Ch.55Shining Knight (13)

“…Kugh…Asena. Take your sister and go outside. Can you do that..?”

Due to the physicians pressing down on Caden again, Asena couldn’t even answer.

That was the end of their conversation.

Without being able to say “I love you,” or “stay strong,” or “don’t leave us,” Caden remained fixed in place.

At that moment, someone rushed breathlessly into the physician’s room and handed Caden a cup containing some liquid.

“It’s… opium extract…! Drink this, and after a deep sleep, everything will be fine when you wake up…!”

As soon as Caden heard the physician’s words, he took the cup and drank it down without hesitation.

The pain from the stab wounds all over his body must have been tremendous.

Caden continued to writhe in pain afterward, but soon his cries gradually subsided until—thud. His body went limp as he fell asleep.

But to Asena, it looked different. The way her brother weakened and subsided seemed as though his life’s light had been extinguished.

Finally, she rushed anxiously to the physician who was catching his breath after only giving Caden the opium extract.

“…My brother…..is that reaction normal?”

The physician composed himself upon seeing Asena. She spoke while watching him struggle to catch his breath after what must have been a frantic rush.

“Feel free to breathe however you need to…! Just answer me…”

“Huff..! Yes..yes.. They usually—huff—fall asleep that quickly. Lady Praester, you shouldn’t stay here any longer. We’ll call for you when everything is finished. Would you please wait outside?”

“I…I..!”

“Huff…If you stay here, we don’t know what effect it might have on Lord Caden. Would that be acceptable to you?”

It could harm Caden. Though it was an obvious statement, she hated feeling powerless during his most vulnerable moment.

Even so, Asena finally nodded.

Kirsy had already been helped out of the physician’s room.

Asena, now drained of strength, took one last look at Caden bleeding on the table, then turned away with tears in her eyes.

****

Asena waited steadfastly for Caden with the unconscious Kirsy lying on her lap. She wanted to cry her heart out, but she didn’t, fearing it might somehow mean Caden’s treatment had gone wrong.

Everything would work out fine. So there was no reason to cry.

She kept hypnotizing herself with these thoughts as she waited.

As she sat quietly, Asena’s mind kept filling with memories of their recent arguments.

During the past few months at the Academy, all they’d done was fight. They had wasted precious time that could have been spent making cherished memories on meaningless arguments and power struggles.

Though she hated to think about it, if this was the end…

Just that assumption brought tears to her eyes again, but if this was the end, she knew she would never forgive herself for fighting with him these past few months.

His final memories would be tainted by their arguments. If he left like this, they would part ways without proper reconciliation or apology.

No matter how much she begged, the fact that they parted with strained emotions wouldn’t change.

She should have told him she loved him one more time. She should have kissed his cheek one more time. She should have…

No matter how hard Asena tried, her mind could only think negatively. This wasn’t something she could control with willpower.

What would become of her if he left? She certainly wouldn’t be able to maintain her sanity.

Perhaps she would unleash chaotic violence and anger upon the world just to keep her mind intact. She might curse the god who took Caden away and destroy everything that god had created.

Or perhaps… she might just follow him.

Because a world without him had no meaning.

Suddenly, a loud noise came from inside the physician’s room.

‘Hold him down..! Hold him down..!’

Asena felt the urge to cover her ears.

Whatever was happening didn’t sound like a good sign.

She unconsciously squeezed her eyes shut at the sound.

She prayed and prayed that he would endure.

****

After what felt like an eternity of agony, the physician finally came out to speak with Asena.

“….Lady Praester.”

Though speaking with the physician was the expected next step, Asena’s heart pounded violently. She couldn’t even muster the courage to look at his face. It was the first time she had ever been so terrified.

In the past, even before reaching adulthood, when she had faced Ice Duke, the head of a rival family, she had never felt this emotion.

Now she could only tremble in fear at the words of a mere commoner.

Why was he using such a quiet tone?

Why did it feel like only bad news would come from his lips?

“…..The treatment…”

Asena finally managed to force out just one phrase. Anything more was too difficult. Now all she could do was wait.

“…We’ve cleanly stitched up all the stab wounds for now.”

“Haah…! Haah…!”

At the first piece of good news, Asena burst into tears and sighs that she had been holding back.

