SWLC 07

Chapter 7

It looked like he still needed more rest.

Watching Lucas with concern, I slowly held out the necklace I had picked up earlier.

“You were looking for this, right? You dropped it earlier.”

“Thank you. It’s something very precious to me.”

Just from the way he tightly clenched the necklace, I could tell how important it was.

Carefully, I reached out and took hold of his hand.

Startled, he immediately tried to pull away.

“Wait just a moment. I’m only trying to help your circulation.”

Ignoring his protest, I gently massaged his hand.

Compared to before, it felt warmer now.

After rubbing it a little longer, I carefully stepped back.

“You have my thanks. And there’s one more favor I’d like to ask…”

“You want me to keep your condition a secret?”

“How did you—”

“Wasn’t that why you practically ran here to hide from everyone? I’m observant enough to figure that much out. But in return, may I ask you something too?”

“What is it?”

Leaning weakly against the wall, Lucas answered tiredly.

I wasn’t completely sure my suspicions were correct.

But for some reason, the unease wouldn’t leave me.

“When you find yourself in a situation or environment similar to something from your past… do you ever feel like you can’t breathe, or faint? Do you suffer from insomnia too?”

“How does a young lady like you know something like that?”

I had hoped my guess was wrong.

Letting out a sigh, I brushed back my hair.

Now I was certain.

Lucas Boventin was suffering from trauma.

“Your Grace!”

“Corner.”

Before long, a frantic voice sounded from behind us.

When I turned around, the man named Corner from earlier was running toward us.

At least that was a relief.

Now that he was here, Lucas would probably feel safer.

Just as I breathed out in relief—

“Ugh!”

Lucas, who had been trying to stand, staggered again.

Instinctively, I reached out toward him.

Barely catching hold of his sleeve, I looked at his still trembling body and asked,

“Are you okay?”

“Damn it.”

The moment he spat out that final curse, Lucas collapsed sideways.

Now sitting slumped on the ground with his eyes closed, he continued breathing harshly.

It seemed the hyperventilation had returned.

“Please step aside for a moment.”

Corner, who had already reached my side, crouched beside Lucas.

After checking his pulse, he anxiously examined Lucas’s condition.

Apparently, he couldn’t find any visible cause.

“We need to take him to the hospital immediately. I must go call a carriage. Could you stay here for a moment? Just cover his face so no one recognizes His Grace.”

“Understood. Hurry back!”

At my answer, Corner quickly ran out of the alley again.

How much time had passed?

“The carriage is waiting at the entrance to the alley!”

“All right.”

Corner supported Lucas as he slowly rose to his feet.

The coachman, who had come rushing over, hurriedly opened the carriage door in a panic.

Just as I confirmed Lucas had safely gotten inside, Corner suddenly approached me.

“My lady, forgive me for asking, but would you happen to have time right now?”

“Me? Why?”

“If you are available, could you accompany us? Since I didn’t witness His Grace collapsing myself, I don’t think I can properly explain the situation to the physician. I’d also like to hear the details from you directly.”

He politely added a plea for help, making it difficult to refuse.

What should I do?

After hesitating for a moment, I sighed and nodded.

“All right. But I should at least inform my maid first, so could you wait a moment?”

“I’ve already explained it to her. I told her that, at His Grace’s request, you suddenly had to accompany us and asked for her understanding.”

To think he had already prepared for my answer before I even agreed.

What exactly would he have done if I’d refused?

Several complaints rose to my lips, but the moment I looked at Lucas, they vanished.

Right. Saving the person comes first.

Thinking that, I slowly took a seat across from Lucas inside the carriage.

At that moment—

“How did you know?”

“Pardon?”

Lucas, still breathing heavily, turned his red eyes toward me.

“How did you know I experience things like that?”

“…Someone I once knew showed symptoms very similar to yours. So I just asked on the off chance. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“I see.”

Seeing him struggle even to breathe made my chest ache for some reason.

