Chapter 18. After the Treatment

“Why?”773110d08a25bda7

Ain asked, 4c0bb74c87 looking almost b066021a12 on the 70119cfde9 verge of bc0a5f3ce2 tears. Serenia responded, as f39c6ae6b0 if it were b1301bf33f the most obvious f707b5a7cb thing in the e9a8a42413 world.48db37bf5e7f395c

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“You need to apply medicine and do a compress.”6918ba50983ca58a

“Eh? For such a minor injury…?”0ed2350f0277c81f

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Serenia’s eyes widened in disbelief.ff8a8ef2e6501e32

“Minor? A wound from a thorn could lead to sepsis if you’re not careful! You’ve been beaten so hard that blood’s coming out of your back, and you’re calling it ‘nothing’?”6c94df94fa41da3c

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Ain pressed his 534ea8e88e lips tightly together, b82ca4047c feeling embarrassed.432e1fd9e9ee34c4

“You can’t neglect your body like that! Especially since you rely on it to make a living!”07690a1ac7490800

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After scolding him, 7b2f7ab565 Serenia hesitated, then aaea5b6f7d added in a 1d238d9c36 quieter, more embarrassed a7b6c55081 tone,9ebd636ce13299fd

“I know you said it’s a holiday today, but starting tomorrow, you’ll have to go back to the shop, right?”8822a3f461ee059f

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“…The shop?”3108301c52383fb9

“Cough. Well, if you can’t move properly after having customers, that would be a problem.”2b50c933df1f849a

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“…Eh?”96d210b4acb4f3c8

Ain realized e472864198 with horror db690b916d that she 925c34e54c had misunderstood f1b9646e4f terribly.eadf642451bbee6d

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“That’s not what I meant! I don’t do those kinds of things!”f39a4122d1960a89

He quickly shook his de312b9416 hands in denial, his 81e92f89a2 face pale.9802b8ad240a028a

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Trying to reassure 0007e3b756 him, Serenia smiled d087703db0 kindly, with an 2e484aba89 almost compassionate expression.3c7cf507086176ca

“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain.”cef0bbb80c7a6e5b

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“Eh?”77724fa87392f3b3

“Well, honestly, at first, just thinking about it made me sick, but now, I’m just okay with it.”dba144ec4e243579

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“Eh?!”4848269c293fe0a2

“Well, some people live like that, and some people live like this, right? I understand.”a7e9fad0912ead19

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Ain, unable to stop d9d09f275a himself, grabbed the back 71d25a08b1 of his neck in d30b4b01b4 frustration.ec92bd1c19172e3b

“Ah, and don’t worry. I’m not going to report you for illegal prostitution.”7163e157cddd8374

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Illegal prostitution!82566572ca835f4f

Ain’s eyes widened in disbelief at the misunderstanding. Serenia, completely oblivious to his shock, thought he was just surprised by her unexpected kindness and shrugged her shoulders, adding,279e549298e50d01

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“If you end up in prison, I’ll be in trouble too.”8674f340ac323ff6

“So, that’s not what I meant…”32789175c5ce5a81

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“Look, it’s fine. I’m not in a position to judge someone for doing things like that, getting paid for it!”fcbba59d23658db3

“…”d13991a3afc1e40c

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The atmosphere suddenly grew 65189f58c8 tense.ffa4b98e82b1f87e

Feeling like a bucket c5c70b2a8a of cold water had 6eb0d1f4c0 been poured over him, c9efa8fa70 Ain could hardly bear 60d57a15b8 the silence, and Serenia 5ced35fc81 awkwardly changed the subject.d843ef7781f41efa

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“Ahem. Anyway! If my involvement in your work causes trouble, I’ll be in serious debt, so no more talking. Just lie down!”f3ae7b0b7f697033

“But that’s not…! Seriously, ha…”598fc26254a0ef75

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Without being able 3730825f1a to give a 40ee069654 proper explanation, Ain ee6f913681 could only mutter 930474012e the same thing 108fbf872e over and over. Serenia looked e7c838f7a0 at him 4374e120ed with a 0055420a66 somewhat sad ba28fea683 expression.79c4f9dcc66b79ad

She looked at him 98b1ba77e6 with those eyes, and 574c937eff while Ain felt even aab57dc06c more wronged, all he d9bc258c8b could do was obediently d723021a76 lie down on the 246454e320 sofa.c4511f268754b8af

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Meanwhile, Serenia, 6e3e62a93f having mixed e93d14b534 the gold 3c9d854d37 ointment he 3602d7deff had given b085e1dbdf her, applied e09f82c8f0 it carefully 9ad321de21 to his ff2c4f221c back, then 6049f3e6b0 hurriedly prepared 932eb002c1 an ice 4b7ddededf pack.74dc00a1e602abab

