Ch.141141. Nursing Care (2)

●

“Oh, Student Council President?”

Those words flowed naturally from Talion’s mouth.

It was what came out the moment he saw Elnore walking from across the hallway.

Lately, rumors had been circulating that she was holed up in the training room and never came out, but fortunately, he happened to run into her during one of her rare appearances outside.

“I haven’t seen you lately. Have you been well? I believe this is the first time I’ve seen you since the exchange student program.”

Following that, a friendly greeting accompanied by a warm smile befitting his personality was sent her way.

“…Yes. It’s been a while.”

Hearing that response, Talion tilted his head.

Others might think her voice sounded normal, but to him, something seemed different.

“…Are you alright, President?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did something bad happen?”

Elnore tilted her head.

“…Does my expression look troubled?”

“No, you look the same on the surface, but…”

Talion scratched his head as he continued.

“I’ve heard that when you frequently touch your ear while speaking, it means something is bothering you.”

“…”

Elnore looked at her hand with wide eyes.

“…I wasn’t aware I had such a habit.”

“My brother taught me. He said the Student Council President has several habits—”

Elnore’s expression suddenly twitched.

It was enough to momentarily fluster Talion.

Did I say something wrong?

Talion looked at Elnore, who was biting her lip quietly in apparent discomfort.

How should he put this?

She seemed to have no desire to hear anything about that person right now.

In the past, wouldn’t she have been the first to perk up and rush in whenever a topic related to Darwood came up?

‘…Did they have a fight?’

Even from Talion’s perspective, their relationship had clearly become awkward.

Though he didn’t know the reason, he recalled his brother complaining that Elnore wouldn’t meet with him at all.

While he was thinking about this, Elnore suddenly asked:

“By the way, where were you headed?”

“Ah, I was looking for someone named Faynol Leiphec at my brother’s request—”

Talion stopped mid-sentence, horrified by what he’d just said.

This woman memorized the names of everyone close to Darwood, she was that obsessed. If she heard he was looking for a female student at his request—

“…I see.”

However.

Elnore’s reaction was surprisingly lukewarm.

Even Talion was taken aback enough to stare at her for a moment.

“…”

No, looking more carefully, that wasn’t it.

It wasn’t lukewarm—her depression had just deepened.

As if to say “of course that would happen”—

Her next words confirmed it.

“…That might be better.”

Elnore muttered self-deprecatingly.

“Perhaps it’s better for him to be with other female students than to have someone like me around.”

“…Pardon?”

“From his perspective, I must look quite pathetic. Maybe he already dislikes—”

“Um, President. This might be presumptuous of me to say.”

So, Talion had no choice but to leave these words.

Of course, part of it was because he felt uncomfortable seeing someone who was always so confident engage in such self-deprecation, but more than that…

“What is it?”

“Acting like this will only make my brother suffer more.”

“…”

“There’s no way my brother would dislike you or think you’re pathetic. Did he actually say something like that to you? I don’t think so.”

“…”

“I don’t know why you’re suddenly finding it so difficult to approach my brother, but wouldn’t it be better to talk to him directly? I’m sure you won’t regret it.”

Of course, Darwood Campbell seemed to have many people around him, particularly those of the opposite sex.

But if asked who that man cared about the most, it would undoubtedly be this person.

Hearing those words, Elnore blinked a few times before nodding with a sigh.

“…Thank you for the kind words, even if they’re just empty consolation.”

“They’re not empty words at all.”

“Alright. I understand. You have quite the social skills, eldest son of the Armand Viscounty.”

“No, really. I’m actually rooting for Elia, you know?”

“…”

“I mean, I like you too, President, but charity begins at home, so I support my friend a bit more—”

That was certainly a response that proved he was definitely not one to offer empty words.

●

“…Hmm.”

Elnore sighed as she shook her wrist.

She had just knocked Talion unconscious with a strike to his forehead for spouting nonsense.

She’d shown some mercy because he had offered helpful advice.

-There’s no way my brother would dislike you or think you’re pathetic. Did he actually say something like that to you? I don’t think so.

She knew that better than anyone.

While she was training, there was no particular reason to avoid even making eye contact with Darwood to this extent.

Going this far was purely for her own personal reasons.

‘…If I were to run into him.’

If she were to confirm that he viewed her negatively.

If she were to realize that his feelings had changed to “dislike.”

She couldn’t bear it.

Even Elnore herself wasn’t sure how she would handle that.

“…”

But according to what that young man just told her, her behavior was actually causing that man more suffering.

‘…If that’s the case.’

Maybe it’s okay.

Maybe she could interact with him naturally as before.

Maybe she could see his warm smile again, just like before.

Such selfish desires began to creep up through her consciousness.

‘…What a disgraceful woman I am, truly.’

It wasn’t long ago that she had sworn not to become too entangled with him until she gained enough strength to protect him.

Didn’t she think just recently that she couldn’t bear to see him get hurt because of her anymore?

But now.

She couldn’t wait and was lingering around wanting to see him again.

Because she wanted to feel, even for a moment, even just a little, his kindness toward her.

“…”

She shook her head and started walking.

No matter what, she couldn’t do it.

She had to keep her resolve. For her sake, and for his sake too.

