Weren’t You the One Who Was Dying? Chapter 28

I was worried about myself too, but right now, the one who needed to think more about their body was Ehit.

“You should think about your body too.”

“It’s not a deep wound. I’ll be fine.”

“Still. And not just that…… You look fine now, but bodies don’t break down all at once. Once you lose them, it’s too late. So…….”

Ehit stopped listening halfway through and raised his left hand, gently pulling my head to rest against his shoulder.

“Get some sleep. It’ll take a while to reach Bellachen.”

“You expect me to sleep like this?”

“Is it uncomfortable?”

“My body is fine, but my heart isn’t. This kind of kindness from you feels unfamiliar, Ehit.”

“Rest, while I’m still asking nicely.”

“Were you planning to say it not nicely too?”

After a brief pause, Ehit placed his hand over my eyes.

“After nice words comes action, not bad words. Go to sleep before I knock you out.”

“Okay…….”

I closed my eyes beneath the warmth of his palm.

‘I felt this a few days ago too, but this shoulder really is comfortable.’

Not long after, I drifted off to sleep.

 

 

*****

 

 

 

Morning at the naval base, with the sun just rising over the horizon.

Ariel Sharn, a major in the Central Fleet, noticed a familiar face among the base visitors.

‘That person is…?’

As Ariel’s violet eyes lingered on her, a man with crimson hair came running over from the other side.

“Oh! Hello! I’m Second Lieutenant Mendel Rittener, from the same fleet as the Colonel!”

“Hello, Lieutenant Rittener. I’m from the Aileta family—”

“I know! You’re Dapflen Aileta, right? You’re friends with Major Bright, aren’t you!”

“Ah, yes. I came to see Dellers before.”

“Yes, and I also know very well that you’re the Colonel’s fiancée— Major Sharn?”

Ariel grabbed Mendel by the back of the neck and pulled him behind her, then waved him away.

At the Bellachen naval base’s Second Squadron, there were two people who loved gathering bits of gossip: Mendel Rittener and Dellers Bright.

At least Dellers was sharp and quick-witted, with a fox-like sense for when to step in and out.

But Mendel was the type who dug into his curiosity without any tact, like a mole—so he needed outside control like this.

“Let’s go, Lady Aileta. I’ll guide you.”

“No, Major Sharn! I—”

“Go back, Mendel.”

At Ariel’s quiet command, Mendel shut his mouth and bowed.

The sharp expression she’d shown Mendel vanished, replaced by a calm smile directed at Dapflen.

“I’m Major Ariel Sharn, from the same fleet as the Colonel. We’ve met a few times.”

“Yes, Major. Nice to see you.”

Dapflen, who had looked slightly awkward watching their exchange, finally smiled brightly once things settled.

She was dressed in simple brown everyday clothes and was holding something—probably a medical bag.

“Please, let me carry that.”

“No, it’s fine. Thank you just for guiding me.”

The Colonel’s office was one floor up. Ariel stopped in front of a reddish-brown door at the end of the right hallway.

“Colonel, this is Sharn. You have a visitor.”

“Who is it? Have them wait in the reception room.”

“They’re already here.”

After saying that, Ariel added one more line.

“An important guest.”

There was no response for a moment. Then, click—the sound of the doorknob turning.

There was no clear invitation to enter, nor an order to leave. That ambiguity was unusual for a Colonel who was normally very direct.

But the lack of refusal meant he’d handed the decision over to Ariel.

As Dapflen was about to step through the open door, she paused and looked back at Ariel. Ariel nodded quietly and gestured for her to go in.

“It’s me. I’m coming in.”

As Ariel reached out to gently close the door behind her, Dapflen turned back once more and smiled brightly at her.

“Thank you, Major.”

As the door closed, footsteps echoed from the left hallway. Ariel recognized them instantly.

A man in uniform walking toward them jerked his chin toward the Colonel’s office, clearly knowing who had gone inside.

“She has a beautiful smile, doesn’t she? Right, Dellers?”

Dellers nodded with a lukewarm expression and leaned against the wall opposite Ariel.

“Well, if you put it that way, I guess so.”

“What was Lady Aileta like back at the academy?”

“Why ask now? Dapflen came around here occasionally even before.”

