Taking a deep breath, Nina scratched the sheet a few times.
It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!
“Kuh-huh, cough-.”
“Nina, drink this.”
Something was brought to her lips, but it was difficult to drink. She wanted to turn her head.
Then someone tightly clasped her hand. Feeling the earnestness and desperation in those hands, Nina forced herself to drink it.
She couldn’t feel the taste.
“All right, good girl. All right.”
Kirill’s whisper made Nina chuckle.
“Kirill…?”
“You are back.”
As she watched Nina’s defocused eyes wander here and there Kirill stepped back. Adrian, who was holding her hand, leaned forward.
“I’m here.”
At his words, Nina tried to squeeze her hand, which he was holding. His eyes were bloodshot red, and he had a stubble beard.
(Note: Stubble beard or five o’clock shadow beard, it’s that beard that grows overnight and it’s not shaved.)
Looking at the clothes, it felt like he hadn’t changed in a few days. His hair was also messy.
She has never seen anything like this before. It was the always-neat Adrian, no one else.
Nina opened her mouth, but her throat was gritty.
“Shh, it’s okay. Nina, you’ve been sick for a long time. You don’t have to say anything now.”
Adrian said sweetly.
Nina saw the pain in his eyes. Even in pain, he was very kind and gentle to her.
She tried to force her body as she grunted to get up, but failed.
“The wound will burst!”
Kirill exclaimed from behind while tears walled up in the pain she felt. Nina took a breath and swallowed her saliva.
“Thank you for coming to find me.”
There was no voice, only a faint murmur came out, but Adrian understood.
“I promised.”
He answered so and Nina answered softly, “Yes.”
Perhaps thanks to the medicine, the pain lessened, and instead, a lump of fatigue came rushing in.
I’m sleepy.
Nina slowly closed her eyes. This time it was a deep sleep that had not a single dream to show her.
* * *
Once she came back to her senses, Nina’s recovery was blazingly fast.
She slept all day and woke up the next day to find Adrian still sitting upright by her bedside. Nina said, “Adrian, wash up and rest.”
She still had a sore throat and couldn’t help but stutter. The kind of drug that was poured into her throat was a mystery.
When she said that, Adrian made a face as if waking up from a dream. Then, Jean crept up from behind in a hoarse voice.
“The Commander is right. You should go to sleep, your Grace.”
Nina opened her eyes wide when she saw Jean.
“Jean, so, aide-like…”
While she was giggling, Jean blankly looked at Nina.
“You-!”
He raised his voice and pressed his hand to his face. Rather, it was Nina who was surprised. She was kidding, why was he crying?
“Cough, Jean, I, sorry-.”
“Damn, I really want to-! Nina La Dell, really, you-!”
When Nina threw her jokes, Jean finally realized that she was really alive.
Nina wanted to reach out her hand towards him, she grunted and tried to stretch out her hand, but failed.
“You haven’t recovered yet.”
As Adrian said so, Nina slightly shook her head and said.
“Both of you, rest.”
“Yes, Nina spoke well. I can’t take care of three patients. Get out right now.”
When Kirill came in, she waved her hand from behind and said so. Both men seemed to hold on, but when Nina coughed her lungs out trying to tell them to go rest, they had no choice but to come out of the room as if they were being pushed out.
Kirill looked down at Nina as if looking at something pathetic.
“How in heavens did you get stabbed with a butter knife by that weak bastard?”
“Preliminary action, killing intent, there was noth- cough-.”
“Don’t speak. Just listen.”
Kirill nagged again. Nina had no choice but to only listen to the doctor’s words because of her sore throat.
“Why is it that you are the strongest, but you are the one who is always going through the brink of death. Huh?”
As Kirill lamented, Nina smirked and sat leaning against her soft pillow. Kirill checked here and there and was relieved.
“Really, you are one resilience monster-like person. Seems like you can get out of bed in three or four days.”
From the beginning, there were no injured places other than the heart, so once that area heals, everything else is fine.
“Fiona? Edgar?”
Despite Nina’s brief question, Kirill immediately knew what she was asking.
“Miss Fiona is locked in a room, and Edgar was taken away by the wizard for investigation. Maybe the top of his head was removed while he was at it?”
“?!”
As Nina tried to get her body up, Kirill warned in a firm tone, “Na-ah!”.
Letting the strength fade away from her body, Nina laid down.
“Randell.”
“Want me to call him?”
Nina nodded her head and Kirill took a deep breath.
After a while, Kirill went out of the room and not long afterward Randell rushed inside.
“Randell.”
Seeing Nina, his face was completely distorted.
As he stood at the entrance, unable to come close, Nina patted the sheets with her fingers, calling him to come near. He hesitated for a moment, then took one small step forward and stopped again.
Bang, bang.
Nina beat her bed a little harder than before. Randell, who was startled like a dog being scolded, slowly walked her way.
As soon as he stood near her, he opened his mouth.
“It’s my fault. I-.”
I investigated Edgar and found out that nothing was wrong and because Nina trusted him, this is how she ended up.
Nina shook her head. She should have properly looked into Edgar.
‘No, even if I had investigated beforehand the same outcome could have happened.’
