Chapter 22
The next day, late in the morning by the terrace window, Aria occasionally stole glances at Eric, who was sitting in a chair and cutting his steak.
Dressed in just a light shirt, he was enjoying his meal without caring about the chilly weather.
Aria tightly closed her mouth to stifle the yawn that was about to escape.
I was still feeling the fatigue from the previous night, and my whole body was in a droopy state.
Again, Aria’s eyes instinctively turned towards her master. She quietly looked at Eric.
At the young age of twenty-two, he helped the emperor and led the war to victory, eventually attaining the position of commander of the imperial guard.
A large and sturdy body forged through countless wars. Even the pupils, which hold the sea, visible among the abundant black hair.
The dark complexion that lay within did not match at all with that dazzling appearance. That was also something everyone, including the Bailey family, was curious about.
But did Jacob’s prescription actually have any effect? Fortunately, Eric’s complexion improved day by day.
Aria felt a strange sense of relief watching Eric like that. At first, it seemed like a reckless treatment.
Especially, overcoming Eric’s stubborn strength was a difficult task.
But what always woke him up at those times was his one word.
“I could have lived without this pain too.”
The choice that completely ruined a man’s life.
It was a past I had barely managed to forget. Whenever she faced those sharp eyes, that guilt painfully brought her back to her senses.
If only I could suppress the pain. If only I could escape that curse while I’m here, even for a moment.
That fervent wish made him dedicate himself to treatment without even realizing it.
“Why do you keep staring at me? Do you have something to say to me?
Eric, putting down his fork, stared at Aria with an indifferent expression.
Aria’s eyes widened as her mind went blank.
There was no particular reason, so I had to come up with an excuse on the spot.
It took only a few seconds for the widened eyes to slowly return to their original size.
She hurriedly took out the note she had tucked away and scribbled on it.
I’ll stop by the market for a bit this afternoon. It’s the day the regular market is held.
Just as I ran out of medicine for the treatment, I had to go back to the market. Because Jacob had to go out on his regular shift.
However, Eric’s eyes narrowed as he looked down at Aria’s note on the table.
“Preparing the ingredients is something the maids can do, so why are you going yourself?”
Why are you going there in person? At the unexpected question, Aria’s throat went dry.
Eric’s sharp gaze intertwined with the eyes that were shaking violently.
“Perhaps….”Is there something you can’t tell me?
What should I say? How do I get out of this situation?
Aria quickly wrote down a note, trying not to show her flustered expression.
Without even caring about what excuses he was making.
It seems that it’s better for me to go myself to make sure nothing is missing in the annex. I will hurry and go so that you won’t be inconvenienced.
To hide her extremely flushed face as much as possible, she quickly refilled her empty glass.
Eric had not said a word about his outings all this time.
Unwarranted suspicion can only bring trouble, so her heart became anxious.
While I was anxiously waiting, Eric’s low voice was heard.
“If that’s the case, I should go.
At those words, Aria’s lips naturally curled up in relief. She nodded and smiled brightly.
An unusually fresh smile. A white peach blossom bloomed on Eric’s retina as he gazed absentmindedly.
It was a face so beautiful and dazzling that it was hard to even dare to look at it.
At that moment, Eric’s face turned red as he lifted the full glass and emptied it in one go.
But my body kept getting weaker, and in the end, I couldn’t even eat a few bites and got up from my seat.
“That’s enough for the meal.”
With a few concise words, Eric went inside. Entering the bedroom, he undid a couple of buttons on his shirt.
“Why on earth are you doing this…?”
The fist clenched so tightly that it was soaked with sweat, indicating just how much force had been exerted. Without a moment to restrain himself, Eric’s gaze turned back to Aria.
Eric’s brow furrowed slightly as he watched Aria organizing the dishes outside.
“Why aren’t you even acknowledging what happened last night? It’s not the first time it’s happened…
A matter I thought was just an unnecessary worry. It felt like a dream that would just scatter away.
Why is the person who was even afraid to stand next to me trying to heal my wounds?
And how did they manage to heal my body, which had not even responded to the imperial family’s promises?
I wanted to hold onto Aria and ask her everything, but I had to hold back. After all, I would find out soon enough.
Her recent frequent outings. There will be answers there.
When Aria stopped by the apothecary again, Jacob was absent.
The store was being watched over by his employee instead of Jacob.
The scruffy brown-haired employee handed over the medicine Jacob had left, as if waiting for him.
