Chapter 11
No matter how much it hurt, skipping treatment wasn’t an option.
I let out a deep sigh and pressed the alcohol swab carefully against Matthias’s wounds.
“Just bear with it for a bit. If I don’t disinfect it properly, it’ll get infected later.”
The wounds were bad enough that scarring couldn’t be avoided, but at least proper cleaning would keep them from festering.
“Does it hurt?”
“…No.”
‘Yeah right, no.’
His whole body twitched with every touch — it was obvious he was in pain.
Given the state of his injuries, it would’ve been strange if he didn’t hurt.
“If you ever get hurt again, tell me right away, okay?”
His upper body, now uncovered, was covered in small scars everywhere.
They must’ve been from when he was captured and enslaved. I couldn’t even imagine the kind of pain he had gone through.
‘But that’s all in the past now.’
Here, there was no one who would hurt him — and even if he did get hurt, there was someone who could treat him right away.
Even if I was broke, I could at least afford to patch up one person.
“Don’t just stay quiet to avoid bothering me.”
“…”
“If a wound gets worse, it only becomes a bigger problem.”
“S-sorry.”
Matthias mumbled timidly, as if apologizing for being troublesome.
I groaned quietly in frustration.
‘How on earth is this puppy supposed to become a fearsome villain?’
The terrifying mastermind? Please.
Right now, he looked more like a shy boy who couldn’t even speak his mind.
If he hadn’t asked for treatment first, he probably would’ve kept silent until the wounds dried out completely.
I glanced sideways at him while disinfecting the last of the wounds.
When I finished, I tossed the used cotton into the empty bin.
Then—
“?!”
Matthias’s eyes widened. He jerked his head up as I cupped his cheeks between my hands, forcing him to look at me.
For a moment, he forgot how to breathe. His lips parted slightly as he stared blankly up at me.
“You’re the one who’s hurt, Matthias.”
“…Me?”
He repeated in confusion.
“Yes, you.”
I sighed quietly and met his bewildered gaze.
“It’s not that you’re being annoying. I’m worried about you.”
If he really was a nuisance, I wouldn’t have brought him here in the first place.
Honestly, I didn’t have time to play savior.
I already had my hands full managing the people in this mansion.
I exhaled and lowered my hands from his face.
“No matter how broke I am, I can still afford to treat you.”
…As long as I skipped a meat stew or two, anyway.
But that was a family issue — no need to mention it aloud.
I opened a small box and took out a jar of ointment, twisting the lid open with a click.
“Not getting proper treatment, skipping meals, oversleeping all the time…”
“…”
“That’s what makes me worry.”
Wouldn’t it be nice if he just ate well, stayed healthy, and healed properly? Then I could actually feel at ease knowing he was okay.
I dabbed the fresh cotton swab in the ointment and looked closely at the wound again.
‘Good thing I disinfected first.’
Now that it was cleaned, I could see exactly where the infection had started.
I wiped it one more time, then spread the cool ointment gently over the wound.
“Ugh!”
“See? It hurts, right?”
And yet he’d insisted he was fine.
If I’d left him alone, he probably would’ve spent the night groaning in pain.
“If you’re not careful, you could get a fever. That’ll just make things worse for you.”
After spreading the ointment evenly, I let out another sigh.
When I looked up, he had his lips tightly pressed together as if holding back the pain — but there was also hesitation in his eyes.
I stayed quiet, waiting for him to speak first.
After a while, he finally whispered,
“…I’m scared. Of people.”
I paused for a second, then asked gently,
“Who? The doctor from earlier?”
Matthias nodded almost immediately.
“A little.”
“…”
“No… a lot.”
Judging by how he said it, his trauma ran deep.
Of course — being imprisoned and treated like property would scar anyone’s mind.
“You don’t have to worry about him.”
Sofia had introduced that doctor, and I’d been careful — I didn’t mention that Matthias used to be a slave. I’d only said he was someone in a difficult situation who needed help.
He didn’t have any shackles on now, so no one would guess unless I told them.
And if anyone did find out, I already planned to silence them properly.
Still, I couldn’t force him to face someone he feared. That would only make things worse.
‘Then what should I do…?’
He still needed to be examined, but I wasn’t a doctor — I couldn’t check him thoroughly myself.
And if he pushed someone away again, leaving him alone might be risky too.
I thought for a moment, then suggested cautiously,
“Then… how about I stay with you while he treats you?”
If the problem was being alone with strangers, then my presence might help calm him down.
“…Together?”
He asked softly, almost testing the idea.
Since he’d taken the bait, I nodded right away.
“I think that’ll be better. Or I can help a little with the treatment myself.”
If he’d been abused, he would naturally flinch from another person’s touch.
Even when he bathed, he refused help and wouldn’t let anyone inside. He even insisted on dressing himself.
He accepted my touch, at least — that was something.
“If you’re okay with it, we’ll do it that way.”
If not, I’d think of another plan. Maybe I could teach him how to apply medicine on his own.
Either way, I’d adjust to whatever made him comfortable.
All I wanted was for him to rest without stress.
“What do you think?”
“…”
Matthias swallowed hard and looked down.
After a long silence, he nodded slowly.
“You’re okay being with me, right?”
“Yeah.”
He mumbled softly, “I don’t like being alone,” then glanced up nervously to gauge my reaction.
Feeling a pang of sympathy, I reached out and patted his head.
“Don’t like being alone?”
“Yeah.”
He nodded again without hesitation.
“Stay with me.”
As if saying — as long as you’re here, that’s enough.
