As soon as we arrived home, the children fell fast asleep. They were so shocked and tired that they fell asleep in an instant.
After laying the children down on the bed, I carefully covered them with the blanket.
I let out a sigh of relief as I looked at the sleeping children's faces when a familiar voice called me.
"Eve"
"Yes."
"...Are you okay?"
Noelier asked with a worried look. I smiled bravely.
"Of course it's fine. Look at the kids sleeping. Aren't they just like angels?"
"..."
Noelier quietly shook his head at my words.
"That is not what I asked."
"Yes?"
"I am wondering if Eve is okay."
“Me?”
I looked at Noelier with a bewildered expression.
Noelier hesitated and reached out her hand to me.
A large, white hand touched the corner of my eye. I flinched at the hot sensation.
"...It was swollen."
“Ah. This is..."
Only then did I remember that I had been rambling incoherently while covered in tears.
I felt my face burning, perhaps because his hand had touched me, or maybe because I was embarrassed.
I shook my head, pretending nothing was wrong.
"I, I'm fine. I was just so shocked back then that I did it without thinking... It was all my fault."
"...It is not Eve's fault."
Noelier spoke quietly, almost muttering. The forced smile slowly formed.
"It seems like Eve is trying to shoulder everything alone."
"..."
"It is not Eve's fault that the children went through such a thing. Please do not blame yourself too much. Eve just... she only wanted to protect the children.'
Noelier smiled kindly and said
I couldn't say a word as I looked at him.
It's just. He probably just wanted to offer simple comfort because I looked so surprised.
My heart fluttered. The pounding of my chest felt incredibly unfamiliar. Blushing, I just gaped.
My heart fluttered. The pounding of my chest felt incredibly unfamiliar. Blushing, I just gaped.
"If Eve is okay with it, I'll come along too..."
Noelier hesitated and tried to continue speaking.
"Um, I'll go out and get some herbs!"
I sprang to my feet. I felt like I couldn't stay with him any longer. I felt so strange that I felt like I would pour out every single detail.
"...Eve?"
A flustered voice reached my back, but I quickly left the cabin.
The door closed. Cool air filled my lungs. Only then did my fluttering heart seem to calm down a little.
"..."
Wasn't it? It seemed like it was still the same.
I thought it was because I was so shocked. I had gone through so much today...
Any emotion beyond this was too dangerous. I covered my cheeks and let the cold air flow out.
However, once the heat rose, it did not subside easily. In the end, I had to stand outside like that for quite a while.
***
Was it because I was acting all pathetic outside?
“Achoo!”
I caught a cold. A terrible cold, at that.
“Sister. Are you okay?”
"Are you okay, sister?"
The children clung to me with worried faces. I shook my head with a half-dazed look on my face.
“It’s not okay..."
I muttered in a heavily suppressed voice.
My pride was so hurt. It was a cold that even Zion, who is more sensitive to the cold than I am, had never caught. To think I caught a cold that even the kids didn't get.
I'm a Northern Wolf, for good measure, and I have a cold!
I sniffled and resented the nameless god.
But that resentment was short-lived. My body shivered, and my head throbbed, so I couldn't think straight. I think I had a runny nose. I raised my hand and wiped my nose.
“Are you okay?”
Noelier asked in a worried voice. I blinked slowly and shook my head.
“It’s not okay..."
“Your fever is too high.”
"It's because it's cold..."
"It's this hot."
He opened his eyes wide in surprise. I smiled faintly and slowly began to speak.
"You catch a cold when it's cold."
"...Then."
He carefully placed his hand on my forehead. At the warmth of his body, I gasped, "Huuk."
No matter how cold it is, it's this faint...!
When Noelier saw my surprised expression, he hurriedly pulled his hand away.
"Sister, are you going to die?"
Rachel, clinging tightly to her side, spoke in a tearful voice.
"I won't die... Don't let me go like that..."
But I felt like I was really going to die at this rate.
