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Chapter 6
Ever since some point in his childhood, the young boy had found it difficult to sit still in one place for long, and now his legs began to bounce restlessly. Quietly, Shasha reached out and pressed a hand against his firm thigh.
At once, the movement stopped.
「Sorry. I know it’s distracting.」
She pushed the paper closer to him and turned her head slightly. But Hagenti’s face was… much closer than she had expected.
Far closer.
“……”
Eyes as blue as deep seawater suddenly filled her vision completely. For a moment, her mind went blank, and Shasha blinked hard without realizing it.
What just happened to me?
It felt as though part of her brain had gone temporarily numb. She couldn’t even remember how to breathe.
Perhaps it was only her imagination, but Hagenti seemed the same. Even though they were facing each other from such close proximity, she couldn’t feel his breathing at all.
Shasha blinked once more. For some reason, the tip of her nose stung faintly.
When was the last time… I looked at you this closely?
It had been so long she couldn’t even remember. Perhaps the last time had been during their newlywed days, when they shared a bed out of obligation.
Her gaze slowly drifted downward along the sharp bridge of his nose. Spotting the faint traces of stubble along his jaw, she smiled unconsciously.
I guess tonight I’ll have to teach him how to shave.
Her eyes lifted again. Hagenti had completely frozen, his face now red as a tomato.
“Sha, Shasha… I-I think something’s wr-wrong with me. I-I’m not doing this because I want to, really….”
Ah.
Startled, Shasha quickly pulled her hand away from his thigh. Her own ears were surely burning red too.
In just a few days, she had already grown used to the innocent boy before her. Foolishly, she often forgot that although his soul was seven years old, his body… belonged to a fully grown man.
Because of Hagenti, Shasha ultimately failed to finish everything she had planned to do that day. And yet, strangely enough, she felt happy.
Hagenti had come to her “secret place” for the first time…
And more importantly, news she had never dared hope for was waiting for her.
Shasha realized that August was not overseas at the moment. Otherwise, there was no way a reply could have arrived this quickly.
The pale yellow stationery brought back by the pigeon carried the scent of perfume as well. It was the soft musk fragrance she liked best.
“So you remembered….”
Like someone offering gratitude to a treasured friend, Shasha closed her eyes reverently and pressed her lips against the letter.
Then she untied the ribbon and unfolded the pages, where neat, restrained handwriting—almost like typed print—greeted her.
To my dear Shasha,
From your old friend, August Mayfield.
Hello, Shasha.
I was so surprised to see your name on the envelope that I rubbed my eyes three times. I thought you’d forgotten me, so I’m truly happy you still remembered.
First of all, I should apologize. I’m sorry for leaving without a word after graduation.
To be honest, I was practically pushed into medical volunteer work by my family as soon as I graduated. But now, I’ve chosen to stay here of my own will. My body is tired, but my heart feels fulfilled.
By the way, could you tell me more specifically about Lord Hagenti Evreux’s symptoms? I know this is a sensitive matter for you. I won’t tell anyone.
It feels embarrassing to write this, but… I truly missed hearing from you.
P.S. Aside from Lord Evreux, you yourself are healthy too, aren’t you?
Some of the letters were indented deeply into the paper, as though he had pressed harder while typing certain parts.
The concern hidden in the postscript brushed softly against her heart. In that moment, she missed the only kindness she had known at the academy with painful intensity.
Imagining August painstakingly writing the letter, a gentle smile spread across Shasha’s lips. Of course, the August in her imagination was still nineteen years old, dressed in his academy uniform.
They said hair color sometimes changed with age. Was his brilliant blond hair still the same? Surely he had a few wrinkles by now too.
It had already been five years since they had last seen each other. Just as she had changed, August must have changed greatly as well.
As Shasha tried to picture what he looked like now, she hurriedly picked up her pen before her thoughts wandered too far.
To my old friend, August,
First of all, thank you for replying.
I’m glad to hear you’re doing well. My health is fine, so you don’t need to worry.
My husband’s condition is complicated. But if I had to summarize it in one sentence—
He became younger.
After receiving a blow to the back of his head, he seems to have reverted to the memories of his seven-year-old self. Have you ever encountered a patient with similar symptoms? If so, I’d like to know whether there were any other abnormalities and how long it took for their memories to return.
I’m sorry. And thank you.
Have a good day.
P.S. You should also take care not to overwork yourself.
From Shasha.
It was not a bad reply at all.
After rereading the letter several times to check its contents, she sealed it tightly into the envelope, tied it to the pigeon, and sent it off.
You make such long journeys over and over again with that tiny body. When you come back, I should prepare you a special meal.
Once again, Shasha remained standing there until the pigeon became nothing more than a tiny dot in the distance before quietly closing the window. Draping a shawl over her shoulders, she stepped out with firm determination in her stride.
It was already late evening, a time when most people would be preparing for bed.
But Shasha still had something important left to do.
“Y-you’re really going to use that? You’re going to use that on my chin…?”
Despite his deep voice, the end of Hagenti’s words trembled in fear.
“D-do I really have to? Can’t we not do this?”
As he swallowed nervously, his prominent Adam’s apple bobbed dramatically up and down.
As though preparing for an important ritual, Shasha tied back her hair tightly and checked her supplies one by one. Watching her, Hagenti—curled up on a backless stool—began trembling even harder.
「There’s no need to be afraid, Hagenti. Men your age all do this.」
“I’m seven years old! My sisters never did stuff like this for me! And I don’t even grow beards! T-that’s something only old men have…!”
But Hagenti, who had been shouting in protest, instantly fell silent the moment Shasha picked up the razor.
Sorry, but you are an old man.
Arguing silently in her head, Shasha gently tilted up his chin. Looking as though he were about to cry, Hagenti finally gave up resisting and obediently shut his eyes.
A towel soaked in warm water touched his face. As Shasha busied herself with careful movements, she suddenly realized she had become distracted admiring her husband’s features.
Beautiful.
Even when this man had once been unbearably uncomfortable to be around, she had still thought his appearance flawless.
Sun-kissed skin. Deep-set eyes beneath strong brows. A straight nose. Most of all, his thick, long eyelashes and the beauty mark beneath his left eye were features even she didn’t possess, making her secretly envious.
He was so handsome that it made him even harder to approach….
If Hagenti had possessed even one flaw, would she have felt more at ease around him?
Idiot.
Ashamed of herself for entertaining such thoughts, Shasha smiled bitterly.
Eventually, when the warmth of the towel disappeared, Hagenti cautiously opened his eyes again.
Now Shasha was lathering soap with a brush made from horsehair. Sitting barely a span away from her, Hagenti’s vivid blue eyes relentlessly followed her face like invisible beams.
Gulp.
His throat bobbed once more, as though he had made some kind of determination.
And then, just as he leaned forward to press his lips against Shasha’s cheek—
“……”
Oh dear.
In an instant, she stepped neatly out of range.
“Uh… huh?”
Wait… did she just dodge my kiss?!
The very same face she had been admiring moments earlier twisted into utter devastation, as if the world had just collapsed around him.
Goodness. No matter how many times she saw that expression, she would never get used to it.
His ridiculous look nearly made Shasha’s lips twitch with laughter, but she forcibly maintained a serious expression.
She picked up the notebook resting beside the washbasin and flipped back through the earlier pages of their conversation.
Then she opened to a specific page, shoved it directly in front of Hagenti’s face, and tapped it with her fingertip.
「Third rule: No kissing.」