“Lord Caden also appears stable. However…”

At the word “however,” Asena’s heart sank.

“……”

Her lips froze, unable to ask anything. She could only wait for what was coming.

“But that’s just on the outside… We don’t know what’s happening inside Lord Caden. There’s nothing we can do about that…. If any of his organs are damaged and internal bleeding continues…. you might want to prepare yourself…”

Asena stood up abruptly, not even caring about Kirsy who had been lying on her lap.

Then with all her might, she slapped the physician’s cheek.

-Slap!

“I haven’t given up! How dare you, a mere physician, give up first!”

But no matter how much strength Asena put into her slap, the physician’s cheek merely turned slightly. The weakened Asena had no strength to exert.

The physician blinked at her words and lowered his gaze.

Asena continued:

“Listen carefully. If my brother leaves my side……you die too.”

“….I’ll keep that in mind.”

Asena sat back down and placed Kirsy’s head back on her lap.

The physician stood frozen for a moment, then addressed Asena.

“…..Lord Caden will wake up in a few hours. The medicine should last that long. It may vary depending on his strength…but that’s what you should expect. When he wakes up, he will likely complain of pain. I’ll prepare more opium extract, so make sure he drinks it when he wakes.”

“…I understand.”

“Also… while caring for him, watch Lord Caden’s abdomen carefully. If it starts to swell…that’s not a good sign, and you should let us know.”

“…How did my brother end up like this?”

Asena finally asked the question she had been so curious about. What could have happened to cause this in the dead of night?

“We don’t know how he ended up like that either. All we know is that he was stabbed and slashed multiple times with a sword…”

“Sword…?”

At those words about a sword, Asena’s head filled with pale anger.

Of course she had guessed from his wounds, but hearing it directly felt different.

Who on earth. What despicable person had put a sword to his body? Who had tried to take her treasure away from her?

Whoever the culprit was, when caught, everyone involved would have to pay the price.

Trembling with anger, Asena looked up at the physician.

The physician flinched at Asena’s gaze.

She asked:

“…Is it alright for me to see my brother now?”

“Yes. But you must not touch Lord Caden or cause any disturbance. He needs absolute rest.”

Asena nodded.

Only then did the physician bow and withdraw. The many physicians and assistants standing behind him all bowed and left as well.

“…Kirsy.”

Asena shook Kirsy briefly to wake her. But the unconscious girl wouldn’t wake up. Perhaps this was for the best.

In her sleeping state, she could at least forget this pain for a while.

Asena gently removed Kirsy’s head from her lap.

She quietly stood up and walked into the room where Caden was lying.

“…..”

He was lying there. On a bed as large as his body, wrapped in bandages stained red.

Left alone with him in the room, Asena began to cry.

“…Hic…! …Hic…!”

These were tears she couldn’t hold back. She approached Caden’s side, grabbed his bedside, and knelt down.

Because of the need for absolute rest, unable even to hold his hand, Asena sobbed as she looked at the fallen Caden.

****

How long had she been watching Caden breathe shallow breaths? After Kirsy regained consciousness and shed endless tears, the twins were blankly watching over Caden.

Afraid that something might happen if they fell asleep, they didn’t even close their eyes. Though dawn was breaking, they remained unwavering. They just stared blankly at Caden.

At that moment, the sound of someone rushing down the corridor with quick footsteps was heard.

Even at that sound, the twins couldn’t take their eyes off Caden.

The person who entered the room took a small breath and called the patient in a whisper.

“….Caden..”

When his name was called, Asena finally turned her head to look behind her.

“……”

A wave rippled through her previously calm heart. It was Judy.

She was covered in blood, just like Caden.

Asena’s eyes grew cold. Unable to think rationally, she asked:

“…..Judy. Tell me you didn’t do this.”

“….What?”

Judy couldn’t believe the question, but realizing that Asena knew nothing and was not in her right mind due to Caden’s condition, she felt she had to confirm the obvious fact.

“It wasn’t me.”

“…..Then, were you there when this happened?”

It didn’t make sense that two knights would be covered in blood on the same night unless they were involved in the same incident.

“…..I was.”

Asena slowly rose from her seat. She turned and began walking toward Judy.