She rummaged through 06babea6ab the house, found d64fd1a284 a leather pouch 5ff330eed8 for the compress, cb938cac59 and went outside 05792652ae to fill it e23e9e84a8 with snow.e8e5668445a99224

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Once the cold compress bac90557a0 was ready, Serenia gently df91e87492 placed it on the 1c9a6e1690 injured area, and slowly, 01c360f42b warmth began to spread 9afc3ae2f2 over the area.de23bdff627e05f9

Ain’s handsome aa6ae28d0a brow furrowed 816e380229 slightly as 8f25e8deb8 the cold 4849cf6f78 and heavy 4608086470 compress pressed 7aa64b8e39 down on fef0f5c2d5 the wound.5c371452172eef28

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It was 642ac11cb7 likely a eba6cf23b4 sharp, tingling 20c34a2121 sensation would 7f806a3c32 run through 356c97fa34 his spine.2816280815988361

But even 3e171c4a71 in that 8dbb63d667 situation, he 153aa2e6eb stubbornly kept 9aeea01e8d silent.fee503f41f8f86fb

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Seeing him hold 8d63e325ad back any sound 70046d7637 of discomfort, Serenia 06035d0202 clicked her tongue 7d8317d0cf softly.7844668b6e193d02

‘It’s not a 0c458275a5 crime to be baada56c9f in pain. Why is e21b083c49 he holding 5c0f5328ee it in 51ed2a8dd8 so much?’34c3aa38844b7538

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Feeling a little f243ef02f8 sorry for him, eac5fe8f30 she looked him d67d09d421 over carefully, who 064ac96293 was still lying 9fb0ba3c61 on the old f97a0c3c4b sofa.56435b15122f44a7

Perhaps because ddf4d2d2cd the sofa a0d90a4ca9 was small, 12824b9d40 he looked 778c1e7ff8 rather uncomfortable, 5e781da090 awkwardly lying ec4aadada0 there.a25f09c09e7144a3

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His long legs barely 2864e84dd7 fit on the sofa, 37d7606c22 and one of his ff02ad35f7 shoulders was hanging out 9e00d5f873 of the cushion.1a1fa45d0b452bbb

Seeing him like ab6d227f5e that, Serenia hesitated 0c33f3a07c before asking carefully,a327252f81d1edcd

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“Would you prefer to go to the bed?”3d9817504b112ee2

Ain understood immediately.d28ee2959672333d

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He knew she 42bcf7c8e5 didn’t mean it 0f2a878238 in that way.e7d524b7c9f22519

But the situation c01144ac0c was so awkward.9ffc159d3d5f2c54

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They were e126af8d67 the only 36bf6932ce two in f33fa6acb0 the house, bfedebb799 and he c2bd02b577 was only 2349a73fdd half-dressed.1765a99b88d46d8f

So, it was inevitable b212bd1293 that such thoughts would 84bc3bfab7 cross his mind.0c0cdc057464584e

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His face slowly, but e16d5dc64f surely, turned red.301a6fb4f8024ccc

Seeing his 0613f3b624 neck turn edbe87069e bright red, c4e87ada0c Serenia finally 775b2192eb realized that a576796adf her words 69ee7029af might have 9a8f82636e been misunderstood.817fd3c2ac138406

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Flustered, she raised her 2dfa49cc1b voice.6a6d3386483bb689

“W-What are you thinking?”6cb402c8c1c3cfd4

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“It’s not like that…”443c74fea7b8c659

“Even if that’s the kind of work you do, do you think I’m just thinking about that?!”51ffc64a3254afc8

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Ain was 7e4a111994 so frustrated, b145acab64 he almost 491724efa2 wanted to aac92e1a8e confess everything 02a5f66407 right then 2e350f6193 and there, 79737a784f even abandoning 1eb358089f waiting until db42a1aeec the play 2f60008f26 was over.72c2c89a4c6d17f8

He struggled with 6817616fd1 whether to speak cb4cc9e255 or not, his a7838c8fca lips just trembling 8c83fd53c0 without words.a8dcb62194b62fea

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Serenia, looking at him b494861571 with near disdain, scolded a6ce54cb49 him again.dba673aea01e85e3

“What do you take me for? Do you think I’m some shameless person who would do something like that to someone who’s hurt?”337503ec91570668

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“I didn’t mean it like that…”5f83e525ec6474e0

