The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 96

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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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When I arrived at the pawnshop, I lowered the blinds and turned on the lights.

 

After bringing down the first aid kit from the attic, Alter was sitting on a stool in front of the counter.

 

Instead of going inside the counter to face him as I usually did, I sat down next to Alter.

 

‘Thank goodness I stocked up on all kinds of medicine because of Grandfather’s illness.’

 

Back when I didn’t know Grandfather’s diagnosis, I had frantically bought every good medicine I could find, whether it was for taking or applying.

 

Who would have thought that bringing all that without throwing it away would be useful at times like this.

 

“Bear with me even if it hurts.”

 

Under the bright light, the bloodstains looked even more vivid.

 

Biting my lip, I wiped away the blood with linen soaked in warm water and disinfected the wounds.

 

It should have hurt, but Alter didn’t even blink.

 

No, actually Alter wasn’t looking at me.

 

“Look at me, Alter. I need to disinfect your face too.”

 

He reluctantly turned his face, but his eyes were still cast downward.

 

Letting out a small sigh, I gently held his cheek and treated the wounded right side of his face.

 

Was it stinging?

 

His eyelashes trembled occasionally whenever my hand touched him.

 

‘This is the first time I’m seeing his face this close.’

 

Sharp eyes that were more than just refreshing, and clean side profile that contrasted with them.

 

Fierce brows that were always half-furrowed, but thin lips that sometimes smiled enough to make his cheeks hollow.

 

Wild yet graceful. It was a contradictory assessment, but that’s how it was anyway.

 

Even though I knew I had to look at his face to treat him, this situation and silence felt unnecessarily awkward.

 

“You can just say it hurts if it does. I won’t spread rumors that you’re being a crybaby.”

 

No answer.

 

But just because he didn’t answer didn’t mean he couldn’t speak, and Alter was originally a man of few words anyway.

 

As I applied ointment and put on bandages, I spoke whatever came to mind.

 

“I did this a lot when I was young. Not because I got hurt, but because Grandfather sometimes came home injured. From getting scratched while repairing the house and pawnshop.”

 

How shocked I was when I saw Grandfather return with roughly wrapped bandages.

 

I think that’s when I realized that Grandfather was also someone who could get hurt.

 

Thinking about it now, it was actually strange that someone who used to be a duke would be good at home repairs from the start.

 

To young me, Grandfather was like a god who was good at everything.

 

“Grandfather used to say that putting on bandages was just bothersome, but the feelings of those watching aren’t like that.”

 

Just like I did with Grandfather, I pressed down firmly on the bandage as I continued speaking.

 

“I cried so much because I was upset, and only then did he let me tend to his arm. Saying, ‘Oh my, our little doctor. Please take good care of me.'”

 

I smiled slightly as I imitated Grandfather’s voice.

 

“Of course, the bandages put on by tiny hands were a mess, but Grandfather wore them well. Until they were completely healed.”

 

“…Are you declaring that you’ll put my bandage on messily too?”

 

Alter asked in a sunken voice.

 

Though it sounded sarcastic, I know.

 

That this is Alter’s way of joking.

 

“No, I’m saying you should think about the people who care about you too.”

 

Alter’s eyes, which had been looking down the whole time, turned up toward me.

 

As if mulling over my words, he asked in a barely audible low voice.

 

“…Do you care? About me?”

 

“Of course. I was so surprised.”

 

“Ha.”

 

“I was worried because you hadn’t shown up for several days, and then you appear looking like this – who wouldn’t be surprised?”

 

“You were worried about me.”

 

The temperature of the cheek touching my fingertips was hot.

 

Does he have a fever?

 

‘After wiping away the blood, the wound wasn’t as deep as I thought, but still, just in case.’

 

As I was about to soak the linen again, Alter’s body, who had been watching me intently, slowly leaned forward.

 

“Whoa…!”

 

It was when I, startled, let go of my hand and tried to support his body.

 

Thud.

 

Alter gently rested his forehead on my shoulder and murmured.

 

“You said it was okay. That I could say it hurts, and that I could even whine.”

 

“Uh, well, I did say that…”

 

“So I’m whining right now. Don’t spread rumors.”

 

There wasn’t much weight to call it leaning.

 

Flustered by Alter’s feverish breath falling straight to my heart, I blurted out whatever came to mind.

