Chapter 18
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Apology
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘But does Harrison know about this?’
Knox was, in fact, related to Harrison by marriage.
Harrison had married a daughter of the Ludpersher family, who later passed away. Her younger brother was none other than Knox. In other words, to Harrison, Knox was his brother-in-law.
‘Ah, whatever. I'll just let things play out.’
I was already busy enough building a shelter, did I really have to worry about the original main characters too? Just preparing to survive on my own was overwhelming enough.
“Are you sure it's an herb? Did you get a good look?”
Just then, Ethan asked Knox again, as if in disbelief. It felt like the fifth time he had asked that same question.
‘Ugh. So tedious.’
I shook my head and rested it on the table. My gaze fell upon Ethan and Knox as they talked.
“Then what kind of herb is it?”
“The Elpinus herb. It's a common herb that helps with restoring energy. It is quite rare, though. It's fascinating to see it again here.”
Knox smirked slyly at Ethan's scrunched-up face. It looked a little mischievous.
‘It doesn't exactly look like a common herb.’
The herb looked just like a centipede. To be honest, it was surprising to think that such an herb could be a vaccine.
But Knox's earlier comment, "It's fascinating to see it again here," felt incredibly significant.
As I tilted my head, lost in thought, I felt a prickling sensation on the back of my head.
‘What is it?’
When I turned my head, the people I made eye contact with quickly looked away. It was like they were doing the wave with their gazes.
A rumor that I had been arrested by Ethan and dragged to the police station had spread throughout the town. Because of it, everyone had gathered to gawk at me.
‘This kind of attention and these stares... they're not unfamiliar. It's been too long.’
I smiled and waved at the people I made eye contact with again. That's right, stare all you want. I'm Cherry Sinclair.
Seeing me, the people let out awkward laughs. Then they averted their eyes as if they had seen something they shouldn't have. They all seemed to be shy.
In any case, they soon lost interest in me and began whispering while looking at Knox.
“I heard that doctor is someone really famous.”
“They say he's the youngest son of Marquess Ludpersher. My goodness, it's the first time I've ever seen a real noble in my life.”
‘Excuse me. The young police officer next to him is a noble too. And of a higher rank than Knox.’
I grumbled to myself while listening to the interesting conversation.
“The village chief said he's an incredibly famous person.”
“That's right. What's-her-name. That. Is he more famous than that woman, Cherry Sinclair or whatever?”
‘Of course I'm more famous. What are they talking about!’
It was a rumor I desperately wanted to correct, but I couldn't say it out loud.
Listening to the middle-aged women's back-and-forth, I slammed my head back onto the table.
‘Knox is a successful doctor in the capital, after all.’
In the past, being a doctor wasn't a highly respected profession. This was especially true for surgeons, as anesthesia didn't exist.
But the Ludpersher family changed the course of medical history by developing an anesthetic. They played a major role in elevating doctors to an elite class in this country.
It wasn't so strange that Knox was now working as a narcotics consultant.
In the old days, substances like cocaine were sometimes used in place of anesthetics, so doctors paid close attention to drugs and alcohol, conducting many experiments.
In fact, in the novel *Love in a Ruined World*, Knox, who was a doctor, played quite a significant role.
In the novel, he saved people on the brink of death from monster bites by amputating the infected areas. He was also knowledgeable in obstetrics, saving both mothers and children, and he performed other major surgeries without difficulty.
‘He's definitely an indispensable talent in a survival situation.’
If I offered to scout him as the dedicated doctor for Happy House, he'd probably just scoff, right? A shame.
As I was mulling it over, Ethan, having finished his conversation with the narcotics investigator, approached me with a somewhat heavy expression.
Sensing the unusual atmosphere around Ethan, the gathered townspeople began to slip out of the police station one by one. All except Knox.
Knox, with a lollipop in his mouth, watched us quietly, as if enjoying an interesting spectacle.
‘Does he recognize me?’
Anyone who participated even a little in high society would have to.
‘I need to make sure he keeps his mouth shut so he doesn't spread rumors…’
But for now, I had to deal with Ethan first.
I quietly looked up at Ethan. He was looking down at me, silent.
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air. His eyes, staring intently into mine, held a somewhat complicated mix of emotions.
After a long moment of just moving his lips, he finally said something.
“…gy.”
“Excuse me? What was that?”
Ethan suddenly straightened his posture and slowly bowed his head to me. It was a clean, polite, and no-frills gesture.
