The table was piled with ointments and bandages, all taken from the clinic.
“Did I take too much?”
After I arranged my medical supplies neatly, I began to work on the assignment Deidrick had given me while I waited for him.
I've improved enough now to write a few words without having to look them up. My handwriting is even starting to resemble Dedrick's.
'Of course, that's normal since he's the one teaching me.'
Deidrich's handwriting was so neat and elegant that I couldn't help but want to imitate him.
While I was busy copying the letters and lost in my thoughts, the door suddenly opened.
I quickly put down my pen, jumped up and ran towards the door.
"Didi! You're back—"
My loud, excited voice suddenly stopped. I couldn't greet him properly and froze.
“Didi…”
There was not a single part of his body that was not injured….
His black hair was covered in dust and soaked with blood from a wound
His forehead and lips were torn, his cheeks were swollen, his clothes were torn and he was even limping.
This is too much!
He's still just a boy – how could anyone hurt him like this? My eyes were burning as they filled with tears. Deedric, who had been standing there calmly as if guilty, trembled at my reaction.
“Are you… crying?”
At his question, I shook my head and gently pulled him in with my hand.
He gave me a slight smile.
"I'm fine."
fine? What part of this could be okay?
I suppressed my urge to scream and bit my lip.
I knew from the novel how much Somerset tortured him.
But seeing him like this for the first time was a completely different experience.
I thought things would be better now that you're here. Also, Deidrick told me not to worry so much, so I stupidly believed him and thought everything would be fine.
That's why I happily collected those band-aids.
But my breathing began to shudder on its own.
“…Sorry, did I scare you?”
“…”
“Sorry I showed up like that.”
He apologized even though he did nothing wrong. Seeing him like that made me bite my lip harder.
I took a deep breath and shook my head.
“You don't need to apologise.”
"The pain isn't severe. I'm used to this kind of thing."
His voice was calm, as if he was stating a fact, but his words were heartbreaking.
At that moment, the tears that had been gathering spilled over.
It was clear that this was nothing unusual for him, and this made it even more difficult to contain my emotions.
Deidrick looked confused by my tears, but I couldn't stop crying.
“…why are you crying?”
Why am I crying?
Frustrated, she shouted at him.
“Because you're hurt!”
And yet, like an idiot, you keep saying you're fine...!
“Because you are injured...!”
Because seeing you accept all this calmly, as if this is normal, hurts me.
“Hoaaah!”
Unable to say anything more, I broke down and started crying loudly.
________________________
30 minutes ago.
“Joanna!”
Somerset hastened to follow Joanna as she went out.
In the training arena, Daedric was lying on the ground, his body covered in bruises and wounds, surrounded by the White Falcon Knights.
Jacob lunged at him.
“Sir!”
Jacob helped Deidrick stand, and for a moment he was in a state
Silence, unable to find words.
“How could they do this...?”
.... I'm fine,” Deidrick said.
“We have to take you to the doctor...”
“No”
Daedric shook his head vigorously, allowing Jacob to help him stand.
“Just” check if something is broken.
“.Okay...”
While holding back his tears, Jacob carefully examined Daedric's injuries.
Fortunately, there were no broken bones. Not only had Daedric taken the blows, he had blocked most of them with his sword.
However, this does not mean that the pain was not severe.
“No fractures,” Jacob said, his voice shaking slightly.
“It's a relief that nothing's broken.”
Jacob pressed his lips into a thin line.
So, before I told him, broken bones were just a normal thing?
Once again, Somerset went too far. Jacob lifted the wooden training sword that was lying on the ground.
He hit it hard on the ground, making a loud cracking sound, revealing the metal rod hidden inside.
Daedric looked at the broken sword and then at the knights around him. “You have all abandoned your knightly honor,” he said coldly.
“But still…” Daedric let out a bitter laugh.
“I shouldn't be surprised.”
He turned his back to them and began limping away. Jacob tried to stop him, but Deedric gently pushed him away.
“I want to be alone. Thank you for your interest, Jacob.”
Daedric limped out of the training ground, while Jacob raised the broken sword and said:
“You have not only forgotten your duties as knights, but you have also betrayed your loyalty to your master. “I will not let this pass.”
Jacob quickly followed Dedrick.
“At least let a doctor examine your head. It could get dangerous!”
In the end, Jacob's persistence convinced Deidrick to go to the doctor, where the doctor told him there was nothing serious. However, Deidrick refused further treatment, further frustrating Jacob.
“At least I'll carry you to your room,” Jacob insisted. “You won't be able to get to your room on your own with that injury.”
Finally, Deidrick allowed Jacob to carry him to the door of his room.
“Make sure you get treatment,” Jacob said firmly.
“No need to worry.”
With a tired face, Jacob bowed and left. Daedric stood in front of the door, hesitating.
“Can I come in? What if I feel uncomfortable?
But he had made a promise—to come back immediately after training and not hide his injuries.
This was the first promise he made to her, and they even made it with a finger ring.
He didn't want to betray that promise.
After brushing some dust off his clothes, he put his hand on the doorknob, took a deep breath, and carefully opened the door.
From inside, he heard the sound of a chair moving and her cheerful voice.
“Didi!” I'm back—!”
She greeted him with a bright smile, but her expression quickly froze.
Her smile disappeared, and her eyes filled with astonishment. She stood paralyzed like a statue, staring at him.
“Looks like I went too far this time.”
He spoke calmly, as if trying to reassure her.
“I'm fine.”
“…”
She didn't respond, but her shuddering breathing revealed her feelings.
However, Daedric couldn't hide the slight smile that was creeping onto his lips.
Although he felt sorry for making her feel bad, he couldn't help but feel happy.
It was comforting to know that someone cared about him that much.
“…Sorry, did I scare you?”
“…”
“I'm sorry I showed up like that.”
"It doesn't hurt too much," he added quietly, "I'm used to it."
Then her face turned pale as if she heard something she shouldn't have heard.
Her body trembled, and tears began to fall from her big eyes. Big drops of tears fell like rain, as her gray eyelashes became wet, and her cheeks became even redder.
Seeing her cry like that made Deidrick's chest tighten.
“…why are you crying?”
“Because you are injured!”
she shouted, clenching her fists. Her voice was trembling as she burst into tears.
“Because you are injured...!”
“Hawaaah!”
As she sobbed uncontrollably, Deidrick smiled softly, his nose stinging.
'I have someone crying for me.'
Every day, she reminded him that he was not alone.
With the sudden outburst of the curse, Daedric almost burst out laughing at this serious moment, but he managed to hold back his laughter.
After hesitating, he finally reached out and hugged the girl. The heat of her body seeped into him, making him feel safe in a way that words could not express.
“It's okay,” he said gently.
“Stop saying 'it's okay'!” She said irritably, as her frustration exploded.
The girl, who was fidgeting in his arms, began to attack him directly. Fearing that she might escape, Daedric tightened his grip on her.
"You're supposed to tell me when it hurts! You promised me you'd tell me!"
“…It hurts so much,” he whispered into her shoulder, his voice muffled and quiet.
Upon hearing his words, her cries suddenly stopped.
“I… brought a lot of medicine,” she said, her voice trembling, still wet with tears.
Deidrick, who was hiding his smile, buried his face further into her shoulder, struggling to hide his amusement at her stubborn yet endearing determination.