Nina didn’t want to say things like, ‘It’s not your fault.’ Because he feels responsible, and it’s true that it’s partly his fault.
It is not right to lie for comfort.
“I know.”
Nina answered briefly. Randell clenched his fists not knowing what to say.
She added.
“But I still like you, Randell.”
Her words made his eyes widen in a second.
His glittering eyes shook and tears welled up. He knelt by the bed and Nina let him cry his heart out. After a while, he wiped away his tears and lifted his head. He said with clear eyes.
“I’ll do anything, Nina.”
“I’m not going to answer that.”
Oh, my voice didn’t break while coming out. Is my throat getting a little better?
Nina rubbed her neck heavily. Randell got up from his seat with an apologetic expression on his face.
“Take a break and we’ll talk later. No, can I talk to you……?”
Nina nodded her head and Randell quietly withdrew.
Kirill came back inside in a cold mood, she was expressing in every inch of her face that she sent away an annoying bastard away.
“It must have been a good wake-up call for a man who thought he was the best in the world.”
At Kirill said that Nina gave a smirk.
Kirill pulled out her own pendulum. It was the second time Nina saw her pull it out. Her octahedral diamond-like pendulum shimmered more than the last time she had seen it.
“Is it new?”
“Yes, produced in Luverne.”
As she touched the top with her fingertips, the pendulum vibrated and unfolded like it was turning into two, revealing a glowing light within.
“Huh?”
A faint light began to twinkle in Nina’s chest. At the same time, the pendulum sparkled.
“Hmm, the hole is really closed. Maybe the walls are still a little thin?”
“Are you looking at my heart with that?”
“Yes.”
Kirill said so, then she folded it back into shape and tucked the pendulum inside her sleeve.
Nina said in a serious tone.
“Kirill, don’t just destroy such a technology. Raising disciples or something like that is more productive. It’s such a waste, isn’t it?”
She laughed at Nina’s words and messed up her hair.
“You don’t have to worry because I’m going to do that anyway. It’s a waste to die with all of this only in my arms, right?”
“That’s right. That’s right.”
Kirill offered medicine to Nina, who shook her head. Just looking at the green, sticky-looking liquid gave her goosebumps. It was an unlikable, bitter medicine even for adults.
“I wish the taste could be improved a bit.”
“Effect comes first.”
Not refuting, Nina swallowed the liquid.
“Now go to sleep, tomorrow you won’t be taking medicine.”
At Kirill’s words, Nina lay down and closed her eyes. Perhaps something was mixed with the medicine, she fell into a deep sleep in an instant.
Taking a deep breath, Nina scratched the sheet a few times.
It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!
“Kuh-huh, cough-.”
“Nina, drink this.”
Something was brought to her lips, but it was difficult to drink. She wanted to turn her head.
Then someone tightly clasped her hand. Feeling the earnestness and desperation in those hands, Nina forced herself to drink it.
She couldn’t feel the taste.
“All right, good girl. All right.”
Kirill’s whisper made Nina chuckle.
“Kirill…?”
“You are back.”
As she watched Nina’s defocused eyes wander here and there Kirill stepped back. Adrian, who was holding her hand, leaned forward.
“I’m here.”
At his words, Nina tried to squeeze her hand, which he was holding. His eyes were bloodshot red, and he had a stubble beard.
(Note: Stubble beard or five o’clock shadow beard, it’s that beard that grows overnight and it’s not shaved.)
Looking at the clothes, it felt like he hadn’t changed in a few days. His hair was also messy.
She has never seen anything like this before. It was the always-neat Adrian, no one else.
Nina opened her mouth, but her throat was gritty.
“Shh, it’s okay. Nina, you’ve been sick for a long time. You don’t have to say anything now.”
Adrian said sweetly.
Nina saw the pain in his eyes. Even in pain, he was very kind and gentle to her.
She tried to force her body as she grunted to get up, but failed.
“The wound will burst!”
Kirill exclaimed from behind while tears walled up in the pain she felt. Nina took a breath and swallowed her saliva.
“Thank you for coming to find me.”
There was no voice, only a faint murmur came out, but Adrian understood.
“I promised.”
He answered so and Nina answered softly, “Yes.”
Perhaps thanks to the medicine, the pain lessened, and instead, a lump of fatigue came rushing in.
I’m sleepy.
Nina slowly closed her eyes. This time it was a deep sleep that had not a single dream to show her.
* * *
Once she came back to her senses, Nina’s recovery was blazingly fast.
She slept all day and woke up the next day to find Adrian still sitting upright by her bedside. Nina said, “Adrian, wash up and rest.”
She still had a sore throat and couldn’t help but stutter. The kind of drug that was poured into her throat was a mystery.
When she said that, Adrian made a face as if waking up from a dream. Then, Jean crept up from behind in a hoarse voice.
“The Commander is right. You should go to sleep, your Grace.”
Nina opened her eyes wide when she saw Jean.
“Jean, so, aide-like…”
While she was giggling, Jean blankly looked at Nina.
“You-!”
He raised his voice and pressed his hand to his face. Rather, it was Nina who was surprised. She was kidding, why was he crying?
