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Chapter 17
He bit his lip, stood up, and denied it again.
“So what? What does that have to do with anything?”
I’m his employer — can’t I do that?
Didn’t he come here knowing all that already?
And yet, a strange pang of resentment welled up inside me.
Was time always this slow?
Was this room always this small?
“That bastard with the rotten temper. I knew he’d snap eventually.”
Even as I tried to brush it off — he’s nothing, it’s nothing — in the end, I blamed myself.
Restless and anxious, I couldn’t even sit still for long before standing up again.
“If you think about his personality, that much is just—”
“Personality? Whose personality?”
Zervant’s shoulders flinched. Seeing that, Veilt raised his eyebrows.
“Haven’t seen him jump like that in a while.”
“Why are you standing?”
He used to always greet me sitting in that corner…
Watching him lost in thought, not even noticing the sound of me entering, I began to suspect something. Veilt smiled to himself, an unreadable grin curving on his lips.
“So that’s what it is.”
“Heh, heh, heh.”
“Don’t smirk.”
“Boss, are you looking for something?”
“…No.”
“Then fine. Just sign this for me.”
Zervant signed the report lazily, pretending not to even look at it. Normally, he’d have scrawled his signature and kicked me out already.
Veilt, pretending to be clueless, teased him sweetly.
“You wanted to spend more time with me, huh?”
“…You got something you’re supposed to tell me?”
“I love you.”
“…XX.”
Even when Zervant snapped coldly, Veilt almost burst out laughing. It reminded him of the old days — when jokes earned him that fierce glare. Back when Zervant had holed himself up like a recluse, even his curses had lost their bite.
“If you’re done, give it back.”
As Veilt reached for the report, Zervant held it tightly, hesitating.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
“…Even if you quit, I won’t say anything. Just tell me.”
Ah, so he thinks she quit?
Veilt barely kept himself from laughing. There wasn’t really a big reason for not telling him sooner — he had simply wanted to see if Zervant would come out on his own, maybe out of curiosity. But since there was no sign of that happening, he’d come today intending to at least tell him that Titia had taken a sick day.
Still, he couldn’t help but think —
He cares so much, yet won’t even go see for himself.
So he’s not ready to take that step yet, Veilt thought, a little disappointed. But this situation could easily be recreated.
If Zervant were really going to check for himself, he’d have done it already. So Veilt decided to just tell him.
Who knows — maybe if he hears she’s sick, he’ll even visit her. The next room wasn’t far, after all.
“If you’re talking about Miss Titia, she hasn’t quit.”
Zervant’s head shot up, then slowly lowered again.
“Then why…”
“Has there ever been a time Miss Titia wasn’t by your side since she got here?”
“…”
Not once. From the day she arrived, she had been with him every single day.
“No matter how she used to live, a noble lady’s still a noble lady. She’s never done hard labor before, yet she’s been insisting on doing all sorts of things on her own and never took a break.”
“Her… day off…”
She didn’t have any, did she?
He couldn’t even bring himself to say it out loud — because he already knew the answer.
“Miss Titia refused to take a rest. She volunteered to look after you.”
“…”
“I didn’t force her. But all the fatigue built up, and now she’s come down with a serious fever.”
Even when told to rest, Titia would just nod — and moments later, she’d be back in Zervant’s room, “just hanging around.”
“If you’re that worried, go see her.”
“…”
A fleeting, indescribable emotion crossed Zervant’s face. It looked like despair — a mix of frustration and resignation so heavy that even Veilt’s fingertips twitched.
This wasn’t good.
“Zerv—”
“Get out.”
Veilt started to speak but stopped. Gathering his report, he left the room.
“Just the word ‘get out’ and he reacts like that…”
Something must have happened back when the demon of Serael was sealed.
Whatever he’s hiding from me and Danny…
I’ll find out. I swear I will.
He didn’t want to see Zervant torment himself alone any longer. Veilt turned to leave — but paused by the next room.
Knock, knock.
