44 - The Time of the Blind Beast (15+ Revised Edition)
Chapter 44
8. The End of Summer
Dr. Briman watched Ezekiel enter with long, confident strides, feeling a sense of admiration. Just as he had felt before, his gait, without even a blind cane, gave no indication that he was visually impaired. He even pulled up an armchair in the drawing room and sat down naturally, without any assistance.
He had heard that Ezekiel had suffered greatly from withdrawal symptoms, yet the man’s face, having overcome that arduous process, looked much better than before. The sickly pallor characteristic of an opium addict had vanished, and his pupils had returned to normal. His physique had also become more solid. It was evident at a glance that he had eaten well, rested well, and recuperated well.
Most importantly, his demeanor had changed. While before his nerves had been honed sharp, ready to lash out with a hot temper at the slightest provocation immediately after an examination, he was now much more relaxed and comfortable. His loosely relaxed mouth and eyes made him seem like an entirely different person from before. Dr. Briman surmised the reason for this was the influence of the maid who had entered with the man.
The two had entered with an ambiguous distance between them. It seemed as if they had been in much more intimate contact in a place unseen, and the maid had deliberately separated herself upon noticing Dr. Briman’s gaze.
Certainly, the maid seemed to be trying to fulfill her professional duty with a composed demeanor in her proper place, but the man was full of personal feelings. His posture, leaning loosely in her direction and trying to gauge her every move, was proof of this. Seemingly displeased with the distance between them, he had attempted to draw her closer several times, but each attempt had failed.
“The Doctor is in front of us. You can’t,” Dr. Briman heard the maid’s voice, a soft reprimand.
Her name was Rose, wasn’t it?
She had sent letters on Ezekiel’s behalf several times, relaying news of the man’s condition. Beyond the content, the elegant flow of her handwriting at the beginning of the signature had left a deep impression. As soon as she received the letters, she had found herself wondering, unconsciously, what kind of person she was.
Her appearance did not suggest she was old, yet she remembered her demeanor as being calm, disproportionate to her outward appearance. Strangely, she was a woman who did not give off a sense of busyness, whether her movements were large or small. Perhaps her uncommon, low-pitched voice was a factor that enhanced her composure.
“It’s been a while,” Dr. Briman said, offering a polite greeting.
“I’ve been receiving updates from Miss Rose. She described the recovery period in such detail that there was nothing more for me to confirm.”
At Dr. Briman’s compliment, Ezekiel threw his head back. The angle of his mouth, tilting sideways, was exquisite.
“Rose is indeed meticulous.”
“You have a clever employee. I was surprised by the beauty of her handwriting.”
It was an offhand compliment. Rose had surprised Dr. Briman multiple times. Once, when she calmly soothed Ezekiel after his anger following the examination; twice, when she followed the departing doctor out to discuss the unusual symptoms of opium and devise countermeasures; three times, when she managed to bring Ezekiel through his withdrawal symptoms; and four times, in the letters written with orderly penmanship and elegant prose.
These were the moments that led him to suspect she was not a maid with an ordinary background.
And the young man before him also did not carelessly dismiss even the smallest clue when the topic turned to his maid.
“Rose writes well too?”
“Yes, she writes very well. It’s enough to elicit admiration.”
“Well, Rose is quite talented.”
“I agree. Not just me, but anyone who has met Miss Rose would think so.”
“Is that so.”
Ezekiel’s handsome eyebrows furrowed at Dr. Briman’s affirmation.
“I almost forgot. Yes, a jewel is a jewel to everyone. A beautiful person wouldn’t be beautiful only to me.”
Ezekiel’s voice carried a complex yet deep emotion. It was the regret of a lover, who should see and feel the most about her, knowing he actually knew the least compared to others; coupled with jealousy towards other men who naturally recognized the maid’s merits first; and finally, anticipation for the treatment that was about to begin.
Even a renowned officer, who carried the title ‘Major of the 37th Regiment’ like a proper noun, was no different from other men in front of his lover. It was the moment Ezekiel Valdemara appeared like an ordinary young man of his age, falling in love for the first time.
A man who once lived without any room for leisure, physically or mentally, had made tremendous progress during the change of seasons. It was proof that his mind and body had become sufficiently healthy.
“It seems you’ve been doing well. That’s fortunate,” Dr. Briman said.
