The Impact of the Author's Intervention on a Blank Page - Chapter 20
“Yes?”
“Sorry to trouble you, but could you bring me some medicine? I think we put it in that drawer earlier. And some water…”
“Of course. Please wait a moment.”
Upon hearing this, Emily quickly got up and walked toward the drawer in the corner of the room. Her movements were rushed and hurried. It looked a bit dangerous.
Sure enough, as he’d worried, there was a sharp crashing sound. Since there was no rug near the door, the medicine bottle Emily dropped hit the stone floor directly. The sound was quite loud for the middle of the night and probably carried outside.
Emily crouched down, frantically trying to pick it up.
“Emily…. Don’t touch the broken pieces with your hands. I can take different medicine. Clean it up slowly.”
If I remember correctly, there should be one more pill left from what the doctor gave me. As Ja-hyun tried to lower his legs to the bed, Emily became flustered. She seemed torn between stopping her young master from getting up and dealing with the spilled medicine.
”Oh, but… this medicine is incredibly expensive… What should I do?”
”It’s really fine.”
To react so strongly over a single pill – I hadn’t thought this before, but perhaps our family was especially strict with the servants?
”But, but… one of these costs as much as my monthly wages… Oh, what should I do?”
Ah, no wonder she’s so shocked. While servant wages in this era weren’t particularly high, she was saying it cost roughly a million won. Just how much had I been consuming until now?
‘They didn’t need to give me something this expensive.’
After all, this was all fake anyway. Even if it extended my lifespan, I’d have to return once the contract period ended. The pain-relieving effects would have been enough.
”…Really, it’s fine.”
Well, my wealthy brother would have handled it anyway.
”Brother isn’t the type to worry about such things. Don’t worry too much… It’s late now, let’s clean it up in the morning.”
”…..”
Emily seemed to accept this and returned with slow steps.
‘Was that medicine really that expensive? I had no idea. I wonder if brother is pushing himself too hard.’
Ja-hyun began speaking of his gratitude and respect for his brother. Though slow, his excited voice continued endlessly. While it was partly to distract the still-apologetic Emily, much of it was genuine. Praise for his brother flowed smoothly as if his tongue was oiled.
Emily quietly opened another medicine bottle and handed it to him. After carefully taking the medicine with Emily’s help and drinking some water, Ja-hyun continued praising his brother.
However, Emily, who had been listening quietly, wore an expression that suggested something didn’t sit right with her.”
”…Young master, do you really like His Excellency that much?”
Ja-hyun answered with a faint smile. His voice was small, hoarse from overexertion.
”He treats me so well and shows me such affection. How could I not like him?”
He spoke like an unworldly young master, his voice dreamlike. Fortunately, this seemed to work as Emily, who had been watching him, furrowed her brows.
”But… but, there’s no such thing as kindness without reason.”
”No kindness without reason?”
”Yes. It’s a rule of the world that one should be careful when someone offers a free lunch. I mean… not that His Excellency is like that. I just think it would be good for young master to learn to be a bit more suspicious of others. I know… even though you don’t appear so, you’re too… pure, young master.”
Emily, I didn’t expect you to be the type to speak your mind so boldly. Well, while my body might be different, my face remains the same – it would be hard to play innocent anywhere outside this mansion. Though slightly embarrassed, Ja-hyun maintained his composure steadfastly.
”……”
”I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I spoke out of turn…”
”No, you didn’t say anything wrong. Don’t worry about it.”
Ja-hyun responded weakly, blinking his tired eyes. Seeing his condition, Emily’s expression turned pained. Her eyes were filled with sympathy.
Here it comes, here it comes… She seemed about to fall for it. Ja-hyun was doing this to uncover what she knew.
”This is insanely difficult, it’s killing me.”
