My Lord Chapter 25

“What nonsense is this all of a sudden?”

 

“N-no, it’s just… If I did something wrong and you’re being unusually kind because of it, I thought I should reflect on it.”

 

As I spoke, even I realized how absurd it sounded, and my voice gradually faded. Sedian’s face, as he looked at me, showed a faint trace of disbelief.

 

“What did I do?”

 

“Well… things like holding my hand while walking. Normally, my lord, you really dislike holding hands, don’t you? And the way you answer kindly without getting annoyed when I call you…”

 

Sedian lowered his gaze to our clasped hands before raising his eyes to meet mine again. Then, he let out another faint chuckle.

 

“So, you don’t like holding hands with me?”

 

“No!”  

 

I replied instantly, worried that if I upset Sedian even slightly, he might never hold my hand again.  

 

It seemed my answer was the right one, as Sedian’s expression softened slightly. I hurried to add more.

 

“Not at all! I like it, really. But I was just wondering why you’re doing this all of a sudden. Pure curiosity, that’s all.”

 

Sedian tilted his head slightly and squinted one eye.

 

“I’m curious too. Just how do you see me that a little kindness makes you so wary?”

 

“Well, I think you’re prickly, temperamental, and irritable.”

 

“I didn’t tell you to be that honest.”

 

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

 

As I scratched my head and lowered it, Sedian let out a small sigh. Judging by his expression, he seemed to be wondering what to do with me. I smacked my lips together and pressed them into a long line.

 

“Why am I acting like this all of a sudden…”

 

After a moment of silence, Sedian murmured quietly.

 

“You do things I like.”

 

“…What?”

 

“So, I wanted to do something you’d like in return. I didn’t think you’d find it so strange, though.”

 

When I lifted my head to look at Sedian, his face looked somewhat sulky.  

 

It seemed he’d put in the effort to be kind to me, only for me to act overly cautious and hurt his feelings.  

 

I clasped Sedian’s hand tightly with both of mine.

 

“I wasn’t looking at you strangely. I just felt guilty for no reason and worried that I’d done something wrong. I love it when you’re kind to me, my lord.”

 

“…Really?”

 

“Yes! I even feel like you’ve grown up so much, which makes me so touched, and… honestly, I could die happy right now, just like this—”

 

“Okay, stop there.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

Though he spoke firmly, the corners of Sedian’s lips were curling up slightly. It seemed he liked my answer.

 

“You’re trying to do things I like for me, huh.”

 

Those words were both endearing and bittersweet. The guilty truth I’d tried to suppress until the treatment was over started to creep back into my mind.

 

I couldn’t let this continue. No matter how exhausting it was for me, I needed to diligently treat Sedian every single day.  

 

Only then could I ease my guilt and fully embrace how adorable he was.

 

“That aside.”

 

Breaking my train of thought, Sedian continued.

 

“I’m not a kid. I’ve long passed the age where someone would call me that.”

 

As he said, Sedian was 17. Once his birthday passed, he would even be considered an adult.  

 

But to me, Sedian still felt like a boy. Maybe it was because of his smaller-than-average build or the way he resembled a hissing kitten.  

 

Whatever the reason, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Sedian would always seem like a boy to me.

 

If I say that out loud, he’d sulk for sure.

 

So I changed the subject.

 

“Of course. My lord isn’t a kid. Who dares call you that? Bring them to me, and I’ll teach them a lesson.”

 

“…You’re teasing me again.”

 

Sedian snorted and glared at me.

 

“Just wait. I’ll grow taller than you.”

 

He compared our similar heights and lifted his chin confidently.

 

“You’ve stopped growing, but I haven’t. I’ll keep getting taller. Eventually, I’ll look down on you. You’ll regret it then.”

 

“I hope you grow as tall as that tree over there and look down on me like I’m an ant.”

 

“…I feel like you’re mocking me.”

 

“Half and half.”

 

“You’re such a cheeky butler.”

 

I responded with a chuckle. I liked the kind Sedian, but I also found it endearing when he got riled up at my teasing.

 

“So.”

 

At that moment, Sedian lowered his gaze slightly and spoke.

 

“What about that guy… Ellen or whatever his name is?”

 

I tilted my head, not understanding his intent.

 

“Him? What about him?”

 

“Do you still see him often?”

