I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 38

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 38

 

“Ah.”

 

When she turned around, she hadn’t measured the distance and came face to face with him right in front of her. Even in this darkness, his blue eyes like glass crystals were visible.

 

The emotionless pupils from earlier disappeared and were filled with bewilderment.

 

Sionel pulled back his body.

 

“I told you to stay away.”

 

Ponia unconsciously raised both hands. It was a gesture expressing that she wouldn’t do anything.

 

While she was indeed at fault, it was unfair to be treated as if she were some shameless person.

 

‘He must think I did something terrible.’

 

He was looking at her with triangular eyes, annoyed, when thunder suddenly flashed outside.

 

‘Hm? Just now.’

 

The light disappeared, but Sionel’s face was clearly revealed. His face that was visible then.

 

Swoosh.

 

At the sound of the blanket brushing against her body, Sionel stiffened. Just when he had moved away, Ponia came closer to him.

 

“Why are you coming closer?”

 

“Wait a moment, you seem a bit…”

 

Despite his irritated voice, Ponia didn’t mind and brought her face close to his. It was the same distance as before.

 

It had gotten dark again so she couldn’t tell clearly, but hadn’t his face been a bit red earlier?

 

“Your face seemed red, are you feeling unwell by any chance?”

 

“No.”

 

“Did you get a fever from being caught in the rain earlier?”

 

“No.”

 

Ponia didn’t believe those words.

 

If he had just quietly received treatment all this time, it would be one thing, but later on he kept refusing treatment, saying he was all better now.

 

For him, he probably didn’t want to show weakness, but from Ponia’s perspective, there was no more stubborn and difficult patient than him.

 

“You say you’re fine…”

 

However, Sionel stopped speaking when a cool hand settled on his forehead.

 

The heat from his body that he hadn’t noticed was only felt after Ponia placed her hand on him. The cold touch briefly cooled his fever.

 

Ponia placed her hands on her own forehead and his forehead respectively to compare, then sighed.

 

“See? You have a fever.”

 

“…”

 

“Is it a fever cold?”

 

As she kept it there, her hand that had been carrying a cool energy also became lukewarm from his heat.

 

“This is serious, the fever reducer ran out today of all days.”

 

“…”

 

“Wait a moment. I’ll check my bag again.”

 

His immunity must already be weakened due to the wound on his abdomen. Even if he’s okay now, if it gets worse, he might lose consciousness.

 

The lukewarm warmth slowly moved away from him. Sionel grabbed that hand and placed it back on his forehead.

 

“Just stay here. It’s not something like a cold.”

 

“It is a cold.”

 

“Just go to sleep.”

 

“Like this?”

 

Ponia tried to move her arm, but he still wouldn’t let go.

 

“Like this, I think the fever will go down.”

 

“Won’t you pass it to me?”

 

“That would be even better.”

 

“…”

 

“Rather than me getting it and recovering, it seems like it would be faster if you got it and recovered.”

 

She couldn’t tell whether he was joking or being serious since his face wasn’t clearly visible.

 

With that personality, he might be serious.

 

“I think I’ll be able to fall asleep like this.”

 

His eyelashes touched the hand covering his forehead. She tried to move her hand because it tickled, but then stopped.

 

The eyelashes that had been felt at regular intervals gradually slowed down, then soon disappeared.

 

The strength that had been holding her hand also relaxed, but Ponia didn’t remove her hand.

 

Instead, Ponia also closed her eyes.

 

* * *

 

Deep in the night, at the Devonham Duchy.

 

The lights in the ducal house showed no signs of going out yet.

 

“This is an unprecedented situation. The heir has been missing for over a month.”

 

“The search still hasn’t yielded any results?”

 

The retainers of the Ducal House gathered in the Council Chamber engaged in heated discussion.

 

“It makes no sense that we still haven’t found any clues about who attacked Young Master Devonham.”

 

“Didn’t the Oron Duchy have a hand in this?”

 

“The Oron Duchy isn’t the only one who would benefit from the Ducal House’s downfall, is it? Don’t you know that the recently rising families are also secretly hoping for it?”

 

Amid the many discussions, one person at the edge cautiously spoke up.

 

“Shouldn’t we now consider the possibility that the young master has already met with misfortune?”

 

It was a matter everyone had only been thinking about privately. Heavy silence fell.

 

“It’s been a month, and we can’t even get the smallest news. The newspapers are already saying there’s a high possibility the heir has died.”

 

“You!”

