The Abandoned and Terminally Ill Lady Married a Monster - Chapter 22
Chapter 22
“…Really?”
I decided to play along. Just playing along. Absolutely not harboring any hopes or anything. For some reason, my ears felt hot, but I ignored it.
“Then I’ll wait here for you.”
At my words, Kin, who had been avoiding my gaze, suddenly looked at me with unexpected seriousness.
“Remember that. Because I definitely will.”
“Okay.”
“Even if you don’t keep your word, even if you break our promise, you’ve already promised me, so even if you say something different then, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”
‘This is serious. He’s warning me to keep my promise.’
He spoke with such solemnity, but it was hard to take seriously coming from a boy shorter than me. Besides, we’d only met twice.
I burst out laughing, unable to answer properly through my giggles. Kin glared, urging me to make the promise quickly.
“Okay, I swear on the name of the g—”
Growl.
My attempted oath was drowned out by another sound. My face burned with embarrassment. Kin’s bright eyes dimmed. He looked at me, and then he started to laugh.
“Your face is funny.”
“…Your face was funnier when you were forcing me to promise.”
“Forcing? I just told you to say no if you didn’t want to. How is that forcing?”
It hadn’t felt like force, really. I’d just said it because I was annoyed at him laughing at me. I was about to retort with a pout when—
“My lady, I brought your lunch.” A maid, her voice dripping with irritation, knocked on the door. I quickly hid Kin in the wardrobe and accepted my lunch. My bracelet was hidden beneath my sleeve.
‘This is a little embarrassing to show Kin.’
It was just cold soup, stale, dry bread, and milk. At least the bread had some meat in it.
“Come out, she’s gone now.”
The wardrobe door clicked open, and Kin emerged.
“Um, there’s only one chair. Want to share?”
“You sit.”
“Okay, thanks.”
If he offered, I might as well sit. I sat down without a word.
“Are you just going to stand there?”
“Yeah.”
‘Then I’d better finish eating quickly and give up the seat.’
I picked up my spoon. I took a bite of soup and looked at Kin. I took a bite of bread and looked at Kin. I took a sip of milk and looked at…
“Wh-What are you staring at?”
“I always eat alone here… I’m afraid you’ll disappear if I look away.” It might help if he ate with me. “It’s scary eating alone.”
‘Scared of eating alone at fifteen? I really am a mess.’
The only times I wasn’t afraid when I was alone were when I sat quietly on my bed or read. Then, I could forget, for a while, that I was alone here.
But mealtimes brought the stark realization of my solitude crashing down. It made me feel scared and lonely, so I often took my bread to bed and ate there. If I got thirsty, I’d drink my milk.
‘If I tell him this, will he think I’m messy, eating in bed and making crumbs everywhere?’ I always held the bread over the edge of the bed so I wouldn’t make a mess.
I tried to sneak glances at Kin as I lifted my spoon to take another bite of soup.
“Give me some bread. I’m hungry now, too.”
“Really?” My slumped shoulders straightened at his words.
“Oh.” Kin grunted, extending a hand towards me.
“You’re going to eat with your hands?” He’d said he was a nobleman. I didn’t know exactly where he lived, but come to think of it, I was promising a future with someone I knew nothing about. ‘Should I really be doing this?’
“Food’s food, no matter how it gets in your mouth.” His nonchalant attitude, whether he ate with his hands or a fork, reassured me. ‘It’s a promise only I’ll remember anyway. If I knew his name and heard something about him later, it would only make things worse.’
I didn’t want that. A moment ago, curiosity about his identity had flared, but it vanished as quickly as it came. ‘It doesn’t matter. What matters is now.’
I giggled, spearing a piece of bread with my fork and offering it to him.
“Never mind. I’m the one stealing your food; I should be the one eating with my hands.”
With that, I snatched the bread back. Kin plopped down beside my chair.
“Don’t bother with the chair. This is more comfortable.”
How did he know? I’d been about to offer it. I froze, still holding the chair. Kin glared up at me expectantly. He might glare, but it didn’t scare me. Still, I obediently followed his lead.
“Want some milk?”
“No.”
“Milk makes you grow taller.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized it sounded like I was mocking his height. I’d only meant it was good for him. I hunched my shoulders, looking down at him. Kin frowned, clearly displeased, and grumbled a refusal.
‘Good. He’s not angry.’
“Do you like tall people?”
“I don’t know. Books say tall people are handsome, so I guess I just go along with that.”
‘How would I know if I like tall or short people? I haven’t exactly met that many.’ I left that part unsaid. Kin chewed thoughtfully on the bread, a serious expression on his face. Oblivious, I grinned and ate, realizing for the first time that extreme happiness could make someone act like a fool. Hehee. My foolish laughter caught Kin’s attention. He paused mid-chew, staring at me.
“…You look happier…than when you received it.” He murmured, so softly I almost missed it.
“What? I didn’t hear you.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“If I didn’t say it, it had to be you.”
“You must have misheard.” Kin feigned innocence, returning to his bread. I let his mumbling slide, happily swallowing a spoonful of soup.
“I like eating with you.”
