Chapter 132: A place in the house
After leaving Saraya’s hospital room, Erik did not immediately take Felyn to the car. Carmilla and Runi were still staying in the east treatment ward, and he wanted to visit them before returning. Felyn nodded when she heard him say so, the hand holding the edge of his shirt slowly letting go.
"Do you want to walk on your own, or should I support you?" Erik asked.
"I want to walk on my own," Felyn replied, then smiled. "But if you don’t mind, I’d like to borrow your arm."
Erik offered her his elbow. Felyn followed his voice, her fingertips touching the back of his hand before finding his arm. She did not cling too tightly, only held on enough to sense the direction they were moving, while her feet still felt out each step on the smooth tiled floor by themselves. Erik adjusted his pace to hers, warning her early enough whenever they were about to reach a turn so Felyn had time to react.
"There’s a right turn ahead. Then it’s about ten more steps to the elevator."
"I remember." Felyn tilted her head. "Actually, you don’t need to keep watching my feet like that."
"How do you know I’m watching?"
"Because every time I lift my foot, your arm tenses up." She laughed. "If you keep worrying like that, you might be the one who needs to rest."
Erik relaxed his arm. Felyn did not tease him further, only stepped a little closer to him. Through his shirt, she could feel the warmth of his firm arm and the familiar scent of soap, more pleasant than the disinfectant surrounding them.
A cart of equipment suddenly appeared from the adjacent hallway. The nurse hurriedly stopped, but the sound of the wheels rolling close beside her startled Felyn, and she stepped off course. Erik reflexively used his free hand to support her at the waist. His palm touched through her dress, steadying her slender body as it tilted and bringing her back into balance.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"I’m fine," Felyn replied, though her cheeks had already turned pink. "I just didn’t think the cart would be that close."
When Erik was about to withdraw his hand, Felyn gently held it in place.
"Can you keep holding my waist for a little longer?" she asked quietly. "I like knowing you’re right beside me."
"Alright." Erik held her for several steps, then asked whether she wanted to keep walking on her own. When Felyn said she did, he immediately let go, allowing her to find his elbow again. Felyn smiled. Losing her balance once did not make him decide things for her.
When the elevator doors opened, Felyn stepped inside first. Erik stood beside her and showed her where the handrail was. She reached out to find it, but instead of holding the cold metal bar, her fingers accidentally touched his hand. Felyn was silent for a moment, then simply held it.
"That’s not the handrail," Erik reminded her.
"I know."
Her answer was so calm that he laughed. Felyn leaned closer, her shoulder touching his. Her honey-blonde hair, carrying a faint herbal scent, brushed against Erik’s arm and made him lower his head slightly.
"Erik."
"Hm?"
"When I’m beside you like this, I’m not as afraid of unfamiliar places as I used to be." Felyn lightly squeezed his hand. "But I still want to learn how to walk on my own. In the future, I want to be able to find my way to you myself, instead of always having to call you over."
Felyn lifted her face toward Erik, waiting for his answer.
"Then I’ll help you remember the routes," he replied. "And when you want to hold my hand, just hold it. Those two things do not conflict."
The corners of Felyn’s lips curved upward. She rose onto her toes and lightly kissed his cheek before the elevator doors opened. Erik paused, while she calmly asked, "We’re at the floor already, aren’t we?"
"You heard the chime and still asked me?"
"I wanted to hear your voice."
Erik did not know how to respond. He could only tighten his hold on the hand in his, leading her out amid her quiet, smug laughter.
At the end of the hallway, Runi’s voice could be heard from Carmilla’s room as she read out the nurse’s instructions.
"Take the medicine after meals. Do not engage in strenuous activity without permission. If you feel pain or dizziness, call a Healer immediately."
"I remember already, Runi." Carmilla’s voice was gentle but helpless.
"You said that last time."
"The last time was less than ten minutes ago."
Erik knocked twice. Hearing his voice, Runi immediately opened the door. But when she saw Felyn standing close beside him, one hand still looped around his arm, she froze for a moment before quickly stepping aside.
"Sir Erik! Lady Felyn! Please come in."
"Runi, you don’t need to stand so straight as if you’re reporting from the battlefield." Erik smiled. "I’m only here to visit."
Runi blushed and moved aside. Carmilla was sitting propped up in bed, her black hair spilling over her shoulders, one arm still bandaged. Seeing Erik, she started to get out of bed, and Runi immediately whipped around.
"Madam!"
"Just stay there," Erik said as well. "If you fall, I’ll have to listen to Runi read out the instructions one more time."
Carmilla shyly sat back down. Hearing the exchange, Felyn smiled, greeted them on her own initiative, then asked Erik to point out the chair near the bed. He clearly explained the distance, waited for her to find the back of the chair herself, then only lightly supported her elbow as she sat down. Carmilla watched every small gesture, and her dark red eyes gradually softened.
"Felyn, you’ve already been discharged?" Carmilla asked.
"Mhm. Meira said I can go home and rest, as long as I return for my checkups on time." Felyn turned her face toward the voice. "I wanted to visit the two of you first. I heard you’re both about to be discharged too."
