Between Your Letter and My Reply

Chapter 27

[Translation By Divinity]

“Ah…”

Even though it was already difficult to write with his left hand, he couldn’t concentrate, making it even harder to write properly. Damian frowned and put down the pen.

“What’s wrong? Does your hand hurt?”

Lilliana asked, and Damian opened and closed his left hand.

“It seems like I’ve strained my hand muscles.”

“Really? You should have said something. Maybe we did too much at the beginning.”

Lilliana took Damian’s left hand with a worried look. Before Damian could react to her sudden touch, Lilliana pinched his hand. It was so painful that he couldn’t help but groan.

“Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!”

“Bear with it. Acupressure is the most effective way to relieve muscle tension.”

“It hurts! What do you eat to have such a strong grip?!”

“You’ve been through a grenade explosion, and you’re complaining about this…”

Lilliana lightly scolded him, and the pain made him forget all about the handwriting and its connection to Lintray.

He suddenly noticed that Lilliana’s hand was much smaller than his. He wondered how such a small, rabbit-like paw could exert such terrifying strength.

But as Lilliana said, the tension in his hand gradually eased, and he could feel his muscles relaxing. Meanwhile, Damian had to bite his lip and bury his head on the table to avoid crying out in embarrassment.

“Is this enough?”

Lilliana released his reddened hand after thoroughly massaging the pressure points, and Damian quickly withdrew it. Lilliana giggled and organized the writing tools.

“Let’s stop here for today and rest. I think I pushed you too hard.”

“It’s okay. I need to practice consistently anyway…”

Lilliana was about to take the paper Damian had been practicing on, but he gently snatched it away.

“I’ll take this with me. I… need to practice at home too.”

“Okay, if you want to.”

Damian folded the paper with one hand and put it in his pants pocket, then said apologetically,

“I’m sorry I couldn’t focus well today, even though you took the time to help me.”

“It’s alright. It’s understandable if you’re tired.”

Lilliana tried to return the coat Damian had lent her, but he stopped her.

“I’ll walk you back, so please keep it on. It’s cold outside.”

He offered her his arm to escort her. Lilliana stared blankly at his arm for a moment, then ignored it and started walking ahead.

Damian lowered his arm awkwardly and caught up with her with long strides. As he walked beside her, Lilliana spoke.

“Hey, Damian. I’ve been curious about this for a while, can I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Are you a noble?”

Damian’s steps faltered for a moment at the question, but he quickly matched Lilliana’s pace again.

“I’m… not a noble.”

“‘Not a noble,’ huh…”

“Why did you think that?”

“Well, it seems like you received a high level of education, even though you didn’t go to university, and you seem to have some noble etiquette ingrained in you, so I was curious.”

“Ah.”

Damian’s expression turned indifferent.

“I did get good grades at the academy, but I haven’t mastered etiquette to the point where it’s ingrained. I only learned enough to use it consciously in situations where it’s necessary. I don’t bother with etiquette for just anyone.”

“Really?”

Lilliana turned slightly and looked up at Damian’s face. His gaze naturally lowered, as he was a head taller than her.

“Then when do you bother with it?”

At that question, Damian thought of Tennant, who must be in heaven now, and replied,

“I guess I unconsciously use it with women and the elderly. I didn’t realize it until someone pointed it out.”

“And what about others?”

“Why should I care?”

His blunt response made Lilliana burst into laughter.

“You’re kind, Damian. I like people like you.”

“Is… that so.”

Damian didn’t quite understand what part of him Lilliana found kind.

Before Damian could delve deeper into that question, Lilliana asked another.

“If you’re not a noble, then what are you? I thought you might be from a wealthy family if you weren’t a noble, but you said you’re broke today. What did you do before you were a retired soldier?”

Damian averted his gaze awkwardly and said,

“It’s hard to explain… It’s not a pleasant story to share with others…”

He spoke in the most nonchalant tone he could muster, and Lilliana stepped back slightly, looking straight ahead as they walked.

“Sorry.”

“Huh?”

“I shouldn’t have asked.”

“No, it’s not that… It’s just a long story.”

“Right. We don’t have much time before we have to part ways, so it’s better to save long conversations for later.”

Lilliana smiled brightly.

“It’s not fair if only you talk about yourself, Damian. Let’s talk about me too when we have time. We still don’t know much about each other.”

“Alright.”

A faint smile appeared on Damian’s lips. Lilliana seemed about to say something, but Damian, who was counting the room numbers, missed it and said,

“Ah, this is your room, right? You should go in.”

He looked down at Lilliana, and for some reason, her face was filled with frustration. She suddenly voiced her complaint to Damian.

“Hey, I said it’s not fair!”

“What?”

“You! Are you doing this on purpose?”

“Doing what?”

“You know, that…”

But her words were cut off by someone who swung open the door to the room.

“Lily! Where have you been all this time?!”

It was a woman who looked quite angry. She appeared to be in her early forties at most and was a striking beauty, tall for a woman. She seemed even taller than Nicole, the tallest woman Damian knew. She had red hair and was wearing round glasses.

“Your therapy should have been over by now, but you weren’t back in your room, and I was so worried! And who are you?”

After scolding Lilliana, she finally turned her attention to Damian, her eyes filled with suspicion.

The woman pulled Lilliana’s arm and placed her behind her, then crossed her arms and glared at Damian.

“Auntie! It’s okay, it’s okay. This is Damian… ”

Lilliana patted the woman’s back from behind, trying to calm her down.

“He’s a new friend I made recently. He’s not dangerous.”

But her words seemed to anger the woman even more.

“How do you know that?! You shouldn’t trust strangers, especially men! You know that, don’t you?”

“Auntie, it’s rude to say that in front of Damian!”

Despite Lilliana’s protest, the woman glared at Damian like a hedgehog with its quills raised.

“And I left you a note!”

“The note only said, ‘I’ll be back soon.’ How could I not worry?!”

“I’m an adult! I don’t have to report every single thing I do to you!”

“You’re a patient who needs care before you’re an adult!”

“I’m not a critical patient!”

“If you’re not a critical patient with a heart condition, then who is?!”

Damian was caught in the middle of their argument and felt quite awkward. Judging by how Lilliana addressed her, the woman seemed to be her aunt.

“I’m bored being alone in the hospital room!”

“That’s why I keep bringing you books and newspapers!”

“That’s only fun for a while. Do you know how boring it is to just lie in bed all the time?”

“What’s more important, being a little bored or recovering?”

“I wasn’t alone…”

“Alright, just be quiet for a moment. Let me talk.”

Damian stepped back awkwardly, and the woman, who had been venting her frustrations at Lilliana, suddenly turned her head towards him.