Chapter 15
‘But does Harrison know about this?’
Knox was actually related to Harrison by marriage.
Harrison had married a daughter of the Rudfercher family and was later widowed; she was Knox’s sister. In other words, Knox was Harrison’s brother-in-law.
‘Ugh, whatever. What will be, will be.’
I was already dying of exhaustion just building the shelter; I didn’t have the mental capacity to worry about the original novel’s protagonists. Right now, I barely had enough energy to prepare for my own survival.
“Are you sure it’s just a herb? Did you check properly?”
Eden asked Knox once more, sounding incredulous. I think that was the fifth time he’d asked that same question.
‘Good grief. This is getting old.’
I shook my head and leaned my forehead against the table. From my vantage point, I could see Eden and Knox conversing.
“Then what kind of herb is it?”
“Elphinus herb. It’s an ordinary herb used to aid in recovery. Though, it is quite rare. It’s surprising to see it here.”
Knox offered a sly smile at Eden’s crumpled expression. He looked a bit mischievous.
‘It looks far too strange to be called an ordinary herb.’
The plant looked exactly like a centipede. To be honest, it was shocking that a herb like that was the vaccine.
However, Knox’s comment—‘It’s surprising to see it here’—sounded very significant.
As I tilted my head, lost in thought, I felt a stinging sensation on the back of my neck.
‘What is it?’
When I turned my head, the people I made eye contact with quickly averted their gazes. It was like watching a stadium wave of shifting eyes.
Rumors had already spread throughout the village that I had been arrested by Eden and dragged to the police station. Because of that, everyone had flocked here to gawk at me.
‘This kind of attention and these stares… they aren’t unfamiliar. It’s been so long.’
I smiled and waved at the people I caught looking. Yes, look all you want. I am Cherry Sinclair.
Seeing me like that, the villagers let out awkward chuckles. Then, as if they had seen something they shouldn’t have, they looked away. It seemed they were all quite shy.
Regardless, they soon lost interest in me and began whispering while looking at Knox.
“I heard that doctor is someone very famous.”
“They say he’s the youngest son of Marquis Rudfercher. My goodness, it’s my first time seeing a real noble in my life.”
‘Excuse me. The young policeman next to him is also a noble. His status is even higher than Knox’s.’
I grumbled to myself while listening to the interesting conversation.
“According to the Village Chief, he’s a very famous person.”
“You’re right. What was it? He’s even more famous than that woman, Cherry Sinclair or whatever?”
‘Of course I’m more famous! What are you talking about?!’
It was a rumor I desperately wanted to correct, but it wasn’t something I could say out loud.
After listening to the middle-aged women go back and forth, I buried my face back onto the table.
‘Well, Knox was a top-tier doctor in the capital.’
In the past, being a doctor wasn’t a profession that commanded much respect. This was especially true for surgeons, as anesthesia didn’t exist.
However, the Rudfercher family changed the history of medicine by developing anesthetics. They played a major role in elevating doctors into the elite class of this country.
It wasn’t particularly strange that Knox was currently acting as a drug consultant.
In the past, things like cocaine were used as substitutes for anesthesia, so doctors had been interested in drugs and alcohol and had conducted many experiments.
In fact, in the novel <Lost Love>, Knox, as a doctor, played quite a significant role.
In the book, he saved the lives of those bitten by monsters and on the verge of death by performing surgeries to amputate infected areas. He was also well-versed in obstetrics, saving both mothers and infants, and performed other major surgeries without a hitch.
‘He’s definitely an indispensable talent in a survival situation.’
If I offered to scout him as the dedicated doctor for Happy House, he’d probably just laugh in my face, wouldn’t he? What a shame.
As I was smacking my lips in regret, Eden approached me with a somewhat heavy expression, seemingly finished with his conversation with the narcotics investigator.
Sensing that the atmosphere around Eden was unusual, the gathered villagers took the hint and began to trickle out of the police station one by one. Everyone except Knox.
Knox sat there with a lollipop in his mouth, watching us calmly as if he were enjoying a show.
‘Does he recognize me?’
Anyone who participated even slightly in social activities would have no choice but to recognize me.
‘I need to make sure he keeps his mouth shut so rumors don’t spread….’
But for now, I had to deal with Eden first.
I quietly looked up at Eden. It was because he was standing there, silently looking down at me.
An uncomfortable silence followed. In his eyes, which were staring clearly into mine, there was a somewhat complex emotion.
After a long moment of hesitating with his lips, he finally spoke.
“……Apologies.”
“Pardon? What did you say?”
