Why, is this…?

“Cough, cough. Cough.”

I couldn’t even properly grasp the situation. The coughing continued, and each time, clumps of blood spewed out. In an instant, my palm was entirely stained crimson. My clothes were also soaked in blood, and at the same time, my vision swayed and my mind grew hazy as if I were heavily intoxicated.

‘Why is this happening?’

After I was seriously ill as a child, this had never happened. Not understanding, I blankly stared at my hand even as I vomited blood. The blood-covered palm seemed unreal.

“Yo-ung, master.”

Someone’s touch cupped my cheek, bringing back my fading senses. Obediently following the touch and turning my head, a cloth with a bright red ghost eye drawn on it was pressed close to my nose.

“Young, master. Young master.”

Zachary reaches out his hand. With a pathetically trembling voice, he repeatedly calls my name and takes out a handkerchief to wipe my mouth. However, as soon as he wipes, coughing mixed with blood follows. Quite a lot of blood splattered on Zachary’s upper body as well.

Zachary’s hand trembles violently. Although his face was covered with a cloth, it’s as if I can vividly see what expression he’s making. Zachary calls my name over and over in a choked voice and touches my face. I wanted to hold his shaking hand, but I didn’t have the energy for it.

“Don’t worry. I’m really fi-“

I froze mid-sentence. In an instant, my vision went black and my consciousness abruptly cut off.

The world had turned completely dark.

***

It hurts so much. I’m not exaggerating, this time it really feels like my insides are being wrung out.

When was the last time I was in this much pain?

“…Cough, cough.”

Every time I coughed, it felt like someone was shoving a blade down my throat.

I wanted to sit up, but my body wouldn’t listen. As if someone had placed a rock on my forehead, I couldn’t move an inch.

In between, I heard voices, but it was difficult to even open my eyes. It was doubtful where the dream ended and reality began.

When I regained consciousness, the first person who entered my sight was my mother.

“Are you awake?!”

She repeatedly spoke to me as I narrowly opened my eyes, but I couldn’t answer due to the throbbing in my head. It hurt too much. My arms and legs were limp, and cold sweat kept flowing.

With great effort, I opened my eyes and looked at my mother, and she sighed and clung to me.

“Oh my goodness, in just a week, you… I…”

Mother embraced me, her voice filled with relief. She doesn’t wail loudly, but I can feel her sobbing. She must have been shocked because it’s been so long since I collapsed like this.

Well, my physical condition had been better recently, so it’s understandable that she was startled since I passed out outside, not even in the mansion.

‘Why did this suddenly happen?’

It’s not just Mother who’s surprised. I really thought I was going to die this time. I thought I had grown used to the pain after enduring it for so long, but I guess not.

“Adelaide.”

At the sound of someone calling Mother, I rolled my eyes and saw the Marquis. For some reason, he also looked haggard. He gave me a brief nod, then immediately supported Mother to stand up. Mother’s condition didn’t seem very good either.

“You haven’t properly eaten anything all this time. Let’s go and have a meal first.”

“But…”

Mother looked at me again. As soon as she laid eyes on me, her face contorted and she reached out to cup my cheek.

“Oscar.”

After caressing my cheek with a worried touch, she kissed my forehead.

“This time, I really thought I had lost you. Seeing you being carried back by someone else, I truly…”

“Mo-ther. What on earth happe- Ah.”

I managed to open my mouth and speak. But as soon as I made a sound, I was startled. My voice was so hoarse. I was surprised by the sound I made and opened my eyes wide. I tried to clear my raspy voice, but to no avail.

Did they give me medicine while I was asleep? I couldn’t move a finger since earlier, feeling unusually drowsy, but I had to send Mother away.

Barely keeping my drooping eyelids open, I spoke to Mother.

“I’m awake now. Please go and rest.”

With her haggard appearance devoid of any adornment, those sunken eyes and gaunt cheeks. Mother must not have been able to rest properly while I was unconscious.