Ezekiel deflected the credit to Rose.
“It’s thanks to Rose. I’ve rarely felt this peaceful in mind and body throughout my entire life.”
Ezekiel was, at best, a young man who had lived only twenty-odd years, hardly old enough to speak of a lifetime. However, even to Dr. Briman, who had lived more than twice his age, Ezekiel’s short life had been full of twists and turns.
There are sometimes people in the world like that.
Individuals who attract others’ attention from a very young age. People who easily become the subject of gossip, possessing an innate presence that makes them stand out, no matter what they do.
People who experience life’s major events, which others take decades to go through or never experience at all, at an incredibly rapid pace.
Ezekiel belonged to this category.
He had enlisted in the army in his late teens and, when war broke out, distinguished himself as an officer in the 37th Regiment, causing a stir in Astria. He then fell victim to a conspiracy fueled by the jealousy of his envious brother.
Despite being a young man in his early twenties, the light and shadow that defined his life were starkly contrasted. It was rare for someone to experience such fluctuations at a young age, especially within such a short period.
His body had been weary on the battlefield, and his mind had been weary upon his return. There was no space left in his time or emotions. Indeed, on the day he first met Dr. Briman, the dominant emotions Ezekiel displayed were anger and despair. The compulsion and anxiety that he could not remain in his current state were palpable even to Dr. Briman, who sat opposite him.
However, if he had changed his perspective and decided to accept his isolation in this mansion as a period of rest, it was this maid who had made the most significant contribution to that decision.
She was the woman who brought emotional stability and comfort to Ezekiel, whose pride had been wounded by his inability to accept his drastically changed circumstances overnight.
Dispelling his extreme pessimism, the man who had regained his peace after a long time now exuded an aura that made it understandable why he was called ‘Major Valdemara of the 37th Regiment’ and was revered as a knight who stirred women’s hearts.
“I’ll wait outside, so call me if you need me,” Rose said, stepping back slightly.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
It was instantaneous. Ezekiel stretched out his long arm and grabbed her.
Dr. Briman looked at Rose, slightly surprised. She stood awkwardly, caught, with a somewhat embarrassed expression, and then spoke.
“I’ll just be in the way.”
“Who says that? Are you dreaming?”
“……”
“You’ve been fine until now, so why are you acting like this? How can your presence be in the way? Rather, if you’re not here, I won’t be at ease, so you’ll be in the way.”
Ezekiel cut her off decisively. Dr. Briman agreed.
On the day of their first visit to the mansion, Rose had held Ezekiel’s hand throughout, offering encouragement and helping the examination proceed smoothly. Moreover, in the current situation where painkillers were difficult to use, Rose was a sedative with a stronger effect than any ordinary medicine. It was reassuring for Dr. Briman to have her present as well.
“That’s right. It’s good to have Miss Rose here. The patient’s stability is the priority.”
“And with you here, I have a purpose. You know, Rose, when I open my eyes, who is the first person I must see? You cannot leave my side.”
At their insistence, Rose hesitated for a moment. Though the light was limited, making it uncertain, Dr. Briman somehow thought Rose’s complexion looked pale. While previously Ezekiel had looked sickly in every way, now Rose seemed more unwell than Ezekiel, the actual patient.
“Miss Rose, are you feeling unwell?”
“No, no. I’m fine. I’ll stay here.”
Quickly shaking her head to deny it, Rose immediately adjusted her posture and stood close beside Ezekiel.
“Rose, are you feeling unwell again?”
Ezekiel fumbled to assess her with his unfocused gaze.
“That’s impossible. I’m just a little nervous.”
“I’m the one receiving treatment, so why are you nervous?”
“……I suppose so.”
Rose replied with a faint laugh, like a sigh.
“I told you. I only fight battles I can win. Trust me, and don’t worry.”
Dr. Briman caught a glimpse of the complex wave of emotions that flashed across her face. The master of this mansion, even to an observer unaware of the circumstances, would likely recognize the relationship between the two immediately, as he was solely focused on his lover right up until the treatment was about to begin. Yet, it was strange that Rose seemed so terrified.
Perhaps she was worrying about things the man wasn’t. She seemed like a cautious person.
Dismissing his doubts, Dr. Briman picked up the lamp. Ezekiel faced the light with a calm demeanor.
