Episode 17. I’m Afraid to Be Alone

Until Brienne Ford came following after him, Hereis’s objective had been perfectly clear.

First, to find the marquis before anyone else. Second, to make sure there was no reason for tears to appear in Brienne Ford’s eyes.

Even though the unexpected variable of Brienne’s company had arisen, in the end, Hereis Belif’s plan had succeeded. He had even taken advantage of that variable as a good opportunity to make advances toward her.

He had gotten a few injuries in the process, but in the end, wasn’t it worth it if he got to be supported by Brienne Ford?

“I understand your feelings, Young Duke. Then I will take it off for you!”

So what was this situation?

Was this another situation where he should make a move?

Hereis lowered his gaze, thinking intently. It was impolite to fall into deep thought with someone right in front of him, but he was that cautious. This unexpected situation had left him a little unsettled.

“Could you give me a moment?”

He spoke softly, sweeping back his hair as he looked up at Brienne. His lowered lashes lifted to reveal mysterious gray eyes.

“I need to prepare myself mentally.”

Mental preparation, indeed.

Hereis was a man who knew exactly how much his looks benefited him in life. He was used to wearing the kind of smile people liked, saying only words that would win favor, and earning the goodwill of others.

But when it came to physical contact, this was the one exception.

This was the one thing where he couldn’t be as shameless as usual.

“Ah, I see…”

Not knowing what he was thinking, Brienne clasped her hand into a tight fist, pulling it back from where it had nearly touched his shirt.

“I thought… you were hurt so badly you couldn’t even move your arms.”

She had only intended to finish quickly and leave, but with Hereis acting so serious, she suddenly felt more tense. Now it wasn’t just discomfort… she felt like something might burst out of her mouth.

“That’s right, I’m too injured…”

At that moment, something flickered in Hereis’s eyes as he watched her without moving a finger. Unfortunately, Brienne didn’t notice it in the warm glow of the fireplace.

“What?”

“As I said, I’m in so much pain that it’s hard to even lift my arms.”

If that were the case, he could have said so from the start. Brienne sighed openly, feeling deflated. Hereis had wasted time making her nervous for no reason.

“So?”

“It seems you’ll have to do it yourself.”

When she shot him a slight glare, he smiled faintly. After a moment’s hesitation, Brienne edged closer to the bed and slowly reached out her hand.

Just treating a patient, she told herself.

“Th-then I’ll take it off.”

Her trembling hands undid his shirt, revealing a firm chest. Over the beautiful muscles—fit for a figure in a myth—was a long strip of medical cloth from chest to stomach. It seemed hastily placed, just enough to cover the wound.

“……”

After a brief pause, Brienne carefully removed the cloth. The wound beneath was deeper than she had expected, and her eyes widened in shock.

“Are you crazy? Why would you hide an injury like this?”

Forgetting how tense she had been, Brienne’s expression turned angry again. She bit her lower lip, then stepped back.

“This won’t do. I can’t handle this. We need to call another physician…”

“That won’t be necessary.”

But before she could turn away, a firm hand gripped her arm. At his unwavering tone, Brienne found herself at a loss for words.

“Didn’t you come in here to nurse me yourself?”

“That… somehow ended up happening, yes…”

Unlike Brienne’s near-tearful expression, Hereis smiled lazily. Leaning back against the headboard, he gently pulled her closer without hurting her arm.

“Then please continue.”

Glancing between the closed door and Hereis, Brienne eventually sighed and picked up the disinfectant from the tray.

“I can’t promise it won’t hurt. But… I’ll try to make it hurt as little as possible.”

She let out a nervous breath, her brows knitting. Soon, the cold cotton touched the wound, and Hereis let out a low groan.

Startled, Brienne withdrew her hand.

“D-Does it hurt?”

“…A little.”

“Then…!”

“My heart.”

But that too seemed to be a joke. At his light laugh, Brienne raised her voice, exasperated. “You don’t look like you’re in pain at all. How can you think of joking even in this situation?”

