He was honest, responsible, kind, and selfless...

If only he weren’t.

If only he had been a little more selfish, a little more ruthless, he wouldn’t be lying in that room right now, fighting for his life.

A bittersweet ache tightened in her chest at the thought.

Yet, even as the painful wish crossed her mind, she knew how foolish it was.

If he were the type of person to leave others behind, he wouldn’t be the Soren who had refused to abandon her, either. His selflessness was exactly why he had carried her this far, and it was the very reason he was the person she respected and depended on most.

Locking those thoughts away for later, Ethea lifted her chin slightly, meeting the gaze of the blue-haired young lady who was now approaching her wheelchair.

She gave a respectful bow, her long blue hair swaying slightly over her shoulders.

"I apologize for the sudden intrusion," she said, her voice smooth and polite. "My name is Seria. I am actually the cousin of Ryan, the boy your husband saved. I wanted to personally express my deepest gratitude to you as well."

"She is being far too modest," a firm, authoritative voice joined the conversation. The officer from earlier stepped forward, nodding respectfully toward Ethea. "Allow me to introduce her properly. Lady Seria is a 5th-circle healer from the Kalmira Elite Hunter Academy. She was the one who saved both Mr. Soren and Ryan inside the Gate, even managing to sustain their lives through the critical journey back to this hospital."

Ethea understood the officer’s underlying meaning clearly. Without this healer’s immense skill and dedication, Soren might not have survived the trip at all.

"Thank you," Ethea said, her voice steady despite her fatigue as she looked directly at the healer. "Thank you for saving my husband’s life... Our family will never forget this debt."

Seria offered a warm, gentle smile. "I simply did what anyone should have done. It is basic human decency to help someone when they are in need."

Ethea was momentarily surprised by the response, blinking at the healer’s straightforward humility before giving a slow nod of agreement.

Just then, a soft chuckle escaped Seria’s lips.

Ethea tilted her head slightly, confusion etching across her features at the sudden change in mood.

Seeing the perplexed look, Seria laughed softly and waved her hand defensively. "Ah, please don’t misunderstand. It’s just that those exact words—word for word—were what your husband told me during our previous meeting. I was simply repeating them back to you."

’A previous meeting?’

Ethea nodded faintly, a quiet curiosity sparking in her mind as she wondered when and where Soren could have possibly crossed paths with a high-ranking 5th-circle healer before this incident.

’Could it be...?’

"I am just truly happy that he fulfilled his promise," Seria continued, a fond look in her eyes.

"!" Realizing almost immediately how easily her words might be misunderstood by a spouse, the blue-haired healer quickly waved her hands in panic, her face flushing slightly. "Oh! I mean—not like that! I had simply told him during our first encounter not to lose hope in human decency, and nothing more! I was just glad to see he remembered."

"...Mm." Ethea nodded.

"We first met about two weeks ago under very similar circumstances," Seria explained, her tone turning nostalgic. "He came rushing into the city, driving his severely injured party members. Even though he was completely exhausted himself, he refused to leave their side until he knew they were safe. Despite how harsh the situation was, he had this unshakeable sense of responsibility..."

Hearing the details, a faint memory stirred in Ethea’s mind. She remembered it now. Soren had briefly mentioned that incident when he returned home about two weeks ago, though he had omitted just how high-ranking the healer he met actually was.

Seria’s expression softened into one of genuine admiration as she looked down at Ethea. "You are incredibly fortunate to have such a husband, Miss Ethea. When a man pushes himself to those absolute extremes, it’s never for his own sake. He must really love you."

"Mm." Ethea subconsciously nodded to the words before the meaning fully registered in her mind.

’!’

’L-Love...?’

The word echoed unexpectedly in her thoughts.

Her heart skipped a beat, and a faint blush bloomed across her cheeks as her eyes widened in realization. They had been brought together by a cold, practical arrangement, yet hearing a stranger attribute his monumental sacrifices to devotion made her chest tighten in an entirely new way.

Seria laughed softly again, her sharp eyes easily catching the subtle crimson tint and the sudden fluster on Ethea’s face.

Then, as if a sudden realization struck her, her eyes lit up with professional curiosity. She looked at the wheelchair and then back at Ethea’s face. "Miss Ethea, if you don’t mind, why don’t I examine you? Perhaps I can help you with your condition as well."

Ethea’s lips parted instinctively to refuse. The words "it’s no use" hovered at the tip of her tongue. She wanted to tell her that even legendary 7th and 8th-circle healers had examined her broken body and walked away shaking their heads in defeat.

But just before the pessimistic dismissal could escape, her earlier resolve flared to life inside her.

’...I refused to remain entirely useless.’

’..I will find a path forward, using whatever small leverage I have.’

Closing her mouth, she swallowed the bitter words. After a brief, deliberate pause, she looked up into Seria’s bright blue eyes.

"Thank you, Lady Seria," Ethea said softly, her voice carrying a newfound weight. "I would appreciate that."

"That’s great," Seria said, her smile widening as she stepped forward and knelt slightly to bring herself closer to Ethea’s eye level. "Let’s find a quieter place to do a proper reading then. The hallway is a bit too crowded for a detailed diagnostic."

She then turned to Clara, who had been listening to everything silently, watching the interaction with a mix of relief and lingering anxiety.

"I can take her from here if you’d like to rest for a moment," Seria offered warmly, her hand resting lightly on the handle of the wheelchair. "The examination might take some time, and you look like you’ve had a long day yourself."

Clara managed a small, grateful smile, but she firmly shook her head. "It’s okay. I want to stay with her, if that’s alright. I promise I won’t get in the way."

Seria’s expression softened, appreciating the deep loyalty between the two women. "Of course. The more support she has, the better. Follow me, then."