101CF 80

Chapter 80

“Good grief… I never thought I’d see a sight like this in my life.”

Henry looked at Herwin, who was sleeping peacefully, with a bewildered expression.

It was the first time he had ever seen his sturdy older brother, strong enough to chew stones, wheezing weakly.

Henry had come to the mansion briefly, intending to confront Herwin again because he was still upset about Lucia, only to find that Herwin had caught a summer cold—not even a dog could get it, they said.

After grumbling for a moment, seeing Herwin breaking out in a cold sweat made Henry murmur,

“…Is he really sick?”

“He had a high fever yesterday, but it has gone down now. Still, it’s not fully gone, so we need to keep an eye on him.”

Herwin, normally sensitive to any presence, slept without noticing anyone beside him.

A mix of worry and a stubborn desire to meddle made Henry reach out to touch Herwin’s forehead, but he withdrew his hand when Herwin stirred.

“I’d just be in the way anyway.”

Henry finally left the room.

Although he had thought that he wouldn’t forgive Herwin if he appeared fine after hurting Lucia so badly, seeing him sick made his emotions feel strange.

It seemed that brothers were brothers, after all.

“Master Henry, where are you going?”

Jerome, who was quietly closing the door, called out when he saw Henry about to leave.

“I’m heading to the academy. I thought I might try talking to my brother, but at this state, it wouldn’t work. I’ll leave now.”

“Then please wait a little longer. Madam should be returning soon.”

“Mother’s back?”

“Yes, it’s about time she comes.”

“Hmmm… I suppose I should see her face before I go.”

After a brief hesitation, Henry decided to wait and stepped out into the corridor.

At that moment, there was a commotion at the main gate. Hearing someone call ‘Madam’ meant that Scarlet had returned at just the right time.

“Mother… is that you…?”

Henry, who went to greet Scarlet, suddenly noticed Lucia with her.

Caught off guard by the unexpected pair, Henry froze.

Scarlet smiled brightly at Henry’s familiar face.

“Henry! What are you doing here? Are you worried about Herwin?”

“No… I just had some business with my brother… but how come you’re with Lucia…?”

“Henry, long time no see.”

Lucia awkwardly greeted him, her voice slightly stiff.

“I just went to Count Agnes’ house for a bit, but Lucia said she wanted to see Herwin, so I came with her. Right?”

“Huh? Y-Yes… well, that’s right.”

Lucia answered reluctantly. She did come to check on Herwin’s condition, but Scarlet’s tone had a subtle difference in it.

Henry, noticing something off as well, scanned the two of them carefully.

Scarlet’s eyes, slightly narrowed, seemed full of hidden intentions, while Lucia, standing hesitantly, looked somewhat troubled.

But soon Scarlet spoke to Lucia:

“Shall we see Herwin first?”

“He’s sleeping right now.”

Before Lucia could respond, Henry chimed in to Scarlet’s words.

“Still asleep?”

“Yes. He’s been sleeping since I arrived. Maybe he’ll wake up soon?”

“Hmmm, is he still that sick?”

Even though it had been some time, Herwin should be waking up by now.

“Lucia, shall we stay with him until he wakes up? It would be better if we talk after he’s awake…”

“I… can we just check his condition now?”

Scarlet, who had been leading the way, stopped. Lucia, having erased the faint smile she had been holding, now looked worried as she moved her lips.

“I just want to see how he’s doing now. I don’t want to force someone who’s sick.”

“Hmm, if you say so.”

Scarlet agreed readily, allowing her to act as she wished.

Following Scarlet’s instructions to guide her, Henry led Lucia to Herwin’s room.

On the way, they spoke quietly.

“So, what about the academy? Are you home for the weekend?”

“Yes. I had something to say to my brother. But I didn’t expect him to be this sick. It’s been a long time since I saw him lying in bed. Except when we were kids, I’ve never seen him in bed.”

Lucia unknowingly clenched her fists.

She had heard that Herwin had locked himself in his room when struggling with his trauma.

Knowing how much he had suffered back then, her heart ached.

‘And I made him suffer more out of my selfishness.’

No matter how unintentional, the events on his 16th birthday had been enough to trigger his trauma.

Her impatience at his unresponsiveness had made things worse.

After that incident, she had felt like dying—because she, of all people, had made Herwin struggle.

‘If only Herwin hadn’t approached me…’

Their relationship would have remained stuck at 16.

Did Herwin even realize how comforting and salvaging it had been that he had taken the first step toward her back then?

“…I hope he recovers quickly.”

Seeing Lucia’s composed face, Henry frowned.

It was obvious at a glance that she still had strong feelings for Herwin.

He wanted to tell her to talk about the hurt Herwin had caused her, to tell her to confide in him completely, but he didn’t dare.

Between Lucia and Herwin was an unbreakable wall that no one could penetrate.

