MBYS 08

Chapter 8

 Time Remaining (2)

Forcibly swallowing down a burning thirst, Eveline fixated her gaze on the edge of his tightly closed lips.

However, all that returned was the weight of a silence that was cruelly cool and heavy.

His firmly shut lips showed no sign of opening. Eveline realized the meaning of that silence.

He could promise her nothing.

The corners of Eveline’s lips twisted self-deprecatingly.

For a split second, Kailus’s gaze avoided her, wandering through empty air.

“Besides that.”

Soon, he asked back nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened.

“Is there nothing else?”

It was an obvious evasion.

“If so…”

The voice flowing through Eveline’s lips was bone-dry. It was an exceedingly dry tone.

“Please permit me light walks and books to read.”

“A walk?”

“Yes. Being locked up all day feels suffocating. I also need a few books.”

Only then did the frost-like furrow between Kailus’s brows soften gently.

“If it is a request of that degree, I have no reason to refuse.”

It was an immediate answer without hesitation.

“You may read any book in my study. As for walks… I will allow the grounds within the residence’s gardens.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Eveline bowed her head politely, yet businesslike.

“Retire for today. I will… see you tomorrow.”

Eveline stood up soundlessly and headed for the door.

Once the space was completely separated, Eveline dragged her tension-released legs and collapsed onto the edge of the bed.

Holding her breath, Eveline forcibly swallowed back the burning lump surging up inside her.

If she could not get a promise, she had to create the situation.

‘So that he cannot do without me.’

She had to become his sole sanctuary. So that he could never return to that hell filled only with pain…

That was the only way to meaningfully spend the remaining year.

Eveline opened the nightstand drawer. Pulling out a notebook, she picked up a quill and dipped it in ink. In the quiet room, only the sound of the nib scraping against the paper echoed.

[Things I want to do in the time remaining.]

1. Eat until I am full.

2. Try learning swordsmanship.

3. Hear my name called. Not with contempt or mockery, but in a gentle voice.

The hand writing the last item paused. Eveline hesitated for a moment, then vigorously scribbled lines over it to erase it before the ink even dried.

‘This is greed.’

It was better not to dream dreams that would never come true. For expectations always brought greater misery.

3. Vanish quietly, without anyone knowing.

That was enough.

Eveline closed the notebook and hid it deep inside the drawer, behind the painkiller bottle. Crawling into bed as if running away, she pulled the blanket all the way over her head.

The next morning.

Morning sunlight seeping through the gap in the window tickled her eyelids. Eveline slowly opened her eyes.

“…You wake quite late.”

Standing at the head of the bed, a silhouette framed against the light, was Kailus.

“Your Highness…? Why here, no… since when have you been here?”

Eveline’s voice trembled.

“Just now.”

Kailus answered nonchalantly and turned around.

“Follow me.”

He led the way, and Eveline hurriedly grabbed her shawl, draped it over herself, and followed behind him.

The place they arrived at was the dining hall.

“Sit.”

Sitting at the head of the table, Kailus gestured with his chin toward the adjacent seat.

When Eveline sat down, the waiting servants began bringing out the food.

Greasy sausages, bread slathered with butter, and corn soup. It was a high-calorie meal. To Eveline, whose stomach was thoroughly ruined, looking at the food alone made her feel nauseous.

As she hesitated with her fork raised, Kailus’s low voice flew toward her.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

He was already slicing meat with a knife and putting it into his mouth.

“…Thank you for the meal.”

Eveline forcibly tore a piece of bread and dipped it into the soup.

Though it felt as if she would get indigestion, she silently moved her spoon and forced the food down her throat.

“…I have finished.”

Though the plate was only about half empty, it was her limit.

Wiping his mouth with a napkin, Kailus sneered.

“We need to increase the amount you eat.”

Though Kailus chided her, he did not push her further. Standing up from his seat, he came to a sudden stop while looking out the window.

“The snow has stopped…”

He stared briefly at the scenery where dark clouds had cleared, then gestured with his chin toward Eveline.

“Follow me.”

“…Pardon? Where to…”

Despite Eveline’s question, he headed for the door without an answer. She hurriedly followed behind.

Walking ahead, Kailus stopped and turned around. Because he stopped without warning, Eveline almost bumped right into him.

Kailus scanned Eveline from head to toe. Over her thin indoor dress, she wore nothing more than a single shawl.

His eyes narrowed.

“Is that the only clothing you have?”

“Ah… that is…”

When Eveline trailed off and hunched her shoulders, Kailus let out a short sigh. Without hesitation, he unbuckled the clasp of the fur cloak draped over his shoulders.

As the massive black cloak completely covered her vision, Eveline’s upper body tilted sideways, unable to bear its weight.

The cloak was far heavier than it looked. It swallowed her already small frame with room to spare, to the point where the hem dragged on the floor.

“Don’t let it trail sloppily; wrap it tight.”

