At last, the man regained consciousness and recovered to the point where, though he needed support, he could walk. As he walked with difficulty, he touched his forehead as if it hurt and spoke.
“Thank you…….”
Again.
I let out a deep sigh and replied,
“Excuse me. That makes fifty-three times you’ve said that.”
“Even so. But… where is this? I can’t even remember my name… I feel uneasy.”
“Ah… I see.”
It was the first time he’d mentioned feeling uneasy, so I stopped walking and looked at him. He truly did seem anxious and restless.
Seeing such a large, bear-like man trembling made me feel a little sorry for him, so I softened my voice to reassure him.
“This is Aden Village, in the Haras territory of the Rowells Empire. It’s small, but it’s a good and safe place, so don’t worry. Though I do wonder how you ended up so badly injured.”
“I don’t remember either.”
“Right. So stay at my house and get proper treatment before you go.”
He seemed relieved by my words, then cautiously glanced at me and asked,
“Would that be alright, doctor?”
“Of course.”
I answered quickly. Then he smiled brightly, removed the ruby brooch attached to his cloak, and handed it to me.
“I will compensate you. I have some jewels with me right now.”
“Huh? There’s no need to—”
I was about to wave it off, but then I thought relationships are cleaner when there’s give and take, so I accepted the brooch.
After all, if I wanted to avoid the villain duke and move to the capital to open a clinic and live quietly, I’d need some money.
I nodded with a cheerful smile.
“Alright. Then I’ll do my best to treat you with this. I’ll provide meals and lodging too.”
At my words, the man gave a faint smile.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Just follow me. Tell me if you’re in pain.”
“Yes, understood.”
I guided him to my home.
My house, it seemed, had been set up by my father long ago as a mountain clinic, so besides the log cabin I used, there was also a separate ward.
‘Perfect timing.’
I led the man there.
“You can use this place. If you need anything, knock on the main house over there where I stay and let me know.”
“Yes.”
He answered obediently, removing his black leather gloves as he looked around the room.
I stood by the door, watching him quietly.
It seemed like he had short-term memory loss from poisoning, but what was his true identity?
He was clearly a noble, so I thought I might ask for more compensation once he regained his memories, and I smiled slyly to myself.
‘Better treat him well.’
Grinning, I pointed to a laundry basket in the corner.
“Put your clothes there. They’re stained with blood, so you can’t wear them. Change into the clothes on the bedside table.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll come check on your condition in the morning. Sleep well.”
“Yes, doctor.”
He answered obediently, looking like a gentle, well-trained dog despite his large build.
‘He’d be mad if he knew I thought that. Ahem.’
I decided to keep that thought to myself and asked him,
“Ah, until your memory returns, what should I call you?”
I couldn’t keep saying “hey,” “um,” or “excuse me” forever.
He looked troubled, then slightly blushed.
“Since I don’t remember… perhaps you could name me, doctor?”
“Me? What if I name you Pippi?”
I said it seriously, and he blinked slowly before replying,
“…I will accept it.”
But soon, he made a slightly dejected expression, as if he didn’t like the name much, and strangely, it suited him so well that I burst out laughing.
“Hahaha!”
“Why are you laughing?”
“Ah, it just doesn’t suit your build. Then should our fox be Pippi instead?”
“Kyah! Kyang!”
I spoke to the fox beside me, but it puckered its mouth in dislike, apparently not fond of the name either.
Tch, what’s wrong with Pippi?
It was the most beloved puppy’s name at our orphanage.
After laughing, I named the fox Ain instead, and only then did it seem satisfied, wagging its tail.
Smiling at that, I stroked its back.
“Good, Ain?”
“Kyang.”
Then the man smiled and said,
“This is the first time I’ve seen you smile, doctor.”
Seeing a handsome man smile like that made me a bit self-conscious, so I scratched the back of my neck and moved to leave.
“We’ve barely met. There hasn’t been time to smile.”
“Even so. It suits you.”
“You’re good at flirting.”
“I mean it.”
“Hmm.”
Anyway, I had no intention of naming him Pippi, so after a moment of thought, I decided based on his black hair.
“Let’s go with Seith.”
He pondered for a moment, then nodded.
“That’s an ancient word meaning ‘darkness.’”
So he remembers even ancient language, yet not his own name or identity. Strange.
“Yes. Because your hair is black.”
“That’s simple. But I like it.”
The corners of his lips lifted nicely. It felt like I might start developing unnecessary feelings, so I hurried out with Ain.
“Alright. Sleep well, Seith.”
“Yes, doctor.”
Leaving the polite Seith behind, I closed the door.
It felt strange.
After living alone since transmigrating, having someone else in the cabin.
“Shall we go sleep too, Ain?”
“Kyang-kyang!”
From living alone, we had suddenly become three. My heart felt a little fluttery.
Had I been lonely all this time?
At the orphanage, we were all called siblings, but it never truly felt that way.
And honestly, even in my previous life, I had always been alone in a tiny goshiwon room, just studying.
After transmigrating, living alone hadn’t exactly been pleasant either.
‘So this isn’t bad.’
Smiling, I returned to my room, made Seith’s antidote, then stayed up studying until dawn before falling asleep at my desk.
“Kyang-kyang!”
Waking up, I rubbed my eyes, yawned, and stretched. It was already morning.
‘Huh? What’s that smell?’
A savory scent of soup filled the house, and hearing Ain’s barking, I rushed out to the kitchen.
“Ah, you’re awake, doctor.”
“Seith?”
In the kitchen, Seith was stirring a pot of soup and toasting bread. I blinked in disbelief.
“Kyang.”
Ain stared up at him as if displeased, while Seith smiled gently and said,
“Please wash up. Let’s have breakfast.”
“W-what? Y-yes.”
Only then did I realize I was standing there unwashed and ran back to my room in embarrassment.
‘What on earth is going on?’
Still confused, I washed up and came back. Seith had neatly set the table with the food he made.
He scratched his head slightly, looking shy.
“There was a beginner’s cookbook in the ward. I couldn’t sleep last night, so I read it. It seemed manageable, so I tried making something this morning. I’m not sure if it’s edible.”
I blinked in bewilderment, looking between him and the oven, then shouted,
“Why is a patient cooking? A-are you okay?”
“I’m much better than yesterday.”
His complexion really did look almost normal.
‘Wow, that’s incredible. What kind of stamina is this?’
Even his status gauge had jumped to 75/100.
A terrifying recovery rate. Just how strong was he originally?
Moreover, the table he prepared looked like a proper breakfast.
‘Wow.’
“Come here, doctor.”
While I was admiring it, Seith pulled out a chair for me, and I hurriedly sat down.
Come to think of it, even with memory loss, he behaved elegantly and politely. Realizing this, I cautiously asked,
“You remember things like this?”
Understanding what I meant, Seith smiled and nodded.
“Yes. I remember these small manners. I just don’t remember my name, where I came from, or what happened to me.”
He sighed.
“I’m trying not to rush. Since the poison was recently cured, my memory loss should recover soon.”
“That’s right. Don’t be too impatient.”
Now that I thought about it, since he didn’t remember his name, that must be why his status window kept showing [???].
As I nodded to myself, I heard Ain whining below.
“Kyaang.”
“Hm?”
Ain looked at me as if asking to be lifted onto the table, but I shook my head.
“No. Foxes eat on the floor.”
After opening its mouth as if to protest, Ain looked dejected. But after taking a bite from its bowl, its eyes widened, and it began devouring the food eagerly.
