If Only She Could Walk -1-
Vitality greatly increased: 61% → 100%
Vitality consumed when using Rehabilitation Touch Lv. 2 reduced from 3% to 0.5%.
"..."
A dark night. Alone in my room, I drew a heavy breath and covered my eyes with my sleeve.
"That was close."
The marathon I'd been running for three years nearly ended just shy of the finish line. Having barely averted disaster, I was still calming my pounding heart.
We'd come so far. If it had all fallen apart right then, it would've been too heartbreaking. The panic from that moment lingered, refusing to fade easily.
"Haa."
We were so close—any moment now, real signs of progress should appear. If I'd been even a little later, everything would've been for nothing.
"Nice timing."
Up until now, there hadn't been any notable changes in the Young Lady's body. Her legs had only regained the faintest sensation—that was it. It was tremendous progress compared to before, but humans are greedy creatures, and satisfaction never came easily.
If I had to put a number on it, maybe around 40%. I'd poured in no small amount of vitality, and it was right about time for a reaction. I figured the days of pouring water into a leaky jar were finally coming to an end.
"Huaa..."
Just a little more. Just a bit longer, and good signs should come... I shook my head, chiding my impatient heart.
Don't rush it. Survival's no longer an issue. With time on our side, things will get better—get a grip, I whipped myself mentally.
That aside.
"How am I supposed to explain this to Lady Rosanna..."
It was the first time she'd ever scolded me, she who always had only kind words of praise. I had no idea how to handle this situation. And I'd even talked back.
I knew what she meant, but I had my own position to consider. I couldn't just bow my head and say, "Understood."
What about the people left behind!
"...Haa."
Still, it felt oddly good. I shouldn't feel this way, but a smile kept creeping up, my mood lifting. Someone actually cared enough to worry about me—that pride warmed me.
In my past life, I had no friends, no parents, no one to grieve for me. Here, someone mourned even my smallest scrapes, drawing a happy laugh from me.
No one to even hold a funeral for me back then.
"She must think I'm doing a good job."
I'd never once wanted to die for someone in my old life. Now, that feeling had changed a lot, and the rewards made me happy.
Kindness there just earned me gossip behind my back.
Does that guy ever do anything but work?
Dunno. He said he has to send money to the orphanage, so he works weekends without overtime. Hey, should we drag him to a club? He's got the face for it—no bad luck there.
Bullshit. If we take that guy, we'll end up eating kimbap. Just tell him to keep working.
"..."
Yeah.
"Why did I try so hard back then?"
Now, sacrificing myself for the Young Lady's happiness feels like the best choice. But why didn't I just live it up instead of clinging so desperately to life?
I let out a hollow chuckle and shrugged. Dwelling on the past wouldn't change anything.
In the end, I'd been happy then and now. Never truly miserable. Maybe because I'm naturally optimistic, but I figured both lives had been pretty decent.
Well, my past life ended heroically in battle... Ah, but there was one big regret.
The military. Fucking hell. Should've delayed it two more years.
"Huaa~ Whatever."
I stretched, tossing idle thoughts into the air. Overthinking never did anyone good.
Especially with Mihail and the heretics already giving me headaches—any more, and my brain cells would revolt. I smiled faintly and focused on the approaching footsteps.
Creeeak.
Tip-toeing.
I hadn't noticed during my talk with Rosanna, but alone in the room now, I could pick up the footsteps approaching.
On tiptoes, cautiously.
Creeeak.
Then holding her breath.
Hss...
Did she really need to hold her breath? I stifled a chuckle and headed to the door to startle our late-night intruder.
Sleeping...?Can't sleep...
I could hear her taking a deep breath, fingers fidgeting all the way from here. And then.
"You shouldn't pick your nose."
Sniff. The sound of her sniffling and wiping under her nose with her sleeve carried clearly.
Our guest outside the door was putting on quite the undignified show for a noble. Chuckling, I slowly opened the door.
Creeeak...
"Young Lady, how many times have I told you not to pick your nose."
