Moreover…
Sion remembered one thing that made him especially vulnerable around this time.
Cecile.
Currently, Cecile’s safety is entirely in the hands of Marquis Hildegarde.
Once Cecile became a countess, the Marquis of Hildegarde would no longer be able to do anything about her.
But that would be many years from now.
Until then, Sion had to endure as if he were as good as dead.
To avoid offending the Marquis of Hildegarde.
‘Cecile must not get hurt under any circumstances.’
Of course, even if Cecile were harmed, it would all be undone if time turned back.
But just in case.
What if time suddenly stopped turning back?
What if he loses Cecile and can’t go back in time?
Sion turned pale and clenched his fists tightly.
Such a thing must not happen.
Absolutely not.
Sion calmly assessed the situation.
He knew nothing about the phenomenon of “turning back time.”
He had simply believed that Laila Hildegarde could directly turn back time, only to confirm otherwise.
Therefore, acting recklessly based on that phenomenon was dangerous.
‘It’s possible that even if time turns back, it could return to a time after Cecil encounters a problem.’
There were a lot of bad things that could happen.
Certainly, he couldn’t act hastily.
‘..If I had died in the forest, it would have been easier.’
Sion ran a wistful hand over his bandaged shoulder and chest.
A weak, frail body that would have surely died if left in the forest after being shot with an arrow.
Whoever went out of their way to treat him and keep him alive, it was easy to guess the answer without much thought.
Laila Hildegarde.
In any case, she was a person who was of no help in any situation.
‘Now what?’
Sion thought to himself.
During this time, a maid entered the bedroom, startled to see Sion awake, then quickly left again, but Sion paid her no mind.
Even when the doctor came to examine him later, Sion remained lost in thought.
Once the doctor left the room, Sion let out a sigh.
“Is all I can do wait for death?”
No matter how much he thought about it, nothing else came to mind.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized how helpless he was.
‘If only the Marquis would try to kill me again as soon as possible.’
He wished he could die right now, but even that was out of his control. The Marquis of Hildegarde would not allow him to take his own life.
It was not a pleasant feeling, no matter how many times he experienced it.
Being powerless.
It was then.
After the doctor left, the bedroom door, which had been firmly shut the whole time, suddenly creaked open without warning.
Sion didn’t bother to look toward the door.
He wasn’t particularly curious about who had come, but in reality, he could discern the identity of the person who entered the bedroom without even looking.
Light footsteps that hinted at the person’s weight.
Erratic and short breaths, as if heavily tense.
It was a familiar presence. There is no doubt about it.
“……Hello?”
Indeed, it was Laila Hildegarde.
As Laila entered the bedroom, she cautiously approached the bed and sat on the chair beside it, pouring out various words to Sion as soon as she sat down.
Sion ignored all of Laila’s words, which he didn’t feel like responding to, but…
“Um, why did you save me in the forest?”
…he couldn’t ignore this one.
“I didn’t.”
Sion replied bluntly, inwardly regretting it lightly afterward.
It was a childish act. Whatever his intentions, it was true that he had used his hand to save Laila from an arrow in the forest.
There was no sense in denying it now.
But despite thinking that way, his mouth kept moving.
For a while, there was a conversation between them that really belonged to ten-year-olds—or so Sion felt.
When Sion belatedly realized the level of the conversation, Laila said something.
‘You are my benefactor.’
Sion’s expression was slightly wrinkled.
His lips twitched involuntarily.
“Why are you so…”
Why are you so desperate to live?
Is it okay to grovel to the one who has killed you multiple times just to survive?
“Huh?”
As Laila reacted, Sion closed his mouth.
…What was he trying to say?
When a person fights to stay alive, it’s usually out of instinct. There can’t be any other reason.
And even if there is a reason, so what?
What is he going to do about it?
Suppose there’s a valid reason; is he going to spare Laila?
Of course not.
It’s a stupid question.
Besides, the moment he asks that question, Laila will realize that he remembers the events before time turned back.
That was the last thing Sion wanted.
Because he couldn’t predict what impulsive action Laila might take.
In Sion’s mind, Laila was someone who would do anything to ensure her survival.
‘Maybe she’ll try to erase my memories.’
Regardless of whether erasing someone’s memory is possible or not, just imagining Laila attempting something new was headache-inducing.
Sion didn’t want to make the situation any more complicated than it already was.
As Sion remained silent, Laila, after glancing at him, started rambling again.
Then.
“What do you think about Cassion?”
While attempting to make small talk, Laila uttered that name.
At that moment, Sion was consumed by uncontrollable rage.
How dare you say that name?
How dare you?
Who killed him?
Whose bloodline do you belong to…
“Hiccup, hiccup, suck!”
However, when Laila, with a terrified look in her eyes, began to choke on her words and stifled her breath with a foolish expression, Sion’s anger, which had surged like a tide, inexplicably subsided, and he found his calm again, as if by magic.
He didn’t know why, but his rage had subsided, and he found himself asking himself absentmindedly.
If he were to terrify Laila Hildegarde right here and now, would that bring back the unjustly killed Cassion?
……No.
It was pointless anger. Clearly.
One could even say it was misdirected anger.
Strictly speaking, Laila wasn’t the mastermind behind the deaths of Cassion and his family.
Sion sighed.
Then, after a brief moment of consideration, he spoke.
“Sion.”
“……?”
“You asked for my name. It’s Sion.”
“……Sion?”
“Yeah.”
“Can I call you by your name?”
“Sure.”
Sion quietly observed Laila, who couldn’t hide her bewilderment.
The reason Sion revealed his name to Laila was simple.
‘You’re my benefactor.’
‘From now on, you’ll receive treatment befitting that.’
‘I know you’ve had a hard time in the dungeon, but that won’t happen again, I promise.’
‘Let’s get along well here. I’ll be really… good to you.’
Those were the bright words Laila had just spoken to Sion a little while ago.
Upon hearing those words, Sion surmised.
‘I’m not going to die anytime soon.’
It seemed like he would have to stay in this mansion longer than he initially thought.
Although Sion had never wished for anything other than to die as soon as possible and be resurrected in the temple, the situation unfolded contrary to his desires.
Laila was desperate.
She was doing everything she could to keep him alive.
When Laila boldly discussed the future with Sion, Sion understood.
Perhaps Laila Hildegarde had already made a deal with Marquis Hildegarde.
If both Laila and the Marquis had decided to let him live, there was really nothing he could do.
He could only abide by that decision and spend some time in this mansion, hanging by a thread.
