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Chapter 9
Her cousin bit his lip.
“Were you already sick? Or are you sick from inhaling the poison? The symptoms are different from the others, so you must’ve been sick from the start, right? How can a sick kid inhale poison… It wasn’t that strong, right?”
Um, excuse me—could I get a word in here?
Given how he had taken care of his ill father for a long time, he was sharp-eyed.
He was looking at me like I was a patient.
“Why won’t the bleeding stop?”
“Um, well…”
“That’s it. You’re dying, aren’t you?”
“Whuh?”
The handsome face of Hyeok Gaewon turned ghostly pale.
“No wonder it felt off. If you were fine, they would’ve sent you to the main estate to grow up, like Uncle’s second daughter.”
You mean the female lead?
She went because she showed early signs of having powers.
I was sent here with Dad because I was weak and showed no such signs…
Anyway, it’d be great if I could just explain myself already.
“Hey, can I get my water bot—”
“Water? You want water?”
Fortunately, Gaewon brought over the water bottle. I didn’t even get to open it before it was snatched away.
Gaewon took one hand and began rubbing my face with his sleeve.
“Eweee—ugh, wh-what are you—mmph!”
“You inhaled poison fumes. Cleaning is basic. You know that, so why are you fussing?”
His hand rubbed my face raw, and I was deeply offended.
“Here, sniff!”
“Sniff—? No! Cough!”
Seriously, I’ll be fine if I just drink that water!
I said I’m sick!!
✻ ✻ ✻
A little later.
I sat sulking across from my cousin.
“So, you’re saying… you have healing powers?”
“Yep. You saw it.”
I explained everything. Or at least, I thought I did?
Anyway, I used my powers to heal myself in front of Gaewon, but he didn’t really seem convinced.
Ugh, my face almost fell off.
Though all the redness from his scrubbing vanished during the healing process.
“You came here to treat my father? You?”
“Yep.”
“You already started treating Uncle, and he’s showing improvement?”
“Uh-huh!”
I also told him about what happened with Hyeok Birang. It would’ve been better if Birang had come with me, though.
He should be waking up around now, right?
Counting the days… not yet.
Useless. Just useless.
A forest princess who’s no help at all.
“I get it now. It all sounds ridiculous, but… you did show me your powers…”
Gaewon, deep in thought, looked at me.
“But I still can’t let you see my father.”
“Eh? Why not? You don’t believe me?”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“Right now, Father’s in his ‘mania’ phase. He locked himself up and refuses to see anyone.”
Hyeok Biwon.
To me, he’s my uncle.
His illness is called “mania.”
Nicknames include: madman, lunatic, beast.
He alternates between periods of sanity and insanity. When he goes berserk, no one can stop him.
Before his illness, he was apparently a legendary warrior—ranked in the top two, even.
Among the Easterners’ natural abilities, he could wield lightning and had immense martial strength.
I heard the imperial family even fought over him before he fell ill.
“You can only see him after the phase passes.”
If that’s the case, I can’t help it.
I’d met Uncle Hyeok Biwon in my first life. I died after getting caught in one of his rages.
“Okayy. I’ll come back then.”
“Wait.”
Huh? I froze mid-rise.
“I’ve decided.”
…Decided what?
“Even if I end up taking care of two patients instead of one, my job won’t change.”
What the heck is he saying?
“I’ve decided it’s no problem if I have to care for you too.”
“Uh…”
But I’m not a patient?
“Why would you take care of me?”
Sure, my lifespan’s short, but that’s for later.
“Wait, do you still think I’m sick? I’m not.”
“I get why you’d want to say that. I understand. Father couldn’t admit it for a long time, either.”
No, I’m really not!
It was clear my cousin wasn’t listening. I was starting to feel wronged.
“Captain Hyeok Dae will definitely come back to punish you. Live with me.”
Ah. Is he feeling responsible?
I thought it over briefly.
Uncle Birang still needed more time to wake up. If I wanted to treat Uncle Biwon, it was better to stay close.
It’s just a misunderstanding. Let him think what he wants.
Once we’re together, he’ll realize I’m not actually sick.
Seriously, he’s being dramatic over one little bit of blood I coughed up from the poison.
When I nodded, my cousin gave a faint smile.
It was a neat smile—but there was something chilling about it.
“Think of it as my way of thanking you. I owe you a big favor.”
Gaewon extended his hand.
As he closed his eyes and focused, a small zap of static flickered from his fingertips.
…It was lightning.
“Keep it secret. I’m a power-user too.”
Kids who show signs of power have to be raised in the main estate without exception.
Then he wouldn’t be able to care for his father. So he must’ve chosen to hide it.
Wait—didn’t he awaken his powers in prison in the original story? Was this a hidden plot point?
I blinked.
“Thanks to you, I avoided killing someone for the first time.”
“……”
“Father would’ve been devastated too.”
My cousin, handsome and tidy but with a suspiciously chilling smile, said,
“Think of this as me repaying a debt.”
If it had ended there, it would’ve been rather touching.
But shortly after, we were back in my room, sitting face to face.
“I’ll raise you.”
He said that while looking around my room with a horrified expression.
“You’ll be better off than living in this pigsty.”
…Excuse me, what did you say?!
✻ ✻ ✻
A few days passed.
Gaewon turned out to be a very diligent person.
He drew water from the well early in the morning, cooked warm rice, and sometimes even made herbal tonics.
…He’s a warrior, but is there anything he can’t do?
He even helped wash my face and did the laundry.
…Wow. This is way better than I expected.
Was he some kind of fairy housekeeper?
Living in Gaewon’s place—well, being dragged there—was more comfortable than I’d imagined.
If this is kidnapping, maybe it’s not so bad?
I’d been living off weeds until now.
The servants did give me some ingredients, but I sent them to Dad, and I didn’t really want to go there myself.
“When can I see Uncle?”
I asked while eating. Gaewon was folding laundry and answered without even looking at me.
“Eat another spoonful first. I’ll tell you after.”
This cousin of mine had a real knack for dealing with people.
The side dishes were good, so I kept eating!
“I ate!”
“We can probably go soon.”
“Today?”
“Yeah. I think it’ll be okay.”
After folding the laundry, Gaewon plopped down next to me.
“But eat everything before we go. You don’t eat enough. You need to grow.”
Then he scooped a bite and fed me himself.
…But I’m full?
“You’re too skinny. Eat more. You can’t go unless you finish.”
Seriously… does he really see me as a kid?
Fine. I’ll eat and then argue.
This nine-year-old cousin actually made me eat all the rice porridge.
In the third timeline, he’s supposed to be the villain. Why are you using your cleverness on me?
After eating, we finally started heading toward where my uncle was.
“I can do the dishes, you know!”
“Hah? At your pace, when would it ever get done?”
“I’m gonna grow!”
“Yeah, go grow your height.”
Excuse me, I’ve lived alone longer than you’ve been alive, you little punk.
After the dishes, Gaewon said I walked too slowly and carried me on his back.
We finally arrived at one place.
“Here we are.”
It was the hall where my uncle, suffering from mania, was locked away.