“My sincerest apologies, Lady Sinclair.”
Huh?
I didn't expect him to admit his mistake and apologize so readily. It was a bit unexpected.
Watching Ethan apologize, a good idea suddenly struck me. Hadn't our positions just been reversed? At this moment, I was the one with the upper hand.
Snapping out of my daze, I quickly changed my demeanor, leaning an arm nonchalantly on the table and assuming a relaxed posture before asking.
“What exactly are you sorry for?”
It must have been an unexpected question, because Ethan looked a little flustered.
“My, my. You shouldn't look so flustered, as if you've heard something you shouldn't have. After all, you're the one who dragged me here, accusing me of being a drug smuggler without any warning.”
I had no intention of just letting it go. To be honest, I hadn't liked the suspicious way he'd been looking at me until now.
‘Of course, Sinclair did do a lot of suspicious things, but still! Huh!? Most police officers would just hush things up and let it slide when it came to a Sinclair!’
I thought such shameless things to myself as I stared at Ethan.
Ethan remained silent. He seemed to be choosing his words.
“I told you, didn't I? I tend to be misunderstood a lot. But this time was truly unpleasant. You do realize you brought me here without even properly checking the facts, don't you?”
So I added one more thing, hoping to make him feel a little more sorry.
Ethan's face looked unusually haggard, but he calmly apologized again.
“Please forgive my rudeness. I have misunderstood you, Miss Cherry.”
He apologized so politely that I couldn't refuse to accept it.
“Ahem. Well, I'm glad you understand now.”
Of course, I didn't think this would instantly erase Ethan's distrust of me. But it was clear that, for the time being at least, he wouldn't be blindly suspecting or cornering me anymore.
Come to think of it, this might have turned out for the best.
“If you're truly sorry, then you can help me.”
“Pardon?”
One of Ethan's eyebrows shot up.
He looked at me with a puzzled expression, as if wondering what I could possibly ask of him.
What do you mean there's nothing to help with? There's plenty.
Since things have turned out this way, I might as well make good use of Ethan before the world ends. I have a lot to do, after all.
“I'm in the middle of repairing my house, and I'm short on hands. Besides, because you suddenly dragged me here, Inspector Ethan, all my work has been delayed.”
This was true. Right now, I was so busy I couldn't afford to waste a single hour.
“If you don't help me, I'll report you to the newspapers. That Ethan Duncan Lancaster arrested an innocent civilian without a warrant.”
“An innocent civilian…”
Ethan stared at me, seemingly at a loss for words.
“Miss Cherry, weren't you hiding here?”
“Who says I'm hiding here?”
In truth, it wouldn't do me any good to be discovered. I was only saying this because I knew Ethan wasn't the type to report my whereabouts to the newspapers.
“People are very interested in me. So if I, of all people, were to make a report, things would surely blow up. Wouldn't you agree?”
As I stared at him confidently, Ethan finally nodded.
“Well, it was my mistake, so I will take responsibility as a police officer.”
“Excellent. Let's get going, Mr. Handyman.”
“…Doesn't a handsome handyman get paid extra?”
“Ahem, none of your tricks.”
“It seems my tricks worked, so you might as well consider it.”
As we were about to leave the police station, exchanging such silly banter, Knox followed and stopped us.
I turned around with a puzzled look, and Knox gave me a charming smile that made his eyes crinkle.
“I'd be hurt if you treated me like I'm not even here.”
Oops. I had been so focused on my conversation with Ethan that I'd completely forgotten Knox was there.
Knox was a man with such a powerful aura that it was hard to believe I could have forgotten him.
I must have been too preoccupied with the thought of getting back to Happy House and working.
Anyway, when I turned to Knox, he immediately held out his hand. It was a relaxed gesture, like a predator before its prey. He exuded the ease of someone who had never known failure.
“A pleasure to meet you, Lady Sinclair.”
“A pleasure, Mr. Ludpersher. However, the townspeople don't know I'm Cherry Sinclair. I would prefer it if you just used my first name.”
I gently placed my hand in his. Knox smiled as he softly kissed the back of it.
I was suddenly reminded of how Ethan had just shaken my hand. Right. This was how it was supposed to be.
“I'm curious about the story behind that, but it would be rude to ask a lady too many questions. Very well, Miss Cherry.”
I nodded and withdrew my hand from his. Then, Knox stated his business.
“I have something I'd like to ask you. I was hoping we could speak for a moment. Would you be able to spare some time?”