Chapter 34
“……”
What a strange woman.
Why does she keep poking at old childhood memories like this?
It’s clearly just a casual act of kindness without any deeper meaning, but—
An omelet packed full of vegetables.
It was something Grace often made for him when he was little, back when he was a picky eater.
Stir, stir.
And as always, he would pick out every bit of the bell pepper Grace had carefully minced and hidden inside so she wouldn’t notice.
“…Hey.”
She’s talking informally to him now.
Every time Kainel picked out a piece of bell pepper, Seres would scrunch up her face in irritation, and he started moving his hands faster just to tease her more.
‘…Annoying.’
But why had he come here again today?
For the stew?
As Seres frowned deeply at him, Kainel deliberately pushed aside the remaining peppers as if to show her.
“Where did she go?”
It was late at night, the world sunk deep in darkness.
Most people were asleep, but Antonian was pacing anxiously outside the mansion.
He couldn’t stay still—his eyes darted restlessly as he craned his neck, looking around.
“Huh?”
Then, spotting a familiar figure in the distance, Antonian quickly ran toward her.
“Noona!”
“Antonian?”
“Why are you only coming back now!”
“What’s this? What’s going on? Why aren’t you asleep?”
“You’re the one to talk—where have you been?”
“Me? For a walk.”
“Again?”
At Seres’s calm reply, Antonian frowned deeply.
“What kind of person goes for a walk every morning and night?”
“It’s not every day.”
“That’s not the point!”
Recently, Seres had been going out not just at dawn but also late at night, and only returning home after quite some time.
“If you want to walk, can’t you just stroll around the garden?”
“Our garden’s boring.”
“That’s not the issue! Why are you wandering around at this hour?”
“Just… here and there.”
“‘Here and there’ where—? Noona! Your nose!”
“…Damn it.”
The real problem was that Seres had started getting frequent nosebleeds—always after those so-called walks.
“Seriously! What have you been doing lately?”
“It’s nothing. I just walked too hard, that’s all.”
“Is that really a walk? Who walks so hard they bleed?”
“Hey, quiet down. You’ll wake everyone.”
What’s with him?
Seres looked at Antonian curiously—he was unusually worked up today.
He wasn’t exactly a patient person by nature, but he wasn’t one to get angry for no reason either.
Did he eat something weird at dinner?
“…Haah, just wipe the blood.”
As Seres pressed the handkerchief he handed her to her nose, Antonian’s expression grew even more grave.
“Noona.”
“What?”
Why’s he calling me so seriously? He’s making me nervous. What’s he going to say now?
“Let’s go see a healer.”
“What?”
“You’re bleeding too often. Something’s wrong.”
“I told you, it’s nothing. I know my own body.”
“Stop being so stubborn!”
“Watch your tone, kid.”
“Oh, come on!”
Seres blinked at Antonian’s exasperated expression.
Why is he this upset? Did I do something wrong?
“Tomorrow. You’re coming with me for a checkup.”
“I said I’m fine. I’ll cut back on going out at night anyway…”
“Don’t lie!”
…But it’s true.
She’d already found out earlier that day—the man, Dave’s father, was nearly at his end.
There were plenty of witnesses who’d seen him screaming and running out of his house every morning and evening.
Some said they’d seen him crying, begging forgiveness. That he was half-mad now.
‘Whatever it is, it’s about to end soon.’
Then there would be no need to keep turning back time anymore.
But Antonian clearly saw the situation differently.
“Is it because of money?”
“…What?”
“You’re not going because you can’t afford it, is that it?”
As Antonian’s eyes reddened, Seres scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Well, yeah, their family was ridiculously broke.
But she wasn’t stupid enough to risk her health over it.
“Fine.”
Even if it was a painful waste of money…
Sure. Let’s go.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Only then did Antonian’s stiff face finally relax a little.
“Then tomorrow, come with me to the Ellsia Count’s estate.”
“…Where?”
“The Ellsia family. They’re famous for their healing magic.”
“Wait, hold on. We don’t need to go that far—”
“Is it because we don’t have money?”
“……”
Watching Antonian’s eyes start to redden again, Seres could no longer bring herself to argue.
