Chapter 164: Apology – 3

Kayla woke up early in the morning.

As she had felt before, the somewhat mild southern weather didn’t suit her.

Compared to the cold northern air, the heat sometimes felt stifling, and without even trying, she woke up with the dawn.

Her back was damp with sweat, and she had to dry herself with a cloth before stepping outside.

The maids were also waking up according to Kayla’s schedule.

They yawned, but upon seeing her, they quickly straightened up and greeted her with a surprised look.

It was that early in the morning.

The sun hadn’t risen yet, and the sky was a dark navy, but Kayla had a reason for waking up so early.

Taking care of the sick was nothing new for her.

She had done it for her mother, and she had done it for her father.

Now it was time for Kailo.

And Kayla knew that taking care of Kailo’s illness wasn’t an easy task.

Her love for him was overflowing, but there were so many things she had to attend to.

She had to wash his body, change his clothes, and turn him over frequently to prevent bedsores.

Sometimes she had to feed him, clean his mouth with a cloth, and even deal with his bodily waste.

Although he didn’t eat much and didn’t need care for that often, the reality that the person she loved would become filthy without her help was a hard truth to face.

It was always painful to see the most respected person in such a helpless state.

When she had cared for her parents, she often left it to the maids.

It was understandable.

You could manage a few times, but doing it all the time was difficult.

The more you loved someone, the more it hurt.

There were always times when you wanted to turn away.

But Kayla knew that here, in this southern land, she had to gather her strength.

She had to take responsibility for Kailo’s care.

His condition was different from her parents.

How could she turn away from someone dying, full of wounds?

She also wanted to maintain the dignity of the Alan family.

She didn’t want the southern people, especially the Rondor family, to see her brother in such a pitiable state.

She didn’t want to leave his care to the maids.

Although this kind of situation had occurred before, it was not something she could let go of.

So, she woke up early to take responsibility.

Kayla arrived in front of Kailo’s sickroom.

The Rondor family’s inner chambers.

The soldiers guarding the door greeted her.

Kayla blinked and responded before attempting to knock on the door.

It was then that she noticed the door was slightly ajar.

Through the crack, she could hear voices.

Had she arrived too late?

Were the maids already taking care of Kailo’s body?

“…If I do this, it will surely be fun. I always talk about it but never actually do it. It’s a shame…”

The voice from the crack was not from the maids.

It wasn’t a conversation either.

Vivian Rondor was talking to Kylo as if she was speaking to herself.

Kayla froze and couldn’t knock on the door.

Unconsciously, she began to watch Vivian taking care of Kailo.

Vivian, the Lady of Loctana, appeared to be busy early in the morning.

Her eyes, heavy with fatigue, blinked as she gently washed Kailo’s body.

She had prepared hot water and a wooden tub nearby, with steam rising from it.

She soaked a towel and carefully wiped his body.

“Isn’t it too hot? No, even if it’s hot, bear with it, Kailo. Your body is too cold.”

Her gestures were as careful as if she was touching fragile glass.

She treated Kailo’s body like a priceless treasure, despite being the strong, powerful man he was.

“…Your stomach might feel uncomfortable, but bear with it. I wrapped the bandages tightly, so I can’t clean it properly. But if there’s anything else uncomfortable, let me know. I’ll help you.”

From a distance, it was clear to see the affection in Vivian’s tired eyes.

As she wiped Kailo’s body, she kept brushing his hair or caressing his cheeks, showering him with love.

The two soldiers guarding the door awkwardly glanced at Kayla, who was frozen in place.

But Kayla didn’t notice them.

She was entirely distracted by the sight of Vivian showing emotions she had never imagined.

Could someone like Vivian make that kind of expression?

Could someone treat another person so dearly?

“…There.”

Vivian, almost shyly, began to removeKailo’s lower garments.

She looked at him with an awkward smile, as if embarrassed.

“I’m sorry, Kailo. Just a moment.”

At the same time, she gently turned his body to clean him further, whispering softly.

“…Did you not eat enough? We should try to get you to eat more today, Kailo. You’ll get sick if you don’t.”

Every moment was a quiet shock.

The more Kayla thought about who Vivian was and the power she possessed, the more she realized how profound this moment was.

In the way Vivian took care of Kailo, Kayla saw herself.

When she cared for her parents, had she treated them the same way?

No, she hadn’t.

She definitely couldn’t do it like that.

But here Vivian was, taking care of Kailo, despite the fact that she could have simply ordered the maids to do it.

Vivian took the responsibility herself.

At the same time, Kayla noticed the deep sorrow in Vivian’s eyes, hidden beneath her occasional affectionate glances at Kailo.

It made Kayla’s heart ache.

It was clear that Vivian was suffering greatly, and it was as if she was offering her life to be with Kailo, not to atone for anything.

Kayla suddenly felt that her brother seemed foolish.

She felt like she was witnessing a fragment of the deep emotions they shared.

How far could they both sacrifice for each other?

It was slowly becoming clear.

Kayla finally opened the door.

Vivian, startled by the noise, quickly pulled her hand away from Kailo.

“Why didn’t you have the maids do it?”

