Chapter 80
*Don!*
Loud noises continued to echo from above .
I breathed in and restrained my bouncing heart to the sudden shock that came out of nowhere .
’It’s alright, Klaus will protect me . ’
The sailors were also fighting and Wolf said he would lend a hand after all .
’I have to believe in them and do what I have to do . ’ I told myself and turned to face the person in front of me .
Kurt’s fracture treatment was over . That said, it was just wrapping his leg and the sheath together as support .
Besides broken bones and bruises, there was no noticeable trauma, but I was afraid to move him around so that’s why he was laid down on the floor . To substitute a pillow, a folded cloth was used instead .
His suffering was still clear as day however .
Deep wrinkles formed on his brows, his red cheeks swollen and a thin layer of sweat coated his forehead . Perhaps from all the fractures and bruises he had wrought up a fever .
“…”
Kurt struggled a small groan . Sweat fell down from his forehead as he waved his head around with a painful face .
I brushed away his fringe and wiped his forehead with a cloth .
The small scratches and cuts looked painful .
I would love to clean the blood and mud off his wounds, but that’s impossible until Miss Bianca return from the kitchen with more water .
As I gently wiped the mud from his face with my index finger, Kurt’s closed eyelids began to move .
“Kurt?”
As if responding to my call, his eyelids slowly opened . At first there were no life in those eyes, but after a few seconds had passed, life returned to them and Kurt began looking around .
Using his right hand, he traced the sheets with his fingers . Noticing that he was searching for something, I inadvertently took his hand . Grasping his hand with both of mine, a weak strength could be felt from him .
“Kurt . ”
Again, I called his name .
His eyes moved towards the origin of the voice . I found myself reflected in his eyes . His lips started to move… But there was no sound .
I wanted to grant him any demands he wished .
There were only a handful of things I could possibly do right now, but even then .
“Please say it again one more time . ” I asked him to repeat those voiceless words .
But Kurt did not try to open his mouth . Instead he stared at my direction with his blurry eyes from the high fever .
His right hand gently extended and somehow brushed my cheeks .
His fingertips gently stroked my face that was confused beyond words . It was so gentle that one would doubt if there was really any force behind it at all .
I would never brush away his hand, but it tickled a little bit . While staring at me who was worried about what to do, he smiled softly .
“The goddess… was here… all this time…”
“Huh?”
The little misunderstanding was drowned in the clamour upstairs .
But before he could repeat himself, his eyes closed once more . The hand stroking my cheek fell down and his breathing became more audible .
I wonder what he said .
However, looking at his expression, I think that it was neither unpleasant nor painful .
I gave a quick sigh, grabbed a bed sheet and covered Kurt with it .
“Mary, sorry for the wait!”
“Miss Bianca . ”
Miss Bianca who ran into the room noticed Kurt sleeping and hurriedly closed her mouth . I got up and took the tub she handed over .
“Sorry for all the ruckus . ”
“No, it’s good that you came back safely . ”
“It’s alright . It seems that the enemy haven’t reached the lower decks yet… But…”
“?”
While whispering to me, Miss Bianca made a rare sour face and diverted her gaze away from me .
When I was about the ask her…
The door behind Miss Bianca opened .
Miss Bianca took my hand and pulled me behind her .
“Excuse us . ”
“I’m sorry, Mary!”
“Mia?”
Mia said as she came in . Besides her stood a manservant with Miss Flora held in his arms .
“An injured person is sleeping . Please be quiet . ”
Mia apologised to Miss Bianca for being rowdy . The man gave a small bow towards me and walked towards the beds where he gently laid Miss Flora down .
Miss Flora was scared out of her wits, pale and trembling . That figure of her holding her knees like a ball seemed to be smaller than usual .
“I was only hiding in the kitchen . I somehow tagged along . I’m sorry Mary . ”
“I will also apologise . I was looking for anything that could function as a weapon or armour in the kitchen but they were all cleared out beforehand…”
With an ’I am ashamed’, the elderly gentlemen lowered his head .
“Where is her escort?”
Certainly, Miss Flora must have an exclusive escort .
In response to my question the old man opened his mouth, but Miss Flora’s loud shout cut him off before he could say anything .
“Upstairs! He left me alone to go fight!”
“Miss Flora, please keep quiet . ”
Miss Flora who was frightened just now had her anger exceeded her fear . She ignored Mia’s warnings and rolled up in her bed with tears of regret pouring out from her eyes .
“Even though he’s just an escort! How could he leave my side at such an important time like this! I will tell Father when we get home!”
“Miss Flora . ”
“What?!”
I called out standing next to her . She glared at me with her teary eyes .
“Shut up . ”
“Why the hell are you order-“
“If you make too much noise, it could attract the enemy . ”
“Ku…”
Miss Flora who snapped at me swallowed my words after much persistence .
If you look at her expression, one could tell she was not completely convinced .
“But… This is not right… “
Muttered Miss Flora in a tiny voice . The little droplets forming in the corners of her eyes fell according to gravity .
Were those tears because of your frustration towards the escort, or was it because of the situation you’re in?
It’s probably both .
I could not think of any comforting words for Miss Flora that was shedding tears .
Resentment against unreasonable circumstances, even I wouldn’t be able to come to terms with it either .
My head knew that we were being attacked by pirates, but my emotions were still playing catch-up .