I forced my eyelids open. Three pairs of worried eyes turned toward me.
I raised my floppy hand and pointed at the basket.
"...Hey, there's a medicinal herb."
"Medicinal herbs?"
"If you boil that down and drink it, it might get a little better. Can you do it for me?"
“I will do it.”
Noelier stood up from his seat as if he had been waiting for this moment. The sound of children bickering could be heard, as if they were also trying to help.
"It's the first time I've seen the leaves green!"
"You idiot. I'm sure you prepared it yourself. Let's not fight and do it together."
The three voices buzzed and faded into the distance.
I blinked slowly. The narrowness was closing in. Eventually, I fell asleep just like that.
***
"Eve."
A pleasant voice woke me up. It was a familiar voice.
“Eve, wake up.”
I slowly opened my eyes. I saw Noelier's face beyond my blurry vision.
"Ugh..."
I shook my head with a tearful expression. I was just annoyed that my deep sleep had been disturbed.
"I'm done making this. Please eat this and go back to sleep. That way you'll recover faster."
Noelier whispered softly, as if handling a child.
“I don’t like it now..."
"But..."
"Mm, I want to sleep a little more..."
Whether it was because I was catching a cold or because Noelier's voice was unusually affectionate, I threw a tantrum—something I hadn't done once since my mother passed away.
Noelier withdrew his hand after hesitating as if hesitating.
"...Understood. If you are inconvenienced or need anything, please call me."
I nodded and buried my face in the blanket. Along with a chuckle, I heard the sound of something being placed on the bedside table. It seemed to be fully brewed herbal water.
"The children have gone to get clean water. I will go with them, so please make sure to drink if you wake up."
"..."
Noelier spoke to me in a soft, pleasant voice. This time, I didn't even nod. I was just annoyed and tired.
Perhaps because they understood my feelings, the surroundings became quiet again.
'I don't like being alone...'
Even though I had rejected Noelier's touch and the medicine, I was seized by the feeling of being alone again. It was a contradictory emotion, even to myself.
Just as I was suddenly feeling a pang of sadness, I felt a hand gently stroking my hair.
Ah. I'm not alone.
With a single touch, my heart swung between heaven and hell. Feeling the tender touch, I drifted back into a deep sleep.
***
Blinked.
I opened my eyes again. I could hear the quiet sound of burning firewood. Judging by the silence around me, it seemed that Noelier and the children had not returned yet.
As I repeated falling asleep and woke up several times, I felt even more dizzy.
I fumbled and reached for the side table. A small cup landed in my hand. It seemed to be a medicinal herbal drink made by three people together.
'Right, you need to eat quickly and get better.'
I drank the herbal water without hesitation. I tasted a bitter flavor in my swollen throat.
Ugh, I almost threw up.
'Did I make it like this?'
I don't think it was this good when I ate it before...
I wanted to throw it away, but I couldn't keep it. I have to get better soon. I drank all the medicine, every last drop.
And then I fell back on the bed.
It seems like the medicine is starting to work a bit.
I felt like I was floating.
'...Come to think of it, I feel a bit lighter.'
Or not? Did I just fall asleep?
A giggle also escaped.
What's wrong with me? I must be crazy.
I giggled and stroked my cheek. I felt soft fur.
Hmm. I wonder whose hair this is. It's really soft.
'Zion?'
Kkkkkkk?
‘Rachel?
Kkkkkkkk!
'Noelier!'
Wow!
No matter how hard I tried to speak, only the sounds of beasts filled the hut.
I gaped.
'W-What's going on?'
I slowly lowered my head. Four grayish cotton balls caught my eye.
...It was a beast's foot.
Woof!
A dog bark came out of my mouth.
Cold sweat streamed down my face.
...I suddenly turned into a wolf.
'Huh?'
Hair?
Fur?!
I sprang up from my seat. I didn't even care about my throbbing head from the cold.
That's ridiculous. There's no way!
...I shouted at the top of my lungs.
Previous Next
Comments
Post a Comment