Apparently, I’m a Poisonous Woman Who Sells One-Night Dreams, but I Ended Up Awakening a Hero’s Devoted Love - Chapter 1.37

I had a dream.

My drunken father was looking down at me, immobilized under the moonlight.

I curled up small, hugging my knees against the relentless, repeated kicks.

My body felt heavy. Why was it so heavy? Was I going to sink somewhere like this?

If this suffering would end that way. Just as I thought that, something warm touched my lips.

“…Gah! Cough, gurgle!”

Water came out of my mouth, and air entered my lungs. Gasping for breath, I looked up to see—bathed in moonlight and looking down at me—a silver-haired saint.

My consciousness surfaced to the smell of medicine.

When I opened my eyes blearily, the saint was gone, replaced by an unfamiliar ceiling.

Where is this place?

When I tried to sit up, a sharp pain shot through my left leg.

“Ouch!”

“Lord Jerf!”

At my voice, Mariadoll sprang into view as if startled.

Her eyes were bloodshot, with dark circles beneath them, her face etched with fatigue as she gave a teary smile and slumped onto the edge of the bed.

“I’m so glad. I was worried you might never wake up.”

“I… should have drowned. Where is this?”

“The town clinic. The bleeding in your left leg was severe, and you were unconscious for three days. Oh, can you drink some water?”

Mariadoll stood up and quickly returned with water.

Placing a hand on my back to help me sit up, she handed me the glass.

“Please drink it slowly. It’s a decoction of pain-relieving herbs, so I think it will help you feel a little better.”

The water she gave me was clear, but it had the distinct grassy smell of herbs when I drank it.

It wasn’t exactly tasty, but my body seemed to crave moisture, so I drank it in one go.

“I’ll go call the doctor, so please lie down.”

“No, before that, tell me what happened to Zach.”

Placing her hand on my back again, Mariadoll gently laid me back down this time.

As she tried to sit in the chair by the bedside, I grabbed her arm and made her sit right beside me.

With a slightly troubled smile, she took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from my forehead, then brushed aside the bangs stuck to it with her fingertips.

“After sunrise, a search party led by Lord Warren found him dashed against the rocks. Zach and the rest of the bandits are all alive and are currently being interrogated. I hear Bishop Mantel is also willingly talking about the past.”

“I see. Mariadoll, I’m sorry for putting you in danger.”

At my words, Mariadoll shook her head, then asked with a hint of confusion.

“Since we’re safe now, that’s fine, but when did you first notice Zach’s movements?”

“I had asked Maderick’s acquaintance to mine the rocks for paint, and he contacted me saying he’d seen some suspicious people near the abandoned mine lately. The information was too quick for mere rock thieves, so I looked into it and it led back to Zach. Warren is from the next town, so I ordered him to get close without raising suspicion.”

Among the younger members, Warren is the strongest. He’s the fourth son of a count and joined the knight order three years ago. Not only does he absorb what he’s taught at a frightening speed, but his ability to adapt attacks and defenses to his small build is a natural talent. Plus, he’s good at getting close to people. Though in reality, he has quite the personality.

“So, you knew in advance that Zach and the others would break into the gallery?”

“Yes. I’m sorry about that. Legacy only has minor injuries, but I’ll have to apologize when I get back. However, I didn’t expect them to kidnap you. Warren told me they were only after the paintings.”

He managed to infiltrate the bandits, but he was treated as a low-ranking member. He probably wasn’t told the full plan.

“I could have rescued you sooner, but I prioritized capturing all of them at once. I’m truly sorry for scaring you.”

I thought that since Warren was with you, he’d prioritize your life in an emergency, but honestly, I don’t know how many times I wanted to charge the carriage ahead while tailing you.

“Yes, that was truly terrifying.”

“My apologies.”

“But seeing Lord Jerf bleeding and unconscious was even more frightening. I kept thinking, what if you never opened your eyes again.”

As she said this, Mariadoll began to cry, tears falling in big drops.

I hurriedly sat up and wiped the tears from her cheeks with my fingertips. Perhaps the medicine was working, as I didn’t feel the same pain as before.

“I was so afraid I’d never be able to talk to you again, never feel your touch like this. There’s so much more I want to say to you, so many places I want to go with you. I, I…”

By the end, her words became incoherent, and she started crying like a child, hiccupping softly.

I gently put an arm around her shoulders, and she leaned her forehead against my shoulder as if seeking comfort.

“…Speaking of which, I had a dream. A dream from my childhood, where I thought it would be fine if I never woke up, and then a silver-haired woman appeared. Something soft touched my lips, and I felt like I was being pulled up from the bottom of a swamp. Hey, what’s wrong, Mariadoll? Your face is all red.”

Holding her shoulders, I pulled her back slightly to look at her face. It was redder than any expression I’d ever seen from her.

Tilting my head at her, who wouldn’t meet my eyes and was mumbling, I heard a sound from the corner of the room.

“Ahem.”

The sound of someone clearing their throat came from the corner of the room. No way.

“Warren! How long have you been there!?”

“I’ve been here the whole time. I was waiting to see when you’d notice, but you two were quite absorbed.”

“You’re too good at hiding your presence! If you’re here, you should have said something!”

I quickly moved away from Mariadoll, and she waved her hand, saying, “Don’t worry about it.”

What an insufferable man.

“By the way, it was Lady Mariadoll who swam Lord Jerf to shore. When we arrived, she was sitting beside him, her dress torn to shreds.”

“Lord Warren!”

“No need to panic. That was artificial respiration, right? You kept breathing into his mouth, desperately calling Lord Jerf’s name.”

My hazy memories began to take clearer shape.

So, that wasn’t a dream?

“Even after coming to the clinic, she never left Lord Jerf’s side. I was worried she might collapse from exhaustion.”

“Is that so? Thank you.”

“…No, I only did what my grandfather taught me. …I’m sorry.”

What is that “I’m sorry” for?

Ah, if only Warren weren’t here. When I glanced at him, he smiled back cheerfully.

He’s enjoying this, damn him.

“Warren, sorry, but could you go call the doctor?”

“Sure, sure. Oh, but first, I have to give you this.”

Saying that, he took a handkerchief from his pocket and came over.

I took the offered item, unfolded the handkerchief, and inside was…

“…The Blood Ruby. You found it.”

“Lady Mariadoll drew us a map. Also, a kid who knows the abandoned mine well… I think his name was Sorrick. He told us all about the gas-filled passages, and we brought canaries, so everyone made it out safely.”

Everyone? So, the other knights helped search for it too.

The red ruby, shining in its golden setting, is the same color as my father’s eyes and mine. It’s a memento of my mother, whose face I can’t even remember.

“After all, the Duchess Stanley needs it, right? Well, I’ll take my leave now. The doctor seemed busy, so he’ll probably come in about thirty minutes.”

“Oh, but he seemed quite free yesterday. Shall I go help?”

At Mariadoll’s characteristic words, Warren’s eyes widened, and he chuckled with genuine amusement.

“No, no, that won’t be necessary. Huh? I heard you were a peerless poison woman, but rumors really are unreliable. Oh, Lord Jerf, will thirty minutes be enough?”

“Shut up, just go already.”

I clicked my tongue as I gave the order, and he replied with a lazy “Sure, sure,” waving as he left.

Once my leg heals, I’ll need to give him some intensive training.

Mariadoll blinked her light blue eyes, not understanding.

It’s enough that I’m the only one who knows this innocent face of hers.