Chapter 19
“...Cough, cough.”
A violent fit of coughing shook his entire body, jolting him awake. The pain he had been ignoring spread throughout his body, but it was still better than continuing that nightmare.
Haa, haa.
Gasping for breath, he slowly opened his eyes. It had been bright when he fell asleep, but now the sun was already setting. The fever was still there. His burning cheeks and the heavy lethargy weighing down his body made him sigh unconsciously. Just as he closed his eyes again, a strange sense of unease washed over him.
...What is this?
Ashley kept his eyes shut and focused on listening. Maybe it was because of the fever dulling his senses, but at first, he wasn’t sure. However, there was no mistake. Just as his consciousness started to blur again, the sound became clear. Footsteps echoing down the hallway.
A servant? He briefly considered the possibility but quickly dismissed it. Even if he had been unconscious for more than a day, the setting sun proved that wasn’t the case. The servants came in the morning, finished their tasks by noon, and left. If that was the rising sun, it was too early; if it was the setting sun, it was too late. Besides, they were on leave.
That meant... whoever was approaching wasn’t supposed to be here.
A thief?
Ashley remained lying down, thinking. If he had been in his usual condition, he would have grabbed a hockey stick and swung it without hesitation, but right now, he couldn’t be bothered. He didn’t care if they took everything—as long as they left him alone to sleep. Even if the entire mansion disappeared, that man wouldn’t bat an eye.
Though... if Ashley himself disappeared, maybe he would care.
After all, Ashley /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ was his son. His possession, more or less.