RHFTY chapter 33

Bennet and Delion guided Chaeyi to the main estate, sent Hallard to his room with some knights, and accompanied Chaeyi to the infirmary.

“Jaden.”

After Bennet pushed aside the curtain at the entrance, she called out to a man who was tidying up medical supplies.

Jaden, who turned around with an indifferent expression, rushed over as soon as he saw Chaeyi’s blood-stained hand.

Despite the Duke and Duchess’s personal visit, he didn’t spare them a glance, nor did he ask why they had come.

His only concern was for the injured hand.

“The wound is quite deep… Anemia is…”

“Ah. I think I’m okay for now.”

“This way.”

Without needing any instructions from Delion or Bennet, he had his apprentices prepare and seated Chaeyi in a chair.

“It might sting a bit, but keep your hand still.”

When Chaeyi complied, Jaden pulled his wrist towards the sink and poured a pale bluish liquid over the wound.

This was healing water, used to disinfect and enhance physical condition to prevent bacterial infection and growth.

A moment later, Jaden had Chaeyi dip his hand into a container of a purplish liquid.

This purple healing water was specifically used to enhance regeneration for proper treatment.

They used a similar method back at the monastery.

Chaeyi remembered that time well.

“You’ll need to keep it still like that for at least 10 minutes. Try not to move your hand during this time.”

“Understood.”

As he dried his hands with a towel, Jaden glanced at Chaeyi, whose calm demeanor reassured him, and he momentarily stepped away.

Once Jaden, who was busy conversing with his apprentices, settled down, a contrasting silence descended.

Feeling a bit awkward, Chaeyi looked up.

Everyone, including Leonard, Ferdinand, Bennex, and the Lancaster couple, was watching him.

‘Why aren’t they leaving?’

While he could understand the others, there was no need for Bennet and Delion to stay here.

‘Do they have something to say to me?’

As he was pondering this thought…

“Chaeyi… Are you okay?”

Leonard was the first to speak.

Sensing his anxious emotions from his cautious tone, Chaeyi habitually placed his hand on Leonard’s head.

“Yes, don’t worry.”

Under normal circumstances, he would have patted his head, but Chaeyi quickly withdrew his hand.

He didn’t want to hurt Leonard’s pride in front of Delion and Bennet, who were watching with sharp eyes.

“Is your name ‘Chaeyi’?”

At that moment, Delion, who had been deep in thought, awkwardly uttered Chaeyi’s name.

Awkward…

At least, that’s how Chaeyi felt.

Perhaps it was because he never expected his name to be spoken so familiarly by Delion, creating a sense of discomfort based on this prejudice.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

When Chaeyi responded, Delion raised his eyes to meet his.

“Chaeyi, are you a hunter?”

His gaze was sharp, and his straightforward voice was solemn.

‘A hunter.’

Someone who trains their body to the extreme, hunting monsters or taking on dirty work for noble clients…

That wouldn’t be too far off the mark.

Chaeyi had thwarted an assassin’s attack, who had been hiding his killing intent and waiting for the right moment.

What ordinary beta could accomplish such a feat?

But Chaeyi was indeed a beta…

Thus, it seemed plausible to consider the possibility that he was an ‘extraordinary hunter’ while still being a beta.

In reality, there was a time when Chaeyi, in order to make money, was forced into the role of a hunter by circumstances, hunting and selling the carcasses of monsters.

So, it wasn’t entirely a wrong guess.

“Are you suspecting Chaeyi…?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. It’s just curiosity.”

As Leonard’s demeanor grew more menacing, Delion swiftly denied any suspicion.

Leonard likely wasn’t truly suspecting Chaeyi either but rather probing Delion’s ‘intentions.’

After all, if Chaeyi had been associated with the dead assassin and was on the same side, he wouldn’t have gone out of his way to disrupt the attack and get injured in the process.

“I was once called by that name. Since selling monster carcasses was the fastest way to earn money, I was inadvertently labeled as such.”

“…Is that so?”

Leonard gazed at him thoughtfully. Chaeyi nodded and leaned in to whisper quietly in Leonard’s ear.

“Yes. It was after I sent you away.”

He hoped Bennet and Delion wouldn’t overhear.

Since Leonard was now the official heir and there was no one more fitting for the role, it wouldn’t matter if they found out, but… better to be safe than sorry.

However, underestimating the heightened senses of the manifested ones was a mistake.

Bennet and Delion caught every word without missing a beat.

They quickly understood that Chaeyi had protected Leonard until he became the heir, but they chose to feign ignorance.

