Chapter 31
Nursing (2)
It wasn’t only Elick who was startled.
The sudden encounter left Tiria just as shaken.
“Th-Then I’ll be going!”
The maid, apparently guilty about having been gossiping about Elick only moments ago, hurriedly fled the scene.
Neither of them paid her any attention.
The moment their eyes met, a tangled mix of surprise, relief, anticipation, and emotions neither could properly name filled the air between them.
For Tiria, it was even worse.
‘Of course! Master was terribly worried too! He came here every day to look after Milady while she was unconscious!’
The very person who had supposedly worried about her that much was standing right in front of her.
And with that, her confusion only deepened.
Why was he treating her so well now after leaving as he had?
…No.
What she truly wanted to know was what shape his heart held now.
That question consumed her thoughts.
“…You’ve come.”
Her voice emerged low and hoarse.
The reply came immediately.
“So you’ve finally awakened.”
Elick’s lips pressed together.
The corners of his eyes softened with unmistakable relief.
But that expression didn’t last long.
“Only now do you decide to wake up.”
“Pardon…?”
His gaze sharpened.
There was still concern in his eyes, but anger had settled there as well.
Leaning on his cane, he approached her.
Startled, Tiria clenched her hands together.
The moment he reached her bedside, he asked bluntly,
“Why?”
“…What do you mean?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were unwell?”
That was because she hadn’t realized it was that serious.
During busy periods, mild fevers and exhaustion were practically a constant companion for Tiria.
Especially after the death of Hoven Portman, the previous head of the family.
Over the past year, there had been more days when she felt exhausted than days when she felt healthy.
She had become so accustomed to that state that she simply assumed this time would be no different.
Should she tell him the truth?
No.
It would sound like an excuse.
Suddenly, Tiria felt wronged.
She had only followed him because she was worried about him.
So why was she the one being scolded?
How could he misunderstand her feelings so completely?
Yes, she hadn’t explained her reasons beforehand, but couldn’t he at least interpret her actions a little more generously?
It was a childish thought.
She should have been embarrassed by it, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling.
Perhaps it was because her body still hadn’t fully recovered.
Lost in emotion, she answered,
“I was fine. At least until we reached the summit.”
The words came out curtly.
Tiria immediately startled herself.
She hadn’t meant for her tone to sound so cold.
Naturally, her eyes flickered toward Elick’s face.
His expression hardened further.
Her heart dropped.
Just as she was about to hurriedly explain herself—
“My health is my own responsibility—”
“I was worried.”
Tiria froze.
Her gaze snapped to him.
Wondering if she’d heard correctly, she stared.
The concern overlaying his anger had only grown stronger.
No.
She hadn’t misheard.
Worried?
About me? Him?
She understood what he meant.
Was it simply because they were husband and wife on paper?
Because the person responsible for handling work had collapsed?
Or perhaps…
…No. Don’t jump to conclusions.
Tiria knew better than anyone that expectations often returned as greater disappointments.
That lesson had been carved into her life again and again.
It was a fear learned through experience.
She knew exactly how devastating it felt when hope shattered.
In the end, the only thing she could say was,
“…I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“I didn’t say it because I wanted to hear an apology.”
Elick sat down on the edge of the bed.
His hand closed around her clenched fist.
“Look at me.”
Tiria flinched.
Her eyes dropped to their joined hands before she slowly raised her head again.
His expression had softened.
Yet his face remained serious.
The roughness of his palm against the back of her hand felt strangely unfamiliar.
The distance between them—close enough that he could wrap his arms around her with a single movement—made it difficult to breathe.
Heat rushed to her face.
His words echoed through her mind.
So that wasn’t the reason…
“You need to take better care of yourself, my lady. I’ve been observing you these past few days, and your body is far frailer than it should be.”
Though he continued speaking, only one word lodged itself in her ears.
My lady.
He usually used that title only when others were present.
Yet now they were alone.
Would it be rude to attach meaning to that?
No.
It wouldn’t.
“In such a condition, it’s no wonder you’ve worked yourself sick. You should trust the people around you a little more. There are many in this estate willing to help you.”
Tiria found herself resenting him.
Why…
Why did he say things like that?
Why did he throw her heart into such turmoil?
Why did he keep giving her reasons to hope?
“Are you listening to me?”
Maintaining a composed expression had become nearly impossible.
The way he leaned forward to meet her gaze touched something deep inside her.
Barely managing it, Tiria nodded.
