Chapter 24
Before leaving, Urian said,
“Is it okay if I come often?”
The moment he finished speaking, Claudio leaned in and whispered something into Urian’s ear.
Urian turned pale, and just as he opened his mouth, Claudio gave a faint smile.
“So, I don’t think you can come very often.”
“……”
“Be sure about it. I’ll check later.”
“……Yes.”
Like a scolded puppy, Urian left looking completely defeated and pitiful.
“What on earth did he say?”
Just as Marsha was observing Claudio’s expression,
“Should I try to guess what he’s thinking?”
Claudio, still looking straight ahead, lowered his eyes to look at her.
“You’re wondering what I could’ve said to make him leave like that, right?”
Marsha’s fingers twitched slightly.
How did he know what I was thinking?
“……I wasn’t thinking about that.”
Feeling insulted that her thoughts had been read, Masha lied.
“Really? Then what were you thinking about?”
“I was just thinking, ‘It’s okay to come often.”
Claudio furrowed his brows deeply.
“Coming often would just be annoying and bothersome.”
“I didn’t think it would be like that.”
“What?”
As though she were babbling, he gave a small shake of his head.
“That person earlier was a noble, right?”
“How would I know that?”
He curled the corner of his lips smoothly.
“……Anyway, that person is higher than me.”
“Well, they could be commoners too.”
“Even if he is a commoner. He serves you, while I’m just a lowly herbalist.”
Marsha looked at Claudio with displeasure and continued.
“But that person respected me simply because I’m the one who saved your life.”
Even though someone saved a companion, it would have been arrogant to say that a commoner serving a noble was natural.
But he sincerely felt sorry and thankful to Marsha.
“He will continue to be like that. So, what reason would I have to feel uncomfortable?”
“You’re strangely soft toward Urian.”
Claudio frowned.
Maesha didn’t understand. Why would he feel bad just because he liked her company?
“Have you forgotten? The one who left that kind of scar on your wrist was Urian.”
Marsha blinked quickly.
Is that the cause of his annoyance? You, of all people?
In a slightly annoyed voice, Marsha asked,
“Surely you haven’t forgotten what happened today. And it’s just a wrist, after all?”
“Just a wrist?”
Claudio’s voice dropped coldly.
Marsha was dumbfounded.
Why was he so angry?
Was it a wrist or something?
And above all, Claudio had no right to be angry.
“Why are you acting so sensitive? You left marks like this on my wrist, too.”
When Marsha snapped sharply, a calm shock flickered across his previously cold face.
“Did I only grab your wrist? I even pushed you to the floor. I even tried to choke you.”
“……”
A blurry memory played again in Claudio’s mind.
At first, recalling it was just annoying because it brought up awkward memories.
But now, it is different.
His chest, uncharacteristically, felt heavy.
Something around his throat felt tight.
‘This is strange.’
At that moment, Claudio’s eyes caught sight of Marsha’s stained wrist.
Not just in the usual way—he hated it because just seeing them made his insides churn.
She was a weak woman who was harmed in this way by the weaker Urian.
There must have been a larger bruise when he grabbed her wrist.
Why didn’t he notice it, then?
Was it because she wore long sleeves?
Still, if he had looked closely at her wrist even once, wouldn’t he have seen it?
After doing such a thing, why was he so indifferent?
“……”
Claudio lifted his head and turned his gaze to her delicate neck.
If he had put just a little more force then, what would have happened to that neck?
He could hardly imagine it.
No, to be precise, he didn’t want to imagine it.
“……I sincerely apologise.”
Claudio spoke with a heavy expression.
Marsha’s eyes widened in surprise.
She hadn’t expected an apology, as she was about to stop the conversation.
“It’s, it’s okay. You already apologised before.”
Feeling embarrassed, as if she were a petty person bringing up past mistakes, Marsha replied awkwardly.
“It won’t happen again. Never.”
Claudio stared deeply into her eyes and spoke seriously.
“I hope so, of course.”
Feeling burdened by his serious gaze, Marsha quickly turned her head away and answered.
“……”
Suddenly, a strange silence fell.