 

“Well, I see him during the morning roll call.”

 

“Other than that?”

 

“My lord, I’m with you all day long. How could I possibly meet anyone else?”

 

“…Is that so?”

 

The corners of Sedian’s mouth lifted into a smile. He seemed pleased with my answer.  

 

But… what exactly made him happy? I tilted my head again, confused.

 

“Why are you in such a good mood all of a sudden?”

 

“It’s my business.”

 

Sedian, apparently annoyed that I noticed his smile, covered his mouth with one hand and tugged at my hand with the other.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

But I wondered if Sedian knew.

 

Even when he covered his mouth, his eyes were still smiling.

 

And seeing that always brightened my mood too.

 

“Yes, my lord.”

 

Walking in step with Sedian, I continued the stroll.

 

The weather was pleasant.  

 

And so was my mood.

 

***

 

Late at night.

 

After finishing my bath, I sat cross-legged in the center of the bed with my arms folded.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Unfolding my arms, I raised my right hand in front of my face and examined it.

 

Holding hands with Sedian had become so effortless that it could hardly be called a task anymore. I didn’t even need to offer first—Sedian would take my hand himself.  

 

Because of that, Sedian’s hands were now clean, almost as if the cursed crust that had once covered them had vanished entirely.

 

And that was the problem.  

 

Only his hands were clean.  

 

Just holding hands isn’t enough.

 

Because of the curse, the flow of magical energy throughout his entire body was blocked. Simply infusing magic into his hands wasn’t enough to treat him.  

 

To heal other parts of his body, I would need to place my hands on those areas and channel magic directly into them.

 

But…

 

If I suddenly said to Sedian, “My lord, let me see your back,” would he respond with, “Sure, here’s my back”? Not a chance.

 

Is there no other way?

 

If only I could come up with a method that Sedian would accept.  

 

As I agonized over this, lost in thought, it happened.

 

“Butler, are you in there?”  

 

Along with a knock at the door, Daisy’s voice called out. Why was she visiting so late at night?  

 

I glanced at the clock and confirmed it was past midnight. Tilting my head in curiosity, I told her to come in. Daisy opened the door and entered.

 

“You’re still awake. I’m sorry for disturbing you at this hour. Do you have a moment?”

 

“I usually stay up late, so it’s fine.”  

 

I guided her to the sofa and sat across from her.

 

“What brings you here?”  

 

I felt a bit tense. It was odd for her to visit at such a late hour when we’d be seeing each other at morning roll call in just a few hours.

 

Was something going on among the servants? Or had she discovered something about Ellen and Lily’s true identities? The thought made me slightly anxious.

 

“Oh, it’s nothing serious. I originally meant to tell you during the day, but I couldn’t find the time, so I’m here now.”

 

As she spoke, Daisy took something out of her pocket—a small round container, about the size of her palm.

 

“This is an ointment we servants made together.”

 

“Ointment?”

 

I blinked, alternating my gaze between the container and Daisy. She continued.

 

“We mixed mint and licorice, which are said to be good for skin conditions. Since the young master’s hands seem to have improved a lot recently, we thought it might be okay to start using a store-bought ointment, so we made this as a trial.”

 

She extended the container to me, her face slightly flushed as if embarrassed.  

 

When I opened the lid, a refreshing minty scent wafted out.  

 

Pressing lightly on the ointment with my pinky finger, I felt a texture as soft as a cushion.  

 

Even from a brief inspection, I could tell how much effort had gone into making this.  

 

It must have cost quite a bit to produce an ointment of this quality… I could feel the care and concern Daisy and the other servants had for Sedian. It was genuinely touching.

 

“My, what could you possibly find adorable about the perpetually grumpy, sharp-tongued young master to go to the trouble of making something like this?”  

 

At my unfiltered comment, Daisy burst into laughter. It wasn’t meant as a joke, but oh well.

 

“The young master may be prickly, but it’s not hard to understand. Anyone would be like that if they were unwell. Still, I think he’s doing his best to endure.”

 

Daisy continued, her voice warm.

 

“And thanks to the young master, we’re able to make a living. So it’s only right for us to do our best and stay on his good side.”

 

That made sense. I could understand where she was coming from.  

 

But then, a thought occurred to me. I hesitated for a moment before carefully asking:

 

“This might be a sensitive question, but I’m curious.”