obsession chapter 19

Luke, who had hurried after him, narrowed his eyes. 

Why didn’t he call me his chess piece, his footstool, his dog?

Just then, Noxian called him with an almost supernatural awareness. “Luke. Prepare clean water, salve for the wound, and bandages.” 

“I’ve already seen to it. They’ll be here shortly.” 

“As you can see, he’s quick-witted and quite competent. His name is Luke Elden. You’ll be seeing a lot of him.” 

No, the moment you said competent, he glared at you as if he were about to punch you. Shariette glanced at the aide, who seemed to harbor a deep resentment towards Noxian. 

“Luke, this is my new physician. Miss Shariette Verdett, the apothecary. She’s the savior of my life, and the one who will return you to the paradise of day shifts.” 

“Holy— finally!” 

“Dear me, you said that out loud.” 

Watching the aide’s face pale, Shariette mentally reviewed the recipe for a stomach soother. I should make him one. Wiping away the sweat on his brow, Luke composed himself and greeted Shariette. 

“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Luke Elden. How may I address you?” 

He didn’t call her “savior,” but his attitude conveyed the same fervent respect. “Whatever you’re comfortable with.” 

“Yes, Miss Verdett. From now on, any matters concerning Master Noxian should be directed through me.” 

“Of course, Master Elden.” 

“.…” 

Did she intentionally let him choose the honorific first so she could reciprocate? It seemed her sense of propriety was no less sharp than his. And her temperament seemed much better compared to that man. Luke’s smile eased. 

“Luke is fine.” 

“Then, Luke… I’m also Sha—” 

“Enough of that. Let’s see to that foot first. You, go and take care of the… aftermath.” Noxian interrupted, cutting her off. He placed the medicine chest and basin of water a servant had brought at Shariette’s feet. Luke rubbed his eyes, taking in the incongruous scene. 

“Are you seriously… attending to this yourself? Why not bestow such meticulous care upon me?” 

“Do you really want me to?” Noxian asked gently. A chill ran down Luke’s spine, and his playful expression vanished. 

“No, I was joking. I absolutely do not. Please, continue to order me about as you see fit.” “Then go and do your work.” 

“Before that, one thing…” Luke lowered his voice, glancing at Shariette. “We have a new physician now, but will you continue to search for… her?” 

“.…” 

The smile on Noxian’s lips froze, turning cold. Watching that arsonist clinging to a corpse in Maylily, denying death, he remembered his own failure. The failure he faced two years ago at Argen Castle. 

‘Master Noxian, there are no female survivors matching the description of Sasha.’ 

He shouldn’t have let his guard down. He shouldn’t have assumed she would be in her usual place, that she would be alright. He shouldn’t have believed her words, her promises to wait. No, he hadn’t believed her, he had simply dismissed them. Damn it. He touched his choker. 

Whenever he thought of that day, of the basement of Argen Castle where he had searched for Sasha, he felt as if an invisible hand were tightening around his throat. Even when he was trapped, groveling like a dog at Blanche Argen’s feet, he hadn’t felt as wretched as he did in that moment. 

‘Find her. Search the entire kingdom. Find her and bring her to me.’ 

Two years of unrelenting failure had followed that command. ‘Perhaps it’s time to give up. You saw it yourself. Everyone in the basement was de…’ Perhaps he, too, was unable to accept reality, chasing a phantom. 

“…No. I will continue to search.” 

She must be alive. She was clever. She must have escaped, and she must be living somewhere, with that same composed expression. She had to be. She had to be alive. If she was alive, he would find her, without fail, and then… A dark shadow fell over his blood-red eyes. Seeing the bottomless depths of that gaze, Luke swallowed hard. Two years ago, his master had worn the same look when he went mad, and after that… He carefully changed the subject. 

“Yes. What shall we do with him?” At those words, Noxian slowly returned to the present. 

“…Move him. I think we need to question him further.”