Maybe that was why the words slipped out naturally before I realized it.

“I’m sure there’s a way for you to get better.”

“…Do you really think so? I feel like nothing I do will help.”

“What?”

I looked at Lucas after hearing his quiet reply.

But his eyes were already closed, and he had fallen asleep.

Nothing I do will help.

That discouraged expression lingered in my mind.

I could roughly guess why he said that.

As my thoughts continued, the carriage jolted and began moving.

Looking up at the Boventin ducal crest engraved on the carriage ceiling, I let out a sigh.

I never imagined I’d end up riding in this carriage again.

Unaware of my complicated feelings, the carriage continued racing through the streets without pause.

* * *

As soon as they arrived at the estate, Corner brought Lucas straight to the physician residing there.

The doctor entered the examination room with a deathly pale face.

“W-What brings you here? Don’t tell me it’s happening again—”

“Save the questions for later. Please examine His Grace first.”

“Understood. Everyone except His Grace, please step outside.”

“…Very well.”

Soon, Corner and I were practically ushered out of the examination room.

We sat down in silence outside.

How much time had passed?

At last, the tightly shut door opened, and the physician stepped out.

Noticing him, Corner immediately rose from his seat.

“How is he?”

“The same as before. Everything is normal.”

The doctor firmly stated his conclusion while shaking his head.

I quietly stared at Lucas through the slightly open doorway.

His face was twisted with pain, and he still looked miserable.

“I feel like nothing I do will help.”

That half-resigned voice he had spoken with earlier echoed in my mind.

Everything I had seen and heard finally connected together.

This wasn’t the first time.

Lucas had likely been suffering from trauma severe enough to disrupt his daily life.

“Is that really all?”

“Yes. From what I can see, there’s absolutely nothing wrong.”

Watching the helpless physician, I quietly let out a sigh.

It couldn’t be helped.

This world still knew nothing about trauma.

In this era, hospitals only treated physical wounds.

Maybe that was why Lucas had said those words earlier—that nothing he did would help.

It saddened me, but this wasn’t something I could solve just by meddling.

More than anything, people in this world didn’t even classify someone with Lucas’s symptoms as a patient.

What could I possibly do?

Letting out another sigh, I quietly stepped back.

There was nothing I could do for him here.

Just as I thought that—

“My lady, do you have a moment?”

At the sound of Lucas’s voice—despite the fact he had seemed asleep moments earlier—I looked into the room.

There he was.

His red eyes were fixed directly on me.

Since I had followed him all the way here, I couldn’t very well ignore him now.

Nodding, I stepped inside as he carefully pushed himself upright in bed.

“You should lie down. You still look unwell.”

“As I said earlier, I would prefer if you didn’t speak about what happened today.”

“What would I gain from spreading someone else’s weakness around? I’m not interested in that kind of thing, so don’t worry. Please get some rest.”

I quickly looked away from his sharp gaze.

I had no intention of telling anyone, but the look in his eyes made it seem as though he might come after me if I did.

The moment I stepped out of the infirmary, Corner blocked my path once more.

“I apologize, but could you tell me what happened earlier?”

“Yes, of course.”

I explained everything I had witnessed.

Corner listened silently, but when I described the moment Lucas’s condition suddenly worsened, he frowned deeply.

“So that happened. I should have attended to him more carefully.”

Bitterness briefly crossed Corner’s face as he spoke.

Seeing that expression reminded me of the families and friends of people who once came to me for counseling.

“If only I had taken better care of that child.”

Every one of them used to blame themselves like that.

Even though it wasn’t the fault of the person suffering, nor the fault of those beside them.

Meanwhile, the people who actually caused the harm often lived perfectly fine lives, while the victims continued to suffer.

Every time I saw that, it broke my heart, and I wanted somehow to lighten their burden.

“It’s not your fault. And it’s not the Duke’s fault either. It was an unavoidable situation.”