[TKOSINM] 169 - Skinship

“Are you sick? How bad is it? We need to seek the doctor right away...!”

“Oh, no! Not to that extent!”

As Noel tended to call a physician right here and now, Irene hurriedly waved her hand.

“Where do you feel sick? Did you perhaps get sick from the journey? Please tell me, Irene. Where does it hurt?”

“Well, that’s what I’m about to…”

As Irene bowed her head, Noel looked at her nervously. He hoped that she did not get sick during the short period he was gone.

Don’t tell me that’s why she slept so long.

She could lie all she wanted. But her body was honest. Irene had the tendency to sleep to recover at the slightest red flag.

How ignorant of me, I should have provided her with more care earlier.

Noel blamed himself as he looked at Irene with a worried face, but Irene hardly spoke. It was because she was still perplexed. As she, herself, did not know how to tell Noel about her eccentric situation. She could not just say that she was in pain because of him though.

Seeing Irene keep her mouth shut, refusing to reveal anything, Noel let out a brief sigh. He got up from his seat and walked over to her. Irene raised her head to see why he was approaching. And seconds later, Irene found her body floating in mid-air. Immediately, her sharp shriek of surprise followed.

“No-Noel?”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. However, you’d better not overdo it today, so it would be best for you to go to bed now.”

 “I can walk…”

“I hope Irene doesn’t overdo it, even the slightest bit. So please leave this to me. I’m Irene’s husband.” If Noel looked down and affirmed it with such a serious face, how can she refuse? Irene nodded, a little reluctant.

 “...”

 Just in case Irene might fall, Noel hugged her tightly but without causing her any pain. His bare skin...I can feel it... He was carrying her in his arms, he had held her once. It was at the wedding as well, but the problem this time was that she was only wearing one single layer gown. What was more, though she attempted not to touch him, he was so close.

The back of her hands and arms kept rubbing against his chest and bare skin.

I didn’t mean to touch him...

 Irene looked up at his expression. She worried that he might have thought she was touching him on purpose. She could not take her eyes off his face. What caught her attention was the weird expression he made; it was contorted as if he, himself, was the sick one. I’ve never seen Noel like this before. He was biting his lower lip hard, to the point that she was afraid that he might get hurt. Irene’s gaze was glued to Noel’s face throughout the time she was being carried to bed.

…It’s the first time someone’s cared about me like this.

 Irene was not born healthy either. She had a much weaker immune system than her peers. She also used to suffer from sickness to a severe degree, every time the seasons changed. Each time that happened, she barely managed to regain her consciousness from fever. She had not been able to open her mouth because of her dry, crack lips and she had trouble breathing normally. There were times she was ill all day long. There were times when she was bedridden the whole time. But when she eventually opened her eyes, she would be surrounded by only a few maids. No matter how serious her illness was, her parents never showed any concern for her. On rare occasions, they would only show their face a few times to check on her condition then go back. It was the first time she had seen the face of someone who truly cared for her.

So that’s the expression…

So that was the face people made when they were genuinely concerned and caring for someone. It was the face of someone who looked like they were about to cry. The sentiment hit her hard. After having, she learned about this for the first time in her twenty-three years of life. It was sorrow, rather than surprise. As if tears were about to burst, Irene buried her face in his arms. Noel stopped and looked down at her as he felt the touch. Then he asked in a quiet voice.

“... Does it hurt a lot?”

He must be asking about her physical condition, but Irene sounded a little different. Not wanting to let go, Irene grabbed hold of his robe and replied in her barely suppressed cracked voice.

 “A little... a little bit. I will be fine when I wake up.”

“...all right then.” Noel answered, calmly.

He continued with his steps and laid her on the bed. Then he covered her with a blanket as he appeased her. “I’ll be with you until you fall asleep. Now, go to sleep.”

“Noel should sleep, too. You’re tired...”

“It’s fine. If you want me to go to bed, Irene should turn in first. I will rest as soon as I have seen Irene deep asleep.”

“...okay.”

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