TISND Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Helena had always valued breakfast more than dinner.

Rather than starving all day and eating a large dinner, she preferred to start her day with a hearty breakfast. Though she didn’t always prioritize her own breakfast, she made every effort to ensure the children had theirs.

“Wow, this is really delicious!”

“Is it good?”

“Yeah!”

She had spent a long time boiling and simmering onions to create a rich and flavorful onion soup. Adding leftover bread and plenty of cheese before baking it in the oven resulted in a satisfying dish. The chewy cheese and deep onion flavor were warm enough to melt away the chill of the winter wind.

“It’s ready. Let’s eat.”

“Wait.”

Just as she was about to move the pot, Caligo stepped forward to carry it for her.

“Oh… thank you.”

“No need to thank me,” he replied curtly, his face as impassive as ever.

“I only did it to prevent an accident if you dropped it.”

“Most would call that concern. So please, just accept my thanks.”

“…Alright.”

Her equally composed response made Caligo chuckle softly.

“By the way, where’s Joshua? I don’t see him.”

Joshua was a diligent child who rarely overslept. He usually woke early, either teasing Helena as she prepared breakfast or reading a book. It was unusual for him to be absent this morning.

“Ah…”

Then Helena remembered what Aiden had mentioned the day before.

“I think he said Joshua seemed to be catching a cold.”

As if on cue, the three of them headed straight to Joshua’s room.

“Joshua? Are you awake?” Helena knocked on the door, but there was no response.

Sensing something was wrong, Caligo opened the door.

“…Father.”

Hearing the sound, Joshua weakly called out. His hoarse voice was a clear sign something was amiss.

Caligo immediately placed a hand on the child’s forehead. His grim expression confirmed that Joshua’s fever was significant.

“I’ll go get Aiden,” Helena offered.

“No, I’ll go,” Caligo said, already rushing out before she could protest.

Not long after, he returned with Aiden in tow. Still half-asleep, Aiden appeared confused but quickly sobered upon seeing Joshua.

“He seemed like he was catching a cold yesterday… Did he go out in the cold wind?”

“He rode a horse yesterday,” Caligo replied.

“That must have worsened his condition.”

Aiden promptly began examining the child. Soon, he sighed in relief and shared his findings.

“Fortunately, it’s not a contagious disease or anything severe. It’s just a mild fever. With enough rest, he’ll recover.”

“Is there a particular herb we need?” Helena asked calmly.

“Is there anything that grows around here that would help?”

“Toryneste should be growing around this time.”

“I’ll get it.”

Once the child fell ill, the adults sprang into action with remarkable coordination.

Caligo left to gather the necessary herbs, Helena changed the sweat-soaked bedding, and Aiden prepared the treatment Joshua needed.

Knowing that Joshua hadn’t eaten since last night, Helena headed to the kitchen to prepare something for him. Aiden followed her.

“You should be the one getting examined, too,” he said.

Thanks to Jeremy’s constant presence yesterday, she hadn’t been able to have her check-up.

“Let’s do that after Joshua is better.”

“…Fine. Have it your way.”

“Not that the results will be good even if I do it.”

“That’s exactly the problem—you’re too aware of that.”

Aiden gave a sad smile, watching Helena speak so nonchalantly about such a bitter reality.

“Well, anyway.”

Aiden shared his thoughts about meeting Caligo in person after hearing so much about him.

“He doesn’t seem as bad as I thought he’d be.”

“Of course not. He’s the man I like,” Helena replied, pausing her stirring of the thin soup.

“And he cherishes Joshua and Jeremy as if they were his own children.”

“What about if you get hurt? How do you think he’d react?”

Helena hesitated for a moment before answering his question.

“Why even ask? Of course, he wouldn’t care.”

“Doesn’t that make you sad? That the man you like wouldn’t care if you got hurt?”

“I didn’t come to Frantor because I wanted his heart. I came for my own.”

As she stirred the soup, her voice was as devoid of emotion as the watery broth she was making.

“Aren’t you curious how he’d react? If you were gravely ill, even that cold man wouldn’t stand idly by.”

“Senior.”

She poured the finished soup into a bowl and forced a smile.

