Chapter 15
“But does Harrison know about this too?”
In fact, Knox was related to Harrison by marriage.
Harrison had married the daughter of the Rudfisher family and was widowed, and his younger brother was Knox. In other words, from Harrison’s perspective, Knox was his brother-in-law.
“Ah, I don’t know. Let it be.”
I was too busy building the shelter to worry about the original story’s main characters. Right now, even just preparing to survive on my own was overwhelming enough.
“Are you sure these are really herbs? You checked properly, right?”
Eden asked Knox again, looking incredulous. That made at least the fifth time he had asked that question.
“Ugh. So annoying.”
I shook my head and rested it on the table, watching Eden and Knox talk.
“So, what kind of herbs are these?”
“Elpinus herbs. Ordinary herbs that help restore energy. Not very common, though. Funny seeing them here again.”
Knox smiled slyly as he looked at Eden’s increasingly crumpled expression. It was slightly mischievous.
‘Ordinary herbs, my foot.’
The herbs looked like centipedes. Honestly, it was surprising that something that looked like this could be a vaccine.
But Knox’s comment just now—“Funny seeing them here again”—seemed very meaningful.
I tilted my head, pondering, when I felt a prickling sensation at the back of my head.
‘What’s this?’
When I turned, the people whose eyes met mine quickly looked away. It was like they were doing some kind of wave with their glances.
The news that I had been arrested by Eden and taken to the police station had spread through the village. That’s why everyone had come to gawk at me.
‘This attention… it’s not unfamiliar. It’s been so long.’
I smiled and waved at those whose eyes met mine. Go ahead, stare all you want. I’m Cherry Sinclair.
The villagers gave awkward smiles and then looked away as if they had seen something they shouldn’t. Apparently, they were shy.
Eventually, they lost interest in me and started whispering while looking at Knox.
“That doctor’s supposed to be really famous, right?”
“He’s the youngest son of the Rudfisher Marquis. Wow… I’ve never seen a real noble in my life.”
‘Excuse me, the police officer standing next to him is also a noble—higher rank than Knox, actually.’
I muttered to myself, amused by the conversation.
“The village head said he’s really famous.”
“That’s right. Apparently, he’s even more famous than… what’s her name… Cherry Sinclair?”
‘Of course I’m more famous! What is this nonsense!’
I wanted to correct them, but there was no way I could say it aloud.
Listening to the women chat back and forth, I buried my head in the table again.
‘Knox is a pretty high-profile doctor in the capital.’
In the past, being a doctor wasn’t a particularly respected profession. Surgery was especially brutal without anesthesia.
But the Rudfisher family changed medical history by developing anesthetics, helping elevate doctors to elite status in this country.
So it wasn’t strange at all that Knox now worked as a drug consultant.
In the past, doctors even experimented with substances like cocaine or alcohol as anesthetics, so it made sense.
In the novel Mangsarang, Knox played a major role as a doctor too.
He saved people bitten by monsters by performing amputations and knew obstetrics well enough to save both mothers and babies. He could also handle other major surgeries without issue.
‘Definitely someone essential for survival.’
If I offered to recruit him as Happy House’s personal doctor, he’d probably laugh at me. What a shame.
While I was musing about this, Eden finished talking with the drug investigator, wearing a slightly serious expression as he approached me.
Sensing his change in mood, the villagers gradually left the police station one by one—everyone except Knox.
Knox, with a lollipop in his mouth, watched us like we were an amusing show.
‘Does he recognize me?’
Anyone with a bit of social awareness would recognize me.
‘I need to make sure no one spreads rumors…’
But for now, I had to deal with Eden first.
I quietly looked up at him. He was silently staring down at me.
An uncomfortable silence stretched between us. His eyes held a complicated expression.
After a long moment of just moving his lips, he finally spoke.
“…That’s all.”
“Pardon? What did you say?”
Eden straightened up and slowly bowed to me—a clean, courteous greeting.
“Lady Sinclair, I apologize.”
Huh?
I hadn’t expected him to admit his fault and apologize so quickly. That was surprising.
Seeing him apologize gave me an idea. Our positions had reversed—at this moment, I held the upper hand.
Sitting dumbfounded, I quickly changed my posture, leaning casually on the table with one arm, and asked:
“Exactly what are you apologizing for?”
Eden looked slightly flustered, probably not expecting that question.
“Oh dear, oh dear. You shouldn’t be embarrassed like someone who’s just been caught hearing something shocking. You dragged me here, accusing me of being a drug smuggler without verifying anything.”
I wasn’t about to let it go. I hadn’t liked the suspicious looks he gave me up to now.
‘Sure, Sinclair has done suspicious things before! But usually police turn a blind eye!’
I muttered to myself, thinking how shameless that was.
Eden remained silent, probably choosing his words carefully.
“I told you, I often get misunderstood. But this was really unpleasant. You didn’t even check the facts before bringing me here.”
I added another word, hoping he would feel even more apologetic.
Eden, though looking slightly worn out, calmly apologized again.
“Please forgive my rudeness. I’ve been misunderstanding you, Miss Cherry.”
He apologized so politely I couldn’t refuse.
“Hmm. Well, at least you understand now. That’s a relief.”
I didn’t think this erased all of Eden’s distrust, but at least for now, he wouldn’t blindly accuse or harass me.
Thinking about it, this might even be a good thing.
“If you’re truly sorry, then help me.”
“Huh?”
One of Eden’s eyebrows raised.
He looked at me with a puzzled expression, as if to say, “What could you possibly need my help with?”
Help? There’s plenty he could do.
Since we were here, I might as well put Eden to work until the apocalypse. I had a lot to do.
“I’m fixing the house, but I don’t have enough hands. And since you suddenly dragged me here, all my work has piled up.”
That was true. I was so busy I couldn’t waste an hour.
“If you don’t help, I’ll report you to the press. Eden Duncan Lancaster arrested an innocent civilian without a warrant.”
“Innocent civilian…”
Eden looked at me, speechless.
“Miss Cherry, weren’t you hiding here?”
“Who said I was hiding?”
It wasn’t like it helped anyone that people knew I was here. I said this knowing Eden hadn’t reported me to the press yet.
“People are very curious about me. So if I report this, things will escalate. Right?”
I looked him in the eye confidently. Eden finally nodded.
“Well, that’s my fault. As a police officer, I’ll take responsibility.”
“Good. Let’s go, Mr. Worker.”
“…Doesn’t the handsome worker get paid extra?”
“Hey now, what nonsense is that?”
“Seems to work sometimes, consider it.”
We bantered like that while leaving the police station, when Knox followed and caught up to us.
I turned with a puzzled expression, and Knox smiled charmingly.
“It feels unfair to be treated like you’re not here.”
Ah! I’d forgotten Knox was here while I was focused on Eden.
Knox had an aura that was impossible to ignore—how could I forget?
I was probably too absorbed in thinking about getting back to Happy House and working.
I turned to Knox, and he extended his hand—relaxed, like a predator sizing up its prey. There was a confidence about him that only someone who had never failed could have.
“Pleased to meet you, Lady Sinclair.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Rudfisher. But the villagers don’t know I’m Cherry Sinclair. Please just call me by my name.”
I placed my hand gently in his. Knox kissed the back of my hand and smiled.
I suddenly remembered Eden shaking my hand. Right, that was normal.
“I’m curious about your story, but I shouldn’t ask too many questions. Understood, Miss Cherry.”
I nodded and withdrew my hand. Knox then brought up his request.
“Lady, I would like to ask you something. May we have a moment to talk?”
