Monsoon Season -1-
Shwaaaaa... It was raining.
The sky, which had been clear until recently, now announced the arrival of summer by blotting out the blue with heavy, moisture-laden clouds.
"Hm..."
Summer must be pretty friendless too. Ending up tangled with weirdos like a butler living in a gloomy mansion and the wicked lady he serves.
I like the rain. The stories whispered by a drizzling shower were always entertaining. Sometimes it soothed a girl's heart like a menopausal middle-aged woman, other times it ignited the anxious longing of a man in love, pushing him to confess.
Just water droplets falling from the sky, yet it held this mysterious power to stir emotions.
That's rain for you. So I like it.
Shwaaaaa...
Not that all my memories of rain were good ones. Mihail's situation. The Young Lady's. Yuria's. Even pains that could be borne more easily felt sharper when it rained.
"..."
People can't hold only good memories forever, so I didn't think badly of it. Besides, even if I hated it, the clouds wouldn't care about my feelings.
"Yaaawn. So drowsy."
The mansion was peaceful today as well. Rain pattered outside the window. The Young Lady, sitting on the bed and gazing out, let out a lazy yawn.
"Sniff... Hmnya."
I rubbed my nose and cautiously asked the Young Lady, who was peering out the window.
Thank goodness we'd gone to the valley before the monsoon started.
"At least we made it to the valley before the monsoon hit. If we'd put it off till tomorrow, winter would've come."
"Yeah... sniff."
The Young Lady nodded, staring out the window. Was she moved by the lush sound of the rain, or just nodding without looking? Either way, I felt a pang of neglect.
"Young Lady."
"Sniff..."
"Are you crying?"
"No."
I craned my neck to check her face as she peeked out the window. She'd been making strange noises for a while. Her voice sounded stuffy. And that sniffing...
Hm...
"Young Lady."
"Hmnya."
"Caught a cold?"
"..."
The Young Lady, who'd been gazing outside, clamped her lips shut at my question. She stiffened like someone who'd been caught red-handed, looking like she was hiding something.
Under my steady gaze, she shook her head.
"No, I haven't."
"Doesn't look like it."
"No. I'm super healthy."
Doesn't look like it...
"Maybe..."
"..."
"You're not lying because you hate medicine, or making excuses about not having a cold because you're scared of the doctor, right?"
Flinch.
"As a proper member of the Desmont family, surely not..."
"Sniff...!"
The Young Lady nodded casually.
"Of course. What do you take me for? I'm not a kid. Sniff... Hmnyari..."
Splat...
"I'm not the type to lie to you about something like that, Ricardo."
"That's exactly why I'm asking."
"Eek...!"
Her voice was weak. I gently reached for her forehead. She looked like she had a cold, no doubt.
But she dodged with a quick swish, leaving my hand hanging in the air. I bit my lip, watching her whip her head away.
"Tsk..."
"Why?"
"You can't dodge."
"Nobles have the right to refuse too."
"Butler Law Article 1, Clause 1: If the employer is ill, the employee must check by force if necessary."
"Eek... Is there really such a law?"
"No. I just made it up."
"Eeeeeek... Hwechut...!"
The Young Lady pouted and glared at me.
"Wipe it..."
"..."
Now that I could see her face properly, anyone would say she had a cold. Snot smeared everywhere. Her nose bridge was red from all the rubbing, probably to clear it.
"Haa..."
Seeing her ragged breathing, I let out a deep sigh and pressed the back of my hand to her forehead.
"Ugh... I'm fine."
"Doesn't seem fine."
"No, I'm really fine."
"Young Lady."
"Eek..."
No fever, at least. It was lukewarm, no heat. Cooler than expected, actually. I nodded, relieved, and sighed deeply.
"Good, no fever."
"Yeah. Head doesn't hurt."
"Doesn't mean you look healthy."
"Eek... No, I am healthy."
"...Young Lady."
"I'm fine. Won't die."
She gave a small smile.
"Meat'll fix me right up."
"Is meat a cure-all?"
"Yeah."
"Heh..."
Her bold reply drew a wry chuckle from me as I glanced out the window.
Shwaaaaa... The downpour showed no sign of stopping anytime soon. Like it was unleashing all its pent-up fury at once, the thunderous rain made going out unthinkable.
Still.
"We should go to the hospital."
We really should. As her butler and roommate, her health came first.
The typhoon-like torrent was no issue. My one unbreakable stubbornness was about her well-being. Especially since she'd had colds constantly since childhood.
Screeech! Gonna jump in the water!
Young Lady, it's winter right now.
Screeeeech!!! Don't stop meee!
Of course, this cold stemmed from her own stubbornness.
'Hans is out on business too...'