"If the results are good tonight, we can leave tomorrow morning." Carmilla nodded lightly, then looked at Erik. "I was just about to ask Runi to find us somewhere to stay temporarily."
"Then the timing is perfect." Erik pulled over a chair and sat beside Felyn. "That’s why I came too."
He took out the slip of paper with the address he had prepared and placed it on the small table beside the bed.
"I want to invite both of you to live with us. There are empty rooms in the house, and it will be more convenient for your care and follow-up checkups. Everyone already knows and has agreed."
Carmilla looked at the piece of paper for a long time. Runi was silent as well, gripping the instructions tightly in her hand. After losing their home and having their Contract broken, neither of them had dared to think about where they would go tomorrow.
"Sir Erik," Carmilla slowly said, "you’ve helped us so much. What if my family comes and causes trouble for you?"
"I know your situation." Erik held out his hand to her. "And I still want to invite you."
Carmilla hesitantly placed her ice-cold hand in his. Erik gently held it, waiting for her to calm down.
"I trust you, Carmilla. I said that before, and I mean it now as well. You don’t have to use work or anything else to earn the right to rest."
A tear fell onto their joined hands. Erik handed Carmilla a tissue; his fingertips accidentally brushed across her wrist, making her pause as those dark red eyes lifted to look at him.
"I’m sorry," she said softly. "I meant to stay calmer."
"You’re in the hospital. You don’t need to pretend you’re still running an entire company."
Carmilla laughed through her tears. Erik stood, intending to straighten the slightly crooked pillow behind her back, but Carmilla looked at him and suddenly asked, "Can I hug you for a moment?"
Erik paused, then nodded. Carmilla slowly leaned toward him, carefully avoiding her injured arm. He supported her shoulder and wrapped an arm behind her back so she could lean against him without needing to exert herself. Soft black hair brushed against his collar, carrying the faint scent of shampoo mixed with the smell of hospital medicine.
Carmilla closed her eyes, feeling the steady heartbeat in his chest. The intimacy made her cheeks grow warm, but the fact that she could be held without having to offer anything in return moved her even more. The shoulders she had always held straight finally relaxed.
"Thank you, Sir Erik," she whispered. "This time, I truly don’t know what else to say."
"Then focus on recovering." Erik lightly patted her back. "There will still be many things I’ll need your help with later."
"You just said I don’t need to work to be allowed to stay." Carmilla lifted her head, the corners of her lips holding a trace of amusement.
"I said later. At least wait until after your follow-up checkups."
Felyn sat beside them, her smile remaining unchanged as she listened to the two speak. When Carmilla let go of Erik, Felyn reached out, found his hand, and gave it a light squeeze. Erik lowered his head to look, while Felyn only said quietly, "I like the way you take care of them."
Erik gently rubbed the back of her hand, then turned to Runi.
"What about you? I want to hear you decide for yourself."
Runi startled slightly. "I want to stay beside Madam."
"I understand. But if you only consider what you want for yourself, then what would it be?"
Runi looked at the instruction sheet she had crumpled in her hand. Even after gaining her freedom, she still was not used to thinking about what she herself wanted.
"I want a room," she answered after a while, "and a table just for my things. I want to be able to read, or sleep a little later on my days off without being scolded."
"Alright," Erik replied naturally. "You can arrange your room however you want. If you need anything, just tell me."
Runi lifted her head. "Can I really decide for myself?"
"It’s your room."
Carmilla reached out and held Runi’s wrist, speaking gently. "You don’t have to choose the same thing as me. But if you want to come with me, I would be very happy."
Runi looked at her, then turned back toward Erik. She stepped forward, hesitantly holding out her hand before him. Erik understood what she wanted and offered her his hand. Runi’s fingers only touched lightly at first before slowly tightening around it. Her face turned red, but this time, she still raised her head.
"I want to come," she said. "And if possible, I want to talk with you sometimes. About things that have nothing to do with work."
"Of course." Erik smiled. "I don’t charge a fee for conversation."
Runi laughed. Felyn laughed as well, making the atmosphere in the room much lighter. Runi let go of Erik’s hand and turned toward the bag already packed beneath the bed.
"Then I only need to change my address."
Carmilla looked surprised. "You already packed your things?"
"I packed so I could leave the hospital at any time." Runi looked at the paper on the table, then smiled a little shyly. "Now I know where I’m going."
Erik arranged for a car to pick them up tomorrow morning if the Healer permitted it. Before he reached the door, Carmilla gently held his sleeve, thanked him, then let go on her own. Runi stood beside the bed, smiling as she saw them off.
Once they reached the hallway, Felyn touched Erik’s arm and asked, "Can we walk a little farther before getting into the car?"
"Alright. But if you get tired, you have to tell me."
"I will." She paused before adding in a playful tone, "And if I want to hug you, I’ll tell you that too."
Erik laughed and lightly put an arm around her waist as Felyn stepped closer on her own. Outside the window at the end of the hallway, sunlight had emerged after the rain.
She could not see that light, but she could feel the warmth of the hand resting at her waist and clearly hear the laughter of the person walking beside her.