’Why do you steal? Why do you hurt others?’
I wanted to ask “How could your heart be filled with so much hatred?” As I am right now I could never calm anyone down .
An awkward silence befell the room .
But shortly after, a loud noise cut through the silence .
“!”
The door roughly flung open .
The first to react was Miss Bianca . She shielded me behind her and unsheathed her dagger .
But what appeared was a crew member and not the enemy .
“Ah, my bad… You girls are hiding here, huh? I’ll go somewhere else . ”
A sailor who entrusted his body to the wall said with a bitter smile .
But his face was distorted in pain . Blood was dripping through his left hand fingers holding his wound on the other arm . The bleeding was making a red puddle on the floor .
“You’re hurt!”
Miss Bianca quickly stopped the sailor who was staggering away .
“I’m alright . It’s not a big-“
“As if you are!”
Miss Bianca frustratingly shouted over his voice .
She pushed him into the room and sent me a glance . I replied with my gaze through the line of sight and pulled out an unused cloth from my bag .
“I will now treat you . Please sit . ”
“Err, lil’ Miss?”
Looking at the arms of the embarrassed sailor, the affected area was the forearm on the right . Blood was overflowing from the wound . The cut must have severed an artery . Let’s stop the bleeding as soon as possible .
I was strangely calm that I surprised myself .
Perhaps it was thanks to Kurt who calmed me down . I would also like to thank Wolf that knocked me back to my senses . But right now, I will focus on the treatment .
Placing the hemostatic agent on the wound, top it with a cloth and press it down . The cloth soon turned red . I then added a second cloth .
“Miss Bianca, can you please hold this down?”
“Alright . ”
Miss Bianca nodded and moved quickly . While she was holding that down I grabbed the bandages instead of the cloths .
“This will be tight so it might hurt . ”
“O-Oh?”
“W-Wait! What are you guys doing?!”
Right when I was rolling the bandages, Miss Flora’s obnoxiously loud voice could be heard .
However, I couldn’t afford to falter here, so I ignored it .
“Wouldn’t the pirates come to look for him too?!”
“Miss Flora, please calm down . ”
“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!! Look, if you don’t kick him out right now- muhgufh?!”
“Please excuse our rudeness!”
It was Mia who sealed up Miss Flora’s rampant mouth with her palm .
’Leave her to me! Please focus on treating him . ’ She looked at my confused face and said so .
Not to waste Mia’s efforts, I put more pressure onto the bandage then I tied it as tight as I could .
“Lift your arm up higher than your heart… Yes, just like that . It will be a while but please keep your arm like this . ”
“Alright… Lil’ Miss . ”
“Yes?”
“You’re amazing . ”
Dropping the wet cloth full of blood, I raised my face to the sailor’s words . His complexion was far from good, but his eyes were sparkling .
“Even though you have a tiny frame and a doll-face, your courage doesn’t lose to even grown men . That’s foul play . ”
“Um…?”
’I wonder if I’m being praised . ’
I gave a weird sound as a response as I was caught off-guard and the sailor heartily laughed . It seemed that he didn’t mean anything bad .
“…I don’t believe I have that much courage . ”
I had only been at the receiving end .
I was both being protected and spoiled . The reason I could stand here right now was because I told myself to get a grip .
And I feared that even a little strike will send my stance crumbling down in an instant .
“U-! Release me, Mia!”
*Pan!*
A dry echo sounded .
Miss Flora who finally pulled away Mia’s hand from her mouth also swatted the other hand that tried to close her mouth again .
“Who the hell do you think I am? There’s a limit to your rudeness!”
“I’m very sorry, but please keep quiet for now . ”
“You insolent fool!“
In contrast to Mia that calmly replied, Miss Flora’s face was red with anger .
What should I do? I would like her to be quiet, but saying anything now would just be adding oil to the fire .
I glanced to my side and met eyes with Miss Bianca .
Knock her lights out? She muttered something and gestured her hand as if striking a sword . Although it was dangerous, making any more noise than this was also unpleasant in itself .
“This and that is always that girl! Nobody ever listens to what I say!!”
As I was contemplating how to handle the situation, Miss Flora pointed and shouted at me . My eyes widened in surprise and embarrassment .
“Miss Flora…”
“Don’t you dare touch me!”
Miss Flora cried even more as she brushed away the gentlemen’s hand .
Then she stood up and headed for the door .
“Hey! Where do you think you’re going?!”
“I said don’t touch me!“
She even ignored Miss Bianca’s calls and opened the door .
I couldn’t possibly let her go either so I grabbed her arm .
“No, come back!”
“Don’t order me what to do!!”
She knew that it was dangerous outside, but perhaps with blood rising to her head, she wasn’t listening to anyone . I eventually got dragged outside along with her .
The bustling noise sounded closer than expected . Too close .
I raised my face and turned around . Behind Miss Flora – a looming shadow was coming down the stairs . I held my breath . The first thing I saw was a descending foot, then a wet sabre in his right hand dripping with blood .
’We must hide!’ The brain orders so, but my body wouldn’t move .
Miss Flora, not aware of the danger coming straight at us, was still trying to shake off my hand .
“It hurts! How long are you planning to grab it for?!”
The man reacted to her voice and raised his face .
There stood a beast with its rotten eyes shining as if it had found prey .
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login