<Chapter 136>
#15. Epidemic (10)
“…I think it would be best if you prepare yourself mentally.”
After hesitating for a long time, Johaim’s words triggered Melty’s tears. Calix arrived just as Johaim was trying to comfort Melty, who had burst into tears. Various conversations passed between Calix, who had easily lifted Melty into his arms, and Johaim, but not a single word reached Melty’s ears.
“Calix-ssi. Is my hyung’s condition really bad? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Calix was at a loss for words at Melty’s question after he had finally managed to stop crying. Looking up at Calix, who had frozen without giving a hasty answer, Melty rubbed his still-warm eyes with his clenched hands.
“…It’s not that bad yet.”
“That’s different from what Johaim-ssi told me?”
“You… hah, do you believe that guy more than me?”
“……”
Melty remained silent at Calix’s question. If asked whom he trusted more, he should naturally answer Calix. But Melty couldn’t bring himself to answer that way.
“Why did you ask him about such things in the first place? If you were curious, you should have asked me.”
“Calix-ssi… you don’t tell me properly.”
Calix remained silent at Melty’s answer, which carried no strength at all. The heavy silence that settled between them made Melty’s eyes grow hot again. Trying not to cry, he covered his eyes with his palms and pressed hard.
“I wasn’t trying to hide anything from you by not telling you.”
Calix said as he took Melty’s hands that were covering his eyes. Slowly removing Melty’s hands, he lowered himself to meet Melty’s gaze.
“You were too concerned about your hyung. I was worried about you.”
“…If you were worried about me, you should have told me more. You said you would tell me everything…!”
Calix was left speechless at Melty’s accusatory cry. There was nothing wrong with what he had said. After maintaining a heavy silence, Calix opened his mouth with a low sigh.
“It’s not like the patients’ conditions could be good. But I was planning to tell you after finding a cure somehow.”
“…What if you can’t find one…?”
“I will find it.”
Melty, who had calmed down thanks to Calix’s composed voice, hung his head low. Noticing his gloominess, Calix cupped Melty’s drooping cheeks and lifted his face.
“I’ll find it.”
The firmness in his voice made Melty’s nose sting. As he wrinkled the bridge of his nose with a sniff, Calix’s low laughter spread.
“Are you feeling a bit better?”
“…Yes.”
Melty nodded his head obediently. Holding his hand, Calix exhaled a deep sigh of relief.
“That’s good.”
“Now that I know everything, just tell me. How bad is my hyung’s condition?”
Calix looked troubled at Melty’s question. Staring directly at him as he pondered, Melty added in a resolute tone, ‘Be honest.’ Finally giving up on hiding anything further, Calix sighed and began to speak.
“The pustules aren’t too severe. We’re taking care not to touch them. But he’s been unconscious for quite… some time.”
“…How long…?”
In response to the trembling question, Calix hesitated but honestly conveyed the information. At his brief answer of ‘Two days,’ tears welled up in Melty’s eyes once more.
Why on earth had he thought everything would be fine…?
He had vaguely assumed nothing serious would happen. The Padrians, who cultivated herbs from the continent, and the Sarvies, who were counted among the most skilled in medicine, were both here. Perhaps he had thought everything would be fine because these reassuring presences were here.
‘Hyung protected me like that… and I only thought about myself.’
Out of habit, Melty’s hand rested on his belly. Though he couldn’t feel anything from the rounded belly, there seemed to be a sensation of gentle warmth being transmitted. Calix stroked Melty’s back, offering comfort.
“Everyone is working hard, so we should be able to develop a cure soon.”
Melty’s moist brown eyes captured Calix’s face. Calix’s words were just a “wishful hope.” At the same time, it was what Melty desperately wished for as well.
“I’ll definitely find a way to resolve this somehow.”
At Calix’s words, Melty smiled faintly with tear-wet eyes.
“Yes.”
A firm resolution took root within Melty.
***
Having wiped his eyes with his sleeve, Melty became stronger. Stretching his neck, he only moved after confirming that Calix was not around. By his side stood his accomplice, Jenny.
“Are you sure you must do this?”
At her question filled with concern, Melty smiled bravely.
“I should have done this earlier, but I was too scared, so I delayed. If someone in your family was sick, you would also do your best to find a solution, wouldn’t you, Jenny-ssi?”
“……”
At Melty’s words, Jenny couldn’t bring herself to argue. Nevertheless, unable to erase the concern on her face, she let out a heavy sigh.
“Master Calix will be very worried.”
“Yes. I know.”
