“…….”

“…….”

Sinclair and Elaina simply looked at each other’s faces without saying a word. As if they were mesmerized.

They were close enough to feel each other’s breath on their skin through slightly parted lips. Despite what should have been an uncomfortable situation, Elaina did not run away.

The same was true for Sinclair. For someone who had been so cold in rejecting Elaina’s touch earlier, he now found it difficult to look away. He couldn’t push Elaina away.

No, rather…….

I…….

What I want to do is…….

Just as Sinclair was unconsciously, impulsively about to move closer to her face.

“Your Highness, Lady Elaina. It’s Judith and Anna. Are you awake by any chance?”

A very cautious voice was heard from beyond the door. Sinclair, belatedly regaining his senses, let go of Elaina’s hand, and Elaina hesitantly looked at his face.

“Come in.”

Sinclair answered in his usual monotone voice, turning his head away from Elaina, and shortly after, Judith and Anna entered.

“We’re terribly sorry to disturb your rest, but the physician said you must not skip meals…….”

Judith and Anna, still uncomfortable and intimidated by Sinclair, each wheeled in trays laden with food as they entered the bedroom.

“We’ve also brought new medicine. You must eat first, or it could upset your stomach if taken on an empty stomach…….”

While trying their best not to look directly at Sinclair, Judith and Anna diligently carried out their duties.

Anna pulled a table up to the bed, and Judith carefully arranged the food on it. All the dishes were easy on the stomach, suitable for a patient, rather than being too rich.

“We’ll take our leave now. Please call for us if you need anything.”

Elaina gave them a grateful look, and Judith and Anna quickly left the bedroom as if they were being chased.

“…….”

Once again, a heavy silence descended upon the bedroom.

Still feeling that subtle atmosphere from earlier seemingly resonating in her heart, Elaina nervously adjusted her top and changed the subject.

“You heard them, right? Sinclair. Please sit here.”

Perhaps thankful for the good excuse that dispelled the strange atmosphere, Sinclair obediently took a seat.

However, it wasn’t long before Sinclair and Elaina belatedly realized they had encountered an unexpected obstacle.

That is, the injured shoulder.

The right one.

And Sinclair being right-handed.

Elaina looked at him with the most foolish expression in the world, holding a spoon in her hand.

“Um…….”

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t make me look any more pathetic.”

As if they were thinking the same thing, Sinclair continued with an incredulous look.

“I’d rather not eat at all.”

“The medicine is harsh and could upset your stomach, remember? Didn’t you hear?”

“Then I’ll just eat with my own hand.”

“The physician said not to use your hand at all for a while, remember? Your hearing seems to be quite poor, Sinclair. Is this another side effect of being bitten by a lion? But you were bitten on the shoulder, not the ear.”

Hah…….

Sinclair put his hand to his forehead and let out a heavy sigh, while Elaina struggled to hold back her laughter.

Such an unexpected side of him, surprisingly, felt only cute to her.

If Schuler, Glen, Judith, and Anna had heard that, they would have worried about Elaina’s sanity, saying what nonsense that was.

“Damn it.”

Sinclair cursed, slightly bowing his head and brushing back his disheveled hair with his uninjured hand, and at the same time, the corners of Elaina’s mouth quivered.

No.

No matter what, laughing so openly would be too much.

“Just laugh openly.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s less embarrassing that way.”

“Oh…… Um…… Alright, I’ll do that then.”

With permission granted, she felt somewhat more at ease. Elaina covered her mouth and burst into laughter while looking at Sinclair, who wore an expression of disbelief.

Even though he had told her to, he hadn’t expected her to laugh so openly…….

Even in the midst of this, Elaina picked up the spoon. She carefully scooped up some of the thin soup for Sinclair and brought it right up to his mouth.

“Now, say ‘ah’.”

“…….”

“Come on.”

“Hah…… Damn it…….”

Though curses continued to spill out, the die was already cast. Sinclair finally relented and obediently opened his mouth.

