THSDR 44

Chapter 44

Unfortunately, Linen’s tongue never recovered.

The doctor shook his head. The poison had destroyed the muscles in her tongue. She would never be able to speak again. She would have to live the rest of her life this way.

Ever since learning the truth, Linen had locked herself inside her room for an entire week, doing nothing but crying.

The only person who visited her was Lady Yurein. Several times a day, she went back and forth to the guest room where Linen was staying. Even now, Lady Yurein gently patted Linen’s back.

“Her Grace said she would send a letter for you. Is there anything you wish to say?”

Lady Yurein placed a fountain pen into Linen’s hand. Linen stared blankly at the paper.

“Your family will be worried, Miss Linen. You may not be able to speak, but you can still write.”

At the word “family,” Linen’s trembling hand tightened around the pen, and she slowly began writing on the paper.

[I’m scared.]

Lady Yurein gazed at her sorrowfully.

“Of course you are.”

She did not know what to do. The wings of a child who should have returned safely to her family had been broken.

“I’ll send for your family.”

Linen froze for a moment before lowering her head and hurriedly scribbling more words. Then she held the paper out.

[When can they come? I want to see them right now. As soon as possible.]

Lady Yurein nodded quietly. Even now, meeting Linen’s swollen eyes filled her with guilt.

That night.

A fever bloomed across Hayden’s face.

His cheeks were flushed red as he clenched his tiny fists and breathed in weak, ragged pants.

The sight of his feverish little face made my heart sink.

“How is he?”

The others were no different from me—none of us could sleep. Cheres asked in an anxious voice.

The doctor examining Hayden let out a low sigh before offering a faint smile.

“Fortunately, it does not appear to be serious. Children at this age often develop fevers for no particular reason. As long as the fever breaks safely, he should be fine.”

I lightly bit my fingernail. It really did seem like roseola. I had heard children this age could sometimes suffer fever-induced seizures too. And those could be dangerous.

My nieces and nephews had experienced febrile seizures before, though thankfully they recovered safely. Only now did it feel as though the slap I’d received back then—for supposedly not watching them properly—was throbbing again.

“Is there any way to bring the fever down faster?”

The doctor turned toward me.

“I’ll give him a fever reducer now. Continue wiping his body with towels soaked in lukewarm water. Fortunately, his condition is not critical at the moment.”

I swallowed hard. The doctor glanced at the clock, adjusted his glasses, and added with a tired yawn,

“It is midnight now, and we’ll give him the medicine with the blue cap. If the fever does not go down, give him one spoonful of the red-capped medicine around two in the morning.”

“So we alternate them.”

“That’s correct. Fortunately, you’re familiar with it.”

I gave a small nod. Fever medicine was practically a household necessity anywhere children were raised. Still, hearing that he was not in danger eased me a little.

“I’ll stay by his side.”

At Lady Yurein’s words, I shook my head.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep anyway. I’ll stay with him.”

“I’ll remain as well.”

Lady Yurein hesitated before speaking again.

“It seems this will be a long night for me too, so I shall stay.”

And so, the three of us remained together—with the doctor’s medicine, a basin of lukewarm water, and several towels.

The doctor, who had left yawning with an exhausted expression, reappeared the moment the clock struck two in the morning.

“You haven’t slept?”

Cheres asked while leaning back in his chair.

“How could I sleep when my work is unfinished? Hm. Let’s give him this medicine and I’ll return in another two hours.”

So he really had come back himself after all. He felt strangely tsundere.

“…Your name?”

I asked in a hoarse voice.

“Robin. Then I’ll be going now.”

Robin let out another long yawn before disappearing with his usual lifeless expression.

Robin?

I swallowed hard.

The name was painfully familiar. Robin had been one of the longtime retainers of the ducal household.

And even after Hayden reclaimed power, Robin had remained by his side as one of his most loyal supporters. To meet that Robin here, like this—

If it was Robin, then he could be trusted. His words might be blunt, but he was never someone who neglected his responsibilities.

I stared blankly at the empty space Robin had left behind when Cheres spoke to me.

“Did Robin do something wrong?”

“Ah.”

I turned toward Cheres, then slowly shook my head.

It was just… every time I met someone who had existed in the novel, it still felt strangely surreal.

You’d think I would have adjusted by now.

“It’s nothing. I’m probably just tired.”

“Then go get some sleep. You too, Yurein.”

“No.”

“Absolutely not.”

Lady Yurein and I answered at the same time before covering our mouths and laughing silently.

Cheres let out a short chuckle and rolled his shoulders to loosen his stiff body.

Then he rose smoothly from his chair and brushed Hayden’s forehead with his hand to check the temperature.

“…Tch. It’s not going down easily.”

“They say this is part of growing up.”

“If my brother were here, what would he have done?”

Cheres spoke quietly.

“I keep thinking that perhaps Hayden is sick because I’m lacking somehow.”

His voice sounded less like a question seeking an answer and more like a murmured confession to himself.

My eyes met Lady Yurein’s. Her expression was equally bitter.

“…No. It would have been the same. Raising a child for the first time is difficult for anyone. I think you’re doing very well right now, Cheres.”

Cheres turned his gaze toward me.

His sunken eyes reflected my exhausted appearance back at me. I awkwardly fiddled with my hair before speaking again.

“They say children can tell when someone dislikes them. They’re sensitive to emotions like that. But Hayden likes you very much, Cheres.”

“…From what I can see, I think he likes you more than me.”

“Well… that’s unavoidable. Children that age naturally like the person who feeds them more. Apparently toddlers aren’t much different from puppies.”

A low laugh escaped Cheres.

“But Hayden definitely loves you, Cheres. And that alone means you’re doing enough.”

Cheres looked back down at Hayden and gently stroked his hair.

There were words I had desperately wanted to hear while raising my nieces and nephews.

It had been my first time caring for children too, and I had constantly been consumed by fear and doubt.

What if something went wrong because of me?

What if my mistakes affected them forever?

Was I doing well? Was I truly a good guardian?

What returned to me had only been insults, violence, and disregard.

I wanted to become a source of comfort for Cheres.

So that the end of his road might be peaceful.

“…You’re doing well, Cheres.”

He paused.

“Because of you, Hayden will grow into a truly upright and wonderful person.”

In the world Cheres would leave behind, Hayden truly did grow up that way. Into an incredible male lead.

“To Hayden, you are a very good guardian.”

I wondered if such simple words had truly reached him. Tch. It was frustrating that these were the only kinds of things I knew how to say.

Still, they were the words I myself had once longed to hear.

“…I hope so.”

Cheres’ voice was low and subdued in the depths of dawn.

And perhaps because his worries had finally reached someone—

Or because we took turns wiping Hayden’s body through the night—

Or perhaps because Robin’s seemingly indifferent medicine finally worked—

At four in the morning, Hayden’s fever miraculously broke.

That night, what quietly grew between us was a warm emotion disguised as companionship.

Perhaps Cheres and I had taken one step closer toward each other.