So her compromise was to observe him from a distance, as she always had.

It was probably similar to how people trying to quit smoking chew on something to distract themselves. She wanted to talk to him desperately, but to resist that urge, she would just watch him from afar.

Indeed, she was already experiencing something like withdrawal symptoms from not seeing him for so long.

And.

This was the result.

Elnore bit her lip until it bled as she looked at Darwood, who was lying unconscious on the bed.

She had just hurriedly carried him to the infirmary after he collapsed in the hallway.

-Elnore is the most important.

-I just want to see you, even once.

-There’s something I really want to tell you, but I’ve been really struggling lately…

“…”

The words she had just heard kept running through her mind.

Did this man want to meet her that badly?

The doctor said it was a temporary fainting spell due to lack of rest. As always, he must have been running around frantically trying to solve something.

In such a difficult situation, when he was working so hard for something, he had clearly been wishing to meet her, even if just for a moment.

But.

Once again, she had failed to be of help to him.

“…I’m sorry.”

She held Darwood’s hand as he lay on the bed with his eyes closed, and murmured those words.

“I’m sorry, Darwood.”

Truly, she had nothing else to say.

There were no other words to explain the heavy feeling settling in her chest.

How much more harm would she cause this man?

As she was thinking this while stroking his hand…

“…Mmm…”

Whether it was sleep-talking or not, Darwood stirred.

And that innocently pure face came into Elnore’s view.

And, immediately after that.

“…Ah.”

Her heart sank with a thud.

Her heartbeat accelerated. Heat rushed to her face.

This man was just sleeping, completely unaware, but…

“…”

She.

Unconsciously, she gently caressed Darwood’s face.

‘…What are you doing, Elnore?’

Such a thought rose through her diminishing rationality.

She had no right to do this.

In the first place, it’s questionable who would have the right to do such a thing, but it certainly wasn’t her—that much was clear.

This is something only the worst kind of person would do.

While apologizing, feeling so sorry, yet unable to resist the momentary urge—this is the behavior of a contemptible person who deserves scorn.

Intellectually, she knows this.

“…”

But.

Her heart.

The energy pulsating in her chest.

Desires this man.

She can’t control it. Just from the touch of his skin, the desires she had been suppressing all this time feel like they’re exploding.

Because she wanted to see him.

She wanted to see this man, touch him, feel him, hear his voice.

How long had it been since she’d been able to do so?

With slightly roughened breathing, she looked down at the peacefully sleeping Darwood.

She wasn’t sure how to express this, but.

Looking at this man now.

She was salivating.

“…”

Just a little.

Just a little would be fine, wouldn’t it?

Just slightly, not enough to be noticed.

She swallowed hard.

“…I’m sorry.”

Such a voice echoed softly.

“Truly, truly, I’m sorry. I’m really a terrible person.”

The sentence was the same apology as before.

“…Truly, I’m sorry.”

But the meaning behind it was completely different from before.

●

[Hey.]

“…”

[I know you’re already conscious. Why aren’t you opening your eyes? Are you enjoying this, perhaps?]

‘Shut up, please.’

He said that while desperately keeping his eyes closed.

Come on, man.

How could I open my eyes in this situation?

If I open my eyes now and get up saying “Actually, I’ve been conscious this whole time!” it’s no joke—Elnore would be justified in twisting my jaw off.

But seriously, what is this?

Why is she suddenly touching my entire body?

When I regained consciousness, I found myself in this state, and I have no idea what’s going on…!

‘…Still though.’

Considering her personality, she’ll probably just innocently kiss me while I’m sleeping and then leave.

Surely nothing major will happen—

[Oh, her hand is moving lower.]

“…”

What?

[Looks like she’s trying to undress you. What about lips? Lips? You think she’ll be satisfied with just what she did before? Isn’t that too naive?]

“…”

I mean, at this point I don’t even care about my lips being stolen.

But going beyond that is, well, you know…!

[This lady seems really nervous too. She can’t even find the buttons properly and is fumbling around.]

“…”

[Are you okay? At this rate, you’re going to get devoured.]

Stop with the commentary.

Please, I’m trying to figure out how to escape this situation.

‘I need to do something…!’

As I was thinking that.

The situation was suddenly resolved.

But.

In a direction I absolutely did not want.

“Darwood, I heard you collapsed from overwork! Are you alright?!”

“D-Darwood, are you okay?!”

With those voices, the door to the hospital room burst open.

Elnore jumped up in surprise, causing the bed to flip over completely and my body to be thrown to the floor.

“…”

At least there’s one fortunate thing.

One of the voices belongs to Yuria. At least my bare face wasn’t exposed.

But.

“Ah.”

“Oh.”

Lucien and Yuria surveyed the room with blank expressions.

To be precise.

They saw me sprawled on the floor with my clothes completely disheveled.

And Elnore, with a strangely flushed face, breathing heavily, who had been touching me until just now.

“…”

“…”

Silence stretched on as our gazes met.

“…Lady Tristan.”

Eventually.

The Holy Maiden finally broke the silence with a cold voice.

“What exactly were you doing here?”

“…”

My stomach.

My stomach hurts.

Why is it that even when I lose consciousness from overwork, things end up in this kind of situation?

Give me a break.

●