Chapter 18. After the Treatment

“Why?”e121a3a1181c5ff1

Ain asked, looking 139f512bbe almost on the cfcd5b2565 verge of tears. Serenia responded, as if 8381eb36c0 it were the most 769a40dbdf obvious thing in the 7ce9da3e21 world.9099c5d5fb996ca8

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“You need to apply medicine and do a compress.”2644998a5e9a60a6

“Eh? For such a minor injury…?”9cd1a405ec4c8365

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Serenia’s eyes widened in disbelief.d045ebc3ccbc91df

“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’?”c565fd0b59630203

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Ain pressed 5fb76a11ce his lips b870d7ed9e tightly together, d46900866d feeling embarrassed.d4a530bf6165685d

“You can’t neglect your body like that! Especially since you rely on it to make a living!”9fbe2278eec8f505

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After scolding him, d8f790f3ae Serenia hesitated, then 76404991a9 added in a f7253bef58 quieter, more embarrassed 3ad23e9550 tone,791d834c13546832

“I know you said it’s a holiday today, but starting tomorrow, you’ll have to go back to the shop, right?”82e91b03ccd2195a

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“…The shop?”46af845394c3dfbc

“Cough. Well, if you can’t move properly after having customers, that would be a problem.”15ecdb46a5a85fa3

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“…Eh?”facae432f93204c4

Ain realized with e810fa9127 horror that she 2db5147696 had misunderstood terribly.dbda34e94244a7a4

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“That’s not what I meant! I don’t do those kinds of things!”6fa20ba629c3c9f8

He quickly shook his 067c8b3c16 hands in denial, his 58c0f5b666 face pale.f35eb93c79f08d60

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Trying to b7f2ed30be reassure him, bab2c117ab Serenia smiled e9a29538d4 kindly, with 5943d2c0f8 an almost 8d580c8ee3 compassionate expression.178be22f38e2ca65

“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain.”02064709c2753349

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“Eh?”54909549b7411cc8

“Well, honestly, at first, just thinking about it made me sick, but now, I’m just okay with it.”e6ce886ea3b1fdb1

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“Eh?!”28719d1c9d5f93ad

“Well, some people live like that, and some people live like this, right? I understand.”7ca3bb2e99b569e2

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Ain, unable to d46c4971a1 stop himself, grabbed 0a362e3dfa the back of b8b70ec3e2 his neck in 648fd6e525 frustration.a211ba95f92da37d

“Ah, and don’t worry. I’m not going to report you for illegal prostitution.”0e554d0146d6976d

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Illegal prostitution!5ed6a0888c937380

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,584c7c77341fd6f4

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“If you end up in prison, I’ll be in trouble too.”8a2a8e1d9f8f79f7

“So, that’s not what I meant…”00b683d936b2ceb4

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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!”e20803e8986d522c

“…”f6ea030b73367f3f

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The atmosphere suddenly grew 63a55e9ca2 tense.44140f44e75a9f74

Feeling like a 07c73bf1ea bucket of cold 366e27aaee water had been 5bdb5b1e91 poured over him, 7b8cb47960 Ain could hardly c5dade2193 bear the silence, a4efe6be5f and Serenia awkwardly f6f6e8380e changed the subject.b1f7474341d7b3a1

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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!”3b1885278f655efd

“But that’s not…! Seriously, ha…”afa7a97299971788

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Without being 60493638a5 able to 9452356a6c give a e5422af082 proper explanation, 92961bedf6 Ain could d5bb55ebf9 only mutter 4624cb47ec the same 3e09401433 thing over 49ddd5fbdc and over. Serenia looked at 31bec7b558 him with a f4350506cb somewhat sad expression.c54c29f8ff2b0602

She looked at 96a3dc5693 him with those 1f80d837b6 eyes, and while 4746584561 Ain felt even 59c0792517 more wronged, all ac24f504a0 he could do f58351c4c0 was obediently lie b6596e6db8 down on the 960eabc8b0 sofa.b2c743dc2da21323

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Meanwhile, Serenia, having 230735d708 mixed the gold 1ed78f6626 ointment he had d643255b87 given her, applied 9323863eb5 it carefully to cd263f3127 his back, then 35a92d690a hurriedly prepared an f1b9f65c6b ice pack.763fcf265eae7f7a