“Cough, Jean, I, sorry-.”
“Damn, I really want to-! Nina La Dell, really, you-!”
When Nina threw her jokes, Jean finally realized that she was really alive.
Nina wanted to reach out her hand towards him, she grunted and tried to stretch out her hand, but failed.
“You haven’t recovered yet.”
As Adrian said so, Nina slightly shook her head and said.
“Both of you, rest.”
“Yes, Nina spoke well. I can’t take care of three patients. Get out right now.”
When Kirill came in, she waved her hand from behind and said so. Both men seemed to hold on, but when Nina coughed her lungs out trying to tell them to go rest, they had no choice but to come out of the room as if they were being pushed out.
Kirill looked down at Nina as if looking at something pathetic.
“How in heavens did you get stabbed with a butter knife by that weak bastard?”
“Preliminary action, killing intent, there was noth- cough-.”
“Don’t speak. Just listen.”
Kirill nagged again. Nina had no choice but to only listen to the doctor’s words because of her sore throat.
“Why is it that you are the strongest, but you are the one who is always going through the brink of death. Huh?”
As Kirill lamented, Nina smirked and sat leaning against her soft pillow. Kirill checked here and there and was relieved.
“Really, you are one resilience monster-like person. Seems like you can get out of bed in three or four days.”
From the beginning, there were no injured places other than the heart, so once that area heals, everything else is fine.
“Fiona? Edgar?”
Despite Nina’s brief question, Kirill immediately knew what she was asking.
“Miss Fiona is locked in a room, and Edgar was taken away by the wizard for investigation. Maybe the top of his head was removed while he was at it?”
“?!”
As Nina tried to get her body up, Kirill warned in a firm tone, “Na-ah!”.
Letting the strength fade away from her body, Nina laid down.
“Randell.”
“Want me to call him?”
Nina nodded her head and Kirill took a deep breath.
After a while, Kirill went out of the room and not long afterward Randell rushed inside.
“Randell.”
Seeing Nina, his face was completely distorted.
As he stood at the entrance, unable to come close, Nina patted the sheets with her fingers, calling him to come near. He hesitated for a moment, then took one small step forward and stopped again.
Bang, bang.
Nina beat her bed a little harder than before. Randell, who was startled like a dog being scolded, slowly walked her way.
As soon as he stood near her, he opened his mouth.
“It’s my fault. I-.”
I investigated Edgar and found out that nothing was wrong and because Nina trusted him, this is how she ended up.
Nina shook her head. She should have properly looked into Edgar.
‘No, even if I had investigated beforehand the same outcome could have happened.’
Nina didn’t want to say things like, ‘It’s not your fault.’ Because he feels responsible, and it’s true that it’s partly his fault.
It is not right to lie for comfort.
“I know.”
Nina answered briefly. Randell clenched his fists not knowing what to say.
She added.
“But I still like you, Randell.”
Her words made his eyes widen in a second.
His glittering eyes shook and tears welled up. He knelt by the bed and Nina let him cry his heart out. After a while, he wiped away his tears and lifted his head. He said with clear eyes.
“I’ll do anything, Nina.”
“I’m not going to answer that.”
Oh, my voice didn’t break while coming out. Is my throat getting a little better?
Nina rubbed her neck heavily. Randell got up from his seat with an apologetic expression on his face.
“Take a break and we’ll talk later. No, can I talk to you……?”
Nina nodded her head and Randell quietly withdrew.
Kirill came back inside in a cold mood, she was expressing in every inch of her face that she sent away an annoying bastard away.
“It must have been a good wake-up call for a man who thought he was the best in the world.”
At Kirill said that Nina gave a smirk.
Kirill pulled out her own pendulum. It was the second time Nina saw her pull it out. Her octahedral diamond-like pendulum shimmered more than the last time she had seen it.
“Is it new?”
“Yes, produced in Luverne.”
As she touched the top with her fingertips, the pendulum vibrated and unfolded like it was turning into two, revealing a glowing light within.
“Huh?”
A faint light began to twinkle in Nina’s chest. At the same time, the pendulum sparkled.
“Hmm, the hole is really closed. Maybe the walls are still a little thin?”
“Are you looking at my heart with that?”
“Yes.”
Kirill said so, then she folded it back into shape and tucked the pendulum inside her sleeve.
Nina said in a serious tone.
“Kirill, don’t just destroy such a technology. Raising disciples or something like that is more productive. It’s such a waste, isn’t it?”
She laughed at Nina’s words and messed up her hair.
“You don’t have to worry because I’m going to do that anyway. It’s a waste to die with all of this only in my arms, right?”
“That’s right. That’s right.”
Kirill offered medicine to Nina, who shook her head. Just looking at the green, sticky-looking liquid gave her goosebumps. It was an unlikable, bitter medicine even for adults.
“I wish the taste could be improved a bit.”
“Effect comes first.”
Not refuting, Nina swallowed the liquid.
“Now go to sleep, tomorrow you won’t be taking medicine.”
At Kirill’s words, Nina lay down and closed her eyes. Perhaps something was mixed with the medicine, she fell into a deep sleep in an instant.