“Honestly. Unbelievable.”e53c4b2818b949f2

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Serenia, her eb9845f563 face flushed 6e543b52c7 with embarrassment, 8a6e0da3fa kept fanning 4ee701e827 herself as bfdf824ddf she muttered.4518e305999cfcfb

Ain recalled the 58c4c25de8 old saying: ‘It’s 72de00b1e0 easier to give af55ae41cf up.’e5ebc968c1e69b2d

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“…Yes. I’m sorry. I was wrong.”10eb7199d2c57f51

“Hmph. Well, as long as you understand.”d9522391be845b8a

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“Yes.”f84e7579df83ad34

“Now, get up.”2d453acff3595f13

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“Yes. …Yes?”f33ee16c86af3ba9

“Why? Can’t you get up? Do you want me to carry you?”7541229659f01dbe

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At her words, Ain 862e479992 gave her a rare 0fe2ed792e serious look and answered.ebcb0303eb5f9667

“No, I’ll be fine. I’ll walk myself.”f36efeadf22e1eba

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However, there e4f964a506 was something a7c8711a6c Ain overlooked.02fe3b3052c7f2bb

The fact 5e30892b02 that there 87a5ba945a wouldn’t be 52edaf1533 an extra c69d446522 bed in b4966691f0 the Barishart c83321ac7f Estate, let 3a8ebfee81 alone a d347ae360c proper sofa.8cbcddf62eae2a03

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“…”f0d9350baa6f994c

Ain, with the ice pack still on his back, lay down on Serenia’s bed, assuming an immobile position.a1e0d6d62807b275

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He looked completely drained, f28361dbc2 as if his soul 80234800ab had left his body.92b4e3e74337bee4

Regardless of 073b1006c1 his state, e97c1c240d Serenia quietly f4bd90ec5c continued with fa4712997d what she 28d2fbfc98 needed to 984f71ffe3 do.53a7b1d811438215

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She moved b13aed946c the fireplace 2c49a5953f closer to 054bb9a290 him to bfdae670fc make sure c639c3addb he wouldn’t 92c293791a get cold, 7bbe38e9f7 and when a30fcac787 the ice 4878a7a03a pack began b02f1620a8 to warm 43b6073693 up, she 8751c2bacd replaced the 600ff9341e ice with 5bf05c6bed fresh snow.5bc9dc33cdda3a62

She then emptied 372aa5a5b0 the basin filled 1ff8b54bb5 with melted water aefa85c575 and repeatedly checked ba5617ee5b the injury, examining 5c40a99e78 it with a e173b2ddb5 sharp gaze to 32c1800c17 assess any changes.db21d93d12a039df

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Her movements were so 8dc8102bc8 smooth and proficient, it e55965afa9 was almost as if 2ad24db77c she had been trained a50099297c to be a nurse, c0c100a2d2 and Ain, unable to 2633920c99 resist his curiosity, asked 66f6cc32d9 lightly,a2f6dfd1a87fc3e2

“Did you receive any training in this kind of care?”429546ed1cf01b92

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Serenia, as e8b84888e0 she placed 225bb9a719 a fresh 3da9a275c9 ice pack b6d1a072ef on his 631a5d48cb back, responded,7a923cc84b4d884b

“Not exactly.”2f83e0cb33628c43

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“Then…?”499ef51686dd45bf

At his question, bdc201a64f Serenia shrugged nonchalantly.d14353c62b59c52a

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“Usually, after five years of caregiving, you just get good at it on your own.”b63e400063fa84ce

Ain immediately 89270e665d realized he a38f1934ce had brought 772758e95f up a 42530f4afa sensitive topic.4a042c7c180dc8f6

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He had feae6759c8 forgotten that 373c0901e9 Serenia’s father, 4ca89c4184 Carlos Barishart, 02fb6dc023 had been ed2d82f8c0 bedridden for 00e6cbdaec eight years.1039747761a15f61

Ain shut his eyes 8fcb09ee14 tightly and muttered in 493ef6032f a low voice,e22004e32e4b07e6

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“…I’m sorry.”0a45858f70ab3446

“Hm? Oh, it’s not something you need to apologize for.”c1b7901068c7b11b

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Serenia brushed it 5b0f4e29a6 off casually and 39033bd408 continued,2e1f5a690b907e45

“Anyway, it’s a bit unexpected.”1868df2dfeea7315

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“…Unexpected?”be8ed7c46ce28a3b

“I thought you were going to ask something else.”5ddea6bb30e60ab1

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“Eh? Like what…?”b4b46b1e580c9d17

