Chapter 6

Chapter 6

“What do we do? Her fever isn’t going down.”

“She hasn’t eaten yet, but I’d rather give her some medicine.”

Soon, a big hand reached my back and hoisted my body. A soft pillow rubbed against my back. I opened my eyes when someone constantly swept my forehead.

“I’m sorry to wake you up.”

I saw Marquis Elaine and Ulysse with a worried look on their faces.

“You may collapse. You have a high fever.”

A faint smell of medicinal herbs oozed out as Ulysse rolled his sleeves up. Ulysse wiped his wet arm with a towel and brought a small cup to my mouth.

“You can drink a little.”

The glass, which I thought would be cold, was unexpectedly lukewarm.

‘Did they prepare it in advance?’

A sweet liquid flowed into my open mouth.

“I’m sorry,”

The Marquis’s big hand touched my face.

“You get a fever every time you strain or stress yourself. I should have cared more.”

I wanted to say no, but I couldn’t. I felt like my neck was choked by something.

“Don’t worry too much and get some sleep.”

The Marquis arranged the pillow and patted me on the shoulder. I looked at my surroundings as I lay still.

The bluish dawn sky.

Ulysse’s lemon-colored blond hair shone softly in the moonlight.

The butler helped Ulysse put down the ingredient for the medicine on the table, while Anna and a young servant in a maid uniform prepared clean water and towels.

It was a very natural scene as if it was something I did often.

The memories crossed.

The sound of parents’ conversation and the small noise of pounded herbs. A nice scent of perfume and a light scent of herbs. A bright living room and a dark room filled with moonlight.

Am I too selfish to be relieved that this was different from back then?

Pat-! Pat-!

When I turned my gaze to the warm touch, the Marquis smiled affectionately. Ulysse, Anna, the butler, and the maids, who put herbs in a small glass bowl, smiled as if they were relieved.

I looked at them for a long time.

***

Elaine asked Ulysse, who was pounding the herbs.

“When will it be ready?”

“A little longer.”

“Hurry up. The child hasn’t woken up.”

The hand that patted his daughter remained.

“Actually, time is the best medicine. A human’s body has natural healing power.”

Ulysse went to visit Navian with Elaine.

It was to say good night, but his sister was already asleep.

While sitting next to her and having a conversation, there was a huffing sound.

At first, it was only his speculation, but his sister was quietly suffering from a fever.

His younger sister took after his mother.

Even if the respiratory illness that had long plagued the mother and daughter had improved, the body was still weak. It was easy to rely on medicine, but it won’t do any good for her body.

Ideally, it would be good for her to overcome it on her own, but Ulysse had no choice but to interfere since Navian wasn’t healthy enough.

Naturally, he would have to keep looking at his younger sister, who was 20.000 times weaker than a normal person.

He was happy the way it was now, but it was also upsetting that she was suffering without even rolling over in her sleep.

Ulysse carefully trimmed the herbs.

Ulysse was extremely happy that he decided to become a doctor for his sister.

This dried-up herb from Mt. Nagi was a medicinal herb and had the antipyretic ability. This herb was equal to a natural fever reducer, so it would reduce Navian’s fever.

At that time, Elaine shouted.

“Navian!”

Ulysse jumped up and ran to Navian. The maids and butler also flocked to the bed.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

Navian shook her head small. On the contrary, she looked at Ulysse with a confused face.

“But why are you crying?”

Navian’s pink eyes grew bigger. As if she didn’t recognize that she cried.

Ulysse held out his hand to wipe his sister’s tears but stopped himself. He was worried that she might not like the scent of herbs in his hands.

“….It’s nothing.”

Navian muttered in a low voice as she wiped away her tears with her sleeves. Her movement was so energetic that Ulysse and Elaine trembled.

“Don’t rub it! You can cry if you’re sick!”

“Your eyes will turn red!”

Despite their dissuasion, Navian wiped away her tears.

For her, it seemed as though tears were unacceptable. Ulysse, who was looking at her nervously, ran to the table.

“Wait a minute, please. I’ll make it quick.”

Ulysse picked up the glass mortar, while the butler trimmed the root of the herb again. Anna and Mary looked anxiously at Navian on the side of the bed.

Elaine spoke as he fixed the pillow that Navian leaned on.

“Don’t worry and get more sleep.”

The soft pillow was well adjusted. It must be because it was touched countless times by Elaine’s hands.

“Sweet dreams,”

Navian closed her eyes as she heard Elaine’s voice.

There was a certain determination on her face.

***

My body felt alright.

In fact, a high fever was nothing for me. I used to be sliced and stabbed by a sword daily, but now, it was only a fever. So I swerved my eyes to the left.