Sometimes he imagined being born before Herwin. Then, maybe by now, it would be him at Lucia’s side instead of Herwin.

Even though he thought he had fully let go and surrendered Lucia to Herwin, a sharp pain lingered in his chest.

“This is Herwin’s room, right?”

At last, they arrived at Herwin’s room. As Lucia reached for the door, Henry held her hand.

“S-Sis…!”

Just as she was about to speak, Henry froze at the sight inside.

Lucia’s eyes were not on him. Henry instantly noticed that all her attention was focused elsewhere.

“Why? Do you have something to say?”

Swallowing the words that had risen to his throat, Henry let go of her hand.

“…No. Just… take good care of my brother.”

“Alright. I’ll check on him.”

Lucia entered the room while Henry let out a deep sigh and slumped into a chair.

“I really don’t stand a chance against my brother…”

Though it wasn’t new information, it still left an empty feeling in his chest. He closed his bitter lips and sighed deeply.

Meanwhile, inside, Lucia surveyed the dark room.

Only the bedside lamp was lit, casting a soft glow over Herwin’s face.

Herwin’s gentle breathing filled the room. Listening to it, Lucia took slow steps forward.

“Herwin…”

He looked paler than yesterday. Seeing him so weak made her eyes water.

“Stubbornly enduring… you could’ve just made an appointment and come.”

She felt upset—first that Lucas had chased him away, and second that he had waited for her for hours without knowing when she would come.

“If this is to change my mind… it worked. Since I came to see you, now wake up.”

Her complaints, contrary to her feelings, spilled out as she murmured, but he didn’t react.

Lucia gradually reached out her hand.

Her thin fingers gently brushed across Herwin’s face.

“It’s good your fever isn’t too high.”

It was a bit warm but not enough to be considered a high fever. Yet, considering he had been sick last night, even this slight warmth proved he had endured a high fever.

Noticing the cloth on his forehead was dry, she soaked a towel in the basin next to him.

As she wrung it out, a handkerchief nearby caught her eye.

Recognizing the familiar embroidery, her eyes widened. Slowly, she examined it.

“This is…”

It was the gift she had given him at her final confession.

She hadn’t expected it to be here, thinking he wouldn’t care once it was left somewhere.

The faint musk scent from Herwin lingered on the handkerchief—proof that he still used it regularly.

Her heart swelled with emotion, and she returned the handkerchief to its place, placing the damp towel on his forehead instead.

“You said you liked Arista, so why carry this around? You could’ve just ignored what I gave you.”

From cuff buttons to this handkerchief, Herwin used every gift Lucia gave him until it wore out.

Yet he ignored gifts from anyone else.

“This makes me think I’m special to you, raising my hopes.”

Biting her trembling lips, she wiped away her tears.

“…Do you really like me?”

“……….”

“That’s a misconception. You probably mistook the disappointment of a close friend suddenly becoming distant for love.”

Even knowing Herwin couldn’t hear her, she shared the burden in her heart, feeling lighter.

“Look into your heart. Do you really like me, or are you mistaking another feeling for love? Then you’ll feel at ease too.”

Her hands, brushing Herwin’s hair, were full of affection. After watching him for a long moment, Lucia stood up.

Now that she had checked on him, there was no lingering attachment.

Being there wouldn’t improve his condition, and seeing him sick would only weaken her heart.

She tidied the messy bed and carefully covered him with the blanket.

“…I’ll go now.”

As she turned to leave, a warm sensation wrapped around her wrist.

Lucia paused and looked down. It was none other than Herwin’s hand holding hers.

“…Lucia.”

A husky, deep voice called her.

Lucia looked at him with trembling eyes.

Herwin’s gaze was still hazy, as if half-asleep.

“Don’t go…”

Her desperate voice made her heart throb. After a long silence, she finally spoke.

“…Why don’t you want me to go?”

“I feel like you’ll leave me forever…”

Given the weak tone, it was clear he hadn’t fully woken. Lucia held his hand and approached him.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll always be your friend.”

“No.”

“What do you mean no…?”

“I don’t want you with another man…”

Herwin’s words left her speechless.

“You’ll eventually disappear from my side. I don’t… want that.”

Though it was likely he mistook the loss of a friend for love, it felt unbearably earnest.

“…Then what do you want me to do?”

“Stay by my side. Always… be with me.”

Herwin looked at her with eyes full of both love and despair.

“If you come to me, I’ll give you the most splendid wedding in the world. You’ll be more beautiful than anyone and the happiest bride. Just imagining it makes me happy.”

Herwin held her hands again, interlacing his fingers with hers.

“I want our child to look like you, a daughter. You know? When I first saw you, I thought a fairy had fallen into the human world. Maybe from the very first moment I saw you, I fell for you.”

Even in his half-asleep state, it was embarrassingly candid.

Who could lie in such a dreamy haze?

Lucia felt her face flush as tightly as she held his hands.