Chapter 015: The Place Where She Stayed
Redness lingered around Roanne’s eyes as she stayed up all night. Fatigue washed over her from the relentless nursing, but she had no intention of closing her eyes. More than that, helping this ailing person rest comfortably, even for a moment, was her priority.
She was used to this kind of thing. For someone like her who had done all sorts of jobs to survive in reality, staying up all night was no longer a big deal.
Whenever Alexis let out a moan of pain, she quickly approached his side to change the water towel, give him water, or reapply medicine.
Instead of sweet words, it was a sincerity conveyed through silent touches. Perhaps it was a kind of care that Alexis had never received once in his entire life.
Then, at one point, his hand brushed against and caught Roanne’s fingertips. With his eyes closed, his consciousness was blurred, but it was a gesture made as if by instinct. Roanne looked down at that hand. The slightly trembling fingers and that light contact, which held no strength, felt even more poignant.
“…It’s okay. I’m here by your side.”
Those words felt less like something said for him to hear and more like something she was repeating to herself. That it was truly okay, and that she could stay by his side like this for now.
Roanne examined the wounds with an indifferent expression. Though her gaze was calm, her fingertips moved carefully and diligently. Peeling off bandages, applying medicine, changing the dressings—she did them all silently, one by one. There wasn’t a single affectionate word, but the warmth transmitted by her hands was plenty warm enough.
A long time later, Alexis, who had been gasping with hot breath, managed to barely open his eyes in a daze. When Roanne’s face looking down at him came into his blurred vision, his brow furrowed in question.
“Why are you… here……”
“Who else would come if not me? After all, I am technically your wife.”
Her tone was blunt. However, contrary to her words, the touch with which she cared for him was full of sincerity. No special emotion was contained in the statement that she was his wife, but for some reason, Alexis felt those words seep deep into his heart.
And as Roanne’s hands continued to wipe his wounds and apply medicine, he closed his eyes with a flushed face.
“…I’ve caused you trouble.”
“If you know that, take better care of yourself from now on.”
Though her words were curt, she soaked the cloth in cold water again and diligently wiped his forehead. Wet strands of hair clung to his cheeks, and as she straightened the duvet damp with sweat, she looked at Alexis with strangely serene eyes. Under that gaze, Alexis felt his cheeks grow hot for some reason.
‘I suppose I really am running a fever.’
Alexis thought.
“You’re more of a weakling than I thought.”
At those words, Alexis, whose pride was wounded, flared up with a flushed face.
“Those brats from the Eden family were just being cowardly…!”
At Alexis’s protest, which didn’t lose its bluster even in this state, Roanne unknowingly let out a chuckle. She then quietly lifted a water cup and brought it to his lips. Alexis, whose throat was parched from the fever, obediently accepted it and drank.
“Yes, yes, of course you’re right.”
Alexis, stopping mid-drink, ground his teeth.
“It’s true! Do you know how many despicable tricks those bastards used?!”
Roanne fed medicine to Alexis, who had regained a bit of energy. Until he fell back asleep after taking the medicine, Alexis could not calm his anger and continued to curse the Eden brothers.
Roanne held back her laughter and listened to his venting. Seeing this young master, who was usually cold and twisted, complaining like this made him feel unexpectedly cute.
‘Not even a child.’
Was it because he grew up twisted from a lack of love? Having found some peace of mind through Roanne’s sincere nursing, Alexis ground his teeth until the moment he fell asleep, vowing to Roanne that he would surely take revenge on the Eden brothers.
Roanne nodded, saying, “Yes, yes.” At the same time, she didn’t forget a firm warning.
“Even so, don’t come back home injured like this again.”
The meaning was intended to tell him not to bother her anymore, but however he interpreted it, Alexis quietly bit his lip with a reddened face. Then, he gave a small, silent nod.
“Now, go to sleep quickly. You’ll feel better than now once you wake up.”
Roanne spoke softly as she checked his forehead for fever one last time.
Alexis stared blankly up at Roanne and had a strange thought for a moment. If they were an ordinary couple, it would have been fine for Roanne to lie down beside him and seek sleep together. But now…….
‘No.’
Alexis squeezed his eyes shut.
‘Strange thoughts keep coming to me because I’m sick.’
Outside was dark, the wind softly rattled the windows, and the lamp beside the bed flickered gently.
That night, even if he were awake or spoke while suffering from fever, Roanne looked down at him with a gentle face and responded to everything.
Roanne was inherently very weak toward those who were frail or hurting. While nursing this beautiful young man whom no one in his family visited, she somehow felt pity for him.
For three days, she spared no sleep and nursed Alexis devotedly. Due to her sincerity, no one in the Glister Count’s house picked a fight. After finishing those three days of nursing, Roanne left the Count’s mansion and returned to the annex as quietly as she had arrived.
When Alexis opened his eyes one morning, he realized she had vanished like a shadow. Like something that should have been there was gone, he suddenly felt a sense of emptiness.
* * *
Alexis’s room after Roanne left was very quiet. The morning sunlight streaming through the window was brilliant, but contrary to that, Alexis’s mood had become somewhat subtle. After Roanne, who had cared for his aching self all night, disappeared, the room felt strangely wide.
The chair where Roanne had sat and the teacup she had used were already cold.
Once the warm sensation that had lingered at his fingertips all night vanished, he felt as uncomfortable as someone waking from a long-held dream.
‘Why does my heart feel so… uncomfortable?’
Alexis thought. He felt he owed an unspeakable debt to his wife, whom he had unexpectedly treated coldly.
‘Yes, that must be why.’
He considered this feeling to be a sense of debt. Even though she wasn’t asked, his wife, who had been kicked out to the East Annex, had fulfilled her duty. Since there was no way she, residing in the East Annex, would have known he had returned injured, it was as plain as day how she had come here and stayed up several nights to nurse him.
‘I did something I’m sorry for this time.’
Convinced by that thought, Alexis raised himself up. Then, catching sight of his appearance in the mirror, he clicked his tongue.
‘I can’t go looking like this.’
Even if it’s a visit to express gratitude, there is such a thing as etiquette. Alexis summoned the servants. When he, who usually hated fuss, summoned the servants for the first time, they rushed over instantly. Looking somewhat pale, they were extremely tense.
‘Is he perhaps in a foul mood?’
They all thought the same thing. Had there not been the incident a few days ago where Alexis returned covered in blood after a crowd from the Duke of Eden’s family ganged up on him?
Fearing his anger might be poured out on them, the servants all stood there gripped by tension and fear.
“What are you doing?”
However, Alexis’s usual cold and arrogant expression remained. Other than looking somewhat gaunt, he was no different from usual. The haughty attitude characteristic of the nobility flowed from him.
“Attend to me.”
“Pardon?”
One startled servant let out a dazed sound. At that, Alexis’s eyebrows narrowed. The servant who had reflexively made the sound gasped and held his breath. Alexis pointed toward his wardrobe with a glance.
“I said, attend to me.”
Was this not the Alexis who, usually finding it bothersome, would dash out dressed however he pleased, unlike a son of a noble house? It was lucky he possessed such a uniquely noble and enchanting appearance, but was his behavior not practically that of a rascal?
“Yes, understood.”
The quickest-witted servant among them moved. He ran to Alexis’s wardrobe and pulled out the most luxurious black suit.
“Is this to your liking?”
“…….”
Alexis gave no answer. However, seeing his indifferent expression, the servant knew he had no particular complaints.
Only then, feeling relieved, the servant quickly unfolded the clothes and carefully attended to him. As the experienced servant sent a quick glance, the other servants moved to tidy up his other attire.