In this awkward situation, all I heard was her sniffing.
"Hweee... Hmnya."
"..."
"Hng... Hnng... Hwechu!"
'Hospital' set her off hard. Her eyes went wide as she snapped at me.
"Hate hospital!"
"..."
"Not going!"
"Why not? They give candy and make you better."
"Daddy said outside the blanket is dangerous."
"Your condition looks more dangerous right now."
"No. I'm healthy."
She rummaged in her treasure pouch, popped a piece of chocolate in her mouth, and chewed.
"This fixes everything, so I'm good."
"..."
"Don't look at me like that!"
She got mad at my worried stare, then flopped into bed and pulled the covers over her head.
"Rain's heavy outside, so if I feel worse, I'll say."
"Your stubbornness is Sword Master level."
"Heehee... Yeah!"
"Not a compliment."
"Hng..."
I touched her forehead again, then stood heavily.
"Tell me if it hurts."
"Yeah."
"And we're going to the hospital as soon as the rain stops, no escaping."
"Can't anyway, my legs hurt."
Her frank admission of her weakness, with that innocent face—I nodded.
"Dinner's porridge tonight."
"Ugh... Hate porridge."
"No choice."
She grabbed my sleeve as I headed to the kitchen, grinning widely.
"Meat."
"..."
"I like porridge with meat."
"Got it."
I ruffled her hair with a smile. Hoping she wouldn't hurt too much.
*
"Hm..."
In the kitchen, I spread the cookbook on the table and followed the recipe with my finger.
Beef Porridge Recipe
1. First, soak the rice…
2. Mince the beef and prepare the ingredients…
3. Stir-fry the beef…
"Wash the rice, mince the beef..."
Easier than expected. Maybe because the Young Lady loves labor-intensive dishes, so I've mastered most levels—or porridge is just that simple.
I nodded at the steam rising from the black pot, then bustled about for ingredients.
"Next, green onions and sesame oil..."
Wonder if we have sesame oil... Last time with the kimbap, it was running low, I think...
"Ah... None left."
I opened the cabinet, saw the empty bottle, and smiled ruefully.
"Truffle oil it is, then."
We're well-off enough for that luxury.
Clink clink.
The lovingly prepared dishes piled up on the tray. Simple pickled veggies. Her favorite grilled short ribs. And the covered porridge.
All her favorites. Mostly trained by my possessor's tastes, but still.
'Hope she eats well.'
I buttoned my rolled-up shirt and headed upstairs.
"Sniff."
There she was, tissues stuffed in both nostrils.
"Young Lady."
"Hmnya."
"Why so many tissues up your nose?"
"Hng... Snot won't stop."
Her face lit up at the tray in my hands.
"Food... Heehee..."
Sick but happy about meals— I couldn't help a silly smile. Really...
She stared at me, then naturally closed her eyes.
"...Ah~"
"..."
"Ah..."
Clink.
"Nom nom. Eeeee! So good!"
Her eyes went wide at the spoonful I fed her, then she beamed at me.
"Your porridge is great too, Ricardo."
"Thanks for the praise."
"Grilled meat's perfect."
"Because you like it."
"Heehee..."
'...'
She looked worse. Time hadn't helped—more snot, cheeks redder.
I fed her another spoonful with a pitying smile.
"Young Lady."
"Hm."
"Hurts a lot?"
"No."
"...Liar."
"Not lying."
She closed her eyes again, mouth open. Focus on filling her belly instead of nonsense, she meant.
"Ah..."
"Here comes the airplane."
"Airplane?"
"It's a thing."
I'll make restorative food once the cold passes, I thought, emptying the bowl. Only then did she smile contentedly.
"All done."
"Thanks for eating it all."
"Of course. Special for you-made food—no leftovers."
"Appreciated."
My worried gaze lingered silently for about ten minutes until she felt it and lay down, waving me off.
"Gonna sleep."
"..."
"Really gonna sleep."
"Ring if it hurts."
"Yeah. No worries—porridge fixed me."
"Haha... Sweet dreams, then."
"Hmnya. You too, Ricardo."
She promised with an innocent smile. Like vowing not to hurt.
"It's a promise."
"Yeah."
"Tell me right away if you're sick."
"I'm fine."
*
"Haa..."
Lying in bed, worry kept me from sleep. Would she be okay?
Cough... Cough... Kkhihihihng... Eek!
"..."
Wheeeeeek! No coughing! Cough... Hweeeeeek.
"Too noisy."
Eheongchu! Sniff... Nom nom... Hm.
"Why snot now..."
Complicated feelings—I closed my eyes. Set an alarm for dawn to put a cool cloth on her forehead.
"Haa..."
Finally drifted off.
Shwaaaaa...
The rain kept falling.