Chapter 31
Chapter 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Nursing (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Shock was not reserved for Elric alone.
Tiria's heart was filled with utter bewilderment at the sudden encounter.
“That, then I’ll be going!”
In the midst of it, the maid fled in haste, perhaps pricked by guilt over how she had just badmouthed Elric moments before.
Neither of them paid her any mind.
The moment their eyes met, a tangle of embarrassment, relief, excitement, and some indefinably complex emotions overwhelmed their hearts.
It was especially true for Tiria.
-Of course! The Young Master was terribly worried too! He came by every day to tend to you before leaving, you know!
The very person who had fretted so much while she slept was standing right before her.
Her doubts only deepened.
Why had he left like that, only to treat her so kindly now?
…No, what shape did his heart take at this moment?
It gnawed at Tiria relentlessly.
“…You’ve come.”
Her voice was hoarse as she asked, and a reply came.
“You’re awake.”
Elric’s lips pressed into a tight line.
The corners of his eyes drooped with visible relief.
But that relief did not last long.
“You’re only awake now.”
“Yes…?”
Elric’s gaze sharpened.
It still held concern, but anger now flickered in his eyes as well.
He approached, leaning on his cane.
Tiria clenched her hands in bewilderment.
Elric came right up and asked bluntly.
“Why did you do that?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t feeling well?”
Because she hadn’t realized it was that bad.
During busy times, Tiria was accustomed to carrying on with a minor cold or flu.
It had been especially true since the death of the previous Family Head, Hoben Portman.
Over the past year, Tiria had felt unwell more days than not.
She had grown so used to it that she assumed this time would pass like the others.
Should she tell him the truth?
No, it would sound like an excuse.
Suddenly, Tiria felt wronged.
She had only followed him out of worry for Elric—why was she being scolded?
How could he be so oblivious to her feelings?
Sure, she hadn’t explained beforehand, but couldn’t he interpret it a little more positively?
It was a childish sentiment.
She ought to feel ashamed, but Tiria couldn’t shake it off.
Perhaps it was because her condition was still poor.
Her emotions spilled out in her words.
“I was fine. Until I came back up.”
Tiria tossed out the curt remark and startled herself.
She hadn’t expected such a snappish tone.
Naturally, she glanced at Elric’s face.
His expression hardened further.
As her heart sank, she rushed to add an excuse.
“My health is my own concern…”
“I was worried.”
She froze.
Her gaze fixed on Elric.
Doubting if she’d heard right, she stared at him. The anger in his eyes was overlaid with even deeper concern.
She hadn’t misheard.
‘Worried?’
About me? Him?
She grasped the implication.
Was his worry merely for the sake of their paper marriage? Because the person who handled work had collapsed? Or…
‘…No, don’t jump to conclusions.’
Tiria knew well that expectations usually led to greater betrayal.
Every major event in her life had proven it.
It was a fear learned early.
She knew bone-deep the sense of loss when hopes crumbled.
What she finally managed was an apology.
“…I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“That’s not why I said it.”
Elric sat on the edge of the bed.
His hand enveloped her fist.
“Look at me.”
Tiria flinched.
Her eyes darted to his hand, then lifted back up at his words.
His expression had softened. Yet his face remained firm.
The rough palm on the back of her hand felt strangely foreign.
The distance—close enough to embrace if she reached out—felt suffocating.
Heat rose in her cheeks.
But that wasn’t the reason racing through her mind.
“You need to take better care of yourself, my lady. From what I’ve observed these past few days, your body is truly frail.”
Despite his lengthy words, only one stuck in her ears.
My lady.
A term he used around others, now spoken when they were alone.
Was it presumptuous to read meaning into it?
No, it wasn’t.
“With a body like this, no wonder you collapsed from overwork. Trust others a little more. This estate has plenty of people who can help you.”
Tiria resented Elric.
‘Why…’
Say such things?
Why stir up her heart with those words?
Why keep making her harbor expectations?
“Are you listening to me?”
Managing her expression was difficult.