Melty nodded vigorously. He was well aware of how much Calix worried about him. But he was equally concerned about Malek. He didn’t want to be the only one safe under others’ protection while his hyung, who had always been reliable and impressive, was in danger.
With a dignified appearance, Melty placed his hand on his belly. Along with this movement, which was both a habit and almost a ritual, a bright smile appeared on his lips.
“Still, I want to do what I can.”
The letter Malek had written before losing consciousness contained messages about a nephew who hadn’t even been born yet. Melty felt ashamed for using his brother’s last nagging words, ‘You need to be careful for the health of your children,’ as an excuse to hide.
Though not yet born and still not feeling real, the child was precious. However, his current family was just as precious as this child. He didn’t want to deprive the child of a kind and affectionate uncle. And he himself… didn’t want to lose his beloved hyung.
“It’s quite a distance to the villa. Calix-nim… said he would be staying outside for two days due to work, so you probably won’t run into him.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Looking at Melty with a face still full of worry, she readjusted his attire.
“How do you plan to get inside?”
“I know the shift change times. I’m good at sneaking in!”
Jenny’s expression darkened at this hardly convincing statement. Unable to say anything negative to Melty, who had clenched his fists with determination, she could only tell him, ‘Please be careful.’
“This is what you entrusted to me.”
“Ah! Thank you!”
It was a temple model that he had bought during his long carriage ride with Calix. With a bright smile, Melty took the model and boarded the carriage that had been prepared in advance.
Leaving Jenny behind, Melty got into the carriage that had been prepared beforehand. Though he had snuck out late at night, thanks to his accomplice Jenny’s thorough preparations, there wasn’t much difficulty. She had been so meticulous that she even arranged for an escort.
Looking at the person introducing himself as the new escort, Melty belatedly remembered Pel, who had been in charge of his protection until now. Recalling that not only Malek but also Pel had thrown himself to protect him that day, Melty’s mouth turned bitter with remorse.
“I’ll go inside alone.”
“I will accompany you to your destination.”
“That won’t be necessary. There will only be patients inside. And… if you come, I would feel too guilty.”
These weren’t just any patients, but those infected with an epidemic disease. Melty had decided to take the risk for the sake of his family, but he didn’t want to endanger someone else just because they were his escort.
After Melty’s repeated persuasion, the escort finally let out a deep sigh and said, ‘Then I’ll wait here.’ Melty agreed to this. With his robe pulled down low over his head, and swallowing nervously, Melty ran at full speed just as the guards left their posts for a shift change.
Successfully sneaking in while catching his breath, which rose to the tip of his chin, Melty carefully looked around. Whether it was because of the night or the dim light, the interior of what was called a villa had quite an eerie atmosphere.
“It’s okay.”
Muttering while patting his belly reassuringly, Melty quickly moved to find Malek. Though he knew very well that this wasn’t an empty mansion, the heavily settled quiet atmosphere made Melty feel intimidated.
It was late enough to be asleep, but considering there were only patients here, it was still too quiet. Wiggling his nose, Melty busily searched for Malek’s location. And after quite some time, he finally found Malek in a room at the end of the third floor.
There was a bedside table next to the bed where he lay. On the table were the letters Melty had sent, unopened. On the bed next to it, the person exhaling rough breaths with the white blanket pulled up to his neck was undoubtedly Malek. Carefully stepping into the room, Melty bit his lower lip as he looked at Malek’s face, which had grown rough over the past few days.
“Hyung. I’m here.”
Despite Melty’s soft murmur, Malek gave no response. There was no playful smile as usual, nor his hand that would ruffle Melty’s hair. Melty placed the temple model he had brought on the bedside table and quietly prayed for his recovery. Then he pulled over a chair from the corner and sat down beside Malek. After staring at his face for a long time, Melty carefully took hold of Malek’s hand.
His hand, which had always seemed so big when Melty was young, no longer looked that large. Holding his hand with both of his own, Melty whispered with moist eyes.
“I’m sorry I’m so late, hyung. Did you wait long?”
There was no answer from Malek to Melty’s question. As if not expecting his answer, Melty continued mumbling.
“There’s still a long time before the birth, but you said you were waiting for your nephew. My children will probably wait for an uncle like you too. I’ve already bragged about you to them.”
Whispering with a bright smile, Melty closed his eyes tightly. If his hyung saw him like this, he might scold him for doing something dangerous. But Melty was okay with being scolded like that.
“So let’s go out together again.”
Rubbing his cheek against Malek’s hand like a spoiled child, Melty used his gift, hoping it would be a solution to help him.