Eden suddenly straightened his posture and slowly bowed his head toward me. It was a clean, polite greeting without any unnecessary movement.
“I offer my sincere apologies, Lady Sinclair.”
Oh?
I didn’t expect him to admit his mistake and apologize so readily. It was a bit unexpected.
Watching Eden apologize, a good idea suddenly struck me. Hadn’t the power dynamic in our relationship just flipped? In this moment, I was the one who held the upper hand.
After sitting blankly for a second, I quickly changed my attitude, leaning my arm diagonally on the table in a relaxed posture.
“Exactly what are you sorry for?”
Whether it was an unexpected question or not, Eden looked a bit flustered.
“My, my. You shouldn’t look so flustered, as if you’ve heard something you shouldn’t have. You did drag me here after accusing me of being a drug smuggler without any proof.”
I had no intention of letting him off easy. To be honest, I hadn’t liked the suspicious glares he’d been giving me until now.
‘Of course, Sinclair has done plenty of things to warrant suspicion! But still! Usually, when people hear the name Sinclair, they just keep quiet and let it go!’
I kept those shameless thoughts to myself as I stared at Eden.
Eden kept his mouth shut. He was likely choosing his words.
“I told you. I tend to be misunderstood a lot. But this time was truly unpleasant. You do realize you dragged me here without even properly verifying the facts?”
So, I added one more thing, hoping he would feel a bit more guilty.
Eden’s face looked uncharacteristically haggard, but he apologized again calmly.
“Please forgive my rudeness. I have been misunderstanding you, Miss Cherry.”
He apologized so politely that I couldn’t help but accept it.
“Ahem. Well, I’m glad you finally realized it.”
Of course, I didn’t think Eden’s distrust of me would vanish all at once. But it was clear that, at least for the time being, he wouldn’t blindly suspect or corner me.
Thinking about it, maybe this turned out well.
“If you’re truly sorry, then help me.”
“Excuse me?”
One of Eden’s eyebrows arched.
He looked at me with a bewildered expression, as if wondering what on earth I could possibly need his help with.
Why wouldn’t there be anything to help with? There was plenty.
Since things had turned out this way, it would be best to work Eden to the bone until the impending doom arrived. I had a lot to do.
“I’m in the middle of repairing my house, and I’m short on hands. Besides, because you suddenly hauled me over here, all my work is backed up now.”
This was the truth. Right now, I was so busy that I couldn’t afford to waste even a single hour.
“If you don’t help me, I’m going to tip off the newspapers. That Eden Duncan Lancaster arrested an innocent civilian without a warrant.”
“An innocent civilian….”
Eden looked at me as if he were speechless.
“Miss Cherry, weren’t you hiding here?”
“Who says I’m hiding here?”
In truth, it wouldn’t be good if people found out. I was only saying this because I knew Eden wasn’t the type of person to tip off the newspapers about my location.
“People are very interested in me. So, if I’m the one reporting it, things will definitely get bigger. Don’t you think?”
When I looked at him confidently, Eden eventually nodded.
“Well, it was my mistake, so I will take responsibility as a police officer.”
“Good. Let’s go quickly, Mr. Worker.”
“……Do handsome workers not get paid more?”
“Aha, are you trying to flirt with me?”
“It seems the flirting worked, so please take it into consideration.”
As we were exchanging such idle banter and about to leave the police station together, Knox followed and stopped us.
When I turned around with a puzzled face, Knox gave a pretty, eye-curving smile.
“It’s quite hurtful to be treated like I’m not even here.”
Ah. I was so focused on my conversation with Eden that I forgot Knox was there.
Knox was also a man with an incredible aura just by existing; I wondered how I could have forgotten him.
I suppose I was just too consumed with the thought of getting back to Happy House and getting to work.
Anyway, as I turned toward Knox, he immediately held out his hand. It was a relaxed movement, like a predator before its prey. He exuded the leisure that only someone who had never experienced failure could possess.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Sinclair.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Rudfercher. However, the villagers don’t know I’m Cherry Sinclair. I’d appreciate it if you just called me by my name.”
I gently placed my hand on Knox’s palm. Knox smiled as he lightly kissed the back of my hand.
Suddenly, I remembered Eden grabbing my hand and shaking it. Right. This is how it’s supposed to be.
“I am curious about the circumstances, but it is rude to ask too many questions of a lady. Understood, Miss Cherry.”
I nodded and pulled my hand back from Knox’s. Then, Knox got to the point.
“There is something I wish to ask the lady. I would like to speak with you for a moment; can you spare some time?”
