~CHAPTER 39~
Mayna went to the guardianâs waiting room to get some rest, and not long after, Curden returned to the hospital room.
Unable to sleep, Mayna had been reading.
She closed her book and smiled faintly.
“Youâre not sleeping?”
“No. My mindâs a little unsettled.”
“Reading when youâre uneasy. Youâre quite a peculiar one, Mayna.”
“You read when youâre angry, Curden.”
“Nothing beats a book when youâre mad.”
He answered playfully and slumped into a chair.
A refreshing scent of mint drifted from him.
“That smells nice⌔
When Mayna murmured drowsily, lowering her gaze, Curden arched his brow in jest.
“Oh? I just smoked. You like that smell?”
“You know thatâs not what I mean.”
“You craving a cigarette too, Counselor?”
“âŚYeah, maybe a little today.”
When Mayna answered more seriously than expected, Curden laughed aloud.
“Rough day?”
It was a casual question, slipped out at the tail end of his laughter.
Yet his thoughtful tone struck like a blade to her chest.
So this is what it means to be hit right in the heart.
It was a feeling sheâd long ignored.
Because if she admitted she was struggling, she wouldnât be able to endure it.
Even when her body hurt or her spirit was worn down, sheâd tell herself she was fine.
“A little.”
Unable to meet Curdenâs eyes, Mayna answered softly.
A faint smile formed on her tidy lips.
Watching that empty smile, Curden felt a rush of tangled emotions swirl in his chest.
Even in a moment like this, she couldnât bring herself to say she was exhausted.
Was that just her nature?
From the very beginning, Mayna had been Caliphâs aide.
So Curden had no way of knowing what the original Mayna Winslet had been like.
Mayna broke the silence.
“Arenât you tired? You mustâve been heading home when I called you here.”
“Of course Iâm tired.”
His tone made it sound obvious, but hearing it made Mayna feel guilty.
“I feel awful for keeping you.”
She added,
“Iâll be discharged early tomorrow morning. Magia will take me, so you should head back to the castle.”
“The sun will be up soon anyway.”
Curden gestured toward the window with his chin.
Maynaâs gaze followed and lingered there.
The sky was still dark, heavy with clouds that threatened rain.
The world lay silent in the stillness.
“They said the rainy seasonâs coming early this year…”
“Youâre quitting, arenât you?”
“âŚ!”
Startled, Mayna turned to him.
*I only told Caliphâhow does Curden know?*
Her heart pounded.
“I can read minds, remember?”
“⌔
“Lately, every time I look at you, Mayna…”
He paused, searching for the right words with a serious look.
“Thereâs that spark in your eyesâlike someone whoâs already thrown in their resignation and canât hide the freedom of it.”
“What?”
Startled into speech, Mayna blinked as Curden grinned, narrowing his eyes.
“Actually, that bastard Caliph told me. Said youâre quitting.”
“âŚReally?”
He nodded once.
She asked again, though sheâd heard him clearly, because it was unexpected.
Caliph never talked about his own affairs to anyone, not even close colleagues like Curden.
“But I knew even before he told me.”
“âŚWhen did you find out?”
“Mayna.”
“Yes?”
The teasing look vanished from Curdenâs face.
“That doesnât matter.”
“⌔
“When Caliph told me, or when you told himâthat doesnât matter.”
“⌔
“What matters is whether that idiot will manage after finding a new aide.”
At the words *new aide*, Maynaâs heart sank.
She had already decided to leave Caliphâs side, yet even the thought of him replacing her unsettled her deeply.
*Pathetic.*
The self-mocking smile faded quickly from her lips.
“None of that matters.”
“⌔
“Damn it. None of it matters, Mayna.”
He spoke with a crooked smile, but there was a chill behind his words.
“Only one thing matters right now.”
“⌔
“You two need to part ways. Now.”
Curden Lota â the sharpest, most logical, and most rational man she knew.
For him to say that was the last thing she expected.
Though she hadnât told anyone yet, Mayna knew sheâd eventually have to tell the people at Lenox Castle about her resignation.
And in her head, sheâd imagined how each of them might react.
*Curden, thoughâŚ*
She thought heâd be different â not showing hurt, but opposing her decision in his own serious way.
Something like: âYou canât abandon your duty for such a reason.â
“You really think itâs right to separate?”
Curden nodded firmly.
“They said you might need to remove your uterus.”
“⌔
“They said the infection might spread and kill you.”
“⌔
“And youâre not scared? Not sad? Not even angry? You think thatâs normal?”
He burst out, his voice thick with anger.
Only then did Mayna realizeâ
even after hearing the doctorâs explanation, she hadnât felt a thing.
Curden sighed heavily.
“I happened to see your bank accounts.”
“âŚAh.”
The four accounts sheâd given Caliph.
“Without you, that guy wonât even be able to handle his banking properly.”
“⌔
“But what can you do? You have to live first, donât you?”
Mayna lowered her gaze.
In the heavy silence, she stared at the back of her pale, thin hand.
“Curden.”
He, slouched in the chair, tilted his head as if to say, âGo on.â
“Youâre going to be mad, but⌠I have a favor to ask.”
“Iâm already mad.”
Mayna let out a weak laugh.
“Please donât tell Sir Lenox.”
“Tell him what?”
“⌔
“That you collapsed and were taken to the hospital?”
“Yes. Please.”
Curden rubbed his forehead.
“Why on earth not?”
“If you sued him for labor exploitation, youâd probably get a hefty settlement. Youâve lost your health and your youth â at least grab a big retirement fund.”
“Ha ha⌔
Mayna chuckled softly, her shoulders shaking as she fidgeted with the blanket.
After a long pause, she finally spoke again.
“If I were going to keep working for Sir Lenox, I wouldâve told him.”
“⌔
“I wouldâve explained honestly, taken a break, or adjusted the schedule somehow.”
“Yeah, right.”
He snorted, and Mayna smiled faintly.
“Letâs just say I wouldâve.”
“Butâ”
“⌔
“Iâm quitting anyway.”
She said calmly.
“No point bringing up heavy things now. I donât even feel the need to.”
For a moment, something unreadable flickered in Curdenâs eyes.
Maybe out of habit, he almost arguedâbut then he nodded.
“All right. I wonât say a word.”
“Thank you.”
Mayna bowed slightly, then turned to the window.
“A weekâno, six days left.”
“Until what?”
“Until I leave Lenox Castle.”
“Youâve even set a final date?”
Curdenâs tone was sharper now.
When she looked back, he was watching her with a faintly hurt expression.
“Iâm sorry.”
Maynaâs face crumpled, but he just shook his head.
“Forget it.”
He stood abruptly and headed for the door.
Just before turning the handle, he paused, speaking without looking back.
“Whoever you end up working with nextâ”
“Yes?”
He hesitated for a while, then gave up on finishing the thought.
“Sleep well.”
With that, he left the room.
