Chapter 5: Amy’s POV
[ Amy’s POV ]
The cold steel of my sword cut through the air.
Slash.
Another swing.
Then another.
Each movement was precise, every step perfectly balanced.
Cold mist gathered around the blade as frost mana wrapped around it, coating the practice dummy in a thin layer of ice before shattering it into countless sparkling fragments.
Sweat rolled down my forehead, but I ignored it.
Again.
Slash.
Again.
Slash.
The training grounds echoed with the sound of my sword.
Everyone in the mansion knew one rule.
Never interrupt my training.
Unless Mother herself ordered it.
So when hurried footsteps approached behind me, I frowned without even turning around.
"...Didn’t I tell everyone not to disturb me while I’m training?"
My voice was calm, but cold enough to make most servants tremble.
The footsteps immediately stopped.
"I’m... I’m sorry, Young Miss."
I slowly lowered my sword and turned around.
A young maid stood there, breathing heavily as though she had run all the way here.
She lowered her head so quickly that I thought she might hit the ground.
"I know the rule," she said nervously.
"But... this couldn’t wait."
The irritation on my face faded.
Something was wrong.
I had known this maid for years.
She wasn’t someone who would break the rules unless it was absolutely necessary.
"...What happened?"
She hesitated.
Then she spoke the words that froze my heart.
"Young Master Gray suddenly collapsed."
"..."
For one brief second...
My mind went completely blank.
"What did you say?"
"He suddenly lost consciousness."
"The Matriarch ordered me to inform you immediately."
I didn’t wait for another word.
The wooden floor cracked beneath my feet.
Before the maid could finish speaking, I had already disappeared.
⸻
The wind rushed past my face as I sprinted through the mansion.
Servants stepped aside in panic.
Some barely had time to bow before I passed them.
Gray...
Please be okay.
Please...
By the time I reached his room, Mother was already standing beside the bed.
Gray lay motionless beneath the blankets.
His face looked unusually pale.
"...Gray."
The word escaped my lips before I even realized it.
I hurried to Mother’s side.
"What happened?"
"Is he hurt?"
"Who attacked him?"
Question after question spilled out before Mother could even answer.
She remained calm.
"He suddenly collapsed."
"There are no external injuries."
"The physician has already examined him."
Her ruby eyes narrowed slightly.
"But..."
"If someone was responsible..."
The temperature in the room dropped.
"I will erase them."
A terrifying killing intent escaped for only an instant.
The maids around us visibly trembled.
Then it disappeared.
Mother turned toward me.
"Stay with him."
"I’ll investigate personally."
I nodded immediately.
"...Yes."
She left without another word.
The room became silent.
I slowly sat beside Gray’s bed.
He looked peaceful.
As though he were simply sleeping.
But no matter how peaceful he looked...
He didn’t wake up.
I reached out and gently held his hand.
"...Idiot."
"You scared me."
My grip tightened slightly.
I had always thought Gray was too kind.
Too gentle.
He smiled at everyone.
Even when people underestimated him because he hadn’t awakened yet...
He simply smiled.
Sometimes...
I wondered if he smiled too much.
I brushed a strand of his jet-black hair away from his forehead.
"...Wake up already."
The room remained silent.
⸻
Hours passed.
Mother returned.
She had found nothing.
No poison.
No curse.
No signs of an attack.
It was as though Gray had simply...
Collapsed.
Even Mother couldn’t explain it.
We waited.
One hour.
Then another.
Eventually...
A maid suddenly burst into the room.
"Young Miss!"
"Young Master has awakened!"
Before she finished speaking, I was already running.
⸻
When I entered his room...
Gray was sitting up.
Looking around with slightly confused blood-red ruby eyes.
The moment I saw him...
The tightness crushing my chest disappeared.
Without thinking...
I rushed forward.
"Gray!"
I wrapped my arms tightly around him.
I didn’t care who was watching.
I didn’t care how undignified it looked.
He was awake.
That was all that mattered.
For a moment...
He simply froze.
Then I felt him awkwardly pat my back.
"I’m okay..."
His voice sounded slightly weak.
"I just had a headache."
"...Idiot."
I tightened my hug one last time before letting go.
Only then did I realize how close we were.
His face looked slightly embarrassed.
Cute.
No.
Focus, Amy.
Mother stepped forward before I could tease him.
The conversation continued.
Gray answered her questions.
He looked perfectly normal.
Even so...
Something about him felt...
Different.
Not in a bad way.
Just...
Different.
I couldn’t explain it.
Maybe I was imagining things.
As long as he was smiling...
That was enough.
⸻
After Mother told him to rest...
I suddenly had an idea.
A very important idea.
"...Shopping."
Gray blinked.
"What?"
"We’re going shopping later."
He looked confused.
"I promised?"
"You did."
"I don’t remember."
"Too bad."
"..."
"...That’s unfair."
"I know."
I smiled proudly.
Perfect.
⸻
While Mother spoke with Evelyn...
I quietly left the room.
Not because I wanted to.
Because I had something important to prepare.
Lunch.
Gray hadn’t eaten in two days.
I immediately ordered the kitchen to prepare every dish he liked.
When everything was ready...
I personally carried his tray inside.
The maids followed behind me.
The smell alone made me hungry.
Gray’s eyes immediately lit up.
Cute.
"So..."
I placed the tray down.
"Today’s your favorite."
"You haven’t eaten for two days."
"So..."
I smiled warmly.
"Let’s eat together."
His expression softened.
"...Okay."
For some reason...
That one smile made everything worth it.
I served his plate myself before dismissing the maids.
Only the two of us remained.
The moment he took his first bite...
He completely forgot about everything else.
He ate so quickly that I almost laughed.
"...He’s really hungry."
Instead of eating...
I simply watched him.
His cheeks puffed slightly whenever he chewed.
Every now and then, he would unconsciously smile because the food tasted good.
Seriously...
How could someone be this adorable?
I almost reached over and pinched his cheeks.
Almost.
Then...
He reached for another serving.
Tap.
I flicked his forehead.
"Ow!"
He rubbed it while glaring at me.
"What was that for?"
"You little glutton."
"You haven’t eaten anything for two whole days."
"If you eat too much now..."
"Your stomach will hurt."
He puffed out his cheeks.
"You’re the glutton."
"I eat normal amounts."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
He pointed at me dramatically.
"You eat like a starving ghost."
"..."
I smiled.
Very slowly.
"...Repeat that."
His confidence immediately disappeared.
"...I choose life."
I couldn’t help laughing.
The rest of lunch passed peacefully.
And for the first time in what felt like forever...
I realized something.
Mother was smiling.
Gray was smiling.
And...
So was I.
Maybe...
This was all I really wanted.
A normal afternoon.
With my family.