The Wind's Whisper and the Fever's Grip

p>It felt as though a soft breeze was passing through the ear. A gentle rustle. The mild wind lifted Adeline's shoulders. She turned sharply, startled like someone caught in the act of doing something wrong.

p>It was Noah.

p>“Why are you outside?”__

p>He must have just bathed. Moisture clung to the tips of his hair.

p>“My head hurts, so I took a walk.”

p>“Ah... I see.”

p>An awkward silence stretched between them for a moment. Noah gazed at Adeline without blinking. She couldn't meet his eyes; she had no idea what thoughts were churning behind that stern expression.

p>The longer they stood there, the more unnatural the tension grew. Adeline hurriedly broke the silence. Her words tumbled out without preparation, raw and reckless.

p>“I heard you skipped your medicine this morning.”

p>“So the young lady has already been informed.”

p>“You can't skip your medicine. It would be a great loss for the young duke.”

p>Seeing a man casually making such a declaration left her heart aching. The guilt pressed down on her chest like a stone, heavier than the pain from the night before he had come looking for her. She shouldn't get angry. She should stay calm. He was just a patient.

p>“Um...”

p>Adeline summoned her courage and called out, but her voice was so faint it probably didn't reach Noah's ears.

p>“...!”

p>Noah reached a hand toward her. Surprised, Adeline's body jerked, yet he caught her gently as he opened the door.

p>“Huh? What did you say?”

p>He glanced back at her, clearly having caught her words. Adeline felt mortified and shook her head. Noah stepped inside first. As Adeline watched his back, her eyes widened.

p>He staggered.

p>“Young Duke!”

p>Adeline rushed to steady him, wrapping her arms around his waist. A pained groan escaped Noah's throat.

p>“Ugh... my head...”

p>Noah turned and pulled her close. Dizziness made him sway, and he collapsed against her instead. The force pressed his hand firmly against her waist. It felt... different. Not just supporting, but tracing up and down as if trying to gauge something.

p>“Young Duke...?”

p>Adeline noticed the oddness and lifted her head in confusion. Noah's face drew nearer, as though about to fall. His forehead, creased in pain, brushed lightly against her shoulder with a soft thump.

p>“My head hurts too much...”

p>His hot breath brushed her neck. Today she hadn't fastened all the buttons on her dress. His breath directly warmed her bare skin, making her shoulders tremble slightly. It felt as if his lips had grazed her as well.

p>Adeline clutched at Noah's clothes. Her fingers curled tight, unable to push him away.

p>“Y-Young Duke... please let me go. I need to get to the bed first...”

p>She meant it as a way to lay him down, but to Noah, whose mind was clouded with fever, the words took on an entirely different meaning.

p>He shook his head and pressed his lips to her neck. Idiot girl, he muttered. Adeline tried to pull back, but he only stumbled forward, unable to push him away.

p>She was truly weak against pain. She couldn't utter a single word of complaint.

p>“Young Duke...”

p>Noah barely held her waist, fighting the urge to push her away. Instead he drew her even closer, pressing her soft breasts against his chest.

p>Mmm... heavy.

p>“Young Duke, I know it hurts, but for now...”

p>“Noah...”

p>“What?”

p>Noah shook his head in playful defiance. A low, rumbling moan escaped him, like the growl of a large dog.

p>“Call me Noah.”

p>“...”

p>“You used to call me that. Right?”

p>Laying someone who was so reserved and wary on a bed right away was beneath him. First, he had to erase that hateful title. Calling her by her name would make her feel closer.

p>“No one has ever called me Noah. Not even when I die... it would be so lonely.”

p>Adeline's eyes widened in shock. She stopped pushing him away. Noah pulled her waist even tighter, pressing his weight down.

p>‘Why is she so thin?’

p>From the outside it was clear, but feeling it up close made her realize just how delicate her waist was. She hadn't even touched a woman's waist before, yet it unnerved her.

p>Noah's hand veins bulged as he struggled to resist the urge to grab her hips. His parched voice scraped at Adeline's weak heart.

p>“Can't you call me Noah too?”

p>Noah pulled back slightly, as if to deliver a blow, and Adeline's eyes widened in surprise.

p>It was unexpected.

p>She had known his heart was soft, but her face was flushed and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. As if she might cry right then.

p>Yet she felt no disgust.

p>It was fine if she was crying because she worried about him, out of pity.

p>The day when she could lay this overly tender Adeline on the bed was drawing near. A warm anticipation filled her chest.

p>Yes. It really was that easy.

p>***

p>Adeline wanted to cry. The words Noah spoke hurt her heart, but the bodies touching with the cloth in between were far more distressing.

p>Was Noah truly all right?

p>Noah continued to hold her waist, gazing down at Adeline with perfect calm. Only she felt ashamed and embarrassed.

p>‘Of course. He's a patient.’

p>Because he was dizzy, he was clinging to her like someone grasping at an object nearby. Adeline took a short breath and forced her emotions down.

p>“I... I understand.”

p>“Really?”

p>“Yes... I understand. So, let's go to the bed.”

p>“The bed.”

p>Noah's jaw tightened sharply. His face darkened in an instant, as if fury had struck him. Adeline called out, “Young Duke?” in confusion. He pushed her away. Still wearing that polite smile, he walked toward the bed. Adeline watched his back and pressed her wildly beating heart down hard. It was too fast. Dangerous.

p>“Then...”

p>“What?”

p>“My name. You promised to call me that.”

p>Noah seemed starved for human affection. Unlike his past self who never sought closeness, he now wanted confirmation from Adeline. It seemed he had been even lonelier than he thought.

p>The change in him pained her heart.

p>‘He'll probably hate me now.’

p>Adeline had sinned against Noah. Betraying his trust was her crime. Of course, she had told the Miller Duke everything about him at his suggestion.

p>[Do you want to marry Noah? I also want Noah to marry a daughter like you—beautiful and kind. But there's a condition. Will you accept it?]

p>The Miller Duke, so similar to Noah, had coaxed her gently.

p>When Adeline, as a child, had begged the Billet Duke to marry Noah, the Miller Duke had seemed like a savior.

p>[My son is hurt or in pain somewhere, and I'm worried as his father. Could you tell me about Noah's daily life? Where he goes, whom he meets. I need to know so I can prepare if problems arise.]

p>Telling the Miller Duke about Noah's daily life.

p>[Yes. I'll do that.]

p>It wasn't difficult, and she hadn't thought it strange. It was only natural for a father to worry about his son.

p>But one day.

p>The day Noah glared at Adeline as if she were a bug while reporting to the Miller Duke. Only then did Adeline realize she had misjudged him.

p>[Disappear. I don't want to see your face.]

p>Since that day, Noah had despised Adeline. She had felt his hatred in every fiber of her body.

p>Yet now, Noah was clinging to her hand like a patient waiting for death. The only one who could be his support was her.

p>“No...”

p>Adeline opened her lips. The name stuck in her throat. She hadn't called him by name in so long. Maybe it was the wicked fingers teasing her. She forced herself to stay calm and rolled her tongue.

p>“Noah.”

p>The name finally spilled out and echoed through the air.

p>Noah's lips curved softly.

p>His genuine smile made Adeline's nose flush red.

p>Her heart ached.