Kayla asked suddenly.

Kayla had come here to take care of Kailo herself, but she couldn’t help but ask.

If she were in the southern land, she would have left it to the maids.

If the family hadn’t been an enemy, she surely would have done that.

But why did Vivian do it herself?

“…Ah.”

At Kayla’s question, Vivian’s eyes shifted, and there was an emotion in them.

“…Ha.”

Cayla, who had learned to infer emotions from Vivian’s gestures and expressions, let out a bitter laugh.
It was jealousy, mixed with deep affection.
Even at this moment, Vivian still seemed unwilling to entrust Kylo’s body to anyone else.
The love originating from that was clear.
Perhaps embarrassed by it, Vivian answered defensively.
“…I-I am trying my best. There should be no lack of my touch.”
“I’ll know when I see it.”
Cayla spoke.
No maid, no matter how skilled, could take care of Kylo the way Vivian did.
That was not what she was worried about.
Perhaps it was her difficulty in accepting the reality before her that made her speak mockingly.
• She wanted to hate Vivian, but the way she was acting made it hard to do so.
Looking into Vivian’s eyes when it was just the two of them, it was impossible not to see that she was sincere.
…Maybe Vivian loved Kylo more than she did, and that was something Cayla couldn’t accept.
Did this mean she would have to step aside?
Cayla wondered.
Perhaps there was no need to get up early.
“…Forget it. I think I’ll go back to sleep.”
Cayla said, then left the room.
Before closing the door, she glanced back and saw that Vivian didn’t even glance at her leaving, her gaze fixed on Kylo again.
The weight of heavy love reached her.
Although she had said that, seeing the scene drained all her desire for sleep.
Cayla ended up wandering around Rondor Castle with nothing else to do.
From early morning until noon, she gave Kylo’s time to Vivian.
Her chest was tight, but it felt like the right thing to do.

At that moment, the sound of a carriage came from a distance.

Kayla froze in place, trying to figure out its source.

“Ah.”

And as the source appeared, she couldn’t hide her sigh.

Vivian had left the window wide open.

With winter over and the warm weather of spring beginning to blow in, the scent of spring filled the air.

“Kailo, doesn’t it smell nice?”

Vivian asked.

It was not a question expecting an answer.

When she spoke to him like this, it felt like he was awake, and it calmed her heart.

There was also a wish hidden in her words, hoping that hearing them would give him a little strength.

She didn’t dare to be greedy.

She wasn’t trying to rush him awake or feed him any medicine that might burden his body.

It would be nice if he woke up, but she was just grateful to have him by her side.

Even if he was in a state where death wouldn’t be strange, she was thankful for him holding on.

Vivian knelt beside Kailo’s bed.

She laid her arms on the bed and rested her head on them.

Kailo’s face was right in front of her.

He was breathing faintly, still struggling.

In that moment, an unacceptable desire bloomed inside her.

Why did human desires suddenly appear like this?

She couldn’t understand.

She simply found him adorable.

It was so much that it was hard to bear.

“…You said you would forgive me because you love me, right?”

Vivian whispered softly to him.

“…Just once… Can you?”

There was no answer.

Vivian knew she was being despicable, but she kept asking.

“…Just once, Kailo. Just once, I promise.”

Technically, Kailo had an engaged fiancée.

So, it shouldn’t happen…

“…If you don’t want it, just tell me.”

But since he didn’t answer, Vivian insisted.

“…You didn’t say not to do it.”

She tried to kiss his cheek.

In the past, she had kissed his lips passionately, but now, even kissing his lips felt too much.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

Vivian froze, unable to kiss his cheek.

“Lady Vivian. A guest has arrived.”

She waited quietly for the following words.

She couldn’t guess who it was.

The maid outside sighed and paused briefly before speaking.

“…Lady Gisela Lute of the Lute family has come.”

…Of course.

At those words, reality hit her.

“…She says she’s here to see Kailo, her future fiancé.”

In an instant, her chest tightened.

The man she cherished more than anything in the world, who was soundly asleep with his eyes closed, was already someone else’s.

Even though he had come to protect her, nothing would change.

He had protected her, and the engagement was still an engagement.

Vivian’s eyes trembled.

She needed to answer, but couldn’t bring herself to.

Her mouth wouldn’t open.

There was no moment she had ever disliked speaking as much as this.

She couldn’t tell the maid to leave, but she certainly didn’t want to let this woman into the room.

The thought that she had to yield the space to Gisela Lute…

That the woman, not her, would be able to stay by Kailo’s side.

Gisela was the fiancée.

She was the one who would casually take away her most precious treasure.

Vivian’s breathing grew rough.

She shouldn’t be greedy.

She repeated this to herself.

She shouldn’t be greedy.

She shouldn’t be greedy.

But Kailo, right in front of her, was so dazzling.

He was so precious that she couldn’t bear to entrust him to someone else.

The pain in her chest intensified, and thoughts like poison began to sprout in her mind, exploding uncontrollably.

All kinds of malicious actions she could take against Gisela flashed before her eyes.

However, she slowly rose from her position.

The one who truly deserved to be by Kailo’s side was the fiancée, not someone like her.

