Episode 25
Status: ???, Slight Pain in the Heart
Cedric kept walking quietly. It didn’t seem like he came to admire the garden—maybe he just wanted some fresh air. Maybe he wasn’t feeling very well.
He definitely knew I had calmed his pain before.
But even after that, he never once asked me to heal him again or to make the same medicine.
And even now, he didn’t ask.
If he’s out here walking in the middle of the night, he must still have symptoms.
“Why haven’t you asked me for anything?” I said.
Cedric answered calmly.
“You’re not officially a doctor yet. I can’t just ask you for things, can I?”
“…You’re so old-fashioned.”
I kicked a small stone on the path. It rolled far away into the garden.
“…”
“What? Never seen someone kick a rock before?”
“No, it just reminded me of something for a second.”
He touched his forehead while saying that.
“Come to think of it, you got hurt then, didn’t you? Let me see. Is your forehead better?”
“Can you say ‘forehead’ instead of ‘head’? That didn’t sound very nice.”
“Oh? Did I hit a nerve?”
Cedric bent down a little so I could see his forehead. But even then, he was much taller, so I had to stand on my toes and lean against his shoulder.
He chuckled.
“Don’t laugh. I might start to like you.”
“Oh no, that would be a problem.”
“Ugh, so annoying.”
There was a faint scar on his forehead. You wouldn’t notice unless you looked very closely.
If he had just stayed in the cabin and waited for me, I could have healed it properly. It’s such a shame for a handsome face like his to have a scar.
I gently touched it. It was already healed, so there was nothing more to do. Still, what a waste.
“All done?”
“Yes. Whoever treated you did a great job. If you had gotten just a bit more care, there wouldn’t even be a scar.”
“This is enough. The scar reminds me that what happened wasn’t a dream or some madness.”
He smiled as he brushed his bangs back. When he smiled, the tear-shaped mole under his eye moved a little and caught my attention.
Good thing it’s nighttime. If I saw that clearly under bright sunlight, I might’ve fallen for him.
“Anyway. Pretty good medicine, wasn’t it?”
“Medicine… Ha.”
“What’s so funny?”
Cedric waved his hand like it was nothing, which only annoyed me more.
“Come on!”
“You’re right. The medicine was… quite effective.”
“See? That old man—why doesn’t he like such a good thing?”
Our footsteps and my complaining echoed in the empty garden.
Cedric stroked his chin.
“Tinte…”
“You know him?”
“Of course I do. We’ve known each other for over twenty years.”
“Why does that old man act like that then?”
Cedric repeated “old man” and laughed again. He laughed more than I expected.
His low chuckle matched the peaceful night. Honestly, it was a voice that always sounded good. I smiled along just because I liked hearing it.
Cedric slowly stopped laughing, but he still had a warm expression.
“He’s been betrayed a lot. By people like you—people whose true intentions he couldn’t see.”
“I—”
I started to reply, but stopped. Cedric’s gaze felt sharp.
He turned toward me and leaned down slightly.
“You are suspicious, objectively.”
That felt unfair. He was the one who asked me to come here.
“And you just happened to be the one who treated me when I collapsed in that forest.”
That really was a coincidence. I didn’t go to him—he came to me.
I frowned and tried to lift my hand to argue, but Cedric spoke first.
“That part might’ve been luck. But right after that, someone set fire to Lueta Village. You were there. You healed them with potions and gained their trust.”
“That was a coincidence too.”
“No. I don’t think so.”
“Then what do you think it was?”
My voice grew quiet. Being doubted never feels good.
“Maybe fate.”
His calm tone felt like letting air out of a balloon.
“Wait… are you one of those fate believers?”
“Not really.”
He chuckled again.
“Maybe the only coincidence was that I collapsed right in front of your hideout.”
“That wasn’t a hideout.”
I mumbled, but Cedric ignored me.
That was my actual house, for your information.
“Maybe the gods took pity on me, or maybe it was just strange timing.”
“So… do you trust me, Lord Cedric?”
“You came because I called you. I hired you. So yes, I trust you… to a certain extent.”
He smiled and lightly touched my shoulder.
He wasn’t gripping hard, but I felt like I couldn’t escape from his touch.
He spoke slowly.
“But Tinte and Harun might not feel the same. They have high walls around their hearts.”
“Harun doesn’t seem like that.”
Lately, Harun looked like he was having fun. Especially when helping with the tests.
Honestly, I think he’d survive well even if he had been born in my past life. Maybe as a professor’s assistant-slave like me.
I could still clearly remember the awful life I had in the lab. Those memories never faded.
Dear Professor, I hope today’s little curse package arrives in your new world—may you enjoy a lovely dust storm on your freshly washed car.
While I was thinking that, Cedric responded.
“That’s one of his strengths.”
I see. So maybe the way Harun treated me wasn’t completely honest.
But that didn’t make me sad. It was expected. He was the Duke’s closest aide. It would be strange if he were too soft. Just like Vanetta, who was both Leonhart’s aide and lover.
“You happen to be a healer who could treat me. You also know how to make and use potions no one else uses anymore. And you’re from another country.”
Cedric continued calmly.
To someone watching, it would seem like we were just having a peaceful conversation. His face was so calm.
“All of that makes you suspicious.”
He straightened up and removed his hand from my shoulder. He stepped back politely, clearly not trying to threaten me.
“This is just how things are, Rita. We’ve always lacked staff. How many times do you think people we hired ended up trying to kill me or betray me?”
“Probably too many to count.”
“I’m glad you understand. Tinte is just someone who’s been through all that. He’s an old man, and he’s tired.”
I nodded.
“Yeah, I get it. So, I’ll just have to work harder so everyone can fully trust me.”
“I like your positivity.”
“Well, if I don’t have that, I’m basically dead.”
I had to survive.
Back in the kingdom, people used to call me cynical. But after living alone in that cabin for years, I had no choice but to change.
Still, this isn’t my true personality—it’s just me struggling to survive.
And I’ll survive here too. No matter what.
I smiled widely.
Cedric watched me quietly and smiled back.
“As I said, Rita, I hope you remember this—I do trust you more than you think. I’m truly glad you came here.”
“…Why?”
“If you came with good intentions, I’m thankful. And even if you didn’t—”
