Weed ~The One’s Gardener~ - Chapter 83

Weed covered his mouth with one hand, trying to stifle the coughs.

His golden eyes, reflecting the moonlight, seemed unusually sharp tonight, sending shivers down Hana’s spine. He was using his power to restrain her, completely ignoring the fact that his own body was deteriorating.

The more she struggled, the tighter the vines coiled around her.

As Weed coughed dryly, Hana could hardly bear to see his condition worsen before her eyes. The thought of him spitting up blood was unbearable. Eventually, she surrendered and stopped resisting.

Soon, her arms and legs were bound tightly, leaving her unable to move.

The vines around her fingers gradually loosened, and Hana let the Staff of Light slip from her grasp, dropping it to the ground.

The tender green stems wrapped gently around her limbs. Rather than restraining her forcefully, they seemed more like they were holding her in place with surprising care. Despite the dire situation, it was almost absurd how the scent of summer flowers gently drifted around them.

Despite everything, he never treated her carelessly.

“Hah. Hu-ugh…”

Still, Hana was exhausted from battling the plant vines. Moving her legs too much to shake off the wrapping stems caused sharp pains. Her already debilitated body continued to fail her, and with her frustration came an equal measure of sadness.

‘What good is keeping this worthless body alive!’

Hana bent her head and panted heavily. She felt both physically drained and lacked the courage to face him directly.

As she closed her eyes and trembled, her chin was suddenly grasped.

“Weed, let go, uhp!”

A cold sensation pressed against her lips, followed by the flow of liquid into her mouth.

It was cold water.

Exhausted from the long journey, Hana gratefully swallowed the refreshing liquid. As her thirst eased, her mind began to clear. Blinking in a daze, she registered the sound of water pouring.

Weed was gently pouring water from a bottle into her mouth.

“Weed! Uuhm!”

He pressed his lips against hers again.

The coolness, mixed with his saliva, was sweet like honey. It felt like a life-giving elixir, soothing all the pain she had endured until now. She had asked him for water one last time… and he now was faithfully fulfilling that request, which was almost beyond comprehension.

“…Are you alright now?”

“Ha…”

Hana looked at him, stunned.

What was he asking? Why was he asking that? What was he trying to do? Even in this situation, he was worried about her own condition, prioritizing pain relief. How could his mind be so focused on this? Why did he live like this?

As tears fell silently from her eyes, he wiped away her tears and sighed.

“Hana, don’t cry. I’m sorry.”

“What for? Why are you always apologizing for something?”

Weed couldn’t meet her gaze. He bowed his head and rested his forehead on her shoulder. From below his chin, his weary voice flowed out.

“Don’t you regret it? You hate me so much that you’re running away? Do you… hate me even more because I’m holding you like this…?”

“What are you talking about, Weed?”

“Hana, I can really do well. I’ll make an effort. Even if you hate me, please… please don’t abandon me. I can do it. You must live healthily and…”

“What are you talking about?! I don’t hate you!”

“Then, why are you leaving me? Why are you trying to go far away from me?”

Hana let out a bitter laugh. She thought he would understand by now, but was he missing it? If so, it was frustrating.

She believed they had exchanged hearts. She had never rejected him. She had always accepted his thoughtful advances, and if it weren’t for these circumstances, they would’ve happily spent time together in this paradise-like place.

“Weed, I, ugh.”

Her voice choked up. Hot and painful tears continued to flow from her eyes, making her voice wet and messy.

“I said I like you…!”

Weed took a step back in surprise. His expression was one of confusion. She could see that he didn’t believe her at all.

He accepted everything else without doubt, but why not this? Why?

Hana raised her voice, almost shouting through her tears.

“I like you!”

“Lies!”

Weed’s face flushed and grimaced—euphoria and confusion mixed. The emotions swirling within him created a tumultuous, indecipherable feeling.

“How can you say you like me and then abandon me? I don’t understand! How can you say you like me and then leave? You must be lying! If you really like me, you cannot abandon me! You can’t say you like me and then leave!”

“I’m not abandoning you!”

The confession, made in desperation as she was cornered, seemed to have no effect on him.

Why couldn’t he understand? Why did we both pursue what we want, using the excuse of caring for each other? Was there another best option?

There wasn’t.

This was the best they could do. There was no way to satisfy both of them.

“Are you trying to deceive me with such sweet words and then escape?”

“No!”

“If you really liked me, you couldn’t do this. You couldn’t…”

“Weed!”

Weed’s eyes were reddened.

He was on the verge of tears. The most noble man from Lar, who was supposed to be the highest in status, was now desperately clinging on, as if he had nothing to offer, as if he had nothing to boast about.

All he thought about was how to keep her.

“Oh, I see. I understand what you truly like.”

And then, he found the answer.