Chapter 14: The Bold Confession

“W-Who are you people? What right do you have to interfere?”

The middle-aged patient, who had been speaking so rudely to Soniya, suddenly used formal speech with Simon. Simon, in his high-end suit and standing with a rigid, dignified posture, did not look like someone to be trifled with. Simon replied to the woman with a touch of incredulity.

“Does it matter who I am? Does my identity change the fact that you bullied a sick child simply because she is an orphan?”

“What does that have to do with you! Stay out of other people’s business!”

Her complete lack of remorse only fueled Simon’s anger further.

“It has everything to do with me! Because I am sponsoring this child.”

“Sponsoring?” “Sponsoring?”

The middle-aged patient and Soniya both asked back at nearly the same time, their voices filled with shock.

“Yes. I am her benefactor.”

“This is Mr. Simon Grayan,” Clint added, stepping in at the perfect moment. “The one who saved you.”

Clint spoke Simon’s name with precise timing. On the surface, it seemed like an explanation for Soniya, but in reality, it was a strike aimed directly at the middle-aged woman.

“Si-Simon Grayan? The young heir?”

Dismay washed over the woman’s face. Only then did she recognize him. The Grayan family was counted among the most prominent and wealthy in the region. Though Simon was known to be a recluse who stayed away from the family business, he was still the Master of the Grayan estate.

How could a girl like that have such a powerful backer…!

If she had a benefactor like that, she should have made it obvious! Why stay quiet and put me in this awkward position? The woman glared at Soniya. When Soniya flinched, Simon pulled her closer to his side. Soniya leaned into him awkwardly.

“Weren’t you the one in the wrong? Why are you trying to intimidate a child?”

As Simon pointed this out, the middle-aged patient’s complexion changed instantly, and she began to grovel.

“O-oh, no. It’s not like that… I simply didn’t know she was under your care, Mr. Grayan… I certainly never intended to insult you. I am so sorry.”

“Ha. Your apology should be directed at the child.”

“I… go that far… huff… I, well, I’m sorry. I made a mistake.”

The woman gave a curt nod of her head. It was a mere gesture, but it was undeniably an apology.

“Mr. Grayan!”

The hospital staff, having heard the news a step late, came rushing in. Simon turned to them.

“This commotion broke out in the hospital—is this how you handle things? Does Director Rains know this is happening?”

“Ah, Mr. Grayan. Our apologies. We should have handled this more quickly…”

The staff members were practically trembling before Simon. He was the hospital’s top client and its largest investor. Following a massive investment made by Simon’s father for his sickly son, donations had continued in the Grayan name. It was thanks to that funding that Rains Hospital possessed a level of medical expertise rarely seen in such a rural area. Naturally, the staff had no choice but to treat Simon with the utmost care.

“Fine. Just move her to a different room. Staying in the same room as someone like that would make a healthy person sick, let alone someone recovering.”

“Yes, of course. We shall move her to the private suite you frequently use.”

The staff hurriedly packed Soniya’s things. Some of them approached the middle-aged woman and gave her a stern warning. Soniya couldn’t hear what was said, but the woman looked utterly defeated as she retreated to her own bed.

Soniya was ushered into the VIP suite, followed by Simon, Clint, the hospital staff, and her friends.

“Whoa. It’s huge! How can a hospital room be this nice?” “It even has its own bathroom!”

Soniya’s friends marveled the moment they entered. Soniya felt the same. Even though it was a single-occupancy room, it was more spacious and pleasant than a four-person ward, complete with a private bathroom and shower facilities. It was so nice she felt she could stay there forever. Her friends, forgetting the previous unpleasantness, gave her a thumbs-up, calling it “amazing.”

Soniya watched it all in a daze. It didn’t feel real. She had expected that, once again, no one would help her. But then Simon had appeared and told her she had done nothing wrong. He had protected her from the woman and taken her side unconditionally. Remembering the way he had wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders made her feel a warmth deep inside her chest.

The sensation of not being alone. Because she had always thought she was solitary, and because adults had never protected her, this was a first. More than the grand room or the polite staff, Simon himself had shaken her heart. He was kind and wonderful.

Is this what they mean by a ‘reliable adult’?

It was as if an ideal gentleman from a novel had come to life. And on top of that, wasn’t he the one who had saved her life?

I have to thank him properly.

Soniya approached Simon cautiously. With a fluttering heart, she pondered how to offer a greeting fit for such a distinguished gentleman. But suddenly, Simon’s legs buckled, and he tumbled forward. Clint caught him in his arms.

Ugh, I must have overexerted myself.

Simon squeezed his eyes shut. His head spun with a sharp bout of dizziness. He had gotten too worked up, and his body was paying the price. His frame was so frail that it couldn’t handle intense emotions, which was why he usually tried to suppress them. He hadn’t done so this time, but he had no regrets. If anything, he felt refreshed having said everything he wanted to say and getting as angry as he felt.

Clint leaned Simon against him. Simon, finding himself actually in the arms he had only stolen glances at, turned bright red. He was already dizzy enough to die, but now he felt like he might actually lose consciousness.

