"Madam, please rise. Madam!"

Rebecca, pale and filled with distress, embraced Rose and lifted her up. Perhaps due to her recent exertion, Rose closed her eyes, drained of energy.

"Matthew, carry Madam. Quickly!"

Upon Rebecca's words, Matthew handed the candle he held to Emily and turned his body. As he awkwardly stooped down, Rebecca propped up Rose and placed her on his back. Without sparing a glance at Cain and Laila, they swiftly departed the room. Emily, unable to move, could only watch Cain and Laila.

"Emily, fetch cold water immediately. Little Madam has burned her hand."

Cain's command left Emily's face contorted in shock.

"Uh, uh, okay."

She managed to mumble a response before hastily leaving the room.

"Laila, come here."

Cain wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led her to the couch. In a daze, she followed him obediently. He seated Laila and sat beside her, lifting her hand gently. Whooosh. His breath spilled over her reddened palm, providing a soothing warmth each time he exhaled, whether long or short, in repeated intervals.

A short while later, Emily returned with a small basin of water. As soon as she placed the basin on the table, Cain took hold of Laila's hand and immersed it in the water. The refreshing coolness of the liquid finally began to quell the heat within her skin.

Ah, it feels as if I can finally breathe again.

As the situation calmed and the pain subsided, belated uneasiness washed over her. Tears welled up, clouding her vision, but she fought back, forcing them down. Why does such misfortune always befall me? I had thought that once we escaped the Blast Street, the ill luck clinging to her would dissipate. But apparently not. Perhaps she was destined to be unhappy from the moment she was born.

Laila suppressed her tears, biting her lip, when a gentle touch enveloped her shoulder, pulling her closer. Yielding, she rested her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes. Her damp hand, still held by him, remained submerged in the basin.

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Time seemed to pass unnoticed as she immersed her hand in the water. Cain grasped her hand and lifted it out of the water. The heat of Cain's place had dissipated, but her entire hand that had been soaked in the cold water had turned red. Using the towel Emily had left behind, Cain gently wiped away the lingering moisture on her chilled hand, his concerned eyes inquiring.

"How does it feel?"

"I'm fine. I'm truly all right now."

Her words were not mere talk. Startled, she had merely cried out in surprise; it was not a severe burn, caused not by direct fire, but by a candle's flame. Now that she had regained her composure, she felt embarrassed for having made a fuss.

"Thank goodness, really."

"Mother... She seems to be in a very bad state."

Laila struggled to speak, casting a wary glance at Cain. She couldn't forget the sight of Rose she had seen earlier. The way she walked toward her, her eyes deeply sunken like a skull, with a strange madness in them. Her eerie voice and unsettling touch. Fortunately, the situation had calmed down, but it was not something to be overlooked. It wasn't just a matter of others' safety; Rose herself seemed quite dangerous. If a sick person like her wandered around and had an accident, who knew what would happen?

"Yes, indeed. I can't fathom why she changed."

"What kind of person was she originally?"

In Cain's melancholic voice, Laila felt her heart ache as she inquired.

"She was beautiful and kind. Since before father passed away, she had been showing symptoms of mental instability, but it worsened after father's death. The doctor said she had delusions."

"Delusions? What kind?"

"I wouldn't know. What world Mother is living in."

His voice sounded somewhat cynical. She caught a glimpse of the weariness of a person who had suffered for a long time. Laila closed her mouth, sensing that he didn't want to say more. She knew he was doing his best for her sake.

"Anyway, I'm truly sorry. I'll take measures, so please don't worry too much."

"How will you do that?"

"That... I will figure it out."

Cain gently clasped Laila's hand in his.

"I'll handle it myself."

He spoke in a calm tone, raising Laila's hand. She thought he would examine it closely, but he lowered his head instead. Just as she wondered if he was going to blow on her hand again, his lips pressed firmly against the back of her hand.