Chapter 9: Kind and Cruel
When I blearily opened my eyes, the sun was setting. The sky was painted in calming shades of lilac and pink, making it feel like I was still in a dream. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I tried to remember what I had been thinking before I succumbed to the warmth and comfort of sleep. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
I can’t believe I fell asleep while taking care of Sigren.
My muscles protested as I stretched my shoulders and moved my neck from side to side. Clearly, sleeping in a chair wasn’t one of my best ideas. Once I had shaken off the stiffness and returned to a more normal position, I met Sigren’s glassy blue-grey gaze. He was watching me intently, his expression guarded and focused. His body was already angled toward the nearest escape route. Waking up in an unfamiliar place and seeing an unfamiliar person watching over him must have triggered his fight-or-flight response.
Are you finally awake?
“Well, did you sleep well? Nice to meet you.”
As soon as I fully woke up, I saw Sigren staring at me. His hooded eyes and long eyelashes made his face look more picturesque than I had imagined. He appeared almost angelic, with sharp planes and delicate features reminiscent of statue carvings. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com. However, his demeanor was cold and intimidating, deviating significantly from the relaxed, casual image I had expected. This was the kind of personality one would expect from the main character. Only the slight flush on his cheeks and his tousled hair made him seem more human.
As the silence between us grew heavy, I racked my brain for something to say to break the ice. I realized I had absolutely no idea what to say to Sigren now that he was awake. Despite my extensive planning, the reality of this situation had completely slipped my mind, leaving me at a loss.
Sigren cleared his throat and broke the silence, clearly tired of waiting for me to speak. He took the initiative to ask about his surroundings. “Where am I? What is this place?”
“This is Heilon Castle.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Fiona. And you are?”
When I asked for his name, Sigren’s brow furrowed in distrust and wariness.
“Si…gren.”
His response was soft, an unexpectedly sincere answer from someone who had been glaring at me moments before. He avoided eye contact and began to assess the condition of his body. He slowly tested his strength, lifting his fingers, hands, and legs. Though still clearly in pain, he pushed through, his forehead gleaming with sweat. He ignored his discomfort, stretching his limbs and marveling at his survival.
“How am I alive?”
I guessed that Sigren didn’t remember shielding me and rolling away from the attack that could have ended my life. It was probably a semi-conscious, instinctive action. Despite being gravely wounded, he had risked his own life to save someone he had never met before. Such selflessness was characteristic of a true hero. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“I was the one who brought you here and called the healer a couple of days ago. You’ve been very ill, suffering from a high fever. I’m just relieved that you’re not still burning up and that you seem to be improving. I’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”
Sigren’s expression showed clear bewilderment, as if I had told him something utterly unbelievable.
However, his mental state was the least of my concerns right now. I was far more worried about his physical condition. Despite his role as the male lead, he was still just a child with a fragile body. A feeling of guilt crept over me, like a thief in the night, almost undetectable. Why had I made the male lead’s childhood so unhappy and tragic?
The difference between my vague imagination and reality was stark. It was like thinking a movie zombie isn’t scary, but realizing it might exist in real life—it becomes frightening. The distinction between fiction and reality felt negligible.
“You were running a fever earlier, though you seem better now. Let me check.” I moved closer to check his forehead, but he recoiled in fear. Sigren quickly batted away my hand, his face still composed but with a glimmer of nervousness in his eyes. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Don’t touch it.”
The act of slapping away my hand while maintaining such a pretty face was startling.
How adorable… This older sister’s generous heart has fallen for your charms, kid.
“Alright then. Just tell me if you feel any pain, okay?”
“I told you already, it’s not your concern! I’ll take care of—AAAHH!!”
Sigren cried out in pain as I gently touched the bandaged area of his wound. His scream didn’t surprise me; he was only fourteen and had clearly put on a facade of strength. The wound on his stomach had only recently been stitched—it hadn’t had enough time to heal.
“You! What are you doing…?”
I placed my hands on my hips, standing my ground against his stubbornness. “You’re a serious patient right now. You need to tell me if something hurts. I can’t read your mind. You have to communicate, okay?”
“Why the hell do you care about me?! I’m just a stranger. It’s really weird, you know?” Sigren’s alertness suggested that my kind behavior had set off alarm bells in his head. His mistrust was understandable given his traumatic past—his mother’s death and constant assassination threats. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Didn’t you save me too?” I asked as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“What are you talking about? I have never—”
Before he could finish, the door to my room swung open, and a tall figure appeared in the doorway.
“For a little girl like you, as small as a mouse, it’s still a hundred years too early to bring a man to her room.”
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