 

“Right now we’re standing firm thanks to the position we’ve built up over time, but if this situation continues, the Loron Duchy and other high-ranking families will try to suppress the Ducal House. Just like in the past, when the previous Duke and Duchess died suddenly.”

 

The retainers began offering their own opinions. However, it wasn’t very effective. After all, the decision-maker was keeping his words to himself.

 

Thud.

 

The sound of a glass being set down in the center of the table was heard. The chaotic atmosphere was colored with tension.

 

Gideon, seated at the head of the table, opened his mouth gently.

 

“I understand your concerns. I too am considering all possibilities.”

 

“…What do you think, Your Grace?”

 

“I don’t think Sionel is dead.”

 

“Have you found some clue?”

 

Gideon shook his head.

 

“But I can’t give up on that child.”

 

Sighs flowed through the meeting room. Gideon was not making rational judgments.

 

Knowing that he had built affection while raising the brothers as the guardian of the Ducal House, the retainers couldn’t say anything.

 

However, now was the time for cold judgment.

 

While the retainers were watching each other to see who would speak first, Gideon again brought up unexpected words.

 

“So, I’ve prepared one countermeasure until we find Sionel.”

 

When Gideon gestured to the butler beside him, Adam, Adam moved toward the door.

 

The retainers’ eyes turned toward the door in unison.

 

“Come in.”

 

Following Gideon’s words, Adam opened the door.

 

A man stood in front of it.

 

The retainer closest to the door recognized him and was shocked.

 

The man entered the Council Chamber.

 

A man with a noticeably thin build wearing a large uniform that had been forced onto him.

 

Since there wasn’t time otherwise, they had dressed him in clothes belonging to the original owner, Sionel.

 

The face of the man bearing the glory of the Ducal House looked not just crushed by that glory, but miserable.

 

It was Aren Devonham, a man who bore no resemblance to his brother except for his black hair.

 

Gideon rose from his seat and stood beside Aren.

 

He placed his hand on Aren’s shoulder to comfort him, but the color drained from the boy’s face.

 

No one asked why Aren had come to this Council Chamber. Everyone just stared at Gideon’s mouth.

 

“I will establish Aren as the heir.”

 

Turmoil began to brew.

 

* * *

 

“Nia.”

 

“…”

 

“Nia.”

 

“…”

 

“You’re not going to get up?”

 

A voice rumbled from above.

 

“Wow, it’s really just like Sio said. She won’t wake up.”

 

An admiring sigh came out.

 

Her consciousness was almost fully recovered. However, finding it bothersome to move her body, Ponia was quietly listening.

 

“You show too many openings, making me want to test you.”

 

He’s talking behind my back.

 

“Even if Nia is like that, is Sio starting to resemble her too?”

 

Hmm?

 

Flash.

 

“Whoa.”

 

Chad feigned surprise at seeing Ponia suddenly open her eyes without any warning.

 

“Do you always wake up like that?”

 

“I could hear everything from earlier.”

 

“Haha, good morning.”

 

“Yes, good morning…”

 

Thud thud thud thud.

 

When Ponia’s gaze turned toward the door, Chad kindly opened it for her.

 

Whoooosh.

 

She had thought it couldn’t get any worse, but she had underestimated this forest.

 

“The rain doesn’t seem to want to stop.”

 

“It didn’t stop even at dawn.”

 

“You were awake until dawn? I fell asleep without even realizing it. I don’t usually fall asleep that easily, was I tired?”

 

“…I wonder.”

 

Ponia turned away from Chad, who was trying to recall his memories, and looked around unnecessarily.

 

“I must have been really tired. Sio is still sleeping.”

 

Ah, right. Sionel.

 

Sionel, who was always busy scolding her for sleeping in late, was unusually sleeping later than her.

 

One corner of her mouth lifted.

 

“Sio, wake up.”

 

“…”

 

“The sun is high in the sky.”

 

“…”

 

“How long are you going to sleep?”

 

“Nia, why are you grinning like that?”

 

Well, because I’m excited.

 

Finally, an opportunity for revenge had come.

 

Ponia gently shook his body. He must have been sleeping very deeply because he still couldn’t wake up.

 

Thud.

 

His body turned from the momentum and his hand fell limply to the floor.

 

Just now, wasn’t that a bit warm?

 

She felt a strange, inexplicable excitement from deep within her body.

 

“Sio?”

 

A faint anxiety was mixed in her question. Coolness spread from her fingertips touching Sionel’s body.

 

Her hand touched his face.

 

Small beads of sweat came off, and heat spread.

 

Ponia’s green eyes widened.

 

His body was like a ball of fire.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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