“…Oh God.”
Adrian could only say that, unsure if he was even worthy of seeking a god, as he faced Robert’s condition for the first time.
It was a miracle that his soul still clung to him despite his chest being wide open, truly the worst state possible. Each time he placed his hand on the cold body, tears escaped him involuntarily.
Though he had prepared himself for something like this, the reality was even more horrific than he could have imagined.
“What happened? How did… you get such a huge wound?”
“…I was saved. That’s all there was to it.”
Adele’s mouth shut tight, ready to blame herself. It seemed Robert wouldn’t want her to say that.
And saying it felt like it would mean he was about to die. The anxiety engulfing both Adrian and Adele was palpable.
With Adrian’s arrival, Robert’s breath returned. But it didn’t change the fact that he could die at any moment.
If Robert really died like this, would he be able to find a reason to live? Shaking off such useless thoughts, Adele slowly approached Adrian.
Robert lay there like a corpse. If he hadn’t been breathing, one could easily mistake him for being dead, as his body had grown completely cold, sending chills down her spine each time she touched him.
Robert, who had blocked her way, and the fact that she couldn’t do anything but watch him. Did he really think it would be okay to just die like this after telling her nothing would happen?
It was infuriating. She wanted to grab him by the collar the moment he woke up. But stronger than that feeling were the regret and affection swirling inside her.
Her trembling fist moved downward for a moment, and Adrian, gazing intently at Adele, parted his lips.
“Let’s rest for a bit. You look like you’re really struggling.”
“…I’m fine. I wouldn’t be able to sleep even if I lay down.”
“I understand, but blaming yourself is the dumbest thing you could do. Robert wouldn’t want that either.”
Swoosh—
The light emanating from the saint’s hand seeped into Robert’s body. The blessing received directly from the Pope granted him greater power.
A miraculous force capable of saving even those on the brink of death; as the completely wide-open hole began to close, Adrian’s complexion turned pale.
Cold sweat trickled down. How much would destiny twist by saving someone who was dying? Of course, this miracle was supposed to defy any cost that might come from it, but how long this healing was possible remained uncertain.
“Huuh.”
As Adrian exhaled heavily and checked Robert’s condition again, the completely wide-open wound on his chest had fully closed.
When Adrian checked Robert’s condition again, the completely open wound on his chest had healed completely.
But it was just superficial. To truly heal the broken heart, more power was needed. For now, Adele’s magic was filling that role, but if it meant forcing a recovery—
Cough.
Adrian spat out the blood that flowed down his throat, his back arching. Rubbing his blurry vision and touching the ground, he sensed a hand on his waist and quietly looked up.
It was Adele.
“…You said not to overdo it, but here you are pushing yourself even more. If I were to turn it around, Robert wouldn’t want this either.”
“We have to save him no matter what. There’s no helping it.”
Seeing Adrian wipe the blood from his lips, Adele let out a small sigh. She knew that only the saint could save Robert, but she didn’t intend to push him this hard.
Holding onto the heart was enough with her magic. The reason Robert was still alive so far was because of Adrian’s presence.
For some reason, it felt like Robert’s regeneration had started the moment Adrian arrived in the North.
“If you won’t rest, I might just have to make you faint. At least you should rest until your Divine Power is fully restored.”
With a commanding tone, Adrian shot a glare at Adele but ended up smiling bitterly. They were in the same predicament after all. There was no need to argue over one man.
Maybe at another time, but right now, they needed to save Robert. Even holding Adele’s hand to stand up, his condition was not good.
Placing his forehead against his wobbly legs, Adrian struggled to speak.
“Then let me impose. I’ll come back at dawn, so until then… I need to rest—”
Thud.
Adrian collapsed into Adele’s arms, breathing softly. The Divine Power needed to regenerate the wound on his chest was something that would require dozens of high priests to manage.
It was only natural to feel exhausted after handling something like that alone. After pondering for a moment, Adele lifted Adrian and laid him down on the sofa.
She would have to leave him be until he woke up. She knew well enough that continuously manifesting such miracles was not possible.
“Strange.”
The words he had said to Robert before fighting the demons swirled in her head. The memories of angrily interrogating Adrian about something and the ominous feelings that matched one by one made her feel mixed emotions. Now, she was just anxiously trying to save him… wasn’t it just like herself?
Chuckling at the reality that she couldn’t purely enjoy, she plopped down on a chair and looked at Robert. The wound that had made her spine tingle just by looking was no longer there.
I am no longer here.
