LUCIA

THE BEGINNING OF ALL STORIES(5)

Sturdy arms wrapped around her and supported her. Evangeline leaned against his chest, drinking the soup she was fed, then she grinned. She was surprised at herself, who was now used to being served by him.

"Cael-nim."

"Yeah?"

"..."

"Kid. If you call me, say something."

Pfft. Evangeline burst into laughter. He still called an old lady full of wrinkles, kid. Perhaps because he treated her like a child, Evangeline subconsciously spoke the way she did when she was young and acted like a spoilt child. The Madam who was known as the iron lady was nowhere to be found.

"You know, a long time ago. If I said I was sick, would you have indulged me, even a little bit?"

"..."

"Sorry. That was unnecessary."

"...I likely won't have much of a choice. I can't abandon a patient."

Evangeline stared at him while he avoided her eyes like he was embarrassed. He had not changed at all. He was still the young and beautiful young man he was when she first met him. This mysterious man, with pitch-black hair and dark eyes, was her puppy love as a young girl, her fluttering love as a maiden learning about love and the one who gave her heart-wrenching pain as a woman who had experienced life.

Evangeline looked down at her wrinkled hand. Even when she was very excited like she had returned to being a young, healthy maiden, she woke up from her delusion when she looked down at her hand filled with signs of age. This was why she didn't want to see him. She didn't want to show her old, unattractive self to him, who was still as beautiful as ever.

However, whether it was her anger toward her son who brought her here arbitrarily, or the resentment that surged when she saw him after a long time, they all disappeared in less than a day. She was so happy, every day seemed like a dream.

"I was an idiot. I should have cried that I was sick and dying soon to Cael-nim."

"Fake sickness won't work."

"Aha. You don't know how good I am at faking sickness. I'm sure you won't even notice."

"Are you faking it now?"

"Who knows. What do you think?"

Cael stroked her cheek lightly and mumbled.

"...I hope so."

"Hm?"

"Is there anything else you want to eat?"

As he changed topic while put away the soup bowl, Evangeline also acted like she didn't know anything.

"Orange juice. A very sweet one."

"...We have very sour oranges."

Evangeline smiled and replied.

"Then I'll have sour orange juice."

He placed Evangeline carefully in bed and got up. Evangeline sighed with regret when his body temperature suddenly moved away. She felt sad, watching his back as he walked to the door, and unknowingly called out to him.

"Is there something else you need?"

"...I don't like my juice too sour."

She was just grumbling but he thought about it seriously and said, 'I'll add honey then'. Evangeline couldn't believe his affectionate consideration for herself, and even after he was gone, she was grinning to herself.

"...Thank you."

She knew he didn't feel the same as her. He was presumably listening to the wishes of a dying person and even though she knew he was likely just sympathizing with the young girl he had a connection with in the past, her heart raced whenever she saw him. Even if it was sympathy, she was happy with it. She was thankful that he held her and didn't turn away from her.