Hina rushed into the room with the medicine cabinet and began checking each bottle on the shelves one by one.
But the crucial medicinal herb—the violet—was nowhere to be found.
“…Oh no. I gave the last of it to a guest the other day…”
Violets were the only herb that could reduce fever and soothe frayed nerves. When someone like Keiichiro pushed their body past its limits from exhaustion or stress, no other herb could substitute.
But violets were spring flowers. By early summer like now, they would no longer be blooming in the wild.
(What should I do… What can I…)
Panic churned in her chest. But then, a faint memory flashed through Hina’s mind.
—The day she had reunited with Keiichiro after four years.
On the market street, Keito had picked violets and later made three bookmarks from them.
(…Back then, he pressed them in a book—)
Hina stood up and hurried back to the maids’ quarters.
“Keito…!”
Her son, who had been reading a picture book, blinked wide-eyed at his mother’s unusual demeanor.
“Keito, listen. Do you remember the violet bookmarks? Could you share just a little bit with Mommy?”
“…Why?”
To his innocent question, Hina answered without hesitation.
“To help Lord Keiichiro.”
At those words, Keito’s small face clouded over.
But almost immediately, a light of determination shone in his eyes.
“…Okay. If it’ll make Keiichiro better…”
“…Thank you…!”
Hina hugged Keito tightly before turning to the bookshelf.
There, carefully pressed between the pages, were the violet bookmarks.
Their soft, spring-sunlight purple—faded yet still vibrant—remained beautifully preserved.
(Thank goodness… These will work…!)
Fighting back the heat behind her eyelids, Hina gently peeled a violet petal from the bookmark.
She could feel her fingertips trembling slightly.
Even so, Hina kept her gaze fixed straight ahead.
The medicine was prepared in liquid form and poured into a teacup. It swayed faintly, releasing a delicate violet fragrance.
When she returned to the Camellia Room, Satoko’s eyes fell upon the teacup in Hina’s hands.
For just an instant, her eyelashes seemed to quiver—then,
“I’ll administer it myself!”
With a sharp voice, Satoko practically snatched the teacup and spoon from Hina.
Hina was pushed out into the hallway, the sliding door shutting firmly behind her.
Left speechless, she stood frozen before the door. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to leave, too worried to go.
She hooked a finger into the door’s gap and peeked inside.
Satoko was leaning over Keiichiro’s face with an anxious expression, bringing the spoonful of medicine to his lips.
But Keiichiro’s lips remained slightly parted, neither accepting nor swallowing the medicine.
The violet-tinged liquid trickled down his chin, dripping onto his yukata.
“Ah—”
A strained voice echoed through the quiet room.
“Drink it…”
Again, and then once more.
Watching Satoko repeatedly try to feed him the medicine, Hina felt a pang in her chest.
She was trying her hardest, in her own way. But… Keiichiro’s throat wouldn’t move.
“…Lord Keiichiro. Please… wake up. I’m here. It’s Satoko.”
Satoko’s fingers lightly brushed his cheek.
At that moment, a delirious murmur escaped Keiichiro’s lips.
“…Hi…na…”
Hina gasped at that clinging voice.
She wanted to go to him, but the single sliding door felt impossibly thick.
She saw Satoko’s shoulders jerk. The fingers gripping the spoon were white with tension.
Satoko’s hand trembled, spilling a drop onto the futon.
When she tried once more—this time attempting to force it—Hina nearly stepped forward.
“I’m your fiancée…! Why…!”
A voice quivering faintly.
Her profile showed an expression of frustration, sorrow, and pride barely holding on at the edge.
Eventually, the hand holding the spoon dropped weakly, and Satoko slowly opened the door.
“…He wouldn’t drink… a single drop…”
The remaining medicine in the teacup swayed slightly.
“…Why is it always… you…”
Satoko’s gaze fixed painfully on Hina.
Unable to watch any longer, Hina took a step forward.
“…Please let me try.”
Satoko handed over the teacup and spoon as if giving up.
Her hands seemed to have no strength left to resist.
Hina could feel Satoko’s stare fixed on her back as she stood there.
“…Please. Could you step outside for a moment?”
At Hina’s quiet request, Satoko pressed her lips together tightly and silently withdrew to the hallway.
Hina approached slowly and knelt beside Keiichiro.
The medicine in the teacup swayed faintly, releasing a soft violet fragrance.
After gazing at it briefly, Hina decisively took a mouthful of the medicine herself.
She tilted Keiichiro’s chin up to open his airway.
(…Forgive me, just this once.)
Whispering this in her heart, she pressed her lips to his.
The medicine threatened to spill from both their mouths.
Yet she desperately held it in, trying to make him swallow even a single drop.
What passed between them wasn’t just medicinal ingredients.
It was a desperate wish to keep his life connected.
A prayer not to lose this person no matter what.
After a while, his throat moved slightly.
Through their joined lips, Hina felt the medicine flow in with his ragged breath.
(…He drank it…!)
The tension in her chest released, and Hina nearly collapsed on the spot.
Immediately after, Satoko’s voice came from beyond the door.
“…How impressive.”
Apparently, she had been watching through the gap.
Her voice carried more than just frustration.
“I couldn’t do it. Supporting Lord Keiichiro… like this.”
As Hina stood up, Satoko reappeared.
She hadn’t been crying. Yet her eyes looked slightly damp.
“It was you, wasn’t it? Hina.”
“…Yes.”
“I envy you. I could buy anything money could obtain. But Lord Keiichiro’s heart… I could never have it in the end.”
After saying this, Satoko smiled faintly. But it resembled a forced smile.
Her voice was calm, yet tinged with faint sorrow and defeat.
Her profile seemed blurred, as if gazing at something far away.
“I’ll take my leave today. Please give Lord Keiichiro my regards.”
With her attendants, Satoko quietly left the mansion.
Hina stood silently for a while, watching the sound of carriage wheels fade into the distance.
Perhaps the medicine was taking effect—Keiichiro’s breathing gradually grew calmer, losing its shallowness.
But his fever hadn’t broken yet, and as night deepened, he repeatedly murmured deliriously.
“…Ru…n… a…way…”
Hina had been bending over the washbasin to cool the cloth for his forehead.
Suddenly, his voice fell upon her back.
For a moment, she thought she misheard, but Keiichiro frowned painfully and groaned again.
“…St…op… stop it…”
“Lord Keiichiro…!”
Hina dropped the cloth in her hand and instinctively grasped Keiichiro’s hand.
“Lord Keiichiro… I’m right here…”
She cradled his hand gently, as if handling something fragile.
While intertwining their fingers to soothe his trembling fingertips, she called his name over and over.
From then on, Hina devoted herself silently to nursing him through the night.
Applying cold cloths to his forehead, carefully moistening his dry lips with water, measuring the medicine precisely before gently helping him drink.
As dawn’s approach began to tinge the air, the tension gripping her eased ever so slightly.
Hina curled up beside the futon, hugging her knees as she finally fell asleep.