Chapter 22
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The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 22
They've grown quite close already.
I had sensed long ago that they harbored feelings for each other, but I never realized it had progressed to this extent.
As their master, I felt a twinge of regret for not observing them more carefully.
Suddenly, I found myself wanting to give them time alone together.
"Lian."
I turned around to call out to Lian, who had been standing silently behind me.
"Yes, Miss?"
"I left something behind at the Inn. Let's go back and fetch it together."
"Understood."
"What did you forget, Miss? I'll come with you!"
As I began to move, Mary hurriedly called out to me and tried to follow.
"No need. I'll be back shortly. Wait here."
"But...."
A look of bewilderment crossed Mary's face.
"I'll return quickly."
"Miss!"
Leaving Mary's voice behind, I grasped Lian's wrist and hurried away from the spot.
Once we had put sufficient distance between us, I finally paused and released his hand.
"Let's stay here for a moment."
"Did you do that on purpose?"
Instead of answering, I let a smile play at the corners of my lips.
Lian seemed to understand what my expression conveyed, and he said nothing more.
"Oh! It's starting!"
And with perfect timing, brilliant fireworks in five vibrant colors adorned the dark night sky.
"Wow!"
Just as announced beforehand, enormous fireworks continuously filled the night sky, and the sight of them drew gasps of admiration from me.
"Lian! Isn't this absolutely magnificent?"
Standing before someone not yet grown into adulthood, I bounced on my feet like a child even younger than him, unable to contain my excitement.
"Porta devia...."
The words "Porta devia" spilled unexpectedly from Lian's lips.
It had been quite some time since I heard that phrase.
Perhaps because it was the most fitting words for this very moment, I smiled broadly and answered Lian with the same words.
"Truly 'Porta devia.' Isn't it?"
And so we savored happiness, watching the fireworks from a place slightly apart from where Mary and William stood.
The fireworks display, which had lasted considerably longer than expected, finally ended, and Lian and I made our way back to where Mary and William were waiting.
After enjoying the Festival's final night in Ulita, we headed toward the Inn.
Even after the Festival concluded, the Street remained bustling with noise.
People seemed determined to burn through the last night with unbridled energy.
Yet the moment we ventured beyond that area, the surroundings grew remarkably serene, as if the commotion had never existed.
The Inn where we were staying was located on a different Street, not the one bordering the Seaside.
As we walked toward the Inn, I savored the tranquil atmosphere of the quieter path.
That was when it happened.
An unfamiliar sound suddenly reached my ears.
"Do you hear that?"
"Pardon?"
"Don't you hear something?"
"No, I'm afraid I don't."
Mary answered with a bewildered expression.
"William? What about you?"
I turned to William with the question.
Mary, being an ordinary person, might not have heard it, but William and I were different.
We had undergone rigorous training, granting us far keener senses than most.
"Something... I believe I hear it too."
"Lian? Can you hear it as well?"
Lian gave a slight nod.
Thanks to his training, Lian's senses had grown considerably sharper.
We cautiously approached the source of the sound.
The noise was coming from somewhere we had already passed.
We retraced our steps.
As we drew closer, I heard ragged, labored breathing—as though someone were gasping for air.
I rushed toward the source without hesitation.
There, collapsed with his hand clutching his throat, was a man I had come to recognize all too well.
"Miss, that man is...!"
Mary recognized him and cried out loudly, pointing at Aiden.
I had no time to respond to Mary; I hurried to Aiden's side.
Aiden writhed in agony, his voice trembling with pain.
"Are you alright? What happened?!"
I attempted to lift the man from the ground, but his violent thrashing made it impossible.
I exchanged a glance with William and Lian.
Understanding my silent command, William positioned his back before Aiden, and Lian helped hoist Aiden onto William's shoulders.
We then rushed swiftly back to the Inn.
The moment we arrived, I asked the Innkeeper to summon the Doctor, then laid Aiden on the bed in my room.
Aiden continued to suffer, his groans of anguish unrelenting.
"Tell me. What on earth happened? Where does it hurt?!"
When I couldn't answer his question about where it hurt, I grew increasingly anxious. Suddenly, Aiden grabbed my wrist and shook his head from side to side.
"What do you mean?"
But Aiden continued to shake his head, still unable—or unwilling—to answer.
"When is the Doctor arriving?"
"I'll go fetch him right away."
As I showed signs of impatience, William hurried out of the room to bring the Doctor.
"Look at all this perspiration. I'll fetch a basin of water."
Mary said the same and left the room.
Now only Lian, myself, and Aiden remained in the room.
I couldn't tear my gaze away from Aiden, my expression helpless and confused.
But Aiden's gestures were strange.
It was as though he were desperately trying to tear away the necklace I had once called beautiful, clutching at it with all his might.
'The necklace?'
Uncertain but wanting to ease his distress, I reached toward Aiden's neck.
The moment my fingers barely touched the necklace, Aiden's anguished movements ceased as if by magic.
Aiden lost consciousness.
'What... what just happened?'
I spun around in bewilderment.
Lian, having witnessed the same thing, stared with wide eyes in shock.
"I didn't do anything."
I was offering an unnecessary explanation to Lian when the door opened and William entered with a middle-aged man.
"I've brought the Doctor."
The Doctor saw Aiden unconscious on the bed and immediately began his examination.
My mind was still reeling from what had just occurred, and I watched the Doctor's work with a vacant expression.
After a brief examination, the Doctor turned to us and spoke.
"It appears he suffered a severe shock or his vitality was depleted, causing him to lose consciousness."
"A shock?"
"Yes. But I couldn't determine what caused it, even after examining his body thoroughly."
"He kept clutching at his neck as though it were causing him pain."
"Yet there are no wounds or marks on his neck whatsoever."
"What?"
Incredulous at the Doctor's words, I quickly approached the unconscious Aiden.
I examined the area around his neck carefully.
True to the Doctor's assessment, there were no visible symptoms on his neck.
"Did you check inside his neck?"
"Yes. I examined it thoroughly, but found nothing."
It was strange.
We had all clearly seen Aiden in pain, yet the source of that pain remained undiscovered.
"I understand."
Though there were countless oddities, I decided to dismiss the Doctor for now.
And turning to look at the three of them, I spoke.
"All of you, return to your rooms and rest. I'll keep watch over this man."
"But Miss...!"
"There's something suspicious about this."
"Something suspicious? Then I should stay by your side, Miss."
Mary stepped forward, concerned, insisting she would remain at my side.
"This man won't harm me, so there's no need for that. Everyone, please go back to your rooms."
My words, firmer than I expected, left all three of them speechless, and they returned to their respective rooms.
Mary left first, then William, and finally Lian exited the room—but Lian kept his gaze fixed on me until the very end, staring intently without looking away.
I gave Lian a slight nod to reassure him.
Whether Lian felt reassured or not, the door closed only after quite some time had passed.
Everyone had left, and now only Aiden and I remained in the room.
I pulled a chair near the bed and sat down, scrutinizing Aiden carefully.
'What was that just now?'
What on earth had happened a moment ago?
Was it coincidence?
Had the timing simply aligned by chance?
When I touched him, Aiden's pain vanished and he lost consciousness—could that truly be coincidence?
Or perhaps...
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org