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It was a cold, winter evening. The snow was falling outside, with a heavy and raging power like the storm wanted to cover the entire world in white - including that villa hidden on the seaside. The villa looked dark and deserted, light could only be seen at one window which looked to the sea, like it was a small lighthouse - but from afar, it got lost in the madness of the snow. In that one lit room, a certain brown-haired man was sitting on the bedside. He tried to not show it, but he was clearly worried, and afraid. In front of him, a man was lying on the bed, covered well with blankets. His usually pale face was now red from the fever and his curly hair fell to his forehead, messy and wet. The other man kept pampering his hair locks while his heart was aching more and more every time he heard the sick man's cough. He could see that he was nearly suffocating from the coughing and when he stopped, he needed all his strength to breathe. He wanted to help him, if he could do something to make it easier for the man to heal him.
But unfortunately, there was no medicine in the entire villa.
The man started coughing again. His company waited for it to pass, until then, he didn't stop caressing the man's hot skin to comfort him. He felt as the man's body trembled as he inhaled a deep breath. He opened his eyes and looked up at him. Their gazes met - but the golden light he loved so much was now faint and dim.
"Ruskin..." he whispered, but he couldn't continue. The man called Ruskin gently patted his blushing cheek.
"I will call the doctor in the morning. Hopefully, the snowstorm stops by that time." He answered softly, trying to reassure the sick man. "You will get better, Mr. Milverton. I promise."
Charles Augustus Milverton closed his eyes again and sighed. Ruskin watched him. It hurt to see that his beloved employer was in so much pain, but he couldn't do anything to make him feel better. If they were in London....he would have gotten a doctor in no time who would give them medicine. But what could he even do here, in this hidden villa which was so far from the nearest town?
This was why Mr. Milverton kept this place. That when he wanted to take a break from his work, he could withdraw from society and rest in relative safety. Sometimes he brought his bodyguards along as well, but most of the time, only his secretary, Ruskin accompanied him. Ruskin knew how to take care of Mr. Milverton, he could cook well. When he was on Mr. Milverton's side, the media mogul didn't lack anything. Ruskin did everything to satisfy the man whom he loved with all his heart. But now, he was helpless and this made him shrink from the fear.
Mr. Milverton fell ill all of a sudden on the day when they arrived here. Ruskin wanted to call the doctor immediately, but Mr. Milverton didn't let him do it and Ruskin didn't insist too much. After all, it seemed like a simple cold and he had everything in the house - blankets and herbs for the tea - which could help him cure his employer.
However, Mr. Milverton got unexpectedly worse by the afternoon. It was clear that his condition was serious and he needed a doctor as soon as Ruskin could get one. But unfortunately, the snowstorm that suddenly came made it impossible for him to call him here from Brighton - the road to the villa was blocked by a lot of snow. Ruskin tried everything to fight the illness, but he couldn't do anything against it without medicine. It seemed like Mr. Milverton got weaker and weaker with every passing minute - and Ruskin was terrified that his body system would just collapse before he got the chance to see the doctor. He just sat there and watched the beloved man's suffering. All he could do was pampering his face, talking to him, and promising that everything will be alright.
But Ruskin could see it well that as it currently goes, this could turn out to be a lie.
He loathed lying to Mr. Milverton - and he hated even more that he needed to come to terms with the fact that they might be too late.
He might... can't save him.
Ruskin clenched his fists from the pain. He heard Mr. Milverton's voice again.
"Ruskin..."
Ruskin closed his eyes. He didn't want to look at Mr. Milverton again. At this rate, he will lose him - and how can he even live without his beloved employer? A tear ran down on his face. Was there really nothing he could do? He would have even given his life for Mr. Milverton's life if he could.
If he could...
Ruskin raised his head as a sudden idea crossed his mind. He turned around and looked out of the window. The snowstorm was still raging heavily, it was impossible for the doctor to get here. But can he... get there? If he is able to fight the storm and reach Brighton, he can bring back medicine.
And for Mr. Milverton, he needed to fight the storm. This was his only chance.
Ruskin stood up from the chair. He took his employer's hand into his own hands.
"I will not wait until the morning." He stated vehemently. "I will go to the doctor and get your medicine."
Hearing that, Mr. Milverton faintly stared at him. Even with the illness, Ruskin could see that he didn't like Ruskin's plan.
"Are you insane?" Mr. Milverton's mouth moved. "The storm is... too strong. You can die out there."
"I can bear the storm. What can't I bear if it's for you?" Ruskin tried to calm his employer down and tenderly pampered his hair.
"I don't allow it." Mr. Milverton murmured weakly. Ruskin didn't like saying no to his employer, but he had no choice in the current situation.
"This is our last chance. Tomorrow... it might be too late. I need to get your medicine now."
"Please, don't leave me alone." Mr. Milverton asked. His gaze was desperately begging to Ruskin while trying to keep him back by holding his hand, but he was not strong enough for that. Ruskin easily removed his hand from the weak fingers.
"I am sorry, sir." He shook his head and gave a kiss to his employer's forehead. "I promise that I will come back soon."
He quickly ordered Mr. Milverton's blanket and left the room. He didn't look back. He didn't want to see the expression on the man's face.
The snowstorm was raging with a godlike power. Ruskin stepped out and almost immediately got dragged away by it. Despite that he dressed up warm enough, the cold already crawled under his skin. He didn't pay attention to it. As confident as he could, he headed in the direction where Brighton was supposed to be. He was aware that he can't get lost, otherwise, he will really die. And if he dies there, his employer's fate will be also set in stone.
Ruskin strengthened himself and continued walking in the snow. The wind was blowing into his face, but he didn't care. He didn't stop even when he felt that he was near to complete exhaustion. He needed to go to Brighton. He needed to save Mr. Milverton. This was what kept echoing in his mind.
He didn't know how he even got to the town, but one moment, he was standing in front of the doctor's house. He walked to the door and rang the bell, hoping that he would get an answer and his fight was not in vain.
Luckily, the doctor was at home. He looked at Ruskin with utter shock like he couldn't even imagine how he was able to reach the town in this weather. But Ruskin had no time to waste. He was only able to whisper, but he asked for the medicine. The doctor wanted to give him hot tea, but Ruskin was determined to return to his beloved immediately. He asked the man to come to the villa as soon as the storm ended, and he stepped out into the snowy world again, ready for the second round.
The hardest part of his mission was successfully fulfilled. Now he just needed to find his way back.
The snow already covered his trace, but this didn't stop Ruskin. He instinctively knew which direction he should take even if he couldn't see. It was like the beloved voice was calling to him from a distance. And Ruskin heard this call and let it lead him back to the villa where Mr. Milverton was waiting for his return. When he stepped into the house and closed the door behind himself, he knew that he made it. But he didn't rest - not until he gave the medicine to Mr. Milverton.
He walked upstairs and entered his employer's bedroom. He was slightly afraid of what state he will find the other man - but when he stopped at the bedside, Mr. Milverton's eyes immediately opened. A faint smile appeared at the corner of the man's mouth.
"You truly made it, Ruskin." He whispered. It seemed that Ruskin's return already made him feel better.
Ruskin smiled back. He was exhausted but the sight of his beloved filled him with strength again. He knew that everything would be fine from now on. He took Mr. Milverton's hand into his own and answered.
"I promised that I will."