Doctor Resignation - Chapter 45

Diel quickly bowed to Erhan and left before I could even say anything more. It was like something urgent suddenly happened somewhere.

It was an obvious excuse.

‘I can’t believe he left right off the bat.’

It was annoying, but it was much better than him passing out.

“Ah. Are you really Master Erhan?”

I got up carefully and put my hands together. In many ways, it was far from the reunion I imagined. Having managed to infer his identity from his childhood features, I pressed down on my confused feelings.

No, he wasn’t like the Erhan I saw before my regression.

At best, I thought he would have been about a span taller than me, but he was tall enough I had to look up.

‘I guess the South is a really mysterious land…… Like the mysterious grass growing, people grow way unexpectedly too.’

Moreover, his shoulders are so wide it would become ridiculous to hug him tightly from behind like before. Since I have changed the future, it is natural that Erhan will also change. But to transform this much……

My body stiffened at the feeling that I’m seeing a completely different Erhan.

“Lise.”

He smiled brightly. I was a bit embarrassed at the moment he smiled attractively.

“I really, really missed you.”

And as if the moment when he stared at Diel like he was going to kill him was just an illusion, he walked towards me with big strides and took my hand.

Looking at him like this, he is really big, but the friendly tone seemed the same as in the past.

“Why do you look so pretty? Much prettier than I imagined.”

“Uh… It’s because I decorate myself hard today, but it will be different tomorrow.”

His hands are big and thick enough to cover my hands. Once upon a time, it was so small and thin that it would fit perfectly in my hands.

“And… Were you supposed to be this small? You’re so cute…”

“Don’t you think you’re the one who just grew massively? That’s an objective fact.”

After answering calmly, I managed to pull out my strangely hot hand. Then I blinked and asked, “Oh… Are you feeling okay? Have you been sick in these 5 years?”

“Thanks to you, I’ve always been healthy. No seizures, no sudden fever, and no fainting.”

He gave me a big smile as he stroked my hair. The soft and gentle voice was completely different from the threatening tone I overheard in the restaurant earlier.

“Thanks to you, Lise.” Of course, that was right. “I’ll never forget that. Forever.”

“You must have been lonely in a strange place for five years.”

“It was really hard.” He stared into my eyes. “So I feel like I’m flying now.”

I was embarrassed to look at him, so I avoided his gaze. This conversation is similar to that of Erhan in the past, but I think I need some time to adjust.

No matter how friendly and welcoming the way he said it, it felt completely different from the whining child who used to be next to me.

I felt strangely awkward and nervous.

I have to admit once again that he is now a very different person. He is the true master of the Casseus Duchy.

A person who has the right to refuse the Duchess with a single talk, by saying that he cannot put his doctor in the Duke’s family register.

“You have no idea how happy I am to be back.”

“Yes. Well, I don’t really have to guess.”

In the Free City, Diel could not even enter a cafe because he was a commoner. Erhan and I now had a huge gap in status.

Nobles and commoners could not marry each other by law, and if they met on the street, the commoners could not talk to the nobles first.

As much as his appearance has changed, he was also past his adulthood. He is now different from his childhood when I wanted to raise him well.

No matter how much he treats me like before, I have to know my place and keep my line. I’m not in a position to nag him about running or eating more like I used to.

“Anyway, it’s late but congratulations on your coming of age…”

“Oh, yeah. I’ve wanted to be 19 years old for a long time.”

He looked at me and smiled.

“Is that so?”

My back was strangely cold.

“You are here to say hello to me, right?” I asked kindly while looking at him, who seemed to neither have something to say nor want to go out of the lab.

“Of course I am here to see you.”

“You must be tired after a long journey. Go and get some rest.”

“The maids are still cleaning my room,” he replied without moving at all. “I guess you all didn’t expect me to come today.”

“Yeah… well, no one knew.”

“Why are you still in the lab? Aren’t you going to your room?”

“I’m going to organize something. Diel was helping but now he’s gone.”

“Can I help you?”

“No!” I jumped and shook my head. “What are you talking about…”

“Where do I put this?”

Erhan said, picking up the gift box I had thrown randomly. It looks like an untidy object to anyone.

His eyes narrowed while looking at the name of the gift box.

“A man’s shirt? Why is this here?”

“I-I bought it as a gift.”

He slowly raised his head.

“…for who?”

It was a very slow question.

I became embarrassed and slightly sighed.

“It’s Master Erhan’s.”

“It’s mine?”

“Yes. I bought it from the free city I know it’s already too late, but it’s a celebration gift for your coming of age, and also a welcoming gift for your return to the castle.”

Suddenly, Erhan was smiling so brilliantly. And that bright smile was so pretty that I was surprised.

“But!” I quickly added.

“But?”

“I don’t think I can give it to you right now.”

“Why?”

“T-the size… I bought the wrong size.”

I didn’t expect him to be this big. I didn’t buy the smallest size because I thought he’d grow up pretty well but still……

I reached out to him, who held the gift box tightly.

“Please, give it back. I will have to exchange it the next time I go out.”

“No.” He shook his head. “It’s a welcome gift from Lise, and I will keep it for the rest of my life.”

“What are you going to do with it?

“Of course, I’ll wear it.”

“But you can’t.”

“I can wear it somehow.”

After he stepped away from me, he unpacked the box and took out the shirt. It was a white shirt with no design, but he admired it.

“Oh. I love it, Lise.”

“Uh… there’s got to be more than a dozen shirts in Master Erhan’s closet. Those are the ones that fit.”

“This will fit well. Look.”

“Master Erhan!”

He just started to unbutton the shirt he was wearing without any hesitation.

‘H-he’s crazy.’

Looking at his torso with his fine muscles firmly established, I didn’t stop him anymore.

His naked body is quite nice to look at. The shirt in his hand literally looks so small that it freaks me out.

“Look at this.”

I stared blankly at him tucking himself into that little shirt.

“It fits me.”

As he put his arms in, I could already hear the seam starting to rip.

“It looks good on me…”

The button couldn’t be fastened and it flew away.

“Oh, no. Even one button is precious…”

I touched my forehead and shook my head.

“…I’m sorry. I bought it wrong.”

“What are you talking about, Lise? You’re never bad at anything.”

“······.”

“It’s wrong that my arms are long. My too-wide back is also another problem. You did a good job, but I am the problem.”

I was dazed blankly as I watched him wearing a shirt that wasn’t even buttoned properly. It was difficult to take my gaze off his bare body, which was not covered by his shirt.

He was desperately trying to keep it from tearing. Of course, I tried not to forget my duty.

“Get some rest… and I’ll do some tests tomorrow.”

“Test?”

“…yes. No matter how healthy you are, you don’t know what might be wrong with you.”

For example, your head……