The eyes I always saw are now closed, but the sound of breathing is definitely there. How long will it take to wake up? Even if I can’t afford to delay, I can’t just leave Robert like this.
When will he wake up?
If I can’t get him to wake up like this—Adel shook her head vigorously, pressing her eyes tightly with both hands. It was better not to think such negative thoughts.
As the faint moonlight filters through the closed curtains and reaches Robert, Adel quietly realizes it’s nighttime and closes her eyes.
With my eyes closed, I hear the overlapping sounds of Adrian and Robert’s breaths. The voice I always heard is gone.
The face that used to smile slyly is now pale, lying in silence. The thought that this sleep might never end drives me mad, but biting her nails, Adel was somewhat accustomed to this feeling.
When I couldn’t regain my memory, this kind of anxiety would often sweep over me while thinking of Robert. Looking back, it was all Robert’s fault.
Was that what the bet last time was about? Asking if we could be together this winter?
In the end, was it an attempt to save myself no matter what? I hated it. But I couldn’t hate him. I had come too far to harbor such feelings.
If I nurtured those hateful feelings, I would only end up suffering alone. Wham—I bang my head against the empty bed. Perhaps because I had shed all those tears earlier, my eyes sting for no reason, and the tears refuse to fall.
“…Idiot.”
Who am I talking to? It’s a word for the one who helped me again, but at the same time, it’s for Robert. I have a lot I want to say.
I had been preparing to convey the feelings I hadn’t expressed until now, thinking this time for sure.
Isn’t it pathetic that I couldn’t even deliver something like that? I know it’s pointless to regret now. Since he will wake up anyway, I know I’ll be able to convey it again someday.
I just feel troubled. Clearly, he had the capacity to completely avoid the demon’s attack, yet came to save me. If it weren’t for the miraculous timing of Adrian arriving, he would have taken an attack that should have killed him instead.
If Robert had died like that, I would have regretted it for life.
“Maybe…”
He could have died along with me there. I know I shouldn’t be in such a place, but I lost my rationality in that situation.
Cautiously extending my hand, I touch Robert. It’s not as cold as before. Perhaps because his breath is coming back and warmth is returning, Adel gently smiles as she strokes his slightly warm hand.
Many memories flashed by. Like when we first met, and I suddenly put a knife to his neck, or when I invited a complete stranger to the North just because I liked him.
The reason I came to the North just because I liked you.
And from Robert, who absurdly came to the North after hearing such nonsense, to the fight that broke out with Bunta.
I wasn’t particularly pleased that he formed a bond with the princess, but when Robert lay there, covered in blood, my heart sank for a moment.
I secretly thought he must be dead, but who would have guessed he alone fought through it and survived?
“I understand now why you didn’t hate me.”
Though I couldn’t remember Robert, he must have retained all the memories of that time. The gazes we exchanged were different.
I was living in the present, while Robert was trapped in the past. If every action felt overlapping with the old days, and if I had faced the death of such a person multiple times, what kind of mood would that create?
It was an emotion that Adele couldn’t even dare to imagine. Meeting Robert changed many things. I started to see the rain and snow.
Sometimes I fell into those lyrical emotions, lost in thoughts that would make anyone laugh. I wondered if I could actually bring him to the North and settle him there.
For the first time, I smiled, for the first time, I held hands.
For the first time, I pondered whether I should have someone. Even if I regained my past memories, that had never changed.
My beginnings always started from the name Robert Taylor, and it was always Robert who made me realize I was a woman instead of just swinging a sword as a butcher.
“I had something to say.”
But I missed the timing and couldn’t say it. Holding Robert’s hand, Adele quietly took out a small box from her bosom.
It was something she had prepared quite a while ago; didn’t she foolishly let the saint steal the spotlight? If so, she should have just kidnapped him. With a small sigh, Adele reached out and opened the box.
She pulled out a pair of rings, looked at them for a moment, and slipped one onto Robert’s finger. As for the other one…
Well, wouldn’t it be better if Robert put it on himself? It didn’t have to be taken as a confession of love. Since it was a magically treated artifact, just saving one life in danger would be enough.
“I suppose I like you. No.”
As her hand brushed against him, it slowly moved up to his cheek. More softly than when he bled in the Northwest, recalling past memories. Quietly smiling, Adele added:
“I suppose I love you.”
Even though I knew he couldn’t hear it, I wanted to speak like this, at least for now. When the time comes, could I say it properly then? Adele held onto that heart again.
She hoped for a later time.
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