“Let’s go over there.”

Clint supported Simon and laid him down on the bed. A nurse, seeing Simon’s state, hurried over and hooked him up to an IV. Soniya and Clint sat in the chairs beside the bed. Soniya looked at Simon with worry. His arms were pale, white, and thin.

He’s a grown man, and yet he’s so fragile…

“Reliable adult” indeed. She felt like she should be the one protecting him. In Soniya’s heart, a sense of pity began to take the place of her admiration.

“Are you all right?” Soniya asked softly.

“I’m fine. Just… a bit embarrassed.”

Simon covered his face with one hand. It was truly mortifying to be occupying the bed in front of an actual patient. At his words, Soniya burst into laughter. It certainly was a funny situation. The injured girl was fine, while the man who saved her was the one bedridden.

“Well, seeing you talk like that, I guess you really are okay!”

“Yes…”

Soniya’s voice was vibrant, in stark contrast to Simon’s. Am I really more of a weakling than a young girl who suffered a head injury yesterday? Simon tried to shake off the looming self-loathing and turned his gaze to check Soniya’s complexion. She had been pale earlier, but her color had returned. What a relief.

“Don’t worry about what happened earlier. That person was just mean.”

Even in his near-dead state, Simon comforted Soniya first.

“It’s okay! There are plenty of people like that. Besides, a wonderful gentleman rescued me this time, didn’t he?”

“I’m not sure this state is very ‘wonderful’ though.”

Soniya laughed heartily at Simon’s self-deprecation. Then, her face turned much more serious.

“I heard you saved me yesterday, too. Twice now… thank you so much.”

She bowed her head deeply. Simon watched her quietly.

The orphan girl cowed at the charity party; the girl who had died while everyone looked away. The Soniya in Simon’s memory was being replaced by the Soniya before his eyes. Though she was a bit unstable now, she would soon be fine and live her life with vitality. That fact held an indescribably profound meaning in Simon’s heart.

I’m glad I came back to the past. I really can accomplish something.

That realization made his heart swell.

A short while later, after the IV was finished, Simon’s condition improved significantly. He returned the bed to Soniya. She insisted he should rest more, but he had been so embarrassed lying there that he scrambled up. Promising to come for a proper visit next time, Simon left the room with Clint. Soniya waved as she saw them off.

Since Larry decided to stay by Soniya’s side, only Clint and Simon remained in the carriage on the way back. Simon’s mind was a total blank. He was overwhelmed just trying to process the fact that he was sitting directly across from Clint, their knees nearly touching.

Was the carriage always this narrow?

It wasn’t actually that narrow, but the fact that it was an enclosed space was the problem. He could feel everything from Clint’s breathing to the minute movements of his eyes. Every time the carriage jolted, Clint’s scent wafted toward him, making it hard to even breathe. Thinking of something clever to say? That was naturally impossible. Hiding the fact that he was painfully conscious of the man was the best Simon could manage.

“There’s something I’m curious about,” Clint spoke first.

“Yes.”

“Were you serious about the sponsorship? It’s an important matter for Soniya.”

“Yes. She wants to go to middle school. That’s not a difficult thing to arrange.”

If he designated a portion of his private wealth as a trust for Soniya’s sponsorship now, the support wouldn’t be cut off even if he died in six months.

“But is there a need for you to go as far as sponsoring her, Mr. Grayan?”

“Well…”

Simon pondered for a moment. Looking into Clint’s clear green eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to lie or offer a shallow excuse.

“If I had just remembered the accident a little sooner, I could have prevented it entirely. It happened because I was dull-witted… so, as a way to apologize?”

“Why would you… ah, does this have to do with what you mentioned before? About returning to the past?”

Simon nodded.

“Even so, I don’t think it’s something you need to feel sorry for…”

Clint looked even more confused, but he seemed to respect Simon’s wishes and didn’t press further. The conversation lapsed into silence for a moment.

Actually, Simon had one more wish he desperately wanted to ask Clint, besides becoming a detective’s assistant. He had chosen the assistant role first because it allowed him to spend more time with Clint, but that didn’t mean the second wish was any less urgent.

Simon stole a glance at Clint. Should I say it? Or not? Let’s just try.

Taking a deep breath as if jumping off a cliff, Simon spoke up.

“Do you know about the Kenyon Masquerade?”

The Kenyon Masquerade was a ball held on the night of St. Kenyon’s Feast. Various commemorative events were held during the day, followed by a brilliant party at night. Participants were required to hide their faces and wear costumes, and revealing one’s identity was strictly forbidden. It was the most beloved party for the local youth due to its unique and free atmosphere, where one could interact without knowing the other person’s status or appearance.

“Yes. The party held in the City Hall, right?”

“That’s it! I… received an invitation.”

“Ah, I see. Will you be going with your fiancée? I hope you have a pleasant time.”

Wait, no, that’s not it. At this rate, he would just be someone bragging about having an invitation. For once, Simon’s composed expression crumbled. His brown eyes wavered uncontrollably.