She rummaged through e438747f77 the house, found 04a019d2a1 a leather pouch c97ff04ece for the compress, 1907479e61 and went outside 7798c8b9df to fill it ebb302b1d5 with snow.3c79e1692fe1857d

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Once the e9016c5bab cold compress f2fc7df847 was ready, b7422c50ec Serenia gently 76842334e8 placed it 153defe0c2 on the 67077e861f injured area, 1ca2b82404 and slowly, ac58cfc86a warmth began 220a7989b5 to spread bbbee15178 over the 2b21541d92 area.f5a26037820f09af

Ain’s handsome brow furrowed 57dbdbc6b5 slightly as the cold db744ba72f and heavy compress pressed d73ec3519e down on the wound.3302c0913d192bf0

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It was likely 10c02a9be4 a sharp, tingling 9d6dffffa2 sensation would run 0d6991aee3 through his spine.a57124dc18bdddbc

But even dd8ee72b0e in that fe5fd75ebb situation, he c2e94589a4 stubbornly kept f2cc90bc76 silent.a5c85232fdd271a5

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Seeing him hold 226d11480d back any sound 2bc661789e of discomfort, Serenia 74c7e18af5 clicked her tongue a08909cee8 softly.c835241936348515

‘It’s not a 92ac7cd57b crime to be a100dd5fc4 in pain. Why is he f02c20f180 holding it in 1097d41156 so much?’cb5b787dcf8b4a5b

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Feeling a 2b15b99692 little sorry 919fbca00b for him, 49dd559fd0 she looked b16061a16e him over 0813d3a1eb carefully, who 4d8f0ffe97 was still a70bb031ac lying on 6cd6b31dcc the old fbb505ae79 sofa.27ab832ce3885084

Perhaps because the 816b7450c2 sofa was small, c5426320c7 he looked rather d75e67832d uncomfortable, awkwardly lying ab935d3198 there.fa500c14f3559b68

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His long legs barely 672a4099db fit on the sofa, 8fc4dea143 and one of his 334c58e283 shoulders was hanging out b83bab6848 of the cushion.894856c9e1090871

Seeing him 4251b55fb3 like that, 3e4d0db06f Serenia hesitated 64f04ec058 before asking a4046a8e53 carefully,1373b83925b6fd7a

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“Would you prefer to go to the bed?”65e21714b8ed3419

Ain understood immediately.0054df57d0503166

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He knew she 06c0150ac4 didn’t mean it 23e252a9ba in that way.b46bb179723bed3d

But the situation 714ac5df96 was so awkward.3d3d87a4ed8e9c47

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They were b82842f7c9 the only bfa08e826d two in 8fc77b5a9f the house, cf2a419f98 and he 29f4d41c33 was only 313032f94e half-dressed.27525019905eb1bc

So, it was 63ca7a4115 inevitable that such bf60cbcb02 thoughts would cross 644888d8fe his mind.d100e7083c99993a

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His face slowly, but cde54c57bf surely, turned red.16ad459b57d1b6eb

Seeing his neck 4a633d4cf2 turn bright red, 96cab2c4c9 Serenia finally realized e506db5760 that her words 41f015293f might have been c9cce02cc0 misunderstood.177b173d799fe799

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Flustered, she 9a56d46078 raised her e6e0ac8ae2 voice.b41af775017708e4

“W-What are you thinking?”53407746e261892c

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“It’s not like that…”e2560fb32ebdc428

“Even if that’s the kind of work you do, do you think I’m just thinking about that?!”631fc57d903b2342

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Ain was so 5e27ffc723 frustrated, he almost cecf2370bf wanted to confess 18a1194fe3 everything right then 4af332fd9f and there, even 1a498ebb70 abandoning waiting until 77497e796b the play was 2702c4dc17 over.65573391323d5120

He struggled with whether 43eaff3ef6 to speak or not, 924348eb52 his lips just trembling 6dd447902b without words.209ea47f0818f739

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Serenia, looking at him f686ce3e9b with near disdain, scolded d6d03c036f him again.e6cc62f254d796ad

“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?”6c4e7b39ee3f566b

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“I didn’t mean it like that…”1fbc72e7cdb20469

“Honestly. Unbelievable.”16d3c4db538f5ed3

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Serenia, her face 5338330e9e flushed with embarrassment, 1cb7ba3614 kept fanning herself f57fbd5556 as she muttered.b967d71d2cc16bff

