Bedside Tears and Empty Eyes
“Hic... Hwaaaang...!”
No sooner had the door clicked shut than Aria burst into the tears she'd been holding back, scampering over to my bed in a patter of footsteps. But she stopped short of throwing her arms around me, worried it might hurt, and instead clung to the edge of the bed, sobbing her heart out.
Then, covering her face with both hands, her shoulders began to shake.
“H-Hey. What's wrong.”
Aria's sudden breakdown caught me off guard, and I propped myself up a little on my elbows.
Her reaction made it seem like I was on death's door. My shoulder throbbed faintly as I moved, but her crying drowned it out.
“Don't cry. See? I'm not dead.”
Despite my words, Aria's sobs didn't let up easily.
If anything, hearing my voice seemed to flood her with even more emotion.
She buried her face in her palms and shook her head vigorously.
“Hweeeeng... I-It’s... b-because of meee... Lady Elise...”
Her voice, thick with tears, leaked out between her fingers. Drop, drop. Her tears soaked round spots into the bedsheet.
She hadn't gotten a clear view of what happened behind her while dismantling the magic circle.
By the time she turned around and saw me covered in blood, the shock must have hit her hard.
Aria seemed convinced that I'd ended up like this trying to protect her.
“Because of you? I was the one who dragged you along by force.”
I reached out with my left hand and placed it on her tear-streaked orange hair as she wailed.
And stroked it gently.
Her slightly frizzy strands—probably from not sleeping well all night—slipped between my fingers.
“I said I'd take responsibility. Promised I wouldn't abandon you and run.”
“Hic... Hnng...”
“Just kept my promise, that's all. So don't blame yourself.”
My hand moved carefully, steadily down her hair in a soothing rhythm.
As that warmth reached her, Aria's heaving sobs began to quiet, little by little.
She slowly lowered the hands covering her face. Her features were a mess of tears and snot.
No trace of her usual neat, timid self.
Aria looked up at me with wet eyes.
Guilt and relief swirled in those big, round orbs.
She looked so pitiful yet oddly adorable that I couldn't help a small chuckle.
“What a face. Someone might think I hit you.”
I tugged at my patient gown's sleeve and wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks.
She flinched each time the rough fabric brushed her skin, but she didn't pull away, letting me tend to her meekly.
“Hng... N-Nose... I'll blow it myself...”
Aria fumbled in her pocket for her handkerchief and honked into it.
Her eyes were still red and puffy, but her breathing had steadied somewhat.
“Better now?”
“Y-Yes... Sorry. You're the one who's hurt, and here I come crying the second I see you...”
Aria sniffled and bowed her head. She was at a loss with guilt, looking exactly like a lost puppy.
“It's fine. Esilla said you waited outside all night.”
“Esilla...?”
“You saw her earlier.”
At my words, Aria's shoulders twitched visibly again.
“Ah... Y-You mean... the Knight Captain...?”
“Yeah. What about her?”
“Sh-She's... so scary.” Aria's voice dropped to a whisper.
“Her?”
I pondered her words.
Well, Esilla was strict and inflexible, no denying that.
But scary? Not really.
Then again, for someone as gentle as Aria, that no-nonsense demeanor might be intimidating.
I nodded along to humor her.
“Yeah, she's pretty scary.”
“R-Right? It's not just me?”
With my agreement, Aria perked up, leaning in closer.
Sharing the sentiment seemed to ease her tension. She rested her arms on the bed's edge and tilted toward me.
Her face naturally drew near mine.
“Still... I'm just so glad you woke up so soon.”
She whispered softly.
Tear tracks lingered on her cheeks, now faintly flushed. Our noses nearly brushed.
Even her long lashes trembled in sharp focus.
...Isn't this a bit too close?
Caught off guard, I eased my upper body back a fraction.
“Uh, yeah. Thanks.”
As I retreated, Aria finally seemed to register our proximity.
“Ah! S-Sorry!”
She jolted back, her face turning beet red in an instant.
“I-I didn't mean to, it just...!”
“It's fine. No big deal.”
I waved it off casually.
But Aria's eyes darted everywhere, unsure where to look.
Then her gaze settled on the thick bandages wrapping my shoulder.
“The blood isn't seeping through again, is it?” Worried, she reached out and gingerly touched the edge near my collarbone. The gown's top buttons had come loose from the wrapping, exposing my neckline and collarbone.
“It's fine. They tied it well.”
I answered, but Aria stared blankly at me as if she hadn't heard.
Her eyes traced from the bandages to my collarbone.
Then slowly to the glimpse of pale skin through the parted gown.
“...Aria?”
At my quiet call, her lashes quivered.
Heat crept back into her cheeks.
Like someone entranced, she tilted her head lower.
A whiff of lavender wafted over.
Her hot, shallow breaths tickled my exposed nape.
So close now, her lips hovered just shy of my cheek.
“Lady Elise...”
“What's up? Does something hurt?”
“No... just...”
Aria stared piercingly at my lips.
Then, as she parted hers to speak—
-Creak.
The hospital room door flew open without warning.
“Lady Elise.”
A voice brimming with sweetness.
There stood Lilliana in her white dress.
“Oh my.”
She covered her mouth with a hand, smiling at the sight of us.
But her pink eyes held not a spark of light.
Her gaze flicked between me and Aria.
A chill ran down my spine.
“Did I... perhaps interrupt?”
Lilliana hummed a tune as she watered the rose beds.
She was in high spirits.
Today was the day Lady Elise would visit.
The ribbon she'd tied around the lady's wrist kept flashing in her mind.
That tiny ribbon felt like a collar she'd fastened on her, making her heart race.
She'd never remove it.
Not after Lilliana had told her so.
‘What tea shall I serve today?’
Black tea was fine, but something sweeter, like flower tea, might suit today.
“Maybe... brush her hair this time.” She murmured to herself, checking the wall clock.
It was nearing 9 a.m.
Time for Lady Elise to open the greenhouse door.
Lilliana dusted her apron and smiled toward the entrance.
But ten minutes passed, then thirty, and the door stayed shut.
‘She's a little late.’
Had she overdone it yesterday? Still asleep?
Lilliana pushed down her unease and sat to brew tea.
10 a.m.
Still no Lady Elise.
The smile on her lips hardened.
‘Why isn't she here?’
Lady Elise wouldn't break a promise.
They'd parted saying they'd meet in two days.
Dark thoughts began to bloom.
‘She didn't... run away, did she?’
Tired of me and left for good?
Back to that bracelet-giving little sister?
Or with that roommate who dresses her every day?
Lilliana bit her nail without realizing.
Anxiety grew like poisonous weeds, squeezing her chest.
She shot to her feet as the greenhouse door burst open.
“Saintess!”
A junior priest panted in.
“What is it?”
Her voice was ice. The priest reported breathlessly.
“Black Moon cult remnants... found in the academy's underground sewers!”
“Black Moon cult?”
Lilliana's eyes narrowed.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Lady Bellaph... was at the scene!”
“......What?”
Her heart plummeted.
“Where is Lady Elise now?”
“Sh-She's been moved to the VIP ward...”
Before he finished, Lilliana bolted from the greenhouse.
Unprepared for the sight awaiting her.