With each step Asena took toward her, Judy felt a chill. A chill more penetrating than the cold of the north where she was born.

Only when she came very close did Asena speak to Judy again.

“…..Then why couldn’t you stop it?”

“…….”

“Why… is my brother lying there collapsed. And you’re fine? And why are you only showing up now…”

“……”

“No…no..that’s not it…how did my brother…”

Asena staggered in confusion.

Judy desperately wanted to approach Caden, but she held back for now. Explaining to them seemed more important.

So, holding back tears at the pitiful sight of her fallen friend, Judy spoke to Asena.

“I can explain.”

****

Judy explained only what she had witnessed.

How Caden had caught someone monitoring him.

How, for some reason, he tried to resolve the matter himself instead of leaving it to the city guard.

How they entered the criminals’ hideout.

The battle that ensued.

And finally, the children they were able to rescue.

When Caden and Rush disappeared, Judy ultimately changed her priorities and rescued the children first.

The children said they had been kidnapped.

Indeed, while investigating the criminal organization’s hideout, Judy could tell they were primarily involved in kidnapping. Various items and documents she found later all focused on abduction.

After rescuing them, she spoke with the city guard, followed procedures, and then returned to the Academy.

With that, Judy concluded her explanation.

“….”

While it might sound like a story of raiding a criminal organization to save children, Asena’s attention was caught elsewhere.

‘He caught someone who was monitoring people around him.’

That statement resonated differently. Asena felt as if something heavy was blocking her throat.

It couldn’t be. She had clearly told Shallon not to do it, to forget about it. It couldn’t be her.

“…Ugh..”

At that moment, Caden let out a groan.

Asena and Kirsy were startled and knelt by his bedside to check on him.

“Br..brother…”

“Brother, do you recognize me? I’m Kirsy..hic..I’m Kirsy..”

“Urgh…”

But Caden only groaned in pain. He didn’t seem to be fully awake yet. He was just instinctively writhing in pain.

The twins called his name repeatedly, unable to touch him.

Soon, Caden’s heavy eyelids opened with difficulty, and he looked at the twins with drowsy eyes.

“….Asena…Kirsy…”

“…Yes….! It’s me…! Hic..”

“Brother…please.. why like this..”

Caden managed a weak smile in his state and slowly began to raise his hand.

Asena quickly pressed it down and said:

“Brother…they said you shouldn’t move. Your wounds might open. I know it’s frustrating, but stay still..”

But Caden didn’t stop. He raised his arm again. Asena couldn’t press it down a second time.

His hand slowly rose and gently brushed Kirsy’s face as she knelt, then lightly traced Asena’s face. He said:

“…Stop.”

The word he always uttered when telling them to stop crying. At those words, contradictorily, the twins’ eyes shed even more tears.

Asena finally bowed her head and pleaded:

“…Brother…I’m sorry…I was sorry…”

Given the opportunity, Asena began apologizing to him. Contrary to his words, even with Judy present, she spoke while shedding tears.

Caden’s eyes gradually regained their luster.

“…It’s okay. Asena. It’s okay.”

His voice gradually regained strength too. His breathing grew louder, and even his complexion began to improve.

It was as if his robust vitality was being directly transmitted.

Asena and Caden didn’t need more words. They didn’t need to embellish with trivial phrases. What mattered was the meaning they were trying to convey.

Caden’s gaze turned to Judy. She was biting her lip as she looked at him. Caden couldn’t tell what emotion she was feeling, but it was clear she was holding back tears.

Caden smiled at Judy.

“…Thank you.”

“…Save those words for when you’re standing on your own two feet.”

After crying for a long time, Asena suppressed her tears again and took a breath. She raised her head and looked at Caden.

“Brother…drink this. You still need to rest.”

Asena handed Caden the additional opium extract the physicians had provided. He must still be in pain.

But Caden waved his hand.

“…?”

Even the quiet Kirsy tried to persuade him with a voice mixed with aegyo.

“Brother..you need to drink it…okay..? Please… if something happens to you…”

“….I will drink it. But before that…there’s someone I need to meet.”

His unbreakable will was palpable. He wanted something important enough to endure the pain. Important enough to refuse sleep.

Caden looked at Asena and said:

“….Shallon Payne. Bring her to me. I have something…to ask.”