Mother insisted on staying, but when I stubbornly said I was fine, she finally left, led by the Marquis’ hand. In response to my gaze imploring him to take care of her, the Marquis left with worried words.

“Recover properly. If you need anything, be sure to tell me.”

Left alone, I forcibly woke up my mind that kept trying to fall asleep and thought.

‘By the way, how are things unfolding?’

The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was Zachary. It seemed he had safely brought me here.

However, I was worried because Zachary had looked extremely shocked just before I fainted.

‘I have no memory at all.’

What on earth happened after that?

‘Where is Zachary?’

I wanted to get up, but I couldn’t move a single finger. Without even a chance to continue my thoughts, my consciousness was cut off. Feeling as if a huge weight was hanging from my body, I fell asleep, endlessly sinking beneath the bed.

How long had I been asleep? Feeling something tapping my lips in the midst of my hazy consciousness, I woke up. What is this? I want to open my eyes and check what it is, but my body has no strength at all, as if pressed down by a nightmare.

Still, my condition seems to have improved a bit compared to earlier, but my eyelids are still heavy. Then, something pushed past my lips and flowed in.

‘Soup…?’

A savory aroma brushed the tip of my nose. The taste touching my tongue wasn’t stimulating. Thoughtlessly swallowing the soup that was thin enough not to require chewing, the moment I opened my eyes, my gaze directly met dark blue eyes.

“Cough, cough!”

Why are you here?

As I coughed loudly, Zachary hastily withdrew the spoon and wiped my mouth with a handkerchief. His touch was nothing but gentle. I was surprised to see that the one feeding me soup was none other than Zachary, and my eyes widened.

‘Oh my.’

I was worried about Zachary and wanted to find him, but I didn’t expect to see him so soon. I was so startled to see Zachary’s face that I choked. Moreover, Zachary wasn’t wearing the cloth over his head as usual, but had his face completely exposed.

As the coughing didn’t easily subside, Zachary lifted my upper body and gave me water. But there was no way I could drink it.

“Cough, cough!”

I was properly choking. While I was coughing violently, he slowly helped me lean my body against the bed’s headboard. Then, as if to call the doctor, he got up from his seat. I bit my lip in embarrassment, awkwardly extending my hand.

‘Ah, I have so much to ask.’

Even if I wanted to speak, I couldn’t properly do so because I was choking.

How did he even follow me to the hunting competition, and what happened after I collapsed? Did he bring me here? I had many questions, but it seemed Zachary was going to bring the doctor who treated my condition.

‘I have no strength at all.’

Still, I wanted to call Zachary somehow. Slightly tilting my body towards Zachary, I opened my mouth. However, my throat was so dry that I could only move my lips without making any sound. Then, as if sensing my inner thoughts, Zachary suddenly walked towards me with big strides.

“Za-cha…”

That’s enough. I managed to make a sound. Even with my hoarse voice, I was relieved to be able to call Zachary. As I opened my mouth to somehow convey my words, Zachary came close to me.

And then, he lowered his head towards me, who was leaning against the bed.

‘Huh?’

I opened my eyes wide. Zachary clinging to me had become so familiar that it could be called a daily occurrence, but it was quite different from the usual distance.

Zachary slightly tilted his head and slowly approached. As a result, the tips of our noses crossed. Our faces were so close that it seemed our lips would touch at any moment…

“!”

Our lips overlapped. I froze, awkwardly extending my hand.

The moment the soft and moist lips touched, my mind turned blank. While I was startled and opened my eyes wide, Zachary had his eyes lowered.

Zachary slightly bit and parted my stiff lips with his own. Through the lips I inadvertently opened, he passed water to me. The entire time he was transferring the cold liquid, Zachary stared into my eyes.

…Gulp.

With our lips parted and eyes locked, I swallowed the water. The water I couldn’t swallow in time flowed out past my lips. Zachary lightly wiped my wet mouth with the back of his hand.

“Just now, what…”

Huh, did we just…

“…Huh? Huh?”

I think we did something….