Episode 18
I nodded in agreement.
“Then let’s start again.”
However, at that moment,
Ian screamed as if he were about to run out of breath, suddenly shaking his body violently.
“Ah, huk, heok! Haaak! Kyeok!”
“Hurry!”
It was an emergency.
Even in the midst of confusion, I urgently shouted at Lloydin to hurry.
Lloydin quickly aimed the knife slightly to the left of the center of Ian’s chest.
Now, if the knife could carve a path just near the heart, it was halfway to success.
A heightened tension filled the air more than before, even for someone like me who was just watching.
My lips were dry even as an onlooker, but I wondered how the older brother felt, having to put a knife to his brother’s chest amidst the urgency.
However, I had no doubt that he would succeed.
Encouraging Lloydin inwardly, I watched him intently as he prepared to make the incision.
Then, at that moment,
Just before the knife pierced through the skin, Ian’s seizures stopped abruptly, almost like a lie.
“Huh?”
The seizure ceased…
“Lord!”
As soon as Ian’s movement stopped, I quickly called Lloydin.
“It stopped!”
I cautiously removed my hand from Ian’s body after confirming that the seizures had indeed ceased.
Lloydin also hastily put away the knife when it was certain that Ian had stopped moving.
Even without holding Ian’s body to prevent movement, he now lay still.
“Ian?”
Lloydin called Ian, but there was no response.
Ian closed his eyes as if he were someone who hadn’t heard anything, just blinking a few times.
“Ian?”
Lloydin called Ian again, but, as expected, there was still no answer.
“…Seems like he’s sleeping.”
Upon closer examination of Ian, irregular breathing sounds, possibly due to the recent seizures, could be heard.
“Sigh.”
Lloydin let out a deep sigh.
The sound of his sigh filled the room, echoing how much emotional distress he must have endured.
“Fortunately, really.”
Upon hearing my words, Lloydin nodded in agreement.
Afterward, we remained worried that Ian might have another seizure, and it wasn’t until about 30 minutes later, when we heard his even breathing as if he had fallen asleep, that we felt relieved.
“Keep an eye on Ian, and if anything happens, call for me.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Lady, let’s go.”
“Oh, yes.”
Although I hesitated to leave, thinking it might be better to watch over Ian a bit longer, I trusted that William would keep an eye on him. So, I quietly followed Lloydin out.
* * *
During the walk to Lloydin’s study, we didn’t exchange a single word.*
Throughout the walk, his tired appearance was evident, making it difficult for me to strike up a conversation easily.
‘He must have gone through a lot because of what happened to his brother.’
With a sense of pity, I also felt a sense of relief that Ian’s situation had been resolved.
So, we arrived at his study without exchanging many words during the walk.
“Please have a seat.”
“Yes.”
We each took our places on the opposite sides of the sofa.
“It’s fortunate that the second dose of the medicine showed its efficacy. Since my brother said he would be fine once he takes the medicine, don’t worry too much.”
“I understand.”
“Also, here.”
I handed him a small vial containing the medicine Ian took today.
“It’s challenging to treat with just one dose. You can take this amount twice a day for a week. Probably, it should be sufficient.”
“Thank you.”
“The gratitude is mutual. It’s just what needed to be done.”
“If the Lady hadn’t helped, I don’t even want to think about what could have happened. Expressing this gratitude, I’m not sure how to…”
After Lloydin’s words, I took a moment to think and then extended my hand to him.
Seeing his puzzled expression, I gestured for him to shake my hand as well.
He hesitated for a moment but eventually shook my hand with a very slow movement.
“This is how you can express it.”
I smiled gently towards him as I spoke.
As our hands touched, a familiar sensation of well-being returned, and I felt a renewed sense of vitality within my body.
Whether Lloydin understood my words or not, a subtle pressure was felt in the hand we held.
And with a slightly disappointed expression, he smiled along with me.
“If I can truly be of help, I’ll assist the Lady in any way possible.”
“Thank you.”
Feeling a bit regretful, I withdrew my hand from his.
There were many things I needed to say to him.
So, after organizing the events from yesterday in my mind, I began to speak one by one.
“I told my parents yesterday that I would marry the Duke.”
Lloydin listened attentively to my words, feigning sleep.
“Considering that I’m here, you probably figured that out. When I told my parents that the Duke could heal my illness, they granted permission. As for the rumors…”
Although my father assured that he would handle it, it was not yet resolved, so I hesitated to speak with certainty.
“No, Father will somehow resolve it.”
Just as Father trusted me, I had to trust him as well.
“As for the rumors, my father said he would take care of it. So, you don’t need to worry about it anymore.”
“Lord Anaïs?”
“Yes. Father is someone who, if he decides to do something, will undoubtedly handle it well.”
“I understand.”
“Yes?”
“Nothing, it’s nothing.”
In response to Lloydin’s words, which seemed to indicate familiarity with my father, I felt a slight sense of confusion but quickly dismissed it.
Well, perhaps he had worked with my father before.
“And…”
I hesitated a bit about what to say next.
It was unclear if it was appropriate to mention it since our marriage seemed to be arranged for mutual purposes rather than emotional connection.
‘But…’
Although it might not be a lifelong partnership, considering that we would spend a very short time together, it wouldn’t hurt to get along during our marriage.
Convincing myself with this thought, I opened my mouth.
“Don’t struggle anymore, and don’t exert yourself alone.”
Lloydin seemed surprised by my words, and his eyes widened.
Despite his reaction causing another moment of hesitation, the words that had already come out gave me even more courage.
So, with a broad smile, I continued.
“From now on, I’ll be there with you. Understand?”
However, no matter how long I waited, he just stared at me without saying a word.
“Your Grace?”
‘Did I say it in vain?’
“Oh, I mean, what I meant was…”
Trying to salvage the situation as I sensed his incomprehensible response, Lloydin suddenly stood up and approached me, kneeling on one knee in front of me.
“Your Grace?”
Unable to predict his actions, I called out to him with a trembling heart. Lloydin took my hand, kissing the back of it.
In that moment, my mind went blank, and I couldn’t think of anything. Simultaneously, the surroundings disappeared, leaving only him and me in that space.
“This moment.”
I stared at his lips intently, my heart pounding.
“I will never forget.”
He answered, squinting his eyes toward me. After concluding all discussions in Lloydin’s office, I left the room with him.
‘Heart, please.’
Since he kissed the back of my hand earlier, my heart continued to pound uncontrollably. Anxious that it might still be audible to him, my mind couldn’t calm down.
“Are you leaving?”
“What did you say?”
I barely focused on his words and hastily regained my composure to respond.
“I asked if you were going to check on Ian for a moment and report to your brother.”
“Oh, yes. I’ll go see him. I need to check his condition and report to my brother.”
Even though I reassured him it would be fine, I swallowed my desire to express my worry, deciding to keep it to myself.
“Follow me.”
“Yes.”
I followed Lloydin back through the corridor we had just passed.
But as we walked side by side, something unexpected happened.
“Huh?”
Suddenly, my vision blurred for a moment, and my head spun.
This was a symptom I knew all too well, having experienced it since childhood. Because of that, I was well aware of what to do and how to handle it.
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