 

“What if I said, ‘Hmph, that’s a lie. I’m going to spread rumors’?”

 

“Go ahead then. That’s not bad.”

 

“Getting rumors spread that you’re a whiner?”

 

I felt Alter, who had been laughing silently, suddenly furrow his brow.

 

He roughly pulled out something that had been stuck in his ear.

 

「…Ha! Where did you go, are you alri…」

 

Then he crushed it in his hand with a crack.

 

Isn’t that a receiver? More importantly, wasn’t that a man’s voice I heard?

 

As I was thinking, Alter’s low voice drew my attention.

 

“There was something… I needed to find. That’s why I was away for several days.”

 

Oh, is Alter telling me about himself right now?

 

I hesitantly asked.

 

“By any chance, that pearl sword?”

 

“Similar. I was trying to find the culprit who stole it.”

 

“Then you fought with that culprit?”

 

“It would be more accurate to say I fought with things that culprit left behind.”

 

Alter continued speaking slowly.

 

He seemed like someone telling his own story for the first time.

 

After Alter finished telling me that the culprit’s hideout had exploded and he couldn’t find any meaningful evidence, I asked worriedly.

 

“Hearing the story, it’s fortunate it only went this far. Did you go to such a scary place alone?”

 

“It’s not the kind of work to do with other people.”

 

As I thought about it, my brow furrowed deeply.

 

“What the hell, the guild master is too much! How can he assign such work and then wash his hands of it? Without even sending support!”

 

“Guild master?”

 

“William! No matter how bad your relationship is, exploiting labor like this?! I didn’t think he was that kind of person!”

 

Ugh, my blood pressure is rising.

 

No wonder it was strange that someone who’s a guild master said he didn’t know your whereabouts either! He was playing dumb because he had something to feel guilty about!

 

As I clenched my fists, Alter’s shoulders shook.

 

“Why are you laughing?! Are you in the mood to laugh right now? Just wait, I’m going to William right now and…!”

 

“I don’t know why you’re having such a misunderstanding, but it’s not like that.”

 

“…Don’t tell me you’re covering for him just because he’s your guild master, for better or worse? Haven’t you lost your judgment from rolling under William for so long?”

 

“William has nothing to do with this. Do I look like someone who would suffer labor exploitation… ha, like that?”

 

Well, that’s not really the case.

 

It was an explanation that made sense in one go.

 

As I was just rolling my eyes awkwardly, Alter lifted his head.

 

After looking at me with an amused face for a while, he said quietly.

 

“I went alone because it was something I could handle by myself.”

 

“But you got hurt.”

 

“Right. It might have been my arrogance or a mistake… or maybe it was because there was something else on my mind.”

 

Something on his mind?

 

Alter stared at me intently.

 

“But not anymore.”

 

Had he resolved whatever was troubling him?

 

He looked down at the bandages and band-aids I had applied, then suddenly asked.

 

“Do you believe in fate?”

 

It was a question I never would have imagined coming from Alter’s mouth.

 

‘Alter was having some really philosophical concerns…’

 

The fact that it had bothered him so much made me think about it earnestly as well.

 

Fate.

 

If it were me from my previous life, I might have answered that I didn’t believe in it.

 

I would have said I didn’t believe in such things as everything in life simply flowing according to predetermined plans.

 

But.

 

‘Events can be changed through effort. But connections between people seem to exist.’

 

There’s a saying that people who are meant to meet will inevitably meet.

 

If Nicholas and Chloe are connections carried over from my previous life, then Alter, along with Lina, Hanna, Ailren, and Crescens, would be new connections I’ve made in this life.

 

Of course, there might be bad connections among them too. Like Rosaline and Hugo.

 

But I had the somewhat romantic thought that meeting in this vast world must have its own meaning.

 

‘In a way, my getting to live life again might also be fate.’

 

After pondering, I said briefly.

 

“About half. What about you, Alter?”

 

Was that enough of an answer?

 

Alter nodded slowly and said calmly.

 

“I try not to believe in it. I don’t.”

 

It was just a moment.

 

The fierce expression faded away, leaving only an elegant smile directed at me.

 

I didn’t understand why he was smiling like that while talking about not believing in fate.

 

But from him smiling like he did during the pea-shooting game, I could sense a certain conviction.

 

I don’t know why. That expression looked good on him, so I smiled along with him.

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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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