“I see. Thank you for answering.”

“If that’s all, you may leave now.”

Barely waiting for Delion’s response, Leonard was quick to suggest they leave.

It was essentially a polite way of telling them to get lost.

Chaeyi widened his eyes in surprise.

He knew Leonard had a slightly prickly side, but seeing how he treated Delion was different from how he dealt with Ferdinand.

Seeing Leonard’s more aggressive and indifferent expression felt quite unfamiliar.

However, it seemed normal for them.

Delion and Bennett, who seemed really intent on leaving, stood up and turned towards the entrance.

“Take care of yourself. We’ll see you again next time.”

With those parting words, Delion and Bennett left the infirmary.

“See you again next time…”

So, they plan to see me again.

Judging by their behavior so far, they didn’t seem to have any ill intentions, and it seemed like genuine curiosity.

Even so, it felt overwhelming to be receiving such attention from them, especially since there wasn’t a particular reason the Lancaster couple would be interested in me.

“I have no idea what they’re thinking.”

Then suddenly, I remembered Bennex, who had been sitting quietly without saying a word, and turned to look at him.

He seemed anxious, darting his eyes back and forth.

Despite that, he didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving just yet.

“Bennex, are you okay?”

“Oh! Yes, yes.”

Bennex, who had made eye contact with Chaeyi and then blushed deeply, kept nodding his head while lowering his gaze.

Then, in a shy voice, he asked.

“Chaeyi, how are you feeling…?”

“Oh, um. It seems like I’m almost healed now. It itches a bit, but there’s no pain other than that.”

“That’s! That’s a relief…!”

Bennex, eyes twinkling with joy at Chaeyi’s words, looked quite nervous, which was endearing, causing Chaeyi to smile briefly.

Suddenly, Ferdinand raised one corner of his mouth in a smile and looked at Leonard.

“Must be nice to have so many competitors, huh?”

“…Shut up.”

Leonard glared at Ferdinand’s taunting remark. Chaeyi didn’t understand the meaning behind their exchange.

“Anyway. You don’t need to worry about me anymore, so go on ahead. You too, Ferdinand.”

“What? You’re sending me away too?”

Ferdinand grumbled, but Leonard immediately called in the waiting knights.

“There could still be spies remaining in the mansion. Escort these two to ensure they return home safely.”

At that, the eager Alpha knights awkwardly approached the two, silently urging them to go along.

Chaeyi smiled warmly at Leonard’s consideration for their safety, but… Ferdinand knew better.

‘So, he’s telling us to leave quietly.’

Leonard had even called in the knights to make sure these two, who were annoying him, were definitely sent away.

He was a cunning guy who knew that mentioning ‘safety’ would easily convince Chaeyi, whose judgment often faltered when it came to Leonard.

If he said a few unnecessary words here, it would only end up making things better for Leonard or make him look like a bad guy for rejecting his kindness. It was one of those two scenarios.

At that moment, as Bennex, who was alternating between looking at the knights who were pressuring them and at Chaeyi, tried to express his opinion obliviously.

“Uh, I’d like to stay a bit more…”

“Hey. No more words, just follow.”

Ferdinand cut him off sharply, grabbed Bennex by the collar, and dragged him out.

The knights also hurriedly followed after the two.

And then came the silence once more.

Chaeyi turned to look at Leonard.

“Leonard, you should also…”

“I’ll escort Chaeyi to the mansion.”

Leonard firmly cut off the words, met Chaeyi’s eyes, and pulled his uninjured right hand to his lips, kissing the back of it.

Just that action somehow made his feel strange. Surprised, his heart started pounding.

For some reason, she became restless and, unable to make eye contact, subtly turned his gaze away.

“If you’re all healed, you should return now.”

Jaden, who had briefly left, suddenly returned and peeked his head in.

“Oh…! Yes.”

Chaeyi, startled as if caught doing something bad, quickly pulled his left hand out of the healing water tub.

By then, the wound on his left hand had completely healed without a trace.

‘What’s wrong with me today?’

Chaeyi sighed inwardly and dried his hands with a prepared towel.

Jaden, who had been watching him, added another remark.

“If you need any more help next time, feel free to call me anytime.”

“…Yes. Thank you.”

That day, Leonard escorted Chaeyi back to the mansion and, not content with just that, even spent the night there.

His reason was that he was ‘concerned for Chaeyi’s safety.’

It was a perfect excuse to use for a few days, given the presence of an assassin.