Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 168: Preening Black Dahlia — IX

[Bonus Chapter 3]

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"You seem to have found joy in life again."

Namgung Jihye hummed, very carefully helping her settle in her chair. Her smile as she looked down at her younger sister was teasing and mirthful.

The frail woman did not humour her, eyes fixed outside the window.

Seeing her in the state of concentration, Namgung Jihye raised a single brow, head tilted to the side. What was she so intently looking at?

Wordlessly, the older Namgung sister leaned forward, peering out of the window like Hyein was doing. "Are you waiting for someone?" She teased again, emerald eyes flitting down. "Could it be a certain doctor you are awaiting?"

Leaning against the window sill, Namgung Hyein jolted, her pale cheeks reddened as she stumbled over her words in a rush.

"Wha— no!" Her head snapped to look up at Namgung Jihye. "It is not— how could I..?"

She trailed off, head bowing in embarrassment. Hands perched on her lap, she clenched them tightly and shook her head.

Namgung Jihye’s teasing smile faltered at her words. Did she think Doctor Baek would not like her? Her eyes fell on Hyein’s elevated feet.

"How could that be?" She smiled reassuringly, meeting the frail woman’s fogged gaze. "Any man would be fortunate to have a wife like you, a Namgung through and through."

Namgung Hyein flinched at those words. A Namgung? Her? The mere thought made the air in her lungs falter and chest tighten in pain.

"No, he would not." She looked to the side, no longer meeting the confidence in her sister’s eyes. "His eyes only have kindness for me."

Namgung Jihye fell silent, heart stuttering with pain against her ribs. When did Hyein-ie lose so much faith in herself?

If she has been allowed out of the estate, any man would scramble to gain even a morsel of her attention. When did her sister become so broken?

Carefully, she took a step back, hands falling to clench on her sides. Had she and Suyeon-ah become so absorbed in themselves that they failed to see Hyein-ie’s pain beyond the surface level?

Namgung Jihye drew in a deep bracing breath, lower lip catching between her teeth, worrying the flesh till it became red.

"... Hyein-ie," she swallowed the growing lump in her throat. "I just now remembered an errand I need to finish..." —she turned away, swiftly striding towards the door— "I will return later. And do not fret, I have ordered that no one be allowed entry here today as well."

She could not bring herself to remain face-to-face with that familiar vacant look in Hyein-ie’s eyes. It was a look that haunted her for a decade too long.

A ruthless reminder of her helplessness.

Namgung Hyein said nothing and simply watched her older sister make for the door. With a shaky smile that Jihye could not see, she nodded.

"Thank you, Jihye-unnie. Doctor Baek will be here anytime now." Then, she turned away from Namgung Jihye’s retreating figure to stare out of the window longingly. "I will be well in his care."

She could not help the flutter under her skin at the thought of seeing the man again today. She could only count seconds till the man’s tender care and warmth surrounded her once more.

...

Day fifteenth of Namgung Hyein’s treatment.

"Today," Doctor Baek began with a familiar tone. It meant he was going to explain something she never fully understood, "we shall try to stand and perhaps take a step or two. Of course, Young Miss Hyein will not be able to do it herself as of now. So, I will be guiding you."

Namgung Hyein’s chest tightened. Guiding you. Which meant that the Doctor would have to hold her hands to help her move himself. The sheer thought of his hands clasping hers made her heart burn with something unfamiliar.

Quietly, she nodded, lip worrying between her teeth. Exercise.

The last time she had even so much as tried to stand up for herself, her feet betrayed her and she fell. It was the helplessness of that day lingering within her still.

It was as stubborn as a ghost, casting a dark shadow that followed her to this very day.

Li Xinyuan looked down at Namgung Hyein, observing her hesitant silence as he slowly lowered himself to kneel before her.

"I only ask Young Miss Hyein to put her trust in me."

"I do! Of course, I do." The surgeon raised an eyebrow. Well, wasn’t that quite fast? "If, if not you, then who else will I... I trust?"

Her voice faded away the more she talked, stumbling over her words with a face so flushed Li Xinyuan worried she had come down with a fever.

Frowning, he slowly leaned forward to gently check her temperature, pressing the back of his hand against her forehead.

He could not have her coming down with a fever. Even if he had done his best in treating her, any fever — from infection or otherwise — was still detrimental to her condition.

The doctor’s head canted subconsciously, frown deepening on his borrowed features.

Namgung Hyein had no fever whatsoever.

His hand slipped down to gently clasp his fingers around her wrist to take her pulse. It appeared completely normal as well.