Ain recalled the old 91c385a067 saying: ‘It’s easier to 2d043b13f0 give up.’1189f026f18d480f

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“…Yes. I’m sorry. I was wrong.”ed39f478332572e9

“Hmph. Well, as long as you understand.”10fd69dc25c4224d

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“Yes.”2a14170a86c7829d

“Now, get up.”92d4cbce9841d039

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“Yes. …Yes?”83ee4958a4d0ab4d

“Why? Can’t you get up? Do you want me to carry you?”02ae32b02a5d2780

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At her words, 20664429c6 Ain gave her 1024fd64e4 a rare serious 3b1ca50904 look and answered.ba45c4b4c27f33c7

“No, I’ll be fine. I’ll walk myself.”6b0b78eef6a7a349

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However, there was something b28b948af5 Ain overlooked.323c7bf518045a11

The fact 7e44610237 that there eaa4ecff6c wouldn’t be e49ac26970 an extra cc59143a65 bed in 6c2967c4a4 the Barishart 2574512bf0 Estate, let 9161ac5bd2 alone a 848a806740 proper sofa.00d8256ffdcf1a3f

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“…”e0aaee6a48a28757

Ain, with the ice pack still on his back, lay down on Serenia’s bed, assuming an immobile position.e329b10388aae7c8

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He looked completely 1c1a35e719 drained, as if 93b0afa19f his soul had 409fd984f3 left his body.8413a5b9cc3f9f26

Regardless of his d106d74b47 state, Serenia quietly 156bde3262 continued with what 3f8fdca062 she needed to 074d83c6bb do.9d5037733c869787

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She moved the be5e3f3a6e fireplace closer to 752abd6a85 him to make 5d44f4c8d1 sure he wouldn’t 7d12baf276 get cold, and b665984b95 when the ice 1c6864f508 pack began to 5525f21200 warm up, she d7d9dd2790 replaced the ice 5bb31bb39c with fresh snow.1f735f52ae71261f

She then emptied the 9a62ef364f basin filled with melted 65cb10adca water and repeatedly checked 3363c79300 the injury, examining it 7fe3689571 with a sharp gaze 21ba277f83 to assess any changes.05134857ac440f1b

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Her movements were so c1af063748 smooth and proficient, it 30a10264e0 was almost as if 08837f2c9b she had been trained 768570a8f4 to be a nurse, 2d2c9c4d55 and Ain, unable to 7b0d5a28d3 resist his curiosity, asked b3298f89a7 lightly,07dfb907ec08b651

“Did you receive any training in this kind of care?”9fea9a084082c4ca

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Serenia, as she 00a4fab05d placed a fresh 5bea813a00 ice pack on ce8f1bd803 his back, responded,a44032897f801e83

“Not exactly.”1a2494e6ff550885

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“Then…?”5b2483874a4df662

At his question, 738f98f4ca Serenia shrugged nonchalantly.268c8551dd970f91

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“Usually, after five years of caregiving, you just get good at it on your own.”e9afc508e7036acb

Ain immediately realized cc918f8972 he had brought dd13dd1d20 up a sensitive 6535b83b67 topic.3487b1cba28e8d59

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He had forgotten 1d148c41ef that Serenia’s father, 5b824091e6 Carlos Barishart, had 420d63b1af been bedridden for bd1cd44aff eight years.ca7b1ecbdd110f23

Ain shut his 0da3e7150c eyes tightly and ddddbc9b61 muttered in a b45cb50b8c low voice,3bd6df7e8fabc2c6

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“…I’m sorry.”cf5d1e92080c1cfb

“Hm? Oh, it’s not something you need to apologize for.”f3729f88cb07190d

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Serenia brushed it off eb9f20593e casually and continued,9f2fca72a92e6ceb

“Anyway, it’s a bit unexpected.”e82249747c596c4e

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“…Unexpected?”f684a53511028883

“I thought you were going to ask something else.”f21e3a6dfc3e849d

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“Eh? Like what…?”b904caccfcd43203

“For example, how did you subdue those thugs by the river?”d494deea42656d68

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“Ah.”cac82f80489c6f40

“Let me answer that for you before you ask—yes, I was trained for that.”8ed3cef7a750e2d9

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Carlos Barishart had de813ff4e3 raised his only 4bd3ded4ae daughter, Serenia, to b584b012cd be strong in f6ab9786af many ways.beb95f9cad2d5ca3