Even the curtains fluttering in the wind, which hadn’t bothered her earlier, caught her attention.
“I got too emotional and messed up…”
Marsha regretted her mistake.
Claudio’s actions were wrong, and she had no intention of defending them in the future, but she understood very well that he hadn’t done it intentionally.
She had only known him for a few days, so she couldn’t judge his typical demeanour, but based on what she had observed, he might irritate people occasionally, but not to the point of being offensive.
He didn’t seem like someone who looked down on those of lower status than himself.
“…… Shall we eat something?”
Marsha shrugged her shoulders and said, trying to lighten the awkward atmosphere.
“First, treat your wrist.”
“Such bruises heal quickly if left alone.”
“Still. Don’t you have any ointment or something?”
“Not really.”
“Just use some of the medicine I apply to my wounds.”
“That tells me to throw away the medication I put a lot of effort into making.”
If that’s the case…
Claudio frowned deeply and fell into thought.
He tried to think of other treatment methods, but nothing came to mind easily.
After all, he tended to leave even more serious wounds untreated.
“By the way, how are you doing?”
“With what?”
“With your wounds. I thought walking would be difficult…”
Of course, it hurt.
But it wasn’t unbearable.
He was someone who could endure even greater pain.
He was born that way.
“……”
Claudio almost said he was fine but quickly held his tongue.
“It’s nothing to worry about that much. But after what I experienced today, I understand—no need to rush, just recover slowly.”
Claudio lightly closed his eyes.
Worry appeared in Marsha’s eyes.
“Your wounds haven’t gotten worse, have they?”
“No sign of that.”
“Really?”
“Do you need to see for yourself to believe it? Want me to show you?”
As Claudio tried to roll up his shirt sleeve, Marsha suddenly shouted,
“Who wants to see that!”
He blinked slowly with wide eyes, then chuckled softly.
“Full of energy. Do you hate seeing it that much? Well, the wounds are pretty gross.”
“It’s okay to look at wounds!”
“Then what is it that you don’t want to see?”
Marsha tightened her fists.
‘This man, he knows everything but keeps pushing my buttons…!’
Sigh, better stop talking.
With all her might, Marsha glared at Claudio and walked toward the kitchen counter.
‘She probably thinks her glaring face looks scary.’
Not at all.
It looks more like a puppy’s annoyed face, he thought.
‘No, maybe more like a little kitten.’
Just then, Claudio was lost in thought.
“…Hey.”
Marsha muttered something.
“What?”
“Thank you. For coming to find me earlier.”
Standing by the kitchen counter, she spoke.
Claudio, staring blankly at her back, answered after a slight delay.
“You’re welcome.”
“…Shall we eat at the table today? There’s a bit more to prepare.”
“Sounds good.”
Claudio sat at the table, resting his chin lazily on his hand, possibly watching Marsha’s back.
‘I wonder what your expression is right now.’
Maybe a little shy or embarrassed?
Or maybe you’re blushing a bit.
‘I’m curious.’
Unfortunately, Marsha didn’t seem to have any intention of looking back.
“Do you want me to help?”
Claudio enquired, worried about Marsha’s hurt wrist and eager to see her face.
“I’m fine. Patients sit down to wait.
“It’s not an issue; I’m just standing and moving my hands.”
If someone as big as you stands there, it just gets in the way.”
He didn’t get a chance after all.
In the end, Claudio swallowed his disappointment and waited for her to come closer.
There was a silent sigh of relief from Marsha when Claudio stopped talking.
“Why does my face look so hot?”
It was just a simple thank-you that she should have said.
But why did her heart tremble and her face flush so much over something like that?
‘Ugh, I need to pull myself together.’
Marsha decided to focus on preparing the meal.
If she did that, the burning heat in her face would likely calm down.
‘By the way, this is strange. I thought I’d be eating alone starting tonight.’
She had worried about how she would eat all the things Berry had brought, yet he was still here.
‘For a while, the house will feel crowded.’
A slightly sulky voice echoed in Marsha’s mind.
But her lips formed a gentle curve.
A very faint smile, like the faint scent of a wildflower on the breeze.
