Chapter 18
Eventually, the time it took for Zion’s recovery was three days.
For those three days, I had to attend to Zion, who couldn’t use his hands or feet.
Honestly, it wasn’t such a bad time.
Anyway, after the pain finally subsided, I took a day to observe Zion’s progress and let him rest. On the fourth day, we could finally go to the center together.
“It feels good to be at the center after such a long time, doesn’t it, Hop Harvey?”
“I’m not feeling that great.”
“Oh, why not?”
“Well, I hadn’t thought about not wanting to come to work until now.”
Is it just me, or am I feeling the heaviness of both body and mind returning to work after suddenly taking three years off?
“That must be my fault then.”
“Is it really?”
“Because I made it hard for you to take a vacation.”
It’s true that Zion was the reason for the vacation, but I felt it was unrelated to why I didn’t want to come to work.
“So you feel sorry for that too, huh?”
Are you making that sorry face again? I turned around to check, but Zion was just smiling peacefully; no sign of regret on his face.
“But what can I do? Ahhh, Zion Laurel! You sinful woman, you’ve troubled Hop Harvey again~”
Zion, looking rather confident, touched her forehead and shook her head as if to say it was a bother.
But isn’t that a bit too unrepentant?
“Your character has changed a bit, hasn’t it?”
“What do you think? Do you like it?”
If you’re asking that, of course…
“As long as Zion is happy, that’s all that matters. That’s the important part.”
It was much better than seeing Zion sulk for trivial worries.
“I’m glad Hop Harvey likes it. It’s my specialty to do what you want!”
“Huh? What did you just say…”
“Nothing at all.”
Zion stumbled over her words and smiled brightly. It’s not like I couldn’t hear her.
If what I’m feeling is right, then Hero Zion’s personality has gone far beyond simple kindness or goodness.
So it’s because I want it that she does it. Does that mean she can only do things for herself if it’s also for others?
It’s getting to the point where her pursuit of kindness for others feels obsessive or insane.
Anyway, having returned with Zion and finished his treatment, it was time to get into the real schedule.
“Mirae. Change Zion back and take him to the rehabilitation gym.”
“Understood. But, um… Teacher.”
“What is it?”
Mirae, the head nurse maid who is practically my secretary at the center, might be the one closest to me after Zion, but she rarely speaks to me personally. It must be something unusual work-related.
“There are some bad rumors going around the center… do you know about them?”
“Oh, if it’s that, then I’ve heard.”
It seemed she wanted to talk about that rumor I heard last time.
I know what the rumors are, but do I really have to say them out loud?
“…….”
“…….”
A moment of silence passed. Mirae must find it hard to speak too…
I should pay my respects to Mrs. Baker, who broke the news to me.
“I have a young and pretty patient I’m often seen with lately, and they say that patient is living in my house… right?”
In the end, it was I who decided to speak first.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“What… did you say?”
And upon hearing this, Zion’s expression turned to one of shock.
“Does that mean people are saying I have a certain relationship with you, Teacher?”
“…….”
“…….”
Well, I couldn’t say that’s not true.
“So, Mirae. Were you wanting to ask me if I knew about that?”
“No, it’s not that…”
Is there something new or unusual happening? I hope it’s not that the rumors have snowballed into new misunderstandings or anything.
“While those rumors were circling, you took vacation and secluded yourself at home, and now the rumors have spiraled out of control.”
Ah… so that’s how it was. My head started to throb.
I hadn’t realized just how people viewed Zion and me.
It’s true that even after Zion came to the center, I performed the same treatments and other duties, but since Zion couldn’t do rehabilitation without me, it was clear to anyone that I was personally supervising all the training.
“While you were gone, a lot of people asked those questions, and the staff were awkward about it.”
Instead of that, if those things were happening, they should just come and ask me!
It’s not far from my house, so why didn’t they think to come over…
‘Sigh, as a mere doctor, I shouldn’t have to worry about scandals. How should I handle this…’
“So, it got to the point where I had no choice but to announce that Ms. Zion is a hero to everyone.”
‘What?’
My eyes widened in surprise.
“Mirae.”
“Yes?”
“Was that what you were going to talk about?”
“Yes. Is there something strange about that?”