He had 9d4e91bf6e taught her 07c0621347 that a e474f6ebd4 person must 12a36b40f5 be able 05295ec795 to take 07e0bf0268 responsibility for b5b954bfc2 themselves.91571b4c08f38fbc

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As a result, 9546e75394 Serenia had done 149dca8b79 most of the bbc0d982bc household chores herself 9bc80f958c from a very a75c48bda8 young age.28651e5c55c8e0c3

She cleaned, did a553c4cf22 laundry, cooked, and 7cc76af3d4 even grew vegetables 5a33a67694 and grains in 9fff3398e0 the backyard garden 54c6ff5a60 of the estate.a4be91873569ecab

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But that f9502d444c wasn’t all. Carlos had also b43870286d taught Serenia various 69e57dfeb5 martial arts and e56f30daaa swordsmanship, insisting that 4b819acf05 she needed to 86b6492521 be able to d4da3c8405 defend herself.09739afa022616ce

Thanks to 626879c153 this early 3d80c0e29a training, Serenia ab36f91886 had been 8df2d2ee6a able to f118740dd3 survive even 4018591c22 after the 563c900423 family’s fortune 77780085fe crumbled.92d75b326b887e1c

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‘…If someone heard this, they’d think my father had some kind of foresight.’672526043c692dc3

She chuckled quietly and 72974b637f shook her head.a88de2695dc888bf

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Foresight? That wasn’t possible.8e20d9b27156d376

If he 3cff73929d had any 0c61e38f2f foresight, he e597ea2399 wouldn’t have 0c0a4eef3b collapsed in 76b71fb2b5 that way 91efee94e4 eight years 0d5ca9da59 ago.1bc9ac585212220c

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One morning, 078520bea1 her father 1b6fbdbb7b had been a28471df5c found on eb1fc2b722 his blood-soaked 82367c842b bed, lying 6c91a02dd4 unconscious in 73415571a4 a pool 5d14685b93 of crimson.72bc694f181c6c65

‘If he knew 2943034a44 it would happen 2b91a9a48d and didn’t tell 7dce33e661 me, that would 132c581726 be truly cruel.’02af0aa4b6b1e56c

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Serenia tried to forget 0471135db8 the vivid image in c537005576 her mind, forcing herself a864b5401d to change the subject.7990bdeff7ea8bf9

“So, next time, don’t push yourself like that. I can take care of myself, so don’t worry about it.”291ebcb76e4b0ae5

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Ain remained silent for 125ea6f0d8 a moment.f0f37f381689a900

Serenia, with a5c2d58b29 a slight c54aaa49cc frown, checked 5f2b2ea72d on him 1f43ca26df and asked b14b01e66b grumpily,66421169358f36c4

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“Are you seriously sleeping now?”b8879ba4b2041d5c

Hearing the reproach ba799ba605 in her tone, a0d57a5f83 Ain finally spoke, 64fa8349de opening his mouth 042dd5d498 after keeping it ecbe671335 shut for so 268d41de32 long.f60fbc30553cddb2

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“That wouldn’t be appropriate.”c03300203105ef08

“Eh?”4d1e17a60e5f168e

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Serenia raised an 885b313d9a eyebrow and repeated b57a8e3cf8 the question. Ain, still lying on 0d147897a1 his stomach, propped his 40a6f38c05 chin up and smiled ff98af23bd at her.7cec34cc7cc117a9

“It’s not proper for a gentleman to leave a lady in distress and do nothing.”89ec74bdd089983c

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“…Ah.”13497693eb6a2e4a

“Well, you’ve really got your eye on that six million krovats, huh? Can’t let my guard down around you.”88b4989d1a1e7cc9

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Seeing him joke c1f356c1cd around like that, f9ad6e5502 Serenia chuckled softly.3836f61f2fe85b6f

“Seems like you’re doing okay after all.”f838ae7384bc1121

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“What do you mean? I’ve told you, I’m really fine! This injury is nothing. So stop worrying…”68cead81371ac4ae

As he a9c6fcf253 was naturally 539d4a864f rambling, Serenia 9cd1790c4f interjected,0931a62ed4e52604

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“Ah. Speaking of which.”27b6e54b20572e7a

“Get up? …What?”a9909143d69b1f24

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“Where exactly did you receive your training?”d22c0cd177133fa4

 8f250392f538bc77

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