“Because I’m good at enduring pain, and I like to joke.”

His calm answer left Brienne at a loss for words. Still, her earlier worry about being able to treat him faded, and she moved her hands more boldly than before.

Blood that had yet to clot seeped faintly onto the white cotton, but Hereis’s expression didn’t change at all.

Watching him closely, Brienne asked, “…Why did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Save me, even if it meant getting hurt like this.”

She could have just said thank you, but that one sentence was so hard to say that she ended up going in circles.

Setting down the disinfectant, she muttered without meaning to, “If you thought you had to protect me just because I’m a woman and weaker than you…”

“That’s not it.”

Hereis immediately denied her words.

“Of course, it would be a lie to say it’s not true at all, but… I didn’t protect you because you’re a woman or because you’re weaker than me.”

He spoke softly, leaning forward slightly. Their eyes met at a rather close distance.

“I did it simply because I wanted to.”

So it had been pure chivalry? To throw himself into harm’s way for someone else out of a sense of justice? He was a man who was harder to understand the more she learned about him. Brienne stared into the unreadable gray eyes.

“You’re… quite the selfless person, Young Duke. Like my father.”

“I wouldn’t say that. It was entirely out of my own desire.”

“Desire?”

“Yes, a base desire.”

The faint smile left his face. The usually gentle features now seemed serious.

“If my selfish choice has made you feel guilty, I apologize. But…”

“……”

“Would it be arrogance to think that this brought me a little closer to you?”

Brienne’s eyes wavered slightly. His gaze, as if searching for truth, swept over her face and lingered on her small lips.

“…No.”

She deliberately looked away, reaching for the ointment on the tray. For some reason, her neck felt warm.

“I… said earlier that I came because I had something to say. I wanted to thank you.”

“Is that so?”

“…Yes. Truly, thank you. For saving not only my life, but my father’s and the lives of the people in the domain.”

Thank you. Hereis looked down at the small hands applying ointment to his wound. If it meant receiving this kind of special care, he thought, he could stand to be injured several more times.

Why did time always have to slip away? Just as he wished this moment would never end—

‘…Ha.’

As Brienne began wrapping the bandage, she inevitably rested one knee on the bed.

Hereis’s eyes lingered on the soft line revealed over her thin dress.

Why was something like that catching his attention?

It was nothing but the curve of a small knee.

“Almost done.”

Brienne cut the bandage she had wrapped around his broad torso. With one knee on the bed, wasn’t she now on the same bed as him? He found it amusing that this was where his thoughts had gone. All because of that one small knee…

“You took your medicine earlier, right?”

“…Yes.”

He wanted to prolong their time together, but it really seemed to be over now. Tying the bandage so it wouldn’t come undone, Brienne pressed lightly at his side.

The touch was so careful it was almost ticklish, like trying to tickle a tree with a feather.

Yet for some reason…

Hereis, looking at those small hands, grabbed Brienne’s arm and pulled her toward him.

“Y-Young Duke…?”

In an instant, Brienne found herself toppled forward. Strictly speaking, she wasn’t fully on the bed. Only her knees rested on the edge, while her upper body was entirely in his arms.

“What… what are you doing?”

Her face flushed deeply as she looked up at him in shock. Hereis brushed his fingertips softly against her cheek.

“Who knows? Maybe I’m making a move again.”

A different smile from usual curved his shadowed face—a mischievous smile. Reading the hint of mischief in his lowered gaze, Brienne hastily tried to pull away from his bandaged chest.

If it was a joke, it was too much. If it was sincere, it was far too intense.

But it couldn’t possibly be sincere.

For someone with such a gentlemanly face and polite manner, his actions were…

‘…Like a sly fox!’

At that moment, a firm arm wrapped around her waist. Pressing her back down, Hereis murmured lowly, “Where are you going? I’m afraid to be alone.”