“Nnh… heh…”
A hoarse, weak voice answered.
“This is Veilt. May I come in?”
“…Of course.”
Even her voice, coming faintly through the door, sounded like breathing was a chore.
Once she gave permission, Veilt entered. The room was thick with heat, and Titia was buried under her blanket, looking utterly exhausted.
“Are you all right?”
“No.”
“You don’t look it either.”
“I don’t even have the strength to argue. Why are you here?”
“The boss seems very worried about you.”
“Worried… about me? What an honor…”
She gave a faint, bashful smile, and Veilt couldn’t help but chuckle.
He hesitated for a bit, then closed his mouth again. Truthfully, if she’d been well enough to move, he would’ve asked her to stay by Zervant’s side. But she looked far too sick for that — and Veilt wasn’t shameless enough to ask.
Instead, he simply told her the truth — that Zervant had been genuinely worried about her — as proof that her efforts hadn’t been in vain. Then he stood.
“Please take care of yourself.”
“Okay.”
“And don’t go to the boss’s room just because I said that. That’s not why I told you.”
“Stop nagging. My ears hurt.”
She waved him off irritably, telling him to leave. Veilt smiled, bowed lightly, and stepped out — wondering if he should talk to Joshua next.
Joshua clearly knew something, but he’d never told him a thing. Still, Veilt couldn’t just do nothing.
Meanwhile…
“Ha-ha, ha-ha-ha! Cough cough!”
My efforts weren’t for nothing!
Before, he wouldn’t have cared whether I showed up or not — but worried? He’s worried about me?
I want to see his worried face.
Veilt had warned me several times not to move, but honestly, I’ve never been very good at listening to him.
I grabbed the medicine the doctor had given me, tucked a pillow under my arm, and, wobbling, made my way to the boss’s room.
“Heehee…”
Click — I opened the door. Zervant didn’t even lift his head.
Weird. He was worried, wasn’t he?
I opened the door, stepped in — and he didn’t even look at me.
“Boss.”
My voice came out rough and metallic. I tried to clear my throat and call again, but before I could, he reacted.
His eyes flew wide open, and he shot to his feet. With just a few long strides, he was right in front of me.
“You, you…”
Were his eyes… glistening?
“The doctor said it’s not contagious. Just a fever, so you don’t have to worry about catching it.”
When I swayed, he instinctively caught me — then froze. But his hand, holding my arm, didn’t let go.
“Why… why did you come here?”
“Because I couldn’t stand it anymore. I missed you too much, Boss.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. He covered the lower half of his face with his hand, frowning.
“Can I rest here for a bit? I’ve been taking care of you all this time, so… six days, maybe?”
“Six… days?”
“The doctor said I’ll be fine by then.”
His face seemed to ask, Are you sure you’ll be fine in that state?
“Really.”
After a pause, he suddenly scooped me up into his arms.
“Wah!”
“…”
“Wow, I get to enjoy such luxury just because I’m sick…”
He even laid me down gently on his bed.
What… what’s going on?
I hadn’t expected this level of kindness.
I looked up at him in confusion. He mumbled something under his breath, lowering his head. It sounded like an apology.
“Back then… when I said that… it wasn’t because I hated you. It’s just… because of the way I am. So don’t take it personally…”
“Back then?”
“When I told you to see the doctor…”
“Oh.”
He’d been holding on to that all this time?
Honestly, there wasn’t anything to be hurt about.
He lifted his eyes slightly, stealing a glance at me before dropping his head again.
“You’re adorable, Boss.”
“…What?”
“The way you’re all self-conscious — it’s so cute.”
He looked completely dumbfounded. When I said it again, he hurriedly covered my eyes with his big hand, grumbling.
“Just… shut up and sleep.”
“I’ll sleep a bit, Boss.”
I drifted off quickly.
And as I turned in my sleep, I think I felt his clumsy hand gently stroking my hair.
In the haze between dreams, I heard his low voice.
“…Take four days off every week.”
I think I smiled at that.
