THTSN 07

Chapter 7 …

It felt like I had stumbled upon an enormous secret, but then the image of Mr. Veilt making a throat-slitting gesture came to mind, and I decided to scrub all of it from my head.

Besides, even if I knew, it’s not like I had anyone to go around blabbing to—and I had no desire to, anyway.

A servant of the devil, huh.

In the novel, there was never any mention of servants.

So the reason Boss became a wreck wasn’t solely because of the heroine after all.

If Joshua had cried like that while saying it, then…

After that, Joshua seemed to want me to pretend I didn’t know anything, so I acted as usual.

I myself had absolutely no desire to get more deeply involved with them.

All I wanted was to do my part, then retreat to some quiet countryside village and…

Live peacefully, maybe?

Usually when you save someone, their obsession just shifts in a different direction.

But since he likes the Saintess so much, maybe that won’t happen…

If he ever did come to like me… well.

I’d gladly keep this gloomy, broody, handsome Boss at my side. He’s gorgeous, he’s rich—what reason would I have to refuse?

Full of daydreams, I marched happily to his room, knocked, and stepped inside.

“I’m here, I’m here.”

“Go back.”

I ignored him lightly, slipped in, and shut the door.

“I brought some fruit…”

“…Not eating.”

“I’ll eat it then. They said fresh peaches came in today, so I brought them for me. For some reason, I always get sleepy in here, so I need to snack on something to stay awake.”

It wasn’t for Boss. Nope. Just for me.

Whether or not his baffled stare pierced me, I crouched down beside him. I speared a peach slice with a fork and was just about to happily pop it into my mouth when—

Clack.

A large hand caught my wrist, stopping me.

“What?”

Lowering his gaze, he muttered darkly:

“…Mine.”

Oh, so Boss likes peaches.

“Want me to bring you some? This is mine.”

Maybe it was a sudden bout of competitiveness, but he clamped his lips shut and then snatched the peach I had already forked straight into his mouth.

“Huh?!”

“Everything in this mansion belongs to me.”

It sounded childish, but he wasn’t wrong.

“That’s true.”

But instead of just asking, did he really need to snatch it from me?

Every peach I tried to spear ended up in his mouth. My feeble strength couldn’t resist him at all.

How does he even know that stealing someone else’s food tastes better?

He looked cute, cheeks full, chewing peaches, but I refused to indulge him.

“…I said I’d bring you some. Why are you stealing mine?”

“….”

He stayed silent when it put him at a disadvantage. Still gripping my wrist, he kept directing the peaches into his mouth until not a single slice was left.

“Here, take them all, fine.”

I tried to give him the last piece, but instead he twisted my wrist toward my own face.

“So this one’s for me?”

“….”

Before he could change his mind, I quickly stuffed it in my mouth.

“Delicious!”

“….”

“It’s such a shame I only got one piece. If I had two, I could’ve savored it properly. With just one, it feels so… teasing…”

“Eat more, then…”

“Okay.”

I started to get up, but suddenly he grabbed my ankle. I staggered, nearly face-planting into the floor. My heart lurched in terror at the thought of smashing my nose. Trembling, I glared at him.

“You really need to be careful. I could’ve gone face-first into the ground. I’d fall hard, you know.”

“Fine. Go…”

“I can only go if you let go.”

“…Goodbye.”

Let go, then!

But instead—squeeze.

He only gripped tighter. So I meekly sat back down.

“Why aren’t you leaving?”

How was I supposed to answer that when he was the one holding me?

I gave up.

“Fine, I don’t feel like leaving anymore.”

Forget the peaches!

“…Good.”

At last, he loosened his hold on my ankle.

So you really wanted me to stay, huh?

Well, since that was a good sign, I decided to oblige.

“Boss, why are you sitting on the floor? There’s a sofa, a bed…”

“…I don’t like them. Too cold.”

Oh, a proper reply for once.

Cold? Really?

“What if we cast a heating spell on the bed?”

He stared at me like I was speaking nonsense, but I pressed on, patting the mattress.

“Hmm, it doesn’t feel that cold. The room itself isn’t chilly either. Actually, the floor seems colder.”

“…You don’t know anything.”

“I do know the bed looks expensive. But sit there too long and your butt’s going to freeze. Want me to bring a cushion?”

“No, it’s—ugh.”

He suddenly groaned.

“Boss?”

“…Get out.”

Didn’t you just say not to leave? Now you’re changing your mind? He pushed me away.

But even in that brief touch, the heat radiating through his clothes was overwhelming.

He hadn’t been that hot when eating peaches earlier.

