Chapter 118: Heart Felt Response

Ty, noticing the lady's initial shock, attempted to soften the situation with a gentle wave and a soft-spoken introduction. "Sorry for worrying you, ma'am, but I am a friend of Nanako," he said, his tone calm and reassuring.

However, his words seemed to have the opposite effect. The lady at the desk transitioned from scared to visibly annoyed in an instant. Standing up abruptly, she slammed her hands on the desk, causing loose papers to flutter in disarray. "That is Lady Nanako to you, you pile of bones!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of anger and indignation.

Realizing the intensity of her reaction, she gradually regained her composure, though her frustration was still evident. "I don't know why I expect a disgusting monster to know anything about royalties," she muttered, her words sharp and demeaning.

Trying to maintain some semblance of professionalism, she then addressed Ty with a begrudging sense of duty. "I will ring Lady Amaris to come get you. Just stand over there and don't touch anything with your filthy bone fingers."

Ty, keen to avoid escalating the situation further, simply stood still, maintaining eye contact with the woman at the desk. His green eyes flared momentarily, adding a silent intensity to the standoff. The woman, visibly unsettled, began to perspire slightly, her discomfort growing under Ty's unwavering gaze.

The tense moment was abruptly interrupted as a large door down the hall swung open. The woman's attention snapped towards it, and she quickly stood up, adopting a posture of respect and deference. "Go-good day, Lady Amaris," she stammered, bowing slightly. "I apologize for disturbing you. This is the creature Lady Nanako had mentioned was visiting."

She then added, somewhat bitterly, "I was expecting to see the honorable General Mattison with him, but I suppose he couldn't be bothered to be in the presence of a monster."

Lady Amaris, entering the scene, responded sharply, her voice tinged with anger. "You will watch your tongue in the presence of Lady Nanako's savior. Without this skeleton, she would be dead. I think it's best you step away for a bit, as the look on your face is making me want to send you to the gallows."

The woman, now filled with a mix of shock and fear, quickly bowed again, wordlessly. She hurried off, leaving the area under Lady Amaris's stern gaze.

Taken aback by Lady Amaris's authoritative demeanor, Ty couldn't hide his surprise. "Wow, I wasn't taking you to be scary, Lady Amaris," he remarked, a note of respect mixed with his astonishment.

Ty's eyes softly settled on Nanako. Seeing her like this, in bandages and lying in bed, he felt a mix of concern and care. Nanako noticed Ty, and tears started to well up in her eyes. "I'm sorry, I couldn't do more," she said, her voice filled with emotion.

Lady Amaris, who had been standing nearby, gave a small bow. "I'll step out and let you two talk," she said in a gentle tone. "Just call when you're finished, and please, be kind to her. She's been through a lot." Lady Amaris left the room with these words, leaving Ty and Nanako alone to have their conversation in the quiet, well-cared-for medical room.

Ty took a seat next to her stating "You did more than anyone would have expected, It was my fault for being so late to come back, I was afraid I wasn't even going to make it back to be honest, for a moment.

Nana's tears continued to flow as she spoke, her emotions raw and vulnerable. "Seeing the person who caused you all this pain, and all I could do was be helpless... it just eats away at me," she confessed, her voice trembling.

Her self-doubt was evident as she continued, "I mean, no wonder you rejected me. How could anyone want someone so weak that needs protecting?" Her words were filled with hurt and a sense of inadequacy.

Before she could spiral further into her self-critical thoughts, Ty gently placed a hand on her head. "That's nonsense," he said firmly, yet kindly. "I don't know where you got that idea, but it's the farthest thing from the truth."

He continued, reassuring her of her worth. "I respect your abilities more than anyone. Anyone else in your situation wouldn't have been able to put up a fight like that. You're my loyal friend, Nana." He then leaned in, placing a small kiss on her forehead with his skeletal skull, a gesture of affection and solidarity.

Ty addressed her feelings candidly, "I can't return any romantic feelings you may have, but I will always be there for you, as you have been for me in this short time."

Trying to lighten the mood, he added, "So, do rest up. We might need to plan a heist at some point, as I've learned where the sword we need is."

Then, noticing something different about her, he asked, "Also, did you get taller? I noticed your feet take up much more space now." His observation was met with Nana moving her shirt aside, revealing that the curse on her side had significantly shrunk. Ty looked on in awe, wondering what could have triggered such a change.

"Maybe we will be able to get it removed eventually at this rate," he mused, a hint of hope in his voice.