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Chapter 48
Bang!
The door burst open with the force of thunder, making Litricia’s shoulders flinch violently.
Splash.
The sound of water rippled through the damp bathroom and settled like a heavy mist.
“Where are you, Litricia?”
She thought it must be Killian. Who else would barge into the Grand Duchess’s room like this?
After making a spectacle of herself in front of Piril, she had expected word to reach Killian.
But she hadn’t expected him to rush over so quickly. Hearing that heavy, sunken voice, she was at least relieved that she had managed to send Piril out before he noticed her eyes.
Still sitting in the tub in her bloodstained clothes, Litricia fumbled to undress.
Her vision was pitch black, but thanks to taking the painkillers in time—well, practically shoving them down her throat—she didn’t feel much pain.
The thin fabric clung to her body, refusing to come off in the water. Fortunately, her outfit that day had a simple design with few buttons.
Leaving just the slip on, she managed with some difficulty to remove the rest of her clothes, then groped around the shelf for soap.
But she accidentally knocked over the oil bottle, causing the surrounding toiletries to clatter and spill onto the floor.
Hearing the commotion, Killian headed toward the bathroom.
“Litricia.”
“You’re here, Killian? Oh dear, I didn’t expect you. I came in to take a bath. Could you leave for now?”
“…I heard you had another nosebleed.”
“That happens all the time. I’m fine. I took medicine, and I’m perfectly okay now.”
Gripping the slippery soap tightly, Litricia scrubbed at her clothes.
“Are you sure you’re fine? Your voice sounds shaky.”
“Ah… that’s just because the water’s a bit cold. They say bloodstains don’t come out well in hot water.”
She had filled the tub with lukewarm water, so her body felt a bit chilly.
“Why… why are you washing the clothes yourself?”
“But the servants don’t know my condition. I couldn’t very well ask Piril or you to do it, could I?”
She had hoped it would sound like a joke.
But Killian, serious as ever, responded in earnest.
“Then I’ll do it.”
“What? Don’t take jokes so seriously.”
“I’m not joking. If your clothes get bloodstained again, give them to me. My hands will be more capable than yours, which don’t seem to have any strength at all.”
Clink.
She heard the sound of a tray being set down, and felt Killian leaning against the door.
“You’re not leaving?”
“I’ll wait.”
“It’ll take a while. A long while.”
“I don’t mind. I’m good at waiting.”
This was tricky. There was no chance her vision would return anytime soon…
Litricia bit her plump lower lip.
There was no need to hide anymore—Killian already knew about her condition.
But even so, she didn’t want to be seen like this.
‘I’d rather show him a healthier, livelier version of me…’
She pressed her cheeks with her soapy hands.
Maybe it was the painkillers making her dazed, but her loosened thoughts were slipping out of her subconscious.
“…Litricia. If you’re hurting, tell me. Don’t hide it.”
“Of… of course. I couldn’t hide it anyway. Piril tells you everything about my condition.”
“…Yeah.”
* * *
‘As if she’s not hiding anything.’
Veins bulged on Killian’s forehead.
“What are you doing out here? What about Litricia?”
“Well… she had a nosebleed, and…”
“Even if the maids left, you should’ve stayed inside. You’re her physician. How could you leave without checking on her?”
“I checked that the bleeding had stopped and gave her medicine, but then Lady Litricia insisted she wanted to rest alone, and…”
“Just a nosebleed, you say?”
Who did she think she was fooling?
Killian recalled Piril’s report and his gaze turned cold.
Maybe Piril had been fooled somehow—but he wasn’t.
Killian straightened his head from where it had been resting against the bathroom door and turned his gaze. Immediately, his eyes locked onto the wooden guide rail that extended just past the bathroom door.
There were faint bloodstains.
Smudges of blood and fingerprints trailed sporadically along the wood, reaching all the way to the chair where Litricia had spoken with Piril.
Then, another loud crash came from inside the bathroom.
Anyone with sense could tell.
“So she can’t see again. And yet she pretends to be fine.”
Killian suppressed his rising fury and grabbed the railing.
He had installed this wooden guide rail himself, just in case she lost her vision when he wasn’t around—to help her move safely without tripping or getting hurt.
“Useful, sure. But why does it make me feel like shit?”
Imagining Litricia forcing herself to act normal, dismissing everyone, and groping her way to the bathroom made his insides burn.
Why did she always insist on bearing everything alone?
If she was in pain, she should say she was in pain.
He wanted to storm in, grab that fragile body behind the door, and yell at her.
“Killian, are you still there?”
Damn.
Her soft voice made the storm in Killian’s heart ease slightly.
“Yes, I’m here. Why, do you need something?”
“Ah… no, it was just so quiet, I thought you might have left.”
“…”
Killian pressed his heated eyes with the palm of his hand.
Calm down.
If he let his temper flare again, she’d just run off like a frightened rabbit.
“Hoo…”
He collapsed into the chair Litricia had used.
“Killian?”
“Why do you keep calling me? I’m not bouncing around the room like some wild colt. You don’t need to keep checking on me.”
Damn it.
His tone had turned rough again, and Killian ran a hand through his hair. Why did everything he said come out wrong?
“I’ll just rest my eyes for a bit. Take your time and wash up.”
He leaned the chair back, realizing nothing good would come out of his mouth right now.
He closed his eyes and listened to the sound of Litricia rinsing clothes in the tub. Somehow, that made him feel a little better.
Then, after a while…
Tap, tap—small droplets began hitting the window behind him.
“…!”
That ominous sound made Killian shoot up from his chair.
There wasn’t supposed to be rain today. So why…?
Raindrops began to fall heavier and faster.
Just like an unexpected sunshower, anxiety crept in before he realized it.
Killian frantically reached around for his sedative.
Then he froze.
He had changed into lighter clothes before coming here—and left the pouch with the sedatives in his room.
“I should go back to my room—or find Mark first…”
He was muttering, trying to anchor himself as his anxiety grew, when he suddenly snapped his head up.
It was quiet.
Too quiet—quiet enough that he could hear the rain clearly.
The sound of water splashing—Litricia playing in the tub—was gone.
His chest tightened with a dreadful feeling.
“How long has it been?”
The minute hand on the clock had already moved five intervals. The lukewarm water must’ve turned cold long ago.
His barely-suppressed panic returned in full force.
She said she’d taken her medicine. She’d been speaking clearly, so he thought she was stable enough to leave alone.
Was he wrong?
What if she had lost consciousness and slipped under the water…?
Consumed by fear, Killian hurried toward the bathroom.
“Litricia.”
“…”
Knock knock.
Even after knocking, there was no answer.
“Litricia. Come on out now. You’ll catch a cold.”
“…”
“Did you fall asleep? You shouldn’t fall asleep in there.”
Thinking maybe she couldn’t hear him, he knocked harder, more urgently.
Still no response.
“Litricia. Answer me.”
As the rain pounded harder, Killian’s reason frayed further.
The veins in his hand bulged as he gripped the doorknob.
“Damn it. Don’t joke around. If you don’t come out, I’ll break down this door!”
Creak—
The doorknob snapped off in his grip.
The ruined door swung open.
There she was—Litricia, slumped over, completely limp.
For a moment, Killian felt like the blood drained from his body.
“Litricia!”
He rushed forward without hesitation and caught her in his arms.
Her frail, emaciated body was frighteningly cold.
“Litricia. Please wake up. Open your eyes. Please?”
Even after shaking her, there was no response. Killian wrapped her in a towel and bolted from the bathroom.
He didn’t even notice the melted sherbet spilling underfoot.
Like a man possessed, Killian screamed:
“Get a physician! NOW!”
