"She's probably just sleeping, but please go on in."
Alen furrowed his brow, looking down as he replied, "Yes." Then he stepped inside.
Seeing Gray sitting by the bed, the director walked closer to make the introduction. "Lady Gray, your son is here."
However, she didn't react at all and just kept fidgeting. The director saw this and explained sadly, "She sometimes doesn't respond to external stimuli like this. Tomorrow, if Lady Gray's condition improves, I will call you both here again."
Just then, Laya turned and gently called out to Alen. "Please step closer to Lady Gray."
Finally, Alen gathered his resolve and called out one word. "Mother."
Gray reacted slightly upon hearing him, turning to look in his direction and crying out, "Ah!"
She clutched her head in pain and screamed, sweat pouring down her forehead like a river. Her mouth let out a series of broken sounds, and finally Gray screamed out a curse.
"Monster!"
Faced with this strong reaction from Gray, Alen was too heartbroken to speak. She gasped continuously, clutching her chest and crying out each word.
"This monster."
Seeing that the situation was dire, the director quickly turned to leave, shouting, "I'll go get the doctor." His footsteps sounded incredibly rushed.
Laya started to panic at this point. "What do I do?"
Suddenly, she turned and froze, having spotted something. Laya rushed over to it, pushing open a door with a loud creak. Then she went to Lady Gray's side, calling softly, "Lady Gray."
She held out a small bag to her. Laya looked at her with concern and instructed, "Please breathe slowly into this."
Immediately, Gray started to breathe steadily, one breath at a time. After a moment, Laya leaned over to ask, "Are you feeling a little calmer now? Are you all right?"
Witnessing this, Alen exclaimed in utter astonishment, "Laya, you—"
A short while later, the doctor arrived, examined her, and reported, "She's taken a sedative and will be recovering shortly."
The director heard this and let out a sigh of relief. "Thankfully, it appears to be only a temporary episode, and her condition hasn't shown any signs of deteriorating."
The doctor bowed respectfully and replied, "Nevertheless, if she continues to show any signs of distress, please call me. In fact, it's thanks to the Duchess's quick emergency response that there's no need to worry for now."
Laya was completely taken aback by this and exclaimed, "Pardon?"
He bowed his head as if to confirm it again. Then the director turned to the couple and said, "It's a great relief that we were able to handle it before the episode could aggravate her condition. Where did you study medicine, your grace?"
She was flustered and stammered. "I don't know."
The director bowed his head gratefully. "In any case, thank you so much."
Alen also looked at Laya with a sorrowful expression. "Thank you, my lady."
The director gestured and offered, "Well, then I will give you a brief tour until Lady Gray awakens."
She blushed from the compliment and replied, "Yes."
At that moment, Gray was resting on the bed, breathing gently.
Standing beside Alen, Laya couldn't help but feel a little suspicious of herself. Why did I do that? I have no memory of learning medicine, but my body just moved on its own.
A while later, the three of them walked together, touring the abbey grounds, their footsteps clicking rhythmically on the stone. The director turned back as they walked and explained, "The place you two just saw is our kitchen."
Alen's eyes widened as he let out a small sound of surprise. "Oh."
Laya thought to herself, a little bewildered. It's really strange. The more I look around this place, the more my heart feels a warmth, as if I had once lived here, so deeply and vividly.
A stream of memories flooded into Laya's mind. Back then, she had been beside her, asking, "The weather is lovely today, isn't it, Lady Gray?"
With a mix of nostalgia and joy, she had also looked gently at her and replied, "It really is beautiful. It feels just like home."
These memories I've never experienced keep surfacing continuously.
Seeing Laya so somber and silent, Alen asked with concern, "Is something the matter, my lady?"
She shook her head, replying a little flustered, "Oh, it's nothing."
A few days later, Laya knocked on the door, then entered with a stack of books in her arms and a smile.
"Lady Gray, I'm here."
She simply sat on the bed and smiled gently in return. For the past few days, I have been coming to see Lady Gray instead of Alen.
She arranged the flowers in a vase and said, "Today, I brought some flowers."
However, Lady Gray just sat silently on the bed, saying nothing. But Laya wasn't disappointed and continued to talk to her.
"The weather is so lovely, isn't it?"
Then she saw the Bible on the table. "Oh, I haven't seen this book in a long time. I'm quite fond of it."
Laya quickly seized the opportunity to connect with her. "If you don't mind, would it be all right if I read to you?"
Only then did Lady Gray finally nod and reply, which made Laya overjoyed. Smiling, she said, "Yes, I'll begin reading now, then."
At first, I only wanted to bring a little bit of different joy to Lady Gray, who was always just looking out the window. Or maybe I saw the image of my grandmother from my past life in Lady Gray, a frail grandmother who could only helplessly gaze out the window or watch television. I dearly missed the way she would soothe her own boredom.
Laya read the Bible to her continuously, and that man was very happy, because he could contribute to Lady Gray's recovery, even in this small way. And I was also happy that Lady Gray seemed to be enjoying this time.
Night began to fall, and the bright moonlight shone in from outside. Finally, Laya closed the Bible.
"I'm finished reading for today. Now I'll tell you about the first time I met Alen. It was on a frigid winter day."
After I finished reading, I shared a little story about Alen before borrowing a new book, hoping that Lady Gray and I would come to understand each other better.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Lady Gray."
The door to the abbey room slowly closed. Lady Gray looked outside, her expression somber. Her eyes seemed tinged with sadness. Then she gazed out the window once more.