The whereabouts of the heart (4)
"Shh. it's not my blood."
"Phew...."
Nadia's eyes, which had been breathing in relief, finally found Baba. She froze as if she had seen a ghost.
"Miss, corpse!"
"Nadia, please. Bring Lord Rahon. Quietly, okay?"
"Ah... Yes, yes. I understand!"
Nadia ran out and I hurriedly returned to Baba.
The thought that I had to stop the bleeding immediately filled my head. I felt like I couldn't leave him like this until Rahon came.
When Baba's mask was removed, his face was revealed to be drenched in cold sweat.
Not only the eye sockets, but also the cheekbones and forehead were covered in bruises, but there was no bleeding. I quickly lowered my hands and took off Baba's shirt.
I unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it open to the side, revealing a bright red cloth wrapped around his waist.
As I carefully unwrapped the cloth, I saw a sharp wound on his side.
Every time Baba breathed, dark red blood flowed out from the gaping wound.
The dizziness that had subsided for a while came back worse.
It felt like I was back in time, sitting helplessly, holding Chevio's severed arm.
Then my mind started to spin. I pinched my thigh in a hurry.
"I shouldn't faint."
I'm not the same as before. I'm dead because I just sat there dumbly.
With trembling hands, I grabbed the blanket and pressed it tightly against Baba's side.
"Just hold on a little longer. Just a little longer."
There was no way a person who had already passed out would answer.
That's what he was telling me. Just hold on a little longer. Don't pass out now.
Biting my lips tightly, I focused solely on stopping the bleeding from Baba's side.
The back of my hand turned white from the excessive force I exerted. Sweat dripped from my face as I lowered it.
It's only been 5 minutes, but it feels like I've been like this all day.
I wanted to take a break, but I couldn't. I felt like Baba would die the moment I let go.
"Please quickly. Rahon..."
As I was muttering absentmindedly, someone shook my shoulder strongly.
"Millenia, can't you hear me? You can stop!"
"Huh?"
I didn't even know that Rahon had come. I was absent-minded and moved my lips.
"Ah. Baba, Baba is in danger. Quickly..."
"I know. I'll heal him. But you have to get out of my way before that..."
"My body won't move."
"... I'll help you."
Rahon wrapped his arms around me and moved me to the side. Only then did my tense muscles relax and a tingling sensation spread throughout my body.
I slowly massaged my arm, which was so stiff that I couldn't even feel it.
Meanwhile, Rahon healed Baba with his power.
The flesh that had been spread apart on both sides began to stretch and stick together like living threads, and soon it was cleaned up, leaving only a bloodstain behind.
The wound on his face also disappeared without a trace. I asked in disbelief, even though it looked completely healed.
"What happened? Is he okay now? Are he alive?"
"Of course, he survived. Well, he will suffer from anemia for a few days."
"Ha..."
I sat down on the floor helplessly. Sweat was seeping into my eyes, but I didn't even have the strength to wipe it away.
Rahon wiped my eyes for me. The hand that tucked my hair behind my ear was affectionate.
"You were really surprised."
"Little..."
"Let's go to the sofa while Nadia cleans up. Can you stand up?"
"Of course, I wasn't the one who got hurt."
Contrary to my answer, I had no strength in my legs. Rahon carried me to the sofa while I was staggering around helplessly.
"Sorry..."
"What are you talking about? Amazingly, you didn't faint in this situation. Now, drink some water."
Rahon poured water for me with his own hands. As I drank the warm water, the tremors in my entire body gradually subsided.
"Why did he show up in such a bad state? Did you hear anything?"
"I think the Third Prince noticed that Baba was holding hands with me, but I didn't hear the details. He passed out right away."
"Well, it's a wonder he came this far in that condition. But how did you plan on stopping the bleeding?"
"The smell of blood is so strong."
"How did you know he was stabbed in the side?"
"I touched it."
"Did you just touch a man's body?"
"I'm in a hurry..."
Rahon burst into laughter.
"To stop bleeding, you have to apply precise pressure to the wound. How did you do that when you couldn't even see it? I don't know if that guy was lucky or if you were lucky."
"Did I do a good job?"
"The bleeding was so severe that if you hadn't stopped it, it would have been dangerous even if I had come. It wasn't me who saved Baba, it was you."
I saved you.
I kept my promise.
It felt like my blocked breathing had cleared up. I was finally able to let go of the string of consciousness that I had been holding onto.
"Millenia!"
***
"Miss, are you still sleepy?"
The faint sleepiness that had been hanging over me had disappeared. I rubbed my heavy eyes.
"Nanny..."
"You look a bit tired today. I'd like to let you sleep longer, but you have to get up. "
"Please wake me up, Nanny."
"Our little girl, you have become a baby. Now, hold my neck."
"Yes."
My nanny picked me up from my bed. I bit my lip while she finished bathing and changed into a black dress.
My head was pounding. I felt like I would groan if I didn't bite my lip.
Today is my mother's funeral. If I say I'm sick, my whole family will be worried.
"Miss, it's done. Shall we go out now?"
"Yes..."
I went out holding my nanny's hand.
The reception room was full of people wearing black.
I was scared even though I knew they were the people attending the funeral.
I think someone among them might know that my mother died because of me.
People dressed in black gathered around me. They were stroking my head and saying something, but I couldn't hear a thing.
My body started shaking and my head started hurting again.
I couldn't stand it anymore so I looked for my nanny, but she was talking to another employee.
After thinking about it for a moment, I left the reception room.
"Ugh..."
I went into my father's study and crawled under the large desk, then buried my face in my knees and waited for my headache to go away.
When my mom asked me if I wanted to sing her a lullaby, I should have said no. No, I shouldn't have gone to my mom's bedroom in the first place.
It was all my fault.
'So am I sick?'
Was God punishing me for sleeping soundly without even knowing that my mother was dying?
Well then, I hope you keep getting sick. Because I'm a bad kid.
'Let's rest for a bit and then go out.'
My body was slumped. The sleep I couldn't get last night was finally creeping in.
"..."
How long had it been?
The rustling sound of paper being turned woke me from my light sleep.
I slowly opened my eyes.
Someone was sitting in front of me and reading a book.
I could tell as soon as I saw his back.
He is my little brother's friend.
"Ian Tennessee Eldern, a friend of Chevio."
I still vividly remember the day I first met Ian. I couldn't take my eyes off him as he calmly told me his name.
I looked at him because he was pretty, but I think I had a strong desire to give him something.
So I held out my favorite cake.
"This, mugger.
As Ian recalled that day, he closed the book. Then, his sparkling golden eyes turned to me.
"Why are you sleeping here?"
"I couldn't sleep last night..."
"Why?"
"My head hurts a little."
"Yes?"
My head still hurt, but I had to hide it. The moment I told the truth, everyone would know that I was being punished.
I shook my head quietly. Ian, who had been staring at me, placed his hand on my forehead.
"I don't have a fever."
"..."
"Should I carry you?"
"...Really?"
"Yes. I'll carry you until you fall asleep."
"No, the nanny will come looking for me."
"I told you to stay here. You can sleep more."
As he said that, Ian turned his back. After thinking for a moment, I leaned against his back.
He carried me on his back and started walking slowly around the study.
"Isn't it heavy?"
"Like a doll."
"Yes?"
"It's light."
I leaned my face against Ian's shoulder, smelling the warm scent of his neck before falling fast asleep.
It was only later that I realized that my headache had stopped for a while.
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