Chapter 12
“Yes. I’ll also make medicine to take, so take it in the evening. I’ll clean up the broken glass, so leave it. Please take care of her.”
“Okay. Got it.”
Adrian left the reception room, and Kay approached me. Kay’s face was covered with sweat and tear stains.
I felt sorry for her and tried to take out my handkerchief, but Kay stopped my hand and shook her head.
“Sister, don’t move. I’ll apply the medicine.”
“I’m not hurt badly enough that I can’t move. I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine.”
Kay, who spoke firmly, began applying medicine over the burn. It stung and hurt several times more than washing it with water.
I bit my lips tightly to endure it, trying not to show how much it hurt.
After the treatment ended, Kay, who insisted on taking me to my room, told me various precautions.
I reached out and patted the head of the mature child who was so admirable.
“I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”
“…But sister got hurt.”
“It’s okay. It’s not a big injury.”
“This isn’t big?”
Kay couldn’t bear to look at my arm and lowered her head. I felt sorry for the child who was apologizing.
“Kay, you must have been very startled too. Go rest.”
“But…”
Seeing Kay hesitate, I opened the door. It seemed like she would only leave if I went in.
“I’m a bit tired so I need to sleep. Sleep well too, Kay.”
I waved at Kay. Kay raised her hand to follow mine, then hesitated and clenched her fist tightly.
Soon, as if she had made up her mind, she opened her mouth wide then closed it.
“Sister, thank you… And my name is…”
“…”
“Chloe. Chloe Oblien. Not Kay.”
Kay—no, Chloe—ran down the corridor after saying her name.
I watched until her figure disappeared, then entered my room. My stomach hurt more than my injured arm, making me frown when a window appeared.
[Congratulations! You have successfully completed the special event.]
[<Supporting Character’s Helper> Quest Progress: 33.3%]
The cause of what just happened.
Right. It was because of this. The system that gave me a ridiculous event under the pretense of helping me.
I clenched my fist tightly and gritted my teeth.
“Never give me such things under the name of events again.”
As if it didn’t want to hear my words, the window clicked off.
* * *
I was sick for several days after that. I didn’t know if it was because I hadn’t been sleeping or if the medicine was toxic.
My body was excessively heavy and I couldn’t even lift my eyelids. Lying in bed and sleeping was the best I could do.
Sometimes I would regain consciousness, and each time there were voices beside me. Mainly Chloe’s tearful voice, Lucian’s words of gratitude, and Adrian’s slightly trembling voice.
I didn’t remember the exact content. I only remembered thinking they were people who didn’t suit being villains and smiling.
When I wasn’t awake, I always had dreams. When I woke up, there were many blurry parts, but I didn’t remember nothing at all.
They were mainly about Adrian. Adrian’s appearances in <The Price of Sacrifice> that I didn’t remember.
Among them was also the meeting between Adrian and Ashley. A part I had forgotten or hadn’t properly recognized.
The first and last place the two met was at a tea party hosted by Ashley.
There, Adrian was introduced as the son of Viscount Delgado. The Viscount and Viscountess Delgado were people who had connections with Ashley due to their kindness.
At that tea party, Ashley first encountered Adrian as the adopted son of the Delgados. He was definitely introduced as Adrian, but I don’t know why I had forgotten this scene.
Besides this scene, there were more scenes in my dreams that seemed like I was encountering them for the first time. Most were trivial things like scenes of Adrian without a mask passing by the protagonists.
After being sick like that for several days, on the day I could barely open my eyes, a window was floating above my face.
[<Supporting Character’s Helper> Quest Progress: 50%]
I felt both joy and disappointment, wondering if staying still was more helpful.
When I fully regained my strength, it was dawn.
When I opened my eyes, dim moonlight was seeping through the curtain gaps. Even though it wasn’t the sun, that light felt so warm.
My body was also lighter than before. I even felt refreshed and was slowly trying to sit up when a window was lit up in one corner.