Who could have imagined this huge man, infamous for his bad reputation, being fed like this?

Elaina continued to laugh.

“…….”

Sinclair glared at the laughing Elaina with a deeply furrowed brow. But it didn’t last long. Sinclair, too, found himself laughing along with her before he knew it.

It wasn’t simply laughter born from the absurdity of his own situation.

It was more like…….

It felt as if they had returned to the past. To Eli and Ren, who always burst into laughter upon seeing each other’s faces.

Just like innocent children playing house.

“…….”

When Sinclair laughed, Elaina reflexively showed a somewhat surprised expression.

Come to think of it, this was the first time she had seen him laugh so genuinely. She had only ever seen him sneer with disdain or chuckle while making frivolous jokes.

Still, Sinclair’s smiling face was far more…… than Elaina had expected.

“I’m starting to think it might have been better to be bitten on the stomach or back or somewhere like that.”

“Pardon?”

“Then I wouldn’t have had to endure this kind of situation. It would have been a more fatal wound, though.”

Elaina let out a laugh with a “pfft” sound.

“Hurry up and feed me while I’m still willing to cooperate. Before I change my mind.”

“Alright. I was going to do that anyway.”

Elaina diligently and attentively fed Sinclair the soup.

Seeing Elaina seemingly enjoying feeding him, Sinclair, contrary to his words, stayed put and ate all the food prepared for him until the end.

He even remained until Elaina finished her own meal.

It was already deep into the night.

Perhaps because the tension had eased, or maybe because the fatigue accumulated over several days had hit her all at once, Elaina was sleeping with a slightly weary expression.

And Sinclair slowly opened his eyes, listening to the steady sound of Elaina’s breathing.

“…….”

In his golden eyes, reflecting the light of dawn, Elaina’s image filled his vision completely.

Lying down facing Elaina, Sinclair remained silent, quietly taking in her appearance.

……Is it because too many things have happened one after another?

Do you know that emotions I can’t take responsibility for have started to grow, entangling my body more and more?

That I keep feeling greedy without even knowing my place.

“If I could at least take minimal responsibility now and fulfill your dream…….”

If I could help you escape from the Aswald family.

“I thought I might be able to alleviate some of my guilt.”

I expected that scarred, insignificant girl who kept following me around, refusing to be forgotten, would disappear.

But at some point, Sinclair had vaguely realized.

Perhaps that expectation…… could never have been fulfilled from the start.

And that the long-held emotions he had for Elaina were not just simple guilt.

What had swallowed up the guilt that remained like a tattoo, becoming a lifelong scar, was none other than longing.

The longing piled up day after day, tirelessly, like snow falling in the depths of winter. Without melting even a little.

……But I can’t be greedy anymore.

I can’t stand proudly before Elaina.

I can’t tell her that I was her Ren.

I can’t explain what happened that day and ask for her forgiveness.

No matter how much I fell into Yuria’s scheme, or how much trauma from the Empress’s death prevented me from taking Elaina’s hand…… I know all too well that those are nothing but excuses.

But what about these feelings?

This foolish ache of finding your smile lovely.

This desire to converse with you, no matter how trivial the words.

This contemptible wish to reach you not as Ren who couldn’t do anything, but as Sinclair Butler who can give you anything…….

Sinclair smiled bitterly.

Then slowly, very quietly, he reached out his hand.

Finally, Sinclair’s large hand gently cupped Elaina’s smooth cheek.

But that was all. Sinclair dared not touch Elaina any further, and only caressed her face endlessly with a sorrowful look.

It was around noon the next day when Lady Leggett requested an audience with Elaina.

As Sinclair was still asleep, intoxicated by medicine, Elaina left him alone for a while and headed to the reception room to meet Lady Leggett.

Perhaps she had come to check on them out of concern, having witnessed the commotion that day.

After all, although Lady Leggett was prone to luxury and vanity, she wasn’t a cruel person at heart, so it seemed possible.

However, Elaina soon realized that Lady Leggett’s request for an audience was not simply to check on their well-being.