A blurry silhouette loomed beyond her hazy vision.
Lizelle wiped away her tears with the hem of her sleeve.
As her vision cleared, she saw Chase approaching, breathing heavily.
“Were you crying?”
Chase, who reached her in an instant, asked worriedly.
Her cheeks were streaked with tears.
He hid his injured hand behind him. The last thing he wanted was to burden her further with his own injuries.
“What is this… Why are you only here now…?”
Lizelle bit her lip, unable to finish speaking.
She felt like she would burst into tears if she said anything else.
Just seeing him brought a sudden wave of relief, washing away her anxiety.
Was it because he was Raphel’s guardian?
The moment she saw him, it felt as if everything would somehow be okay.
“I’m sorry I’m late. How is Raphel?”
“He’s asleep now after being given a sedative.”
She replied in a trembling voice, steadying herself as she spoke.
“He’ll be fine. Raphel is strong. He’ll pull through.”
“…Of course he will.”
She nodded vigorously, then quickly turned her back to Chase.
Finally, the tears she had been holding back flowed down her cheeks. She wiped them away roughly over and over.
Just hearing his words was reassuring. She’d desperately needed to hear that it would be okay.
So, the moment she heard those words, she couldn’t hold back her tears.
Lizelle wiped away her tears, afraid that Chase might catch her crying, but the tears continued to flow without stopping.
“Are you okay?”
He knew she was crying, even with her back turned.
If only he could pull out a handkerchief to offer her, but his injured hand would betray him, so he held back.
“Yes… I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
She answered as casually as possible, but her voice trembled noticeably.
Lizelle was annoyed at herself for crying so much.
Raphel hadn’t even woken up yet. Chase was holding it together. Why couldn’t she…?
She felt weak and pathetic, anger bubbling at her own helplessness.
“Miss Wilhazelle, look at me.”
“I’m fine. Really. Don’t worry…”
“But you’re crying.”
Lizelle looked up in surprise as his low voice was heard from above his head.
Chase, who had been behind, moved to stand directly in front of her.
“How can you say you’re fine like this?”
Chase bent down and met Lizelle’s gaze. He kept his injured hand hidden behind his back so she couldn’t see it.
He knew that Lizelle was crying, but seeing her eyes filled with tears left him at a loss.
He wished she wouldn’t cry.
When she cried, he didn’t know how to comfort her.
Just seeing Lizelle’s tears made him sad and made his heart ache.
Even though he wanted to hand her a handkerchief, wipe her tears, and hug her, he just couldn’t bring himself to do so right now.
“Really, I’m fine. Wait, is that… blood?”
Lizelle, looking down in embarrassment at being caught crying, suddenly froze.
His jacket was covered in blood.
“What happened? Are you hurt?!”
She was so shocked that she pulled open his jacket without waiting for an answer.
The exposed white shirt was also stained with red blood.
“No, it’s not—”
“Are you hurt badly? Let me see!”
She lifted his shirt without hesitation to check the severity of the wound.
But there were no wounds, only smooth, muscular abs.
“It’s not my blood.”
Chase froze, his bare body exposed for Lizelle to see. He averted his eyes, clearly embarrassed.
Her gaze was staring at him, with his shirt lifted, so intently that his ears turned red.
“Oh…”
She slowly lowered the shirt she had pulled up.
Now, the embarrassment over what she’d done was belatedly rushing over her.
Because of the circumstances, her tears already disappeared.
“As long as you’re not hurt… that’s a relief.”
“Lizelle…”
At that moment, a small voice cracking like drought-stricken land landed in Lizelle’s ears.
“Raphel!”
She quickly turned around toward the bed.
Raphels eyes slowly fluttered and then looked up at her.
“Raphel, are you okay? Does anything hurt?”
“Raphel, how are you feeling? Are you still in pain?”
Both of them drew closer to Raphel.
Lizelle quickly grabbed his hand. It was better than before, but still cold.
“Hehehe…”
Raph let out a soft giggle when he saw them both staring at him with worried faces.
His laughter brought a wave of relief. Lizelle stroked his cheek gently.
“Do you feel better now?”
“Yeah. Raphel’s okay now.”
“Thank goodness. I was so worried.”
Raphel’s face was gradually regaining color.
His limbs that had been convulsing with seizures, were better. His lips had returned to their usual red color.
Lizelle wanted to ask if he remembered something, but held back.
It was possible he could get hurt again because of her question.
She never wanted to see Raphel writhing in pain again.
All that could be done while he was struggling to breathe was administer a sedative and wait.
Even as an adult, someone who should be able to do everything for a child, she was powerless to help him.
That helplessness was indescribably miserable and heartbreaking.
“Mm, I’m okay… Lizelle, I’m so sleepy…”
Raphel slowly blinked his heavy eyelids, still under the effects of the sedative.
“Okay. Sleep more. I’ll stay by your side.”
“Don’t go… Uncle too…”
“Alright.”
Raphel mumbled softly, his small lips moving slightly before his delicate eyelids finally closed.
Feeling the comforting presence of Lizelle and Chase nearby, he drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
“Good night. Sweet dreams, Raphel.”
Lizelle whispered very quietly, sweeping back his black hair that covered his round forehead.
She hoped he would have sweet dreams.
She hoped that in his dreams he would be happy and free from pain.
As she carefully covered Raphel with a thin blanket…
“Your Grace, you should have your hand treated immediately.”
Raymond returned and sighed as he looked at Chase’s hand.
It was clear from his expression that he wanted to scold him for delaying treatment.
Chase was quite annoyed by Raymond’s sudden appearance.
Now that he’d confirmed Raphel’s safety and seen that Lizelle was alright, he planned to quietly slip away for a bit to receive treatment without anyone noticing and then come back…
He’d tried not to show that he was hurt, but Raymond sold him out.
He glared at Raymond with a sharp gaze.
While giving Raymond a look that asked why he would say that in front of her, he was secretly hoping Lizelle hadn’t heard.
“Your hand? What’s wrong with it?”
Of course, there was no way Lizelle hadn’t heard. She looked at Chase with a concerned expression.
Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t seen his had since he got there.
He had been keeping it behind his back, as if hiding something.
“Let me see.”
With a serious expression on her face, she grabbed Chase’s arm.
Chase hesitated, resisting at first, but eventually he had no choice but to give up for fear that Lizelle might get hurt.
“…”
Lizelle froze when she saw Chase’s hand.
It was in no condition to be called ‘fine’.
His hand was completely soaked in blood, with bright red blood still pouring from the wounds.
Her trembling gaze scanned his hand.
When she saw there was no wound on the back of his hand, she carefully turned Chase’s hand over.
“What is this…?”
Her face turned white as a sheet of paper out of shock.
His large palm was covered with a deep gash.
The wound was so deep that the inside of the torn skin was clearly visible.
Looking back, she noticed a trail of blood drops along the path he’d walked. She wondered how she could miss something like that.
“If you’re injured, you should get treatment first. Why are you being so foolish?”
Lizelle glared at Chase in anger.
Only now did she notice the faint cut on his cheek as well.
They were literally in a clinic…
She had the urge to give him a hard slap on the back for being so foolish and stubborn.
“Please take a look at this wound quickly!”
She called the physician urgently.