His lean forward, matching her eye level, prodded at the roots of deep-buried emotions.
Tiria finally nodded.
“…Yes.”
“Good that you’re listening. So, as your Family Head, I command you.”
Elric’s hand slipped between her fingers, gripping tight.
“You are forbidden from leaving this bed until you’re fully recovered. I’ll oversee it myself, so don’t even dream of working.”
“Then the work…”
“I’ll bring the documents here and handle them.”
His tone was resolute, showing no room for compromise.
Honestly, it made her anxious.
Yet an undeniable joy welled up too.
Having someone to lean on meant that much to Tiria.
‘You haven’t changed. Not in this way.’
Tiria’s lips curved slightly.
-What? If you’re sick, you tell me, you idiot! Come here! I’ll heal that ugly mug of yours too!
The warmth that grumbled yet soothed wounds still lingered in him. Tiria felt relief and happiness.
“Answer me. Can you promise to stay put?”
Embarrassed to show her expression, Tiria bowed her head and replied just like that day in her memory.
“…Yes.”
A desperate wish filled Tiria’s heart.
If this kindness was an illusion, please let it last until her dying day.
*
Elric only trembled with embarrassment after leaving her room.
‘What a fool I made of myself!’
He had gone to check on her as usual, only to find her suddenly awake, and he responded far too emotionally.
All his pent-up worry and anger had mixed, leading him to meddle where he had no right.
It was shameless enough to make his teeth chatter.
In truth, it was natural that he factored into why she followed him to the snow mountains, but he hadn’t considered that and had just unleashed his feelings unilaterally.
Fortunately, Tiria didn’t seem too bothered, but since Elric couldn’t know her inner thoughts, his embarrassment only grew.
It was then.
“Young Master, where are you headed?”
Aldio approached from the end of the hall.
Elric hurriedly composed himself and replied.
“…Ah, just going to the study to grab some documents.”
“Hm? Not working there?”
“I’ll do it in my lady’s room. I’m afraid she’ll try to work if left alone.”
“Can’t deny that.”
Aldio chuckled.
“Go back to her, then. I’ll prepare everything.”
“Hm? You sure?”
“Better than you hobbling around on that leg. I heard you got injured again after that snow mountain trip…”
Aldio wore a displeased look.
Elric had no retort.
It was true he’d aggravated his injury through needless mishaps.
In the end, all he could do was bow his head.
“I’ll be off, then.”
Elric shuffled back to Tiria’s bedroom like a defeated soldier.
Aldio finished his preparations while Elric and Tiria exchanged awkward glances.
With two maids in tow, Aldio set up a small side table, chair, and stack of documents beside the bed.
That wasn’t all. He served warm tea for Tiria and coffee for Elric, filling the room with fragrance, before leaving satisfied.
Only then did Elric sigh deeply and slump his shoulders.
“Aldio’s such a busybody.”
“I think he’s a fine butler.”
Tiria replied, her gaze shifting to the documents.
Elric narrowed his eyes and blocked her view with his hand.
“Don’t even look.”
“…Are you sure you can manage?”
“I can handle this much. You know me—your student. Do I seem like someone who can’t process paperwork?”
“…”
Tiria fell silent.
Elric pondered how to interpret the silence.
The more he thought, the less favorable it seemed for him.
In the end, he cleared his throat loudly and picked up the documents as if nothing had happened.
“Watch closely. Something like this will be done in—”
He glanced at the title and his pupils shook as if struck by an earthquake.
『End-of-Year Territory Ledger.』
A massive wall loomed from the start.
Numbers.
Strings of digits more terrifying than facing thousands of troops.
The moment he saw them, Elric’s mind reeled.
His breath caught, as if the figures leaped from the page to choke him.
Elric’s gaze turned to Tiria.
She tilted her head and asked.
“Shall I help?”
Sweet words, like a devil’s whisper.
It took Elric a full three minutes of internal debate to refuse.
“…I’ll do it myself.”
Elric’s pride was exceedingly strong.