The Weight of a Life

It started with a bookshelf that began to collapse without warning. It rippled from right to left in a terrifying wave.

By the time the heavy thud echoed, it was already too late to escape.

‘Is this how I die?’

I hadn’t even done anything properly yet. I hadn’t found the last male lead, hadn’t befriended the heroine….

Was I just destined to die like this?

‘Destiny or not, this is all garbage.’

Just as I squeezed my eyes shut, a voice cut through the air.

“Get away, Evelyn!”

“……!”

Gervan, who had sprinted toward me, threw his body forward and pulled me into an embrace.

Immediately after, the sound of the shelves completely giving way filled the room. It sounded like wood splintering against wood.

When the collapse finally settled and the situation calmed, what I saw was Gervan, bleeding.

“Ugh…….”

Blood was trickling down from his forehead, likely from where he had been struck.

“Brother, are you okay? Gervan!”

“……I’m fine, so just be quiet. My head is ringing.”

He winced, his face contorted in an irritated scowl.

However, contrary to his words, one of his arms was pinned beneath a heavy bookshelf.

“What do you mean you’re fine? Your arm is……!”

Even in that state, he was using his other arm to brace the fallen shelf so I wouldn’t be crushed. That was why I didn’t feel the weight of the debris.

Gervan shook his head slowly as if it were nothing. But blood was seeping from his lip, likely bitten when the shelves came down.

“You’re bleeding! How is that fine? Are you an idiot?”

“…….”

“I’ll—I’ll call for help. Why is nobody coming……?”

With a crash that loud, someone should have come to check.

But then I realized it was currently the servants’ break time. They were likely all enjoying their leisure elsewhere, so it made sense that they hadn’t heard.

“……They’ll be here soon. Just wait.”

He acted like he was fine, but he was clearly in agony, enduring hundreds of kilograms of weight.

At this rate, he could lose the use of his arm—or worse, have it amputated.

“Oh, what do I do…….”

Looking at Gervan’s trapped arm, tears welled up in my eyes.

It felt like this was all my fault.

Gervan stared at me intently and spoke.

“You’re still a crybaby, just like when you were little.”

Then, he let out a light chuckle. How could he laugh in a situation like this? I thought he was truly one tough bastard.

I suppressed my tears and spoke with a trembling voice.

“I’ll try to do something.”

But as I tried to slip through the gap, the bookshelf shook violently at the slightest movement. Gervan gritted his teeth harder.

Supporting that immense weight with a fractured bone was clearly making things worse.

“Why are you doing this?”

“……What?”

“You hate me. So why are you doing this!”

He was the guy who had a single-digit likability score and didn’t even treat me like a sister.

Instead of feeling grateful, I felt excruciatingly guilty. Not knowing his intentions made it even harder.

Perhaps he hadn’t expected me to say that out loud, because he clamped his mouth shut.

“You should have just let me get hurt. If I die, let me die. Why all of a sudden……”

“…….”

Our gazes locked.

What on earth was Gervan thinking?

He treated me like I didn’t exist until now, yet here he was, risking his life to save me.

Finally, Gervan answered.

“I don’t understand myself either.”

“…….”

“But my body just moved. Before I knew it.”

I swallowed my rising tears and turned my head away.

“They’re coming.”

“What?”

The corner of his mouth curved into a dry, faint smirk.

Clatter.

The study door flew open, and several servants came rushing in.

“……O-oh, Miss!”

“Your Grace!”

They were momentarily paralyzed by the scene before them, but they were soon horrified by the sight of the bleeding Gervan.

“Your Grace, please wait just a moment!”

The servants hurried to lift the fallen shelves and clear the broken fragments.

“Just a little longer……. Brother?”

The strength of the arms holding me felt stronger for a split second, then Gervan’s head slumped forward.

“Gervan?”

“…….”

“Gervan, wake up. Brother!”

He lost consciousness with his head buried in my shoulder.

A doctor with a faint grey beard carefully examined Gervan’s condition.

“Mmm……”

He moved his stethoscope around, pondering deeply before finally speaking.

“He has simply fainted from the intense shock.”

“……!”

“His life is not in danger, so do not worry too much. Oh, and he should avoid using his right arm for a while.”

“Whew……”

Elliot let out a massive sigh of relief. He looked as though the tension had finally left his legs.

“When he wakes, make sure he takes the medicine I’ve prepared. I shall take my leave now.”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”

After the doctor left, a hush fell over the large room. Elliot also seemed to have much to organize, as he offered a quick bow and hurried out.

Before I knew it, only I and the sleeping Gervan remained. His arm was wrapped tightly in bandages.

I gazed down at his face.

‘…….’

Why on earth did he try to save me?

◎ Gervan’s current likability is 5%. ◎

“Where in the world is a madman who risks his life to protect a sister with only 5% likability?”

With a short sigh, I sat in the chair next to the bed.

We were practically strangers, yet seeing him lying here because of me made me feel incredibly uneasy.

“…….”

I messaged his collar, which had been loosened for the stethoscope, and pulled the blanket up to his chin.

The doctor’s words from earlier suddenly came to mind.

– The young lady doesn’t have a single scratch. It is thanks to the Duke holding on so firmly….

He should have just stayed consistently rude.

I only wanted to get close enough so it wouldn’t interfere with the game’s conquest. I never asked for him to risk his life for me.

“Why is it so cold in here?”

I stood up and firmly closed the window that was slightly ajar.

“The wet towel is dry, too.”

I re-soaked the towel in the lukewarm water the servant had left.

“Please, just wake up.”

I didn’t want to become the extra who kills her brother the moment she’s possessed.

It was late at night, and the darkness of the sky had replaced the sunset. Gervan opened his eyes with a faint groan.

“Ugh……”

He sat up, clutching his aching head.

“I was definitely in the study……”

At that moment, he felt a weight on his thigh.

“……Evelyn?”

Evelyn was sitting in the chair, fast asleep with her head resting on his thigh. She was out cold.

“…….”

Shortly after, the door clicked open and Elliot walked in.

“Your Gra—!”

“Quiet.”

Gervan signaled Elliot to be silent just as he was about to offer a happy greeting. He was afraid Evelyn might wake up.

Elliot took the hint, looking back and forth between Gervan and Evelyn before quietly closing the door.

“Your Grace, are you alright?”

Gervan nodded silently.

“Why is this girl in my room?”

“Ah.”

Elliot smiled warmly and continued.

“The young lady looked after you all afternoon. She must have fallen asleep out of exhaustion.”

“……Evelyn did?”

“Yes.”

Now that he mentioned it, the wet towel on his forehead felt damp, as if it had been changed recently.

“She kept checking your temperature, and worried you might be cold, she even shut the window……”

“Why?”

“Pardon?”

Elliot tilted his head.

“I’m not sure what you mean……”

“Why would Evelyn go that far for me?”

Gervan furrowed his brow deeply.

“What do you mean ‘why’?”

Elliot spoke.

“It seems the young lady still loves you very much, Your Grace.”

“…….”

“It truly seems she is returning to her old self.”

Elliot offered a genial smile.

“…….”

Gervan silently looked down at the sleeping Evelyn.

Ding.

◎ Likability increased by 5%! ◎

◎ Gervan’s current likability is 10%. ◎

This was the beginning of the rising tide.