“It’s her first time coming to see the Colonel. She’s never come this far into the naval base before. And……”

Still sitting on the windowsill, Ariel motioned to Dellers.

When Dellers reluctantly stepped closer and leaned beside her, Ariel stared at his face for a moment.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?”

“Yes. You do.”

Ariel reached out and tapped Dellers’s cheek. Dust from the window frame stuck to his face.

“Here. You should go wash it off.”

“It’s really there, right?”

Dellers looked at Ariel suspiciously, but she nodded calmly.

“Of course. Do I look like someone who’d lie?”

“Sometimes. You’re so serious that it feels like you’d lie once in a while.”

With an annoyed sigh, Dellers stood up and slowly walked down the hallway.

Ariel remained there, leaning back and guarding the corridor.

‘Why ask now? Dapflen’s come here before.’

‘It’s her first time coming to see the Colonel. And…….’

Your expression. It’s the first time I’ve seen you look like you’re about to lose something.

With her arms crossed, Ariel looked out the window. Below, she could see Dellers walking briskly toward the washbasin.

Early autumn sunlight—still heavy with summer—poured down, and Ariel watched it for a long while.

 

 

****

 

 

 

 

‘So this is Ehit’s office.’

The door closed behind me.

The office, with the sea visible through a large window, was a little different from what I’d imagined.

I’d expected a dark, strictly professional space, but the wooden walls and antique table gave it a surprisingly warm feeling.

But… huh? Why isn’t anyone here?

“Where did he go?”

“I’m here.”

A reply came from behind me to my quiet muttering. Startled like I’d heard a ghost, I spun around.

Ehit was leaning against the wall beside the door.

He stretched out his right arm—the one he’d had crossed—and took the medical bag from my hand.

“Give it to me.”

I immediately took it back and placed it into his other hand instead.

Ehit, now holding the bag again, looked slightly dumbfounded.

“What is this?”

I gestured with my chin toward his right arm.

“That’s the injured arm. I told you not to use it as much as possible.”

See? I knew he wasn’t paying attention.

Ehit let out a small laugh and walked over to the sofa in the middle of the office.

Sitting back and crossing his legs on the wide sofa, he gestured toward the one opposite.

“What brings you here today? You told me not to come looking for you.”

“I’m here as a healer today.”

I opened the bag and took out the medical tools. Then, instead of sitting on the opposite sofa, I sat down beside him.

I couldn’t help worrying. He’d been hurt because of me, and it wasn’t a shallow wound.

“It’s not necessary. Ointment will be enough.”

“Not necessary? You’re the one who goes to the infirmary even for a small cut on your finger.”

“That’s because—”

Ehit started to reply, but just then, a ship’s horn sounded outside the window, drowning out his words.

Taking that as my cue, I tapped his black uniform jacket and said,

“Hurry up.”

“Hurry up with what?”

“Initial treatment is important.”

“I know.”

“If you really knew, you wouldn’t have so many scars. If you don’t treat things properly at the start, they leave marks.”

“Did you look that closely?”

“Huh?”

My frowning face froze in embarrassment.

Only then did I realize I’d walked straight into a trap.

“I mean—I didn’t look.”

I quickly pulled my hand away from his arm. Ehit, who’d been sitting with his arms crossed, took off his naval jacket and tossed it aside.

Like a contrarian, the moment I withdrew my hand, he seemed willing to be treated.

Turning slightly away from me, he glanced back over his shoulder.

“Yes, I suppose I should listen to the healer. You don’t look like you’d leave quietly if I sent you away.”

“I didn’t come to bother you. I came because it was necessary. I don’t like owing people.”

I didn’t know what kind of debts I’d rack up in the future—but I wasn’t about to start with this one.

“I don’t think of it as a debt.”

“That’s up to you. But if you’re going to be treated—”

From behind him, I tugged once at his shirt. He’d taken off the jacket, but everything else—from the shirt to the decorations around his neck—was still in place.

“Take it off. I don’t know how to undo shirts like this, so I might tear it.”

“I’ve heard healers are supposed to calm their patients. Apparently not.”

“Isn’t this more calming than me tearing it while trying to undo it?”

The front of the shirt loosened and slid down to his back.

The long wound running across his back came into view again.