Chapter 35
“Uh… that’s true too.”
Caught off guard, I flinched slightly, and Jaden raised the corner of his eyes sharply, muttering in a sulky voice,
“Viola, you’re smart in a useless way.”
Ugh. I can’t deny that.
It was troublesome how good Jaden was with words.
As expected, he really is clever.
“Haah, fine. Don’t do that next time.”
“Okay. I’m sorry.”
“Here. Hurry and promise.”
Jaden held out his pinky finger. When I hooked mine around it, the lips that had been sticking out in a pout finally eased back, as if he felt reassured.
“More importantly, give me the medicine already.”
“Yes. Before that, I should mention—since it’s made with gamjongcho as an ingredient, your heart might race after taking it, but it’s absolutely not dangerous, and I’ve prepared it safely—”
“I know, I know! I know it’s not dangerous!”
The way he grumbled in annoyance made him seem like a picky little cat.
“Alright. Here it is… Are you really okay with this?”
Even as I held out the medicine, I felt a bit worried.
I knew Jaden had an aversion to medicine.
Fortunately, the boy nodded without hesitation.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Really?”
“You said it was okay, Viola.”
Holding the medicine, Jaden squeezed his eyes shut as if gathering courage.
Then he gulped it down in one go.
“I-I took it!”
His ruby-like eyes immediately turned to me, shining with pride. That gaze clearly seemed to be asking for praise…
‘Of course I should praise him!’
You should never hold back praise for a good child.
“Well done, Young Master. You swallowed it all at once!”
“Really?”
I gently patted Jaden on the head. His soft silver hair slipped through my fingers.
“Of course! That was really brave! Oh my, our Young Master is truly the best! The coolest in the whole world!”
Jaden, who had been smiling confidently, suddenly glanced at me with dissatisfaction.
“That praise is too much. It doesn’t feel sincere.”
Pfft.
A laugh escaped me without me realizing.
“But it’s true… Do you know how impressive that is?”
I truly meant it.
For such a tiny child to swallow a pill like that in one go—how admirable.
‘I even brought syrup just in case.’
In fact, not long ago, Jaden had asked me for pills instead of syrup.
“I don’t need syrup! I’m six years old, you know? I’m not a little kid! Give me pills!”
I had seen many child patients since Haeiron Village, but that was the first time I’d ever heard something like that.
Jaden was a cool kid who kept his word.
I sat down beside him and started chatting quietly while we waited for the medicine to take effect.
About 30 minutes passed.
“Young Master, how are you feeling now?”
“Mm, well…”
Jaden frowned slightly, looking uneasy.
“I feel anxious. Why is this happening? Did something go wrong?”
Then he tightly grabbed the sleeve of my clothes.
Oh dear. I had a guess.
“Young Master, excuse me for a moment.”
I placed my fingers against his neck.
Thump, thump. The pulse at his carotid artery was faster than before he took the medicine.
Just as expected.
‘It must be because of the medicine.’
This medicine, made by mixing spiny-leaf herb and gamjongcho, suppressed the energy of a dragon.
Since the energy that had always run wild inside his body suddenly calmed down, his body was reacting to the abrupt change. That’s why his heart was beating faster.
‘He’ll be fine once he adjusts.’
In short, it was a completely normal, temporary reaction.
It seemed Jaden was interpreting the physical change as anxiety.
‘That’s understandable.’
It’s not easy to distinguish those things.
At times like this, there’s only one solution.
Explain it well and stay by their side.
“I told you earlier, right? Your heart might race a bit after taking the medicine. That’s all it is.”
“So I don’t need to worry?”
Jaden looked up at me with sparkling eyes.
He had been so prickly at first—when did he become this gentle?
I held his hand tightly.
“It’s actually a good sign. It means the medicine is working well. Once you get used to it, these symptoms will lessen…”
There was something even more important to say.
“It also means you won’t be in pain anymore, Young Master. You’ve had a hard time all this time.”
“…Really?”
The child’s eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Yes, of course.”
Then, like adding fine print at the bottom of a contract, I whispered,
“You’ll need to keep taking the medicine regularly, though.”
“…How long do I have to take it?”
Jaden straightened up and asked in a serious voice.
His small hand was trembling, just a little.
‘Is he still anxious?’
Or maybe he was afraid of having to take medicine for so long.
To ease his worries, I spoke as gently as possible.
“You’ll need to keep taking it until your body fully grows.”
“How many years is that?”
“At least more than ten years. It sounds long, but it actually goes by faster than you think—”
“Then will you stay with me until then?”
It seemed the question he really wanted to ask had been decided from the start, as Jaden spoke urgently.
Caught off guard, I froze for a moment.
Misinterpreting my reaction, Jaden began waving his hands and making excuses.
“N-no! I mean, if you’re not here, who’s going to make my medicine? Huh? I don’t want to take something weird and get sick. And when you start something, you’re supposed to take responsibility until the end—”
Ahh, I can’t take it anymore. I suddenly pulled Jaden into a tight hug. What am I supposed to do with this adorable child…!
“W-why all of a sudden…!”
Jaden shouted in surprise, but he didn’t resist at all. It didn’t seem like he disliked the hug.
“Anyway, are you going to keep making the medicine or not? Answer quickly. Don’t dodge the question.”
“Of course I’ll keep making it.”
That was the contract I made with Kain from the start.
And even if it wasn’t, I had no intention of leaving this child.
Finally hearing my answer, the corners of Jaden’s lips twitched.
“…This actually feels kind of nice. I feel less anxious somehow.”
“Really? Then I’ll stay with you today until you calm down.”
“Okay.”
An hour passed, then two.
Jaden kept holding my hand tightly as if he wouldn’t tire.
“How do you feel now?”
“I-I don’t know. I still feel really anxious…”
Hmm. That’s strange.
His pulse is normal.
‘Maybe it’s just anxiety. He might still have a lingering aversion to the medicine.’
It had gotten much later than expected, but just in case, it seemed I should stay here for the rest of the day.
‘Melody… hmm.’
I had already asked a servant to inform her of the situation, so by now she should have washed up and gone to sleep.
‘But it’s her first time sleeping without me. Will she be okay?’
She always clung to me like glue when sleeping. What if she kicked off the blanket?
I couldn’t help worrying. I should at least check if she’s sleeping well.
“Young Master, may I step out to my room for a moment?”
“Huh? Why…? My heart is still pounding…”
“I just need to wash my face. I’ll be back soon.”
“Then… okay…”
Jaden looked a little downcast. Then he added, urging me,
“You have to come back quickly!”
“Thank you!”
I hurried toward my room.
Melody looked around the room with a serious expression.
No matter how she looked at it—
‘Mom’s not here!’
Nooo!
Clutching her head, Melody collapsed to the floor.