Habitually enough, the surgeon’s nose scrunched as he slipped into thoughts, confusion etched on his face.

Why in the name of high heaven was her face red?

"Everything appears ordinary." He observed, voice even, distancing himself. "Why does your face seem red, Young Miss Hyein?"

Namgung Hyein’s ears burned a deeper shade of red, eyes wandering to the floor, breath catching in her throat.

"I’m- I’m well, Doctor Baek," she tried to reassure the puzzled man, feeling awful for being the cause of her confusion. "It... It is not- it is not a fever."

Her eyes wandered around faster as she searched for a different topic. It was then, suddenly, that she noticed the slightest of delight on the doctor’s face.

Something about the light in his eyes and easy upcurve of his lips made her chest squeeze painfully as her heart thudded against her ribs.

As the man guided her to stand while holding her trembling hands in his own, his warmth seeped into her hands.

Unable to resist, Namgung Hyein stole another glance at his face, taking another painful notice of his somewhat more relaxed shoulders in the process.

Then, the frail woman mustered up the remnants of her fragmented courage and asked, "Doctor Baek, what seems to be the cause of your delight?"

Carefully, she watched as the man’s focus shifted from her hideous feet to her face, expression changing at the question.

"Hm? Is you standing on your feet, your strength not reason enough?" Gently, He smiled down at her, head tilted downwards ever so slightly. "Why, yes, it is remarkable indeed."

She could hear the sincerity in his voice, but something about the look in his eyes made her sceptical.

"Something tells me it is a lie." She flinched, legs and hands shaking with pain as the man took a step away from her and smiled encouragingly. Take a step. Just take a step. At least try — for him. "Why won’t you tell me, what is it really?"

She took a sharp breath, pain shooting up her feet like voracious flames keen on swallowing her whole. Her face paled, the world spinned around her slowly.

It was as if she was standing on pins and needles. Before she could stop herself, a soft whimper escaped her throat. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

In response, Doctor Baek’s hand around hers tightened soothingly. "You can do this. Young Miss Hyein, you’re so incredibly strong."

His voice cut through the fog filling her mind, like a ray of shining light in a world full of night. Burning with agony, she reached for it, chased after the light escaping from her.

As Li Xinyuan watched Namgung Hyein hesitate to take a step forward as well as her closed eyes, he contemplated stopping.

Even standing like this was a big improvement. If she couldn’t do it right now, he did not want to force her.

Just as he opened his mouth, eyeing the accumulation of tears under her eyelids, Namgung Hyein surprised him.

She took a single step forward, gasping softly as she did so.

Li Xinyuan’s heart leapt in happiness and pride. An uncontrollable smile split upon his lips, adding another layer to his joy anew.

Yesternight, he had finally received a letter from Liu Mingyun, wherein the prince mentioned finding himself safe and content but also that he was sorely missing Li Xinyuan.

The Crown Prince had wished him an apologetic belated happy birthday and with it sent a gift — a beautiful red garnet encrusted silver ring.

(Li Xinyuan definitely did not draw parallels to a proposal ring in his head. No, not at all.)

And now, Namgung Hyein had finally taken her first step after a long decade of immobility.

He was having a pleasant day.

Just then, Namgung Hyein stumbled on her second step, breath hitching as she came crashing forward.

The young lady’s heart lurched with fear. Subconsciously, she closed her eyes, bracing herself for an inevitable impact.

Only, she never fell to the ground.

Instead, Namgung Hyein found herself crashed against the Doctor’s chest, ears pressed right above his heart. Slowly, she opened her eyes, feeling the man’s warm hands wrap around herself.

Too close. Her breath faltered and heart picked up, before she could process what just happened, blood rushed to her face and ears, burning more than it ever had.

Her treacherous heart slammed hard against her chest, skipping a beat or two. Inhaling sharply, she reached her hands to grasp at his robes.

Her body shook under the invisible weight of something unnamed, something she never dared to think about too deeply. The scent of medicine clinging to him rushed into her nose, overriding her senses with him alone.

Her chest heaved, stuttering breath escaped her lungs as she turned her head to press her forehead on his chest.

"You’re shaking a lot, Young Miss Hyein." His honey-like voice rumbled in her chest, digging deep in her ears. "Are you unwell?"

"No," she choked out, unable to control her voice. "I’m- I’m well."

Her eyes fluttered close, fists clenching harder around his robes. A silence fell around them, weighted and cold. Against her forehead, she could feel his heart beat.

Calm and steady. Unlike hers.

I have fallen for you.