, so I don’t need to cover the window with curtains. The garden’s scenery was wonderful, but it was impossible to see its end. It made me not even want to go back to the previous house. Since it’s already been a long time since I’ve said goodbye to that house.

My mother went out several times after moving in. Sir Shubart also came here more often. So, of course, the two of them went out together. Whenever that happens, I spend my whole day looking for ways to hide or prevent the manifestation of my power from time to time. However, it has become quite difficult to ‘pretend to do nothing’ because there are more eyes to see than before.

Fortunately, there were no rude servants because the servants who worked there were brought in by Sir Shubart himself, so it was comfortable. It would have been tiring to deal with them one by one. Still, I don’t really like the youngest-looking servant, but I’m going to leave them alone or fire them if they make two more mistakes.

Everyone was busy preparing for the change, but I was the only one standing there. Even more so because I have no desire to change.

The flowers we received before moving in had withered within two days. I didn’t know if it was because of winter or if it originally withered quickly. I thought it was Sir Shubart who sent it, but it wasn’t him who sent it when I asked. He just smiled nicely, but seeing his eyes become cold, I gave up asking more questions. I wondered if it had been sent by someone who admired my mother.

Anyway, the flowers were pretty. Ah, of course, I already threw them away.