I could see Marquis’s body crumpled on a long sofa and Ulysse sleeping in a big chair.

“….I’m at a loss.”

I was extremely dull about forming human relationships. I was so stubborn that I would be scolded every day, saying that I should set up an example for my childhood friends, Signus and Ayaran.

‘I wanted to distance myself from Marquis and Ulysse.’

I know they’re good people, but if I make a mistake when answering this or that, I might be caught.

Honestly, it was true that I no longer intended to have precious people on my side.

‘What’s coming to me was already hard enough, so I don’t have time to mind others.’

But this morning, Marquis and Ulysse shook that idea.

“….It can’t be helped.”

Throughout this endless sickness, I agonized a lot and finally made up my mind.

Now all I had to do was to bring it into action.

Knock-! Knock-!

With a knock, a young servant opened the door and came in.

“Are you up? How’s your body?”

I was glad that she came. She smiled brightly when I nodded my head. She must have been tired all morning, but she acted professionally.

A young servant, who came into the room without a sound, saw the Marquis and Ulysse, then giggled quietly.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

I shook my head. Now, there was something more important than a meal.

“Get me a paper and a pen.”

* * *

“I’ll prepare the writing desk.”

The paper on the small table smelled like fragrant flowers.

“It smells good, right? I dried the flower that I found at Young Master Ulysse’s workroom.” She said as she brought Ulysse’s paper and pen.

I laughed at her words and grabbed the pen. I put it in the ink bottle and gently turned it around to clear my mind once again.

“But…who are you writing a letter to?”

She opened her mouth as she was looking at Marquis and Ulysse, who slept in an uncomfortable position.

“I’ll let you know later,”

I grinned at the servant whose face I didn’t know.

“Ugh….”

I emphasized the last word as I finished my letter, and then my face fell on my writing desk.

The flimsy pen rolled down on the bed. It took a total of three days to write.

I slept, ate, worked out secretly, and even went down in my spare time occasionally, but it’s still a ridiculously hard task.

‘I’m about to get cramps again.’

I frowned at my trembling hand. I really didn’t know that writing down a letter would be this hard.

It was so hard to the point that I started to resent the feather decoration at the end of the pen. I wanted to pluck out all those abominably flying feathers right now, but I saw the letter and thought I should endure it since it wasn’t mine.

[To the Sun of the Empire, Your Highness Signus D. Avita.

Although it was late, I want to sincerely congratulate you on your ascension to be the Crown Prince of the Empire.

My name is Navian Lu Yeronimo. You must have been surprised by the sudden letter. I know it’s more appropriate to visit and talk to you in person, but please understand that I’m too weak to move.

I’ve heard that Your Highness has ordered an engagement. I will sincerely honor that order. However, I’d like you to give me some time. Please wait until I’m healthy enough to go to the capital.

I will be grateful for Your Highness’ generosity. Then, I wish you will always be healthy and calm until I meet you.]

When the wind dried up the ink, I raised my trembling hand and put the letter in an envelope.

‘If you decline the Crown Prince’s orders, it’s only obvious what will happen.’

Instead of getting married right away, I wanted to buy some time. Enough time for me to go to Signus myself.

‘I get to see how much you’ve changed, as well as saving this family. How nice.’

It was to pave the way for me to rationalize as to why I’m alive.

I went to the hallway and looked around. The busy servants were seen moving on the first floor. I put an envelope in the mailbox that was hung on the stairs and went back right away.

I thought I should laze around now that I’ve done a great job.

***

The capital’s temple was magnificent and glamorous. The white building sparkled even more under the light.

“Did you say His Highness is here?”

“Psst, be quiet.”

It was in front of the entrance of the temple’s parlor, where high-ranking priests gathered. They looked through the parlor while holding their breath.

There were three people in the temple’s parlor.

“It’s an honor to have you come all the way here.”

The high priest with brown eyes sitting opposite Signus laughed, then opened his mouth.

“You’ve changed beyond recognition. Now you’re really the ruler of Avita.”

There was no answer.

But the face of the knight behind Signus, Leo, became embarrassed. As if he knew it would happen, the high priest held out something from his arms.

“The repairment of the necklace is done.”

Signus’ eyes grazed the necklace that he held out.

The two round water drop shaped necklace that was laid out before his eyes were very beautiful.

“It took a lot of time to repair the damage, but I’ve managed to restore it, so please take a look at it.”

Signus’ beautiful fingers brushed the necklace.

Pats-!

Suddenly, the lights filled the parlor.

Leo’s eyes grew bigger at the mysterious sight.

Then, the light faded and Signus’ low voice rang.

“Lerine is back.”