He had prepared it in advance after receiving Aria’s letter.
“If you had come a little earlier, you could have met the boss. One of the people carrying the items hurt their back, so he had to rush off for treatment.
Aria also intended to come early, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave because Eric’s words during the meal kept bothering her.
Aria gave a faint smile and nodded her head. And then she took out a small pouch she had kept in her pocket and handed it over.
The employee returned it to Aria.
“Oh dear, really! The boss firmly told us not to accept anything. Last time, you already received a hefty amount, so why do you keep giving me more?
Jacob, knowing Aria’s personality well, seemed to have given the staff a stern warning.
Aria hesitated for a moment and then scribbled a note.
Then keep it a secret from the boss and accept it on my behalf. When you go home, stop by the regular store and buy what you need.
The employee, who had been staring at the memo with wide eyes, waved his hands in refusal.
“No. If you really want to repay me, then even more than that…
He glanced at Aria and hurriedly fixed his hair.
“Well, it would be nice to have a cup of tea together at that café up ahead next time…”
At those words, Aria blinked. Shall we have a cup of tea or something…?
The employee, whose face had turned red up to his neck, awkwardly cleared his throat, as if the brief silence was too embarrassing to bear.
“No, it doesn’t mean anything special. Well, it’s just that I’m feeling lonely too, and you seem a bit lonely as well…Ahem! Ahem!
Aria turned her eyes back and forth as if in trouble.
But I couldn’t just refuse the kindness and make things awkward.
First, Aria decided to pass the situation while looking forward to the next.
I’ll take the opportunity next time. I will gratefully accept your words.
Before the conversation dragged on any longer, I turned my back on the employee and was about to head back into the alley.
The employee grabbed Aria’s wrist and stood there. Flustered, Aria shook off his hand and took a step back.
“Do you think I’m completely oblivious? Geez. You’re rejecting it, aren’t you?
“Living so haughtily, no one cares. What’s the use of having a pretty face ? A mute who can’t even speak, who would like that?
At his suddenly changed attitude, Aria’s face gradually hardened.
Was it from the beginning? The author’s true feelings hidden behind the attitude of looking at oneself.
“Don’t do that, just go ahead and set a time for our meeting. If you don’t like the café, how about a walk in the nearby park? There’s a place with a really nice view.
It was at that moment when I was just biting my lip at the persistent employee’s words. A familiar voice was heard from behind.
“Lady’s maid! Lady Aria, right?!
A maid who had worked with her in the main building saw her and waved happily.
“You came out at the regular time. What are you doing here? If you’re going back in, let’s go together!
Aria thought it was the right moment and hurriedly left her seat.
The employee, who had been watching her retreating figure with a sense of futility, had a dejected look in his eyes. He muttered to himself.
“Is it a joke that I’m an employee? For a mute, you’re quite picky.
The moment I was about to step into the store, clicking my tongue. A dark shadow loomed in front of him.
The employee’s head was tilted for quite a while at the robust figure that looked at least twice the size of my body.
A dark blue vest with a tie and frock coat, a sword at the waist. Blue eyes visible through jet-black hair.
A chilling gaze that seemed indifferent to killing a person was staring at him.
The flustered employee took a step back and asked.
“Wh-who is it…?
At those words, one corner of Eric’s mouth twisted up.
“Well, that’s what I want to ask.”
“Yes? Uh, what do you mean…?”
In an instant, the drawn blade was aimed at the employee’s neck. The employee’s body froze like a block of ice, as if their neck was about to be severed at any moment.
“What did I just say to that woman?”
Eric asked in a sharp tone. The employee, who had been trembling with fear, suddenly regretted what he had said.
And without realizing it, words slipped out between his teeth.
“Be… uh… ri… go…”
Mute. Those three words grated on Eric’s nerves once again.
As Eric’s smooth forehead wrinkled, the employee’s eyes sharply flickered.
I instinctively felt that the man in front of me was connected to Aria. It could be family, a friend, or a lover.
The employee repeatedly clasped their hands and began to pray.
“Please, please save me! It’s not because I ignored Miss Aria….Since I came to get the medicine, I thought it would be nice to have a cup of tea or something….So, um…
The employee babbled nonsensical excuses. Desperately pleading to prevent the cold blade aimed at my neck from being swung.
As the author’s words about “drugs” began to flow, a strange light started to flicker in Eric’s eyes.
Surely, Aria must have taken the medicine to treat herself from here.
