RVMPT Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Evan strolled lightly, relieved to escape from his overtime shift. He rhythmically knocked on the medical room door, enjoying the thought of a week-long paid vacation and a bonus. The doctor, tired from research and with messy hair, opened the door. His eyes, weary from exhaustion, squinted at Evan like he had seen something unpleasant.

“What are you doing here instead of heading home?”
“I look like a mess today. I’ll go back tomorrow morning,” Evan replied, shaking a wine bottle. “Care to join me for a drink?”
“Drink by yourself. I’m off alcohol,” the doctor declined but opened the door wide enough for Evan to enter.
“Thanks!” Evan said as he sat at the table, pouring himself a full glass and drinking it all at once. His face turned red immediately since he was weak with alcohol.

“You look absolutely wrecked. Your wife might faint if you go home like that,” the doctor teased.
“Ugh…” Evan’s dark-circled eyes twitched slightly.
“Still, at least I wasn’t the only one suffering. Even the Duke cut down on his sleep to handle all his work!”
“That was surprising, wasn’t it? Not very like him.”
“Exactly my point!”

Harold had always kept a strict sleep schedule for health reasons, a habit formed after his childhood illness. However, recently, he has been reducing his sleep to manage his workload.

“For him to do all that, just so he could go to the festival with her, it is really something.” Evan slammed his wine glass onto the table.
“Finally, the Duke has… The Duke has…” His voice trailed off. Remembering the grueling workload, including the Duke’s command to prepare a private fireworks display, Evan lowered his head, trembling.

“Wait… Are you crying?” the doctor asked nervously.
“Yes…” Evan sniffled, his eyes and nose streaming.

Oh no, once this guy starts crying, there’s no stopping him. The doctor instantly regretted letting him in.

“Ugh, don’t make a mess in front of me,” the doctor grumbled.

Evan, overwhelmed by happiness, babbled about how his hard work had been worth it for the Duke and the Lady. Despite the mess, the doctor understood his feelings but couldn’t help but feel disgusted by the sight.

“Finally! Sniff! The Duke’s spring has arrived!” Evan wailed, snot flowing uncontrollably.

 

The doctor sighed deeply, reflecting on Harold’s illness that had eaten away at his health, family, and even his ability to trust women. But since meeting Diana, Harold’s condition had slowly improved, and he had begun to care for her in a way he hadn’t with anyone else.

Even more surprising, Harold—who had long avoided any romantic interest in women—was now drawn to Diana.

“It feels like the Duke’s life is finally getting back on track after meeting Lady Diana,” the Doctor thought. “If even I can feel this way, no wonder someone as sentimental as Evan is losing it.”

Yet Evan’s sloppy, snot-covered face was still unbearable to witness. The Doctor pressed his fingers against his temples.

“But Evan,” he asked cautiously, “do you think Lady Diana likes the Duke?”

Evan hesitated. “Well… The Duke is trying his best, so she’ll come to like him soon enough.”
“That means no, right?”

The doctor tapped the table thoughtfully. Everyone in the estate knew Diana had harbored a deep, unrequited love for Lord Kaiden.

“If she doesn’t fall for the Duke before the contract ends, it could be a problem.”
“Don’t say such ominous things!” Evan shuddered, visibly upset. “We should be rooting for the Duke to have a happy family, not jinxing him! You know how intense he can get!”

Harold’s possessiveness was like a bottomless abyss. If he desired something and couldn’t have it, he’d break a part of it just to claim the rest. Given his fixation on Diana, the possibilities were both terrifying and endless.

Evan gulped down more wine straight from the bottle to dismiss the thought.
“Sometimes, I wonder how you’re still alive with all this disrespect,” the doctor muttered.
“Anyway, I have faith in the Duke!” Evan proclaimed, imagining a happy future where Harold had children and a loving family.

The thought that his carefully prepared fireworks might play a role in that future filled Evan with overwhelming pride.

“Ugh, just get out of my sight already!” the doctor snapped.

---

Boom! Bang!

Fireworks burst across the night sky in a dazzling display, their reflections blooming just as vividly on the ground below. 

I didn’t know where to focus. The sheer beauty left me grinning ear to ear.

I wished this moment could last forever.

But, as always, time flew by even faster when you wanted it to stop. I stayed rooted, savoring the afterglow of the fireworks. The explosions felt like they washed over me, erasing any lingering sadness.

‘Was this how Diana felt?’ I wondered. ‘The night she saw fireworks after spraining her ankle and losing all hope, did they give her the strength to stand again?’

My heart raced erratically, almost as if answering my question.

Back at the mansion, the memory of the fireworks lingered vividly in my mind, leaving me breathless.
‘When did Harold start planning this?’ I mused, sitting on my bed with my knees pulled up.

The thought that someone had done so much for me made my heart flutter.
“Today was the best day of my life,” I murmured.

Resolved to thank him properly, I was startled when I sensed someone approaching.

“You’re here?” I greeted Harold warmly.
“Harold, thank you so much for today! I had an amazing time.”
“As long as you enjoyed it, that’s all that matters.”

As Harold sat next to me on the bed, I suddenly grew curious and asked, “How was today for you?”

I wanted to know if he had enjoyed himself as much as I did.

“I enjoyed it,” he replied smoothly, his voice laced with a mischievous undertone. “And I’ll enjoy it even more now.”

Before I could react, Harold tugged at the tie of his robe, letting it fall open to reveal his bare body.
“Let’s begin the treatment, shall we?”

His robe slid down to the floor with a soft thud.

My heart felt like it would come out of my chest. The magical moment from earlier shattered instantly.
“Diana, why are you moving to the edge of the bed?” he teased.

“Huh? What do you mean? I’ve been sitting at the edge.” I stammered.

 “Really?” He smirked knowingly.

“Really, I’m not lying.”

“Fine, come here, Diana. Or should I come to you?”

“I-I’ll come to you!” I replied quickly.

This is just treatment. A sacred act of healing, I told myself repeatedly as I came closer.

Harold’s deep blue eyes gleamed in the flickering candlelight, watching me like a predator waiting for its prey.

I gripped the bedsheet tightly, His gaze during this whole treatment time was intense and unyielding, as if claiming me as his own.

‘Could it be that his gaze is the real problem?’

It was clear that Harold’s intense eyes were making me even more conscious of him. Acting on impulse, I took the tie from his robe and covered his eyes with it.

Startled, Harold briefly grabbed my wrist but quickly released it. He stayed still, letting me tie the knot, and then spoke in a low voice.

“Is this your kind of game?”

“No, it’s not!”

“That denial isn’t very convincing. No need to hide your preferences, Diana. I’m more than happy to accommodate.”

I was so flustered by his teasing that I could only open and close my mouth like a fish. Before I could gather my wits, Harold’s hand slipped down to my ankle, his fingers curling around it with a firm, almost possessive grip that felt more like a snare than a touch.

Why my ankle…?

I was too stunned to react as he bent down, lowering his body.

“My lady,” he murmured, voice dripping with mock submission, “would you kindly bestow your grace upon this lowly dog?”

And then, he pressed a kiss to the top of my foot.