"Hik...!"
Tiny stature. Without lowering her head, she wouldn't be visible, but she poked out her fluffy white hair and looked up at me. Finger aimed at her nose. Mouth agape in an 'O'. Eyes wide round, she pointed her finger at me.
"Wicawdo!"
"Yes."
"Wanna eat?"
"...?"
Truly the cutest noble I knew. Gazing at the Young Lady, who'd been consistently adorable from childhood to now, I suppressed a bursting laugh and shook my head.
"No thank you. I'm fine."
"Hoo..."
She nodded and wiped her finger on her clothes. She wasn't that dirty—not enough to ruin a noble's dignity. Maintaining her noble poise, she shook her head as if nothing happened and put on a stern face.
"Knock knock."
"Door's open."
"It's manners."
"Oh. I should learn that."
"Ung."
She slipped her hand into her pajamas and pulled out a chocolate, offering it to me.
"Brought a snack. Wanna share?"
"Sure, why not."
"Ung."
"But will one be enough? We've got two mouths."
She stared seriously at the unopened chocolate. Too stingy to split for two, apparently. But refusing would make her seem petty, so she squeezed her eyes shut and thrust it forward.
"Sh... share it! I'll divide it."
"Ooh... How kind."
"Came to share with you. Don't tell Mommy or Daddy."
"Haha! Got it."
I lowered my voice and led her into the room. People were sleeping in the mansion, after all.
Entering, she widened her eyes and scanned the room. Unlike the Hamel mansion, this one was spacious and neatly arranged. Punching the bed, opening and closing the curtains repeatedly, she kept gasping in wonder.
Snorting, she declared.
"This is a man's room...!"
"Don't say it so lewdly."
"First time...!"
"What about hiding in my closet last time?"
"Hioong!"
Always saying whatever she wanted. I calmly set out the chocolate and some tea on a tray, seated her in a chair, and smiled.
"So, Young Lady."
"Ung."
"What did you want to talk about?"
I smiled softly, watching her. Coming to my room so late with such a worried face—there had to be a reason. The sleep-loving Young Lady wouldn't visit at this hour without one.
"...Nothing. Just wanted to share chocolate with Ricardo."
"Hmm... Is that so?"
"Ung."
Her face stiffened as she stared at the table. Her fidgeting fingers under it gave her away. At her clumsy lie, so transparent, I chuckled and leaned on the table.
"Coming to see me this late—there must be a reason."
"Hik..."
"Running low on allowance?"
Shake shake.
"Want something?"
Shake shake.
"Hmm..."
She kept shaking her head, dodging. Proving no ill intent by staying silent, I floated a question mark over my head and sipped my tea slowly.
What could it be?
I still wasn't sure. After tremblingly splitting the chocolate into two uneven halves—barely a quarter for me—she hesitantly spoke, eyes on the floor.
"Hey, Ricardo."
Her voice was gloomy.
"What if..."
"Yes."
"Ricardo's..."
Yes?
"...fixing my legs?"
The sudden question left me speechless. It was so unexpected, my mind blanked.
Not beating around the bush, her direct words came with a darkened expression, unable to meet my eyes. Clenching her tiny fists, she pressed on.
"Ricardo's... fixing my legs?"
"Lied about buying medicine, studying to heal them?"
"Like... Ricardo's in so much pain, so much pain, but fixing my legs...?"
To her questions, I forced an awkward smile and shook my head.
"...No. Why would I do that?"
"..."
"If I were, you'd be walking already. You know me—I’m great at my job. For something like that, I'd need extra pay to make it worth..."
Panicking, my words tumbled out incoherently. I barely registered what I was saying, my thoughts a jumble.
She watched me, fists clenched tight, biting her lip, staring straight ahead.
"Hey, Ricardo."
"Yes, Young Lady."
Her voice trembled as she said,
"You seem like the type who'd do that."
"...Pardon?"
"The Ricardo I know."
Eyes brimming, ready to burst, she told me,
"That's why... I'm scared."