“…Yes.”
“Good. Since you’re listening, then hear this order from me as the head of the family.”
His fingers slipped between hers and tightened.
“My lady is forbidden from leaving this bed until she has fully recovered. I will personally supervise you, so don’t even dream of working.”
“Then what about the work…?”
“I’ll bring the documents here and handle them myself.”
His tone left no room for argument.
Honestly, she felt uneasy.
Yet beneath that anxiety rose an undeniable happiness.
For Tiria, having someone she could rely on meant exactly this.
You’ve never changed. Not in this regard.
She pressed her lips together.
‘What? If you’re sick, you should tell me, you idiot! Come here! I’ll fix that ugly face of yours too!’
Even while grumbling, he had always been someone who cared for others’ wounds.
Knowing that warmth still remained within him filled Tiria with relief and happiness.
“Answer me. Can you promise you’ll stay put?”
Embarrassed to let her expression show, she lowered her head and answered just as she had on that day long ago.
“…Yes.”
A desperate wish rose within her heart.
If the kindness she felt now was merely an illusion, then she prayed it would never shatter for the rest of her life.
* * *
Only after leaving her room did Elick begin trembling from embarrassment.
I’ve truly made a fool of myself!
The moment he had entered to check on her as usual and found her suddenly awake, he’d reacted entirely on emotion.
His worry and frustration had mixed together until he’d started lecturing her despite having no right to do so.
The shamelessness of it made his teeth ache.
When he thought about it, the reason she’d followed him into the snowy mountains obviously involved him.
Yet he’d ignored that fact and dumped his feelings on her anyway.
Fortunately, Tiria hadn’t seemed particularly upset.
But since he had no way of knowing what she truly thought, his embarrassment only grew.
Then—
“Young Master, where are you going?”
Aldio approached from the far end of the corridor.
Elick hurriedly composed himself.
“…Ah, I’m heading to the study to retrieve some documents.”
“Hm? You aren’t planning to work there?”
“I intend to work in my wife’s room. If I leave her alone, she’ll probably try to work again.”
“I can’t exactly deny that.”
Chuckling, Aldio continued,
“Then return to Milady. I’ll prepare everything.”
“Hm? Will that be alright?”
“Surely it’s better than having you limp back and forth on that troublesome leg. I heard your old injury flared up again after your trip to the snowy mountains…”
Aldio frowned disapprovingly.
Elick had no response.
After all, it was true.
His wound had worsened because of a reckless stunt of his own making.
In the end, all he could do was lower his head.
“I’ll leave it to you, then.”
Like a defeated soldier, Elick shuffled back toward Tiria’s bedroom.
By the time Aldio’s preparations were complete, Elick and Tiria had been exchanging awkward glances for quite some time.
Accompanied by two maids, Aldio arranged a small table, a chair, and stacks of documents beside the bed.
And he wasn’t finished.
Warm tea was prepared for Tiria.
Coffee for Elick.
Soon the room was filled with the rich aroma of both.
Only then did Aldio finally leave, looking thoroughly satisfied.
Elick let out a long sigh and slumped his shoulders.
“Aldio can be quite excessive sometimes.”
“I think he’s an excellent butler.”
Tiria answered before her gaze drifted toward the pile of documents.
Elick immediately narrowed his eyes and raised a hand to block her view.
“Don’t even look at them.”
“…Will you really be alright?”
“I can handle this much. You were my teacher, weren’t you? Do I look like someone incapable of processing paperwork?”
“……”
Tiria fell silent.
Elick spent a moment wondering how exactly he should interpret that silence.
Unfortunately, the more he thought about it, the less favorable the answer became.
Eventually, he cleared his throat and grabbed a document as if nothing had happened.
“Watch carefully. Documents like these are nothing. I’ll finish them in no time—”
The moment he looked at the title, however, his pupils shook as though struck by an earthquake.
[Year-End Territorial Financial Report]
A colossal wall appeared before him from the very start.
Numbers.
A horrifying string of digits more terrifying than facing thousands of enemy soldiers.
The instant he saw them, his mind went blank.
It felt as though the numbers themselves were leaping off the page and strangling him.
Slowly, Elick turned toward Tiria.
Tilting her head, she asked,
“Would you like some help?”
The words were sweet.
Dangerously sweet.
Like a devil’s whisper.
It took Elick nearly three full minutes to arrive at his answer.
“…I’ll try doing it myself.”
Elick possessed an exceptionally strong sense of pride.