“The affection I want from him is not pity. I’d rather face his contempt than his sympathy.”

“What? You’d rather be despised by the man you like?”

“Yes. At least contempt is a passionate emotion, unlike pity or sympathy.”

“You’re really…”

Deep down, she wanted his love. But she knew she couldn’t have it. Even if Caligo did like her, he was the type to suppress those feelings.

That’s why she didn’t expect anything from him from the start—expectations only lead to heartbreak.

“Still, Helena, I just…”

Aiden couldn’t completely disagree with her. If anything, he sympathized, which only made her situation feel all the more pitiful.

“I just hope you won’t suffer anymore.”

“Thank you, Senior. But I’m not suffering.”

Why did it have to be him? Aiden swallowed his emotions that threatened to spill over.

“Fine, then. Stay happy and never suffer again.”

Even if it’s by his side.

—

Helena took a portion of the soup for Joshua and went up to his room.

Joshua, who had been sleeping under the influence of the medicine, woke up just in time.

“Oh? You’re awake?”

Helena quickly approached him and checked his temperature.

“Your fever’s gone down a bit.”

“…Why are you here?” he asked hoarsely.

“To make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine, so you can leave. I’ll get better if I just sleep it off. Tell Father and Jeremy not to worry about me either.”

It seemed Joshua didn’t like being a source of worry for others.

“You need to get better quickly so that the Duke and Jeremy won’t worry anymore.”

At least Joshua was lucky to have people who cared about him. Helena recalled how worried the two had looked this morning.

There’s nothing more isolating or dreadful than being sick with no one around. Helena knew that feeling all too well, which is why she was glad Joshua had people who loved him.

Because she had never had that. Not even family.

“For the sake of those who care about you, eat this and get better quickly.”

“Did Jeremy and Father worry a lot about me?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

Grumbling, Joshua finished the soup Helena had brought. He thought his upset stomach wouldn’t let him eat, but the soup went down smoothly.

Afterward, he took the medicine Helena prepared. Before long, sleep began to overtake him again.

“Go to sleep.”

Joshua drifted off, his eyelids heavy from exhaustion.

As Helena checked his temperature again, she looked up to see Jeremy entering the room.

“How’s Joshua?”

“He’s much better now.”

“Thank goodness.”

With his twin unwell, Jeremy had been in a foul mood all day. Speaking in hushed tones to avoid waking Joshua, the two conversed quietly. At some point, it seemed they had both fallen asleep.

Three hours later, Joshua woke up.

“…Huh?”

Someone was holding his hand, fast asleep at his bedside.

“Pfft.”

Jeremy and Helena were fast asleep, each holding one of his hands. Watching them, Joshua felt an overwhelming sense of joy and contentment, as if he could float up to the sky.

He pressed his lips together to stifle the laughter bubbling up so hard it made his stomach ache.

Over their shoulders were blankets, likely placed there by Caligo, who was dozing on a sofa nearby.

Seeing the three of them huddled together like that, Joshua’s heart brimmed with happiness.

“Oh, you’re awake.”

The voice startled him. Aiden had just entered the room.

With a grin, Joshua shot a sharp remark at the young doctor.

“I was in such a good mood, but you just had to ruin it. Get out already.”

“…The way you’re talking tells me you’re perfectly fine now.”

Shaking his head, Aiden placed some extra medicine on the table and left the room.

Joshua wanted to remember this moment forever. Quietly, he pulled out a sketchbook from the bedside drawer and began to draw.

First, he sketched Caligo. Then Jeremy, his twin.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally added Helena, peacefully asleep.

—

It seemed Joshua’s fever had dropped significantly, much to everyone’s relief.

Feeling embarrassed for falling asleep so soundly while taking care of a sick child, Helena yawned as she tidied up.

Joshua had cleaned his plate, so she brought it down to the kitchen.

There, she found Aiden, who was tending to some boiling herbs.

“How is he? Has the young master improved?”

“Yes, his fever’s gone down, and his congestion is much better.”

“That’s a relief.”

Leaning against the wall, Aiden fixed his gaze on her.

“Now it’s your turn, Helena.”

Her hand froze as she washed the plate.

“It’s time for you to find out how sick you really are.”