Wait a minute, thinking about it…
“Who knew that Zion is a hero besides you, Mirae?”
“No one knew. That’s why it has become such a mess.”
“Ah…”
Suddenly, my buzzing headache cleared, and I felt all my strength leave my body.
“Come to think of it, it wasn’t that I was hiding it, but I just never mentioned it.”
No one recognized Zion as Hero Zion Laurel when I first met him.
When I was introduced to him as Zion, I didn’t believe it either.
“See, Teacher? You should have told the staff! The rumors spread negatively among them, and I suffered a lot alone!”
“Alright, Mirae. I’ll give you a bonus.”
“Ah, I wasn’t really expecting anything like that.”
“Don’t decline, just accept it. The budget is plenty. You handled it well.”
“Then I will accept gratefully.”
I believed that just letting them know Zion is a hero would dissolve most of these wild rumors and misunderstandings.
If she is Hero Zion Laurel, then even if I care for her intensely, no one would think it suspicious, and even if it was revealed that I brought her home, they wouldn’t dare think I was bringing her home for anything suspicious.
It’s funny how I had initially thought about using Zion’s arrival for the treatment of other patients but had completely forgotten about it.
“But seriously, what do people see me as for such rumors to spread? They’re treating me like a perv…”
“Oh, wasn’t it?”
“Zion, how can you say that?”
“If people knew what I’ve been through, they’d think they were right all along.”
“Zion!”
What are you saying nonsense! If we keep talking this way, it won’t just be a private joke anymore!
In a tizzy, I hurriedly looked back at Mirae, but her expression was already…
“…Teacher?”
“Ah no!! Zion! Quickly deny it!”
“I’ve never told a lie in my life. How could I deceive you in this hero’s body?”
“Zion!!”
As if to shake off all her past grievances, Zion placed her hand on her chest and closed her eyes with a sad expression, pouring her heart into the act, while Mirae gently approached and warmly hugged her.
“You must have had a tough time, hero.”
“Sniff… Mirae… during the last four days of my vacation, I went through all sorts of things. I couldn’t tell anyone…”
“I understand that… Don’t worry anymore. I will protect you, hero.”
The two were putting on quite a show.
What kind of things did they endure, and what does she know exactly?
“I’ll protect you? From what?”
“Of course from the teacher!”
“Ah, too bad, but that’s impossible, Mirae.”
“Why not?”
“You just got fired.”
“Ah.”
The expression on Mirae’s face instantly disappeared upon hearing she was fired.
“Teacher… you’re joking, right?”
“I don’t need a nurse maid to protect a patient from a doctor.”
“…….”
Mirae was stunned into silence; now it was Zion’s turn.
Zion tried to shake the half-dazed Mirae, but there was no response at all.
“Mirae…?”
“Zion.”
“Huh?”
Did Zion catch a hint from my extremely displeased expression? I sensed a tension on her face as she nervously looked my way.
“It’s almost time for you to leave my house.”
“Huh? You want me to leave?”
“It’s about time Serin comes.”
“Ah… has that time come already?”
At the order to leave, Zion’s eyes widened for a moment but then relaxed.
Zion’s rehabilitation had entered its third week, so Serin, who left the empire, should be arriving in the kingdom soon, and in accordance, I had to transfer care of Zion to Serin and have her admitted.
Serin was a nurse sent by Princess Naou, specifically to look after Zion, who had cared for her for the past three years, so I could trust her with that.
“Then we need to set a date for the admission… Mirae?”
“…….”
“Mirae! Pull yourself together! It’s time to work!”
“Work? Can I work?”
“You may, so snap out of it and come back this way.”
“Yes, yes!!”
Mirae, who had been hugging Zion, quickly returned to her original position as instructed.
“Mirae, after today’s treatment, check who the next patient to be admitted is, and then go find Zion and ask to switch places.”
“Huh? Switch places? What does that mean…”
“Zion will explain it to you.”
“Understood.”
Today’s morning had been fairly eventful. Now it was really time to get the workday started.
“Mirae. So let’s change Zion back and…”
“Ah, speaking of which.”
“What more is there?”
We were still not done talking about the rumors of me and Zion, were we?
“Yes. Actually, now that the staff and patients at the center know that Ms. Zion is a hero, they all want to meet her and talk…”
