# 16
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After that, the doctors gathered to write reports and talk about tomorrow's schedule, until the sun quickly set.
The north was quiet and there was no entertainment.
So, all the doctors went into their rooms early.
And Dana and Edwin as well.
“Senpai, there is a thick blanket in my room, can I get it for you?”
“Are you afraid I might get cold? That’s okay.”
“If you feel bored, you can visit me anytime.”
“Am I a child, do you think?”
Dana smiled weakly.
Edwin suddenly felt pain at Dana ignoring his concern.
He seemed like the only one who wanted to be by her side.
“Rest well, and see you tomorrow.”
Dana waved her hand and entered the room. Edwin stood for a while in front of the door, then went downstairs.
He crossed an empty hall and opened the dormitory door, revealing the darkness of the sky.
In the north, the sun sets quickly.
His destination was the residence of the Rune Knights. He knows that it is time to rest after training.
“Commander, have you come?”
Night guard Harriot opened his eyes in surprise. When Edwin nodded, he quickly led him inside.
Inside, the knights were playing cards and talking.
Tons!!
The door suddenly opened and almost shattered.
The previous restaurant experience had the Knights on their feet quickly.
“Commander!”
“Please, don’t say the word game…!”
“Well done.”
“Continue to pretend not to know in the future.”
“Yes Commander!”
Edwin walked slowly, inspecting the place, then stood in front of Max.
“Next week, supplies will arrive from the capital, right?”
"Yes!"
“Then, I will send someone to treat Merida.”
"truly?"
Max's eyes sparkled.
Edwin continued asking questions to his soldiers. He made sure there were no shortages while he was away.
Some of them started complaining.
“Bread on someone else's plate always seems bigger.”
“So grab your bread with both hands and pull it. It will grow.”
“As expected of a leader!”
Finally, Dante, the MP, approached.
“We have to go hunting for franks tomorrow morning... Can you accompany us?”
“True, if the leader is not with us, we will not succeed!”
Vraken was a high-ranking magical beast. Huge and violent, even experienced knights could not control it easily.
“Annoying. Not difficult.”
“It is very difficult…”
“All you have to do is stomp on the frankin’ face and stab its core in the forehead.”
“Even stepping on his face is impossible!”
“You are so helpless...”
Edwin clicked his tongue annoyed.
“What time are you leaving?”
The knights shouted for joy. Edwin looked at his watch and prepared to leave.
The knights started yawning and heading to their rooms.
“It's cold, I won't say goodbye.”
“You never did before.”
At the door, Harriot opened his mouth again.
“Is the leader in a relationship with that lady you were with?”
“Did it look like that to you?”
Edwin seemed amused by this question.
“Your smile seemed sincere next to her.”
“I am always honest.”
No, all his smiles are fake...
Max swallowed and returned to his place.
At that moment, a snowflake fell on Edwin's shoulder.
It looked like it would snow tonight.
***
Meanwhile, as soon as Dana finished showering and entered the room, she felt cold.
“What’s the matter, just a little while ago it was warm……”
I opened the thermostat hanging on the wall. No matter how much I pressed the buttons, there was no response.
I checked repeatedly, but the device remained disabled.
From behind the window, snowflakes were blowing in the wind.
A colder feeling crept into her.
Dana lowered her gaze with a bitter face. Dark skies, blizzard…… This situation awakened old memories.
Dana's parents, the Viscount and his wife, began a life of luxury long ago.
Debts also piled up, like accumulated snow.
One day, little Dana and her family had to flee at night from creditors.
The villa provided by a distant relative was old and cold.
'How can we live in a place like this!'
'My poor son, just be patient. Sorry, son.'
After the Viscountess calmed down her son, Jamie, she turned to Dana coldly.
'You, go down to sleep in the basement.'
Dana obeyed her mother's words and slept in a place that looked like a warehouse.
But in the middle of the night, she woke up shivering from the cold.
On her tiptoes, she checked the thermostat, but it was broken.
Since the corridor was also cold, it seemed that all the appliances in the villa were out of order.
She hugged her body and climbed upstairs. And there she saw...
'Jimmy, come on. Your mother will hug you.'
'Son, aren't you cold?'
Her family was gathered near the fireplace.
The three of them are under a big blanket, exchanging warmth and worrying about each other.
Dana realized.
There is no place for her among them.
Baby Dana returned to the basement without a word. She sat on the floor and hugged her knees.
The scene she saw stuck in her mind. Warm fireplace, comfy beds…
She lowered her head and moved her little lips. The words were directed to herf.
'Dana, aren't you cold?'
She reassured herf that she was fine. Until now she didn't know, fine from what exactly. Is it from the cold, or from loneliness?
Dana smiled wryly as she recalled the past. What is the benefit of remembering the past?
I'm grown up now. She has to take care of herf.
Whatever it was, getting dressed and going to find a housing supervisor was her priority. Her wet hair made her feel colder than before.
She tightened the belt of her bathrobe and took clothes out of her bag.
Knock-knock
At that moment, knocks were heard. It was an unsettling knock for some reason.
When Dana didn't answer, she knocked again.
“……Who’s there?”
“Senpai, it's me.”
She freezes herf for a moment. She blinked, startled.
“I came to check on you.”
She slowly approached the door and turned its handle. At that moment, I felt as if time was slowing down.
Slowly, Edwin's face appeared. Shining golden hair, red eyes, and ragged breaths...
He covered her with the thick blanket he was carrying. In an instant, warmth covered her shoulders.
“……You’re shaking.”
With an unusually stiff face, he spoke. She was already trembling without realizing it.
“I heard from the administrator in the lobby that some of the rooms had broken controls.”
Dana looked up at him. His worried eyes were directed at her alone. Even his hands, holding the blanket tightly so as not to get cold.
A strange feeling washed over her.
As if a frozen branch began to blossom.
As if a flower had fallen into a calm lake.
Something warm began to overflow in her chest.
When her eyes met his, Edwin quickly straightened his stern features. Then he smiled gently.
“Was it too cold?”
Repressed childhood memories suddenly returned. Even that silent sadness that sometimes woke her up.
Edwin gently raised his hand and placed it on her cheek.
Then in a tender voice, he said.
“Now, everything is fine.”
When you hear the word fine.
Dana wanted to cry.