Fernando looked out the window again. Fernando, who seemed to be searching for someone, far away, continued speaking.
“Etienne should become stronger, but I never told her to handle everything absurd. I told her to act crazy and even if she has to hold onto a piece of the straw, to bite it and hang on.”

Fernando lowered his gaze to the now cold tea. It’s about time to end the conversation. With that in mind, he continued speaking.

“It was Etienne who made me someone who doesn’t have to force a smile. That’s why I want her. Don’t you want me to become stronger, Mother? If it’s Etienne, she can make me that way.”

“But…”

The Duchess seemed to want to say more, but Fernando interrupted her.

“My feelings remain unchanged.”

“What if Etienne rejects you?”

“I’ll think about it when the time comes.”

Fernando showed no signs of weakness to his mother. Frustration crept into the Duchess with his firm attitude. Then, when Fernando tried to get up, she suddenly grabbed him.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to Etienne.”

“No.”

“I have to go.”

Although he tried to endure when Etienne asked him not to come, he didn’t listen when his mother stopped him.

“Hae-na is here. Mrs. Josh is also here, so you have to go with them.”

“I’m not going.”

“Even if you refuse, you have to meet her in person.”

The Duchess sent a firm gaze, as if she could never let Fernando go to Etienne this time.
“Anyway, since you’ve seen Etienne at the ball, don’t go anywhere before that. If you go…”

Duchess desperately held Fernando back to give Hae-na a chance.

Because of the fever, I couldn’t tell if I was dreaming or not. All I could do was breathe in and out the rough breath.

When I twisted my body here and there in pain, it momentarily felt better, but soon the smoldering embers swirled through my body again.

‘Two times were not easy to endure.’

It was a series of precarious moments that felt like my breath would stop. It was too hard to keep enduring.

‘Mom.’

Wanting to call my mom who had been by my side, I opened my mouth, but all that came out was a wheezing breath of various colors. In the midst of mental confusion, Etienne suffered and felt pain.

“It really hurts a lot. I didn’t tell you it would be this bad.”

Someone’s voice came faintly in the midst of it all.

“Wh…o.”

Out of curiosity, I forced out a voice.

“I’m going to take care of you from now on.”

Even with a light and fresh voice, Etienne continued to exhale warm breath.

It felt like the fire was leaving my whole body, but it seemed that the fire did not reach the person next to me. When his hand touched my forehead, it felt inexplicably cool.

“I originally thought I should hide somewhere and not come here.”
I wish he would touch me a little more. In the midst of confusion, I moved my head towards that refreshing sensation.

“Even though a lot has changed, as the day approaches, my heart doesn’t feel good, so I wanted to go to a place where no one is. But then, you came to mind.”

As if reading Etienne’s mind, his hands moved back and forth on her face and neck, cooling down the fever.

“So I decided. If I have to hide, I’ll hide here.”

‘What’s that supposed to mean.’

“I think I had a pretty good idea, right? Thanks to that, I can take care of you like this. Of course, you’ll reject me, but…”

It was a somewhat bitter and painful voice.

‘Lies.’

Etienne tried to open her eyes forcibly, but it didn’t work. If she opened her eyes, she could say something to Rehart about all the lies she had told.

‘You said waiting time is exciting. You said tomorrow is not important. Why are you so sorry to be rejected now?’

“But Etienne…”

Rehart’s voice was only calm.

“I like that too. I like you.”

‘That sounds weird…’

“Even if you reject me, even if I die tomorrow, I still like you.”

As if reading Etienne’s thoughts, Rehart said.

“But when are you going to open your eyes? It’s boring.”

‘In front of a sick person…’

I thought he couldn’t be cool until the end. Still, the coolness from his hands was easing the pain bit by bit.