Someone like her, a demon, had no right to be by his side.

Kailo had told her he loved her, but being able to stay by his side was a separate matter.

“Pl-Please, go ahead.”

Vivian stammered, her words shaking.

Leaving the room and yielding the spot to Gisela would be the right thing to do, but… she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

She called out to Gisela before the guest entered, creating a little distance from Kailo.

That space felt so far apart.

Bang!

Gisela Lute entered the room.

Her face was filled with anger, but as soon as she saw Kailo, that anger shifted to sorrow.

“Ka-Kailo!!”

Gisela rushed to Kailo, and immediately grabbed his cheek.

Vivian secretly clenched her fist.

Vivian could never touch Kailo so roughly and clumsily.

He was too precious for that.

But the fact that she had to hand him over to Gisela, someone who didn’t seem to treat him with the same care, was unbearable.

It was also painful because she had no right to say anything about it.

“Aah… Kailo… Kailo… Please wake up…”

When had she started using such a familiar tone?

Gisela’s words were filled with affection.

Grrr…

Her heart tightened again.

It felt like her chest might burst.

Watching it was uncomfortable, but Vivian still forced herself to watch.

She didn’t want to leave the room.

She didn’t want to leave them alone.

“Why…!”

Gisela suddenly raised her voice and looked back at Vivian.

“Why is he… my fiancé’s doing this for you?!”

Vivian gritted her teeth at the uncomfortable title.

She had known Kailo for over seven years.

But Gisela, who had only known him for just over half a year, had already taken away the title of fiancée.

A woman, whose origins were unknown, suddenly stole her treasure.

“Why… did my fiancé… have to get hurt for you…?”

“What are you even talking about…? You… only bothered him…”

“…”

“…What?”

“…Nothing.”

She suppressed the urge to tell her to stop pretending to be friendly.

Vivian immediately wanted to hide her face.

She knew better than anyone that her expression was not under control.

No matter how much Gisela was his fiancée, she knew Kailo better.

They shared deeper feelings.

It was a closer relationship.

But the fact that Gisela, just because she was his fiancée, was acting like she was closer to Kailo than anyone else was something Vivian couldn’t bear.

Kailo… definitely…

Definitely…

…Maybe not.

Kailo must have had feelings for Gisela, and that’s why he accepted the engagement.

She was probably better for him than Vivian, who had always been an obstacle.

The smile Kailo used to give Gisela kept coming back to her mind.

She was sure Kailo wanted to be happy with Gisela, but now that the situation was real, she was disgusted by her own greed.

Still, Vivian stubbornly held her head high.

It was the fighting spirit against Gisela that rose up.

She didn’t want to show her tears, and she didn’t want to show that she was struggling.

She also didn’t want to apologize for Kailo’s situation, especially not to Gisela.

She knew that Gisela was in the position to be apologized to.

The situation with the broken engagement was all Vivian’s fault.

…But she didn’t want to do it.

Her pride, which she thought was gone, was wriggling inside her.

Gisela seemed to sense this too.

So, instead of a petty fight, she made a reasonable request.

“…Please leave.”

Vivian’s eyes trembled.

“Please… give me and my husband some time alone… step aside.”

Husband.

Are they at the stage where they’re going to have children together now?

The more she thought about it, the harder the pain became to bear.

Vivian held her breath for a moment, enduring the rising pain.

Then, she made a small protest.

“…This is Rondor’s main residence—”

“-But can’t we move Kailo, can we?”

Gisela coldly interrupted Vivian’s words.

Since when had she been holding Kailo’s hand so carefully?

Vivian clenched her teeth, then turned her body away.

Every step she took, giving up Kailo’s side to Gisela, made her tears rise up.

It was such a humiliating defeat.

She felt nothing but pathetic, unable to endure it.

There was something Vivian wanted to ask Gisela.

I can give everything for Kailo.

I can act for him in any situation.

No matter what he does, I can stay by his side.

Even if I lose the power of the Rondor family, if I have to live in poverty for the rest of my life, or even if he becomes a criminal… I will stay by his side.

I don’t want anything from him.

As long as Kailo is with me, nothing else matters.

Not power, not honor, not wealth.

…Can you do that?

Vivian looked at Gisela just before leaving the room.

“Get up, Kailo… Okay?”

The woman, who had lost her sense of distance, was pressing her lips to Kailo’s forehead.

She was doing what Vivian couldn’t do, so naturally.

“…Ugh!”

Vivian couldn’t bear it any longer and fled.

“Lady Vivian!”

The soldiers called after her, but it seemed she didn’t hear them as she ran.

“Ugh… ugh…”

Soon, Vivian found a quiet space and crouched down, clutching her chest, crying.

She wished Kailo would wake up.

She truly wanted him to be happy.

But now she realized.

Her place by his side no longer existed.

It was too late.

When she looked up, she could see Kayla, watching her from a distance.

“…Huh…”

It only made her feel more miserable.

Vivian quickly straightened herself up, then ran away again.

This time, she wanted to go somewhere where no one would find her.

Perhaps the riverside, where she had stayed with Kailo, might be nice.

It had always been their space, just the two of them.