So this wasn’t just a whim.

He’s sick.

I reached out to check his temperature, but he caught my wrist.

“Understand me when I say it once.”

“Yes.”

I obediently stood. He shot me a look, baffled, but didn’t stop me.

So he did something he usually wouldn’t because he’s ill.

That explained it.

Leaving his room, I went straight to find Joshua. Usually, he lazed around the garden or hovered near Jessica and Lynette. Luckily, today he was sprawled in the garden.

“Joshua!”

“Spit, spit.”

“Boss has a fever.”

The only reason I came to him was because, from our earlier talk, he seemed to be the only one who really understood Boss’s condition.

If Mr. Veilt knew, he would’ve at least hinted to me that Boss might fall ill. But there had been no such word.

Sure enough, Joshua shot upright.

“A fever?”

“Yeah. He’s so hot I could feel it.”

“…And you left him alone?”

Why was he looking at me like I was trash?

I knew full well I’d looked like garbage walking away from a sick Boss, but couldn’t he cut me some slack?

“What was I supposed to do? Better to figure out a way to help than just sit there. Should I call a doctor? Or do you want to go?”

“No doctor. They wouldn’t know what to do. I can’t go either… I was there not long ago, I can’t show up again…”

He sniffled miserably.

“What about Jessica and Lynette?”

“They’re not delicate enough.”

“Then I’ll do it. Anything I should prepare? Something to bring his fever down?”

“Not much… but wiping him with cold cloths helps. The problem is Zere hates it. And if you brew willow bark tea and give it to him, it lowers the fever a little. The kitchen always has it stocked, so they can prepare it if you ask.”

“And who usually gives it to him?”

“Me… I leave it in his room and he drinks it when he wants.”

So now it was on me. I’d already seen he was sick, after all.

With Joshua’s advice, I asked the head cook, who quickly prepared the tea. Carrying the steaming cup, I knocked gently on Boss’s door.

“Willow tea is here.”

“…Leave it inside and go.”

“Yes.”

“….”

I thought I heard a dissatisfied groan, but I went in, set the tea down, and left again. Then I filled a basin with cold water, grabbed clean cloths, and headed back to his room.

Knock knock.

“It’s me.”

“Leave it and… no, go.”

He was that out of it?

I opened the door. The room, usually faintly cool, now burned with heat so stifling it filled the entire space.

And there in the middle, curled like a shrimp, was Boss, groaning in pain.

Even now, he lay on the floor, not the bed—probably to try cooling down.

His long bangs, drenched in sweat, clung to his face. Even his glasses had slipped crookedly down his nose. Grinding his teeth, he glared at me.

“Why’d you come… go…!”

“Yes, I’m going to you, Boss.”

“…What nonsense…”

I dragged the tray in, soaked a cloth, wrung it out, and removed his glasses. Then I laid the cloth across his forehead.

“You…!”

“Joshua said this helps. Don’t be stubborn. My policy is never to argue with a sick person.”

So please, quietly accept my nursing.

Through the loosened ties of his poet shirt, I caught sight of his strong, sculpted muscles—but I was a virtuous woman.

Setting aside all selfish thoughts, I picked up another cloth and began wiping the sweat from his neck. That’s when I saw it: a serpent tattoo stretching from his chest over his shoulder.

A snake tattoo?

Snakes symbolized demons. No one ever tattooed them lightly.

Well… he used to be a reckless wild youth. Probably a foolish whim back then.

I moved again, carefully wiping sweat from his neck, arms, and legs. When I reached his legs, his body flinched. He recoiled, trying to pull away.

“Not the legs…!”

Instead, I held on and soothed him.

“Your legs are beautiful, Boss.”

“…Hah.”

He seemed too at a loss for words to reply, only letting out a trembling, annoyed breath.

Good thing he was too weak to snap at me properly.

So I worked diligently, wiping him down with cold cloths, refreshing the water whenever it warmed.

I repeated the process over and over.

Finally, his breathing grew steady. He’d fallen asleep.

Though his face looked peaceful, I continued wiping him, worried the fever might flare again.

He really is huge.

I’d known it when he’d lifted me with one arm.

“Urgh…”

I must’ve paused too long, distracted, because he groaned in pain. I pressed gently at the frown lines between his brows, then kept wiping.

Between each of his fingers, too.

Swish, swish.

The heat radiating from him filled the entire room, making me break into a sweat as well.

Ugh, hot.

I undid a few buttons and tied my hair up high, continuing my care.

“If I work this hard, Boss ought to praise me a little.”