[The energy of a new title being created has been detected.]
It seemed to be a notification I hadn’t seen because I had been lying sick.
What insignificant title are they going to give me now?
I raised my left hand to close the annoying window. No, I tried to. But it was firmly held by something and wouldn’t move.
“Hmm…?”
I slowly shifted my gaze to my left hand. Someone was holding my hand and lying face down on the bed.
Fine black hair was scattered carelessly over the bedding. Below that, I could see a smooth, high nose and lips.
As if enchanted, I was looking at the white face illuminated by moonlight when I raised my right hand to cover my mouth.
The person holding my hand was Adrian. And without his mask.
I unconsciously held my breath. My head became dizzy.
Why isn’t he wearing his mask? Did he let his guard down because I kept not waking up?
For whatever reason, it seemed better to pretend I hadn’t seen. But my eyes kept holding Adrian.
Adrian was exactly as I had imagined him. Even with his eyes closed, he was sufficiently beautiful. So much that all the flowery words wouldn’t be enough.
His life had never been without hardship, but his sleeping face was peaceful. Even his usually upturned eye corners looked gentle with his eyes closed.
I was thinking it would be nice if this calm peace could always be with Adrian when I suddenly got a headache.
“Ugh…”
As someone seemed to stab my brain with needles several times, I grabbed my head when pressure was applied to my held hand.
When I looked up, Adrian had woken up and was looking at me with surprised eyes.
“My lady? Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Does your head hurt?”
“Ah…”
At Adrian speaking urgently with a completely hoarse voice, I shook my head.
“Just a brief headache… I’m fine.”
“I’ll get medicine.”
Adrian got up. I gripped the hand Adrian had been holding tightly.
“I’m fine, so stay here.”
“Are you really okay?”
“Yes, I said I’m fine. Sit down. It’s harder to look up at you.”
After smiling at Adrian who sat down obediently at my words, I relaxed my grip. And I waited for him to let go of my hand.
But far from letting go, he just quietly looked at me.
“Leader.”
“Yes.”
“You must have worried about me a lot.”
Adrian averted his eyes.
“…Not really.”
Really, he’s not honest.
I slightly shook the hand that had been tightly held and said.
“Why is someone who didn’t worry much holding my hand so tightly?”
Adrian’s eyes widened. He slowly turned his gaze to his own hand that was firmly holding mine. His face turned slightly red when he saw our clasped hands.
His large hand quickly released mine. Then he bowed his head to me.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose.”
Of course not. Actually, the problem now wasn’t something like holding hands.
“Rather than that… Leader.”
“Yes?”
“You do know you’re not covering your face, right?”
I asked playfully, but the atmosphere stiffened a bit. I had imagined Adrian would be flustered, but he was calm.
“I know.”
I felt strange.
“You already know me anyway, don’t you?”
“…”
“So it doesn’t matter.”
A very simple sentence confused me.
I should say something, but my head was frozen and my mouth wouldn’t move.
Had I ever called Adrian by his name?
I couldn’t have made such a foolish mistake.
Then where exactly was I found out?
I don’t know where to start or how to explain.
That I’m a possessor? That this place is inside a book?
After trying to hide my agitation, I glanced at Adrian. He had his usual upright expression. His expression that showed no intention of questioning me was quite bewildering.
Right now Adrian seemed to have no curiosity about me. Strangely so.
“Leader.”
“Yes.”
“Why… do you think I know you… may I ask?”
Adrian’s expression was strange after hearing my words. It was an expression asking why I was asking such a thing.
“You know my name, don’t you?”
Of course I know. But you knowing that I know doesn’t make sense…
I had no idea when or at what point he had noticed. I felt like I shouldn’t carelessly open my mouth, so I kept my lips tightly shut.
“I have no intention of harming you.”
Adrian tried to reassure me, probably thinking I had shut my mouth out of fear, so I rolled my eyes.
“You know my surname too, don’t you? And my adoptive parents. So I was certain.”
What are you talking about?