Approaching her, Kailus firmly tied the cloak’s strings with casual hands. A dry chuckle leaked through his lips.

“The hem is long, so hold it well so you don’t step on it.”

Kailus added bluntly.

“Where… are we going?”

“Did you not say yesterday that you wanted to take a walk?”

“Ah…”

Eveline lowered her head and subtly raised the corners of her lips.

‘He remembered…’

Clutching the heavy hem of the cloak dragging on the floor with both hands, she chased after him as he walked away.

Stepping outside, a brilliant white snowfield unfolded beneath the dazzling sunlight. Every time she took a breath, cold air pierced sharply into her lungs. The entire world was submerged in an endless, white silence.

“Unless you want to go blind, don’t cast your gaze too far out.”

“Yes.”

Eveline followed behind Kailus, stepping into the footprints he left behind. With every step she took, her ankles sank deep into the snow.

“Haah…”

Though she hadn’t walked far, breath rushed up to the tip of her throat. Her shoes were already soaked, and she lost even the sensation in her toes.

Strength suddenly drained from her legs. Just as her staggering body was about to collapse onto the snowfield, a firm arm snatched her waist like a bolt of lightning.

“Keep your eyes open while walking.”

Though his tone was blunt, he held her firmly so she would not fall. Facing Eveline’s pale appearance up close, the furrow between his brows crumpled sharply.

He spat out a low curse.

“I momentarily forgot.”

Clicking his tongue, he pulled the limp Eveline firmly toward his chest.

“I am… sorry. I am too…”

“Quiet. We are going back.”

Cutting off her words, Kailus stopped the walk.

When Eveline stumbled, unable to stand under her own power…

He let out a short sigh and bent down without hesitation.

Sliding his arms forcefully beneath her back and knees, he lifted her as lightly as a feather.

“Stay still. Unless you want to be thrown onto the snowfield.”

Wrapping the hem of the cloak around the woman in his arms lest she feel cold, he began walking back the way they came.

To avoid falling, Eveline wrapped her trembling arms around his sturdy neck.

Thump, thump, thump.

Beyond his solid chest wall, a heavy, rhythmic heartbeat transmitted like a vibration. Through the single thin shirt separating them, his body heat burned against Eveline’s senses far hotter than the fur wrapping around her.

‘It’s warm…’

When the door opened, warm air wrapped around her cheeks. The servants in the lobby stopped in their tracks and stared at the two with astonished eyes. Eveline instinctively buried her face into his chest.

“Don’t look.”

At the low warning, the surroundings froze in an instant. As the servants hastily lowered their heads and backed away, Kailus climbed the stairs without hesitation.

Arriving at the room, he set Eveline down on the edge of the bed. It was a careful touch.

He silently stripped off the heavy fur cloak weighing down her shoulders. Only when the weight disappeared did Eveline finally take a deep breath.

“Thank you, Your Highness. Thanks to you… I had a good trip out.”

Though she had almost fainted, the outing after so long made her feel alive.

“What thanks?”

Kailus retorted bluntly. Clicking his tongue, he pulled the folded blanket at the foot of the bed and covered her frozen legs.

Instead of leaving the room immediately, he remained by the bedside. Soon, a nonchalant voice flowed out.

“I will be away for a while.”

“…Pardon?”

“Something came up that I need to handle. It will take a week at most. That should be enough time to sort it out.”

Eveline looked up at him blankly.

“While I am gone, rest like you’re dead. Don’t go freezing to death outside for no reason.”

Kailus remained silent for a moment before speaking again.

“I received the report from Edwin.”

In that instant, Eveline’s heart dropped all the way to her toes.

‘Could Edwin have told him everything about my condition?’

‘Did he find out that my insides are being ruined by mana side effects?’

To her, stiffened with tension, Kailus added nonchalantly:

“He said your stamina is at bottom because your body is inherently weak and lacking nutritional intake. He said he prescribed nutritional supplements, so take them without skipping.”

Fortunately, it was not the worst-case scenario. As Eveline swallowed a sigh of relief, his red gaze scanned her.

“Your body is nothing but bones as it is; it will be troublesome if you return even more shriveled up when I get back.”

He issued a stern warning in a feigned strict voice.

Facing his direct gaze, Eveline forcibly pulled up the corners of her lips.

“…Yes, please travel safely.”

Eveline hastily lowered her gaze and hushed her voice. She could not bring herself to say it. That it was not nutritional supplements. That it was a narcotic painkiller no different from poison, meant to help her forget the pain.

Eveline pressed her lips tightly together. That bitter truth that rose to her throat, she ultimately swallowed down with a gulp of dry spit.

Kailus stared at her once more, then turned around and left the room.

Eveline stared blankly at the closed door.

A Grand Ducal Residence without its master. A cold room left alone once again.

Eveline’s grey eyes trembled uneasily. A week without him. An ominous premonition enveloped Eveline that the Grand Ducal Residence would become a far colder and harsher space than before.