How the Useless Me Became the Beloved of the Devilish Duke Knight - Chapter 7
Chapter 7 : Anemia and Tea.
Elma’s body swayed unsteadily. Just as it seemed she might collapse to the ground, someone grabbed her arm. Blinking to regain her vision, the masked man appeared in her blurred sight.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
“I’m fine. It’s just my usual dizziness…”
Perhaps it was due to the hunger she had become accustomed to. There was a moment where she thought her heart might stop, but it’s normal to feel a little dizzy.
However, it’s still the same masked person from yesterday. Is the vivid hallucination from last night continuing? That would be quite impossible.
If it was just an illusion, he wouldn’t be able to support her swaying body. As Elma was thinking about it, she started to feel dizzy again.
‘If I can just lean against something and rest for a moment…’
Elma thinks that, but she can’t move. The man continues to stare intently, refusing to release her hand.
“Your face is pale. Let’s call a doctor.”
“…! N-no, it’s not that serious. If I just sit down somewhere around here, I’ll be fine.”
“Whether it’s serious or not is something the experts will decide. Amateur judgments aren’t reliable—”
“I really don’t need a doctor!”
Her tone, which seemed to be fading away, suddenly became stronger. She had collapsed from hunger like this before.
A kind person had taken her to the doctor, but the problem was that she accidentally fell asleep on the hospital bed. As soon as she woke up, she hurried home despite being stopped. However, the anger from her father upon her return was intense.
After being tormented thoroughly, Elma was confined in a windowless warehouse for three days. During that time, she wasn’t allowed any meals or water. Since then, for Elma, seeing a doctor has become synonymous with risking her life.
Her arm was freed, and Elma let out a breath of relief. However, the next moment, the sensation beneath my feet disappeared and her body floated gently. Elma freaks out and is shocked when she realizes what happened.
“W-What are you—!?”
“You are too light! You are too thin after all?”
The man had lifted Elma up in a sideways hug. She turns bright red and tries to protest, but her resistance doesn’t work at all. Despite hiding a somewhat feminine face under the mask, he was surprisingly strong.
“Well, there are some people who don’t like doctors. So, if you just sit down, you’ll get better, right?”
“This is not sitting down…!”
“Yeah? That’s why, I was thinking of moving to a place where you can sit. Or would you rather rest here? I don’t mind. This is fun in its own way.”
“Please, don’t bother, don’t have fun, I’m fine! Besides, I can walk on my own…!”
“Tell me that after you can stand on your own two feet. You were shaking like a newborn colt, you know?”
“I’m not shaking that much?!?”
Elma was pushing her hands against his chest, but she suddenly looked around. The people passing by were looking at them with curiosity.
‘……!’
As Elma tried to make herself smaller to avoid gazes, she naturally ended up in a clingy position. While this was happening, the man took wide steps and entered a nearby restaurant.
“You there, are there any empty seats in the back? This person isn’t feeling well, and I’d like a place where she can sit and calm down for a bit. Of course, we’ll place an order.”
The friendly smile of the clerk who stopped cleaning and turned around froze when she saw a well-dressed masked person. Next, she couldn’t help but take a second look at the shabbily dressed girl he was holding. No matter how much time passes, no sales pitch could have popped out of her open mouth.
“Is it not available?”
After a short wait, the man called out again, and instantly the time that had stopped began to move. The waiter, in a great hurry, guides him to a table at the back of the restaurant, which is less visible to the public, as requested.
The man put Elma down on a chair and quickly secured a seat across from her. He also placed an order for drinks, and soon juice was brought to their table.
Naturally, there was also Elma’s portion, so she was surprised and flustered. When Elma goes out with her father and sister, all she gets is water.
“You should drink. It’ll soothe your throat.”
“Um… But….”
“Do you dislike the taste? Then, how about something else—oh, I see. If putting something in your mouth that someone else ordered makes you uneasy, you should order something yourself. Don’t worry, I’m not offended. In fact, I apologize for acting on my own.”
“That’s not—um, well….!”
Like she thought, there is something off about him. He doesn’t seem to be a bad guy, but he’s a bit – no, he’s quite pushy, and he throws unexpected things at her. However, based on the experience earlier, outright resistance doesn’t seem wise, or at least not a very meaningful one.
‘Rather than continuing clumsy resistance, it seems quicker to go along with him to some extent and get back home.’
Elma decided to refrain from drinking the juice and quietly ordered a drink within a price range she could quickly afford from her wallet. While waiting for the tea to arrive, she suddenly noticed something.
‘Come to think of it, with that mask on, can he even drink or eat?’
Wondering what he would do, Elma looked over just as the man was reaching for a cup filled with juice. With one hand, he lifted the fabric hanging down to his chest, sliding the hand holding the cup beneath it.
‘Ah, I see…’
Impressed and at the same time thinking it seemed quite troublesome, Elma only had that simple reaction. At that moment, it felt like the man turned his attention towards her. Sensing their eyes meeting, Elma quickly lowered her head.
“I apologize for the delayed expression of gratitude. Thank you for your consideration. Once I finish this drink, I will leave.”
“It’s nothing big?Just a cup of tea? Is that all?”
“Yes, just a cup of tea.”
Actually, taking a break here in the shop is an act that would anger her father. However, he seems to be busy introducing her sister Carolyn into high society by attending events related to the nobility. He probably wouldn’t come to a place like this.
‘Besides, no matter how much I searched yesterday, Lathy was nowhere to be found. And today… Oh right, Lathy!’
“Well… Thank you for the meal yesterday. It was really delicious.”
“Huh? Oh, good. I’m glad it suited your taste. But anyway, about that one cup of tea… how about having something to eat, even if it’s just a bite?”
“It’s not good to come home too late, so ……”
“So that’s what you mean about the doctors being no good. You’re working in quite a strict place.”
The man seemed to understand Elma’s situation to some extent. Elma breathed a sigh of relief, but her stomach made a loud growling sound. She hurriedly pressed her stomach, later realizing it might have revealed the source of the sound.
‘Jeez! Just like yesterday, why does this keep happening…’
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Translated by : Cutae30