The Knight Who Broke Off Our Engagement and Told Me to Never Show My Face Again Still Clings to Me Today, Even Though I Was Possessed and Turned Into a Villainess for Ten Years - 54 - Beyond Regret 2

Two days later, after finishing work, I went straight to the Arclight Count’s mansion to visit again. I was immediately shown to Sadie’s room and quietly looked at her sleeping face.

“……”

Since that day, I haven’t been able to focus on anything. Whether I’m awake or asleep, all I can think about is Sadie.

—Why does Sadie have to keep going through so much pain? She is kinder and more beautiful-hearted than anyone. What could she possibly have done to deserve this?

While I was thinking such things, Sadie’s hand suddenly twitched.

“Sadie…?”

Her long silver eyelashes trembled, and her eyelids slowly opened. Her gaze turned towards me, and our eyes met.

I felt so relieved that she had finally woken up that I immediately stood up, ready to call the doctor.

“Are you alright? I’ll call—”

But before I could move, her hand softly grabbed my sleeve, as if telling me not to go. Thinking she might want to say something, I quickly turned back to her and gently helped her sit up.

She felt unbelievably light in my arms, and it made my chest ache.

When I leaned close to hear her whisper, her thin, white arms wrapped around my neck.

“…Rufus… I was so scared…”

The next moment, she clung tightly to me.

I quietly put my arms around her back and hugged her trembling small body in return.

“It’s alright now. You did so well.”

“…Ugh…uh…”

She must have suffered terribly. Since Sadie came back to her real body, I think this is the first time I’ve seen her cry for something other than joy or relief.

After a while, Sadie seemed to calm down and stopped crying, lifting her face.

Her pale face looked painful with the redness left around her eyes.

“I was so scared… thinking I might never see you again, Rufus.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything.”

“No… I’m just happy you’re here with me.”

As I watched Sadie weakly clutch the hem of my clothes, I felt a strong desire to protect her, to take away all her pain and sadness.

After that, I called for the Count, the Countess, and the doctor. They checked her condition and confirmed that there were no physical problems. I let out a breath of relief.

“But… it seems her memory is a little confused.”

“No…”

At the doctor’s words, the Countess nearly collapsed, and the Count quickly caught her. His face was just as pale as hers.

Eliza, Norman, and Findlay also looked confused and upset. Apparently, strong stress and shock can sometimes cause people to lose parts of their memory.

Inside, I felt shaken too, but since Sadie called my name when she woke up, I managed to stay calm.

The Countess gently held Sadie’s hands between hers. Sadie also held them back and gave a faint, weak smile.

“You remember us, don’t you?”

“Yes. But there are many things I can’t remember… I might trouble you all, but please take care of me.”

Everyone looked heartbroken seeing Sadie bow her head so weakly.

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask us. We’ll do anything for you, Sadie.”

“Thank you, Gerald.”

There’s no treatment for her condition. They said we have to wait for it to heal naturally, and that she should rest for now.

“How much do you remember about that day?”

“During the party… Mabel—…”

The doctor and the Count and Countess left the room. Sadie continued talking with Findlay and her friends.

I tried to leave quietly so I wouldn’t disturb them, but suddenly my hand was grabbed.

“…Sadie?”

When I turned around, Sadie was looking up at me with a lonely, anxious face.

“Rufus…? Where are you going?”

“I have to get back to work soon.”

“I… I want to stay with you a little longer.”

When I heard Sadie say that, my first feeling wasn’t happiness or joy—it was surprise.

That’s because Sadie had never asked for something selfish like this before.

But thinking about her situation, she had every right to be more selfish. And after what happened, of course she would feel anxious.

“Alright. I’ll stay a little longer.”

When I agreed and smiled, Sadie smiled too, looking relieved, and she squeezed my hand tighter.

“We’ll be downstairs, so if anything happens, just call us.”

Findlay said kindly and then left the room with Eliza and Norman.

I had heard that Findlay had proposed to Sadie, but it didn’t seem like anything had happened after that. I couldn’t stop myself from asking once we were alone.

“Is it okay… to say that in front of Findlay?”

“What do you mean?”

“He proposed to you, didn’t he?”

Sadie seemed to remember that clearly and quietly nodded.

“I properly refused Gerald. Even so, he said we could still stay friends.”

“…I see.”

I couldn’t help but feel relieved, but at the same time I felt guilty as I gazed into Sadie’s slightly red eyes.

She looked back at me, then slowly lowered her brows and gave a soft, troubled smile.

“I wish I could have returned to my real body sooner… If I had, Tabatha wouldn’t have done something so foolish, and I could have stayed by your side the whole time, Rufus.”

It sounded like she was saying she wanted to spend her whole life with me, and my heart skipped a beat.

Sadie noticed and looked down shyly, saying, “Sorry for saying something strange.”

Right now, because of my father and the people around me, the only way I could meet Sadie was secretly like this.

But someday, when the truth about what happened to Sadie and the others comes to light, if she still wishes for it, I want to be by her side openly and proudly.

“I’ll try to stay by your side as much as I can.”

“…Thank you, Rufus.”

When I held Sadie’s small hand, she held mine back. But then, I suddenly felt something strange again.

I didn’t know why I felt that way, but after we chatted casually for a while, I promised to come visit her again soon and left her room.

I declined a send-off and walked down the hallway alone, where I ran into Eliza and Norman.

“Lord Rufus, are you leaving?”

“Yeah. Sadie says she’ll rest for a bit.”

“I see. How did she seem?”

“…A little—no, it’s nothing.”

I almost said there was something off but stopped myself.

Even Sadie, who always acts strong, is allowed to show weakness or ask for something selfish once in a while. I’m definitely overthinking things.

That’s what I told myself, but the uneasy feeling in my chest didn’t go away.

“Please stay close to Sadie as much as you can. If there’s any change, let me know.”

“Understood.”

I’ll make time again soon to come check on her.

And I also decided to look into Mabel’s situation, since no one knew what she was up to.