That’s why, when Gibnen was injured, he spent time alone, trusting no one. People were beings who could stab you at any time, anywhere.

Yet why…

‘Why is she here?’

Stealthily turning his gaze, he saw someone sleeping beside his bed.

Gibnen vented his annoyance.

He had no fondness for being nursed back to health. Everyone in this mansion knew that they should not be near him when he’s sick, so why hadn’t they sent Riley away?

He didn’t want to appear weak and powerless in front of Riley. He didn’t want her to tend to him, either. He was already irritable, and being alone would be better.

He couldn’t fully control his agitated emotions in front of her.

“Um.”

Riley, who had been asleep holding a wet towel, opened her eyes.

Gibnen blinked slowly at her, and she looked startled.

“You’re awake?”

“Why are you doing this here?”

“Because you’re sick…”

“I don’t like having someone by my side when I’m sick. I appreciate the sentiment, but please leave.”

Riley blinked in surprise at his unusually cold tone.

He turned his head away, unable to bear the sight of her reaction. It couldn’t be helped if she felt hurt. He wasn’t in a state to consider her feelings carefully. He couldn’t afford to be his usual caring and gentle self.

However, Riley quickly composed her face and sat closer.

“No, take this medicine first.”

“…”

“You’re sick, you can’t be alone.”

Riley gently placed her hand on Gibnen’s forehead.

“Your fever went down for a while, but it’s back. Wait here, I’ll bring more medicine.”

“Just go.”

“I won’t.”

“Go. Don’t be disobedient.”

“How can I just leave a sick patient?”

“It’s okay, go. Go sleep. Don’t be stubborn.”

Instead of answering, Riley left the room.

Gibnen sighed quietly after Riley left. He had wanted to speak as gently as possible, but his emotions wouldn’t cooperate. Right now, even swallowing this irritation and enduring it was burdensome.

He thought about apologizing to her later, when his body was fully recovered. At that moment, the door opened and Riley returned.

She had brought the medicine.

“Take your medicine.”

“…Were you always this stubborn?”

“I thought this was the time to be stubborn.”

“…”

“You get lonely when you’re sick.”

“I don’t.”

“You’re probably pretending not to.”

Riley gently pried open Gibnen’s mouth and fed him the medicine with a spoon.
Unable to move freely, Gibnen had no choice but to take the medicine Riley fed him.

She then dampened a towel with cold water and began wiping off his sweat. Riley even fetched new clothes for him.

“You should change. You’re soaked in sweat.”

“You’re acting like a nurse now.”

“Nothing I can’t do.”

Gibnen couldn’t understand why Riley was going to such lengths.

“Why are you putting yourself through this?”

“You’re sick.”

“Why not order someone else to do it?”

“Lady Sophia said you never keep anyone around. I figured if I brought in other servants, you’d just send them away. That’s why I’m here.”

“So you know that I don’t like having anyone around, yet you still do this?”

“I figure there’s no choice, even if you hate me for it.”

Riley hesitated, then removed Gibnen’s shirt and began to earnestly wipe away the damp sweat. She then offered him new clothes.

“Can’t move?”

“…”

“Figured. If you could, you’d have kicked me out by now.”

“…”

“I’ll help you get dressed.”

Riley carefully lifted Gibnen and helped him change into a new gown.

Gibnen, seeing her earnest efforts, couldn’t find more words of complaint and kept his mouth shut.

She seemed determined to stay. Stubbornly so, to the point that Gibnen eventually gave up on the idea of sending her away and closed his eyes halfway.

Drowsiness began to overcome him as the medicine took effect.

“Sleep if you’re sleepy.”

“…”

“What can I do? I can’t leave a sick patient alone.”

“…”

“Being alone when you’re sick is terrible. I… felt worse than death when I was alone and struggling. I felt lonelier, scarier, and yearned for love even more. I always wished someone would hold me when I was ill. When you’re physically weak, your spirit weakens too. You start to want someone to lean on. And not having someone to lean on… it’s unbearable.”

Gibnen turned his head away, avoiding Riley’s gaze.

To be honest, he was at a loss for words. He had always been good at hiding his emotions, but not erasing them.

Maybe this is why he preferred being alone when sick. He didn’t want to expose his raw emotions. He didn’t want to show his loneliness and dependency. He didn’t want to lean on anyone.

“I’ll stay by your side until you can at least move.”

“Why are you doing all this?”

“You did the same for me.”

“…”

“Why did you stay with me when I was sick? You even got medicine for me. Why did you do that?”

Gibnen was speechless.

Why did he? Because her lifeless face bothered him.

She was at risk of being kidnapped and killed, so he couldn’t leave her alone. But still, why did he stay by her side when he could have called for medical staff? That was because…

“To win your favor.”

“…”

“That was all.”

At Gibnen’s words, Riley gave a weak smile.

“I know.”

“…”

“I’m trying to win your favor too.”

“…”

“So get well soon.”

There was no more conversation. Gibnen didn’t respond, and Riley didn’t speak anymore. She just continued wiping his sweat with a wet towel.

Night deepened. Quite a while had passed—two hours? Three? Unable to check the clock, it wasn’t clear, but it felt like a couple or so hours had gone by.

Around then, Riley began to doze off. Her head wobbled from side to side, and even her usually upright posture began to sway unsteadily. She looked as if she would collapse at any moment.

Gibnen watched her with uneasy eyes and snapped his fingers.

Whether it was the medicine or time easing the paralysis from the poison, he could now move one arm.

‘…How foolish.’
Gibnen reached out his hand, gently cradling Riley’s swaying head from side to side. At that moment, Riley woke up with a start, her eyes flashing open, possibly startled by the realization that she had dozed off.

Gibnen’s hand, now without a destination, seized Riley’s wrist and pulled her toward him.

“Huh?”

Riley’s body was involuntarily drawn to him, landing on top of him. Startled, Riley quickly lifted her head to look down at Gibnen. He sighed and spoke.

“If you’re going to doze off, do it properly.”

“Sorry, I fell asleep without realizing. I’ll focus.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“?”

“Lie down beside me.”

Staring at Riley’s widened eyes, Gibnen calmly said,

“Sleep next to me.”

“…….”

“Don’t doze off in such an uncomfortable position.”

“I can’t sleep, I have to take care of you.”

“Even if you do, sleep first. Who’s going to look after someone in that state?”

Hesitant, Riley was pulled down beside him by Gibnen’s arm.

“Go on, sleep.”

“…….”

“If you’re not going to sleep, leave. The bed is spacious, so sleep far away. You’ll probably keep sweating.”

Riley stared at his grumbling, then smiled.

“Get well soon.”

There was no reply, but Riley closed her eyes as if it didn’t matter.

Unaware of the slightly reddened ears peeking through her hair.