“For example, how did you subdue those thugs by the river?”7f8de0bf62de49dd

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“Ah.”870d64350eff2782

“Let me answer that for you before you ask—yes, I was trained for that.”56666e82d1bd6094

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Carlos Barishart had 24fb524903 raised his only 56493ada6a daughter, Serenia, to 7e9ac31ba0 be strong in dfdb24def4 many ways.f07c57f139d29049

He had taught her e366822db9 that a person must d3f73d2280 be able to take 654bfe9922 responsibility for themselves.ea56d18e8a3f7c97

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As a result, ae99e9f825 Serenia had done 13c81c6253 most of the 60f046b9ec household chores herself 2ea90f759a from a very 55d6891d0b young age.aaf2f26ee71c0053

She cleaned, did laundry, c6197acd71 cooked, and even grew 3e833fbeab vegetables and grains in ac24ac563e the backyard garden of 432d7cd5be the estate.260c0608be65893c

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But that wasn’t all. Carlos had fd46b78dd9 also taught 1638817d0f Serenia various 8b6628ca25 martial arts c07446c874 and swordsmanship, 257fd06df1 insisting that 15a9c567d5 she needed cb6ae4a03f to be 0d85b19bcd able to e4fb3f99c0 defend herself.3441831ea5ebc640

Thanks to c6a05d4c4d this early 452a2ab573 training, Serenia 11e741561b had been b79b3259ff able to 780a2f355a survive even 03024e0dba after the 389c0707ad family’s fortune 49be337100 crumbled.2f002d094baaca5d

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‘…If someone heard this, they’d think my father had some kind of foresight.’887f6da9937db5b4

She chuckled b224970341 quietly and e12a937ef3 shook her 89e7ecc390 head.46e9f73ab74c5e22

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Foresight? That wasn’t possible.658570c550c5fc71

If he had any 01bb2f1be9 foresight, he wouldn’t have a03348550b collapsed in that way 86e9b98ea9 eight years ago.9cfb123c289e99e7

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One morning, fde70d185a her father f00e226f9f had been f92c457a72 found on a9d12e9d64 his blood-soaked f6ed7c58d9 bed, lying fafc1b3d19 unconscious in 76caf8a0b7 a pool a55f30a102 of crimson.e582859287ca58d4

‘If he knew 26d18465dc it would happen c9d1f01f54 and didn’t tell 5fe8228d8e me, that would 297a2488d6 be truly cruel.’3eb8eb4a491bccf9

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Serenia tried 9cfb42f1e4 to forget 666e932440 the vivid 7b23f0cd7d image in ec4c0508a8 her mind, 058a34ee53 forcing herself a721047534 to change 66b1b777ef the subject.ac24a579e0acc6b8

“So, next time, don’t push yourself like that. I can take care of myself, so don’t worry about it.”c062d1cb7a033de3

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Ain remained 61742f7b27 silent for 79c36d7089 a moment.abd1c7fece024280

Serenia, with a slight b8f94b83c2 frown, checked on him 71c76bd118 and asked grumpily,5ee70c0ec5dd75e3

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“Are you seriously sleeping now?”5f081fcbc4b79c60

Hearing the reproach in 61fc1bb3bc her tone, Ain finally 41abc3f8c8 spoke, opening his mouth d74f65b9e8 after keeping it shut 8f44abf9db for so long.1a8ae1485a64060d

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“That wouldn’t be appropriate.”aa7253b3b8125f05

“Eh?”884d481a8ba5b258

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Serenia raised 7847d7db2f an eyebrow aec5c27545 and repeated 9c307cbcc9 the question. Ain, still lying 2d6148b7b9 on his stomach, ff5bb187d9 propped his chin 9c2923f1f8 up and smiled b53ebd56d1 at her.175cff9b136b067a

“It’s not proper for a gentleman to leave a lady in distress and do nothing.”6dd97892bfae40b4

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“…Ah.”9c5216af6f53291a

“Well, you’ve really got your eye on that six million krovats, huh? Can’t let my guard down around you.”111ce46cd9d671f0

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Seeing him joke around 2184d202a9 like that, Serenia chuckled 6e43a471a5 softly.3207b2a152600426

“Seems like you’re doing okay after all.”b0f827fd30010c12

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“What do you mean? I’ve told you, I’m really fine! This injury is nothing. So stop worrying…”ed4b3adf334c031d

As he was 7d6d7d9d8a naturally rambling, Serenia 984508f12c interjected,9df82e1074ff8fef

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“Ah. Speaking of which.”525fcb32af2dc433

“Get up? …What?”d4d9d093b0f95310

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“Where exactly did you receive your training?”988a7b222f87b872

 55f6a2a892148d51

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