Chapter 35

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Chapter 35

The silence enveloped us, but it didn’t feel awkward. While we were alone in the room, it was rather comfortable. Perhaps it was more tiring than I thought to deal with Schubert and Liam, compared to the tension I’ve felt with Albert in the past.

Maybe it’s because I don’t know them that well just yet.

Albert sat at the edge of the bed and crossed his arms. He seemed to be lost in thought as he lowered his gaze.

Flustered a bit, I thought that he would treat me as soon as we got here. So, I asked with a small smile on my lips.

“Prince, the treatment…?”

As though he was pulled back from his reverie, Albert blinked and soon moved closer to me.

“Of course.”

Now beside me, Albert pointed to the sleeping Blanc.

“First of all, it would be better to get rid of this fledgling dragon.”

“Prince, Blanc isn’t an object.”

Albert’s eyes narrowed in response, but he soon nodded.

“Yes, I forgot. Not get rid, then. Just kicking out.”

“……”

“It doesn’t have to be here right now.”

Albert’s answer was nonetheless as cold as a Siberian wind. There was a clear line with how he acted towards those who were in his inner circle and those who weren’t.

I could only imagine how different Albert would be right now if this was the old Rosé.

I already knew that he didn’t like Blanc, but not to this extent. What happened? Come to think of it, I think I heard a conversation between him and Blanc before.

Did they talk? Well, they were strangely huddled closely together back then so I couldn’t here.

I hugged Blanc and held his paw out towards Albert. Here, look at how clear and pure Blanc’s eyes are!

“Prince, Blanc also stayed up all night worrying about you before…”

I made an effort to appeal to him with Blanc’s strengths. Though Albert didn’t seem to be impressed given how unmoved his eyebrows were. He remained expressionless.

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea if I let you know why I’m doing this.”

“Prince, I believe that you had a truly generous and beautiful heart.”

“My heart’s generosity and kicking out the fledgling dragon are two different things. It’s important to minimize the number of individuals in the room before I start the treatment.”

“……”

Umm, so that’s what it is. If Albert was talking about the treatment like this, then there’s actually nothing for me to say in retort. It’s something I knew nothing about.

I guess this is why people should continue learning. Sighing, I looked into Blanc’s eyes.

“Blanc, I’m sick and I need to be treated, so let’s stay apart for a little while.”

“But I don’t wannaa…”

Blanc spoke slowly and wept. Ah, my heart! My heart shattered seeing the tears that were about to fall. No, our dear Blanc!

How can Albert stay there without batting an eyelid when this cute little dragon’s right in front of him?

“If you don’t go, the treatment won’t go smoothly. That will increase the chances of Rosé dying.”

At Albert’s dry statement, Blanc flinched in my arms. Seeing this, one corner of Albert’s lips rose.

Albert knew perfectly how to deal with Blanc, just as he did with me. He knew the right words to say and when to say them.

“Okaaayy…”

In the end, Blanc left the room after saying so in such a sullen voice. But as soon as the door opened, one certain person got startled and shouted, “Kitty!” The voice sounded like Schubert’s… but I can’t be too sure since I didn’t see his face.

“Prince, why do you hate Blanc so much?”

I asked what I’d been curious about since earlier. Albert just shrugged.

“I don’t have good memories with dragons.”

“You’ve seen a dragon in person before?”

“Yes.”

“Really? An adult dragon?”

This was a little surprising. You told me it’s hard to see an adult dragon! As I’ve met only Blanc, I became more curious about the dragon that Albert met before.

That dragon could be Blanc’s friend. Maybe they can teach Blanc how to survive.

Seeing the sparkle in my eyes, Albert grinned.

“I was eight years old. It was a white dragon, as huge as a mountain.”

“Where did you see it?”

Albert didn’t respond right away. Maybe it was just a trick of the light, but it looked like his eyes darkened for a moment, as though thinking about an old wound.

“It was a long time ago, so I can’t remember very well. I wanted to see it again, but… I never met that dragon again as I was growing up. So, there’s nothing I can tell your fledgling dragon.”

Albert immediately caught onto what I wanted to hear from this conversation. Feeling a little awkward, I laughed it off.

“You got me.”

And I changed the subject.

“Anyway, I’m all set.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

Albert gave me a smile again, but it didn’t look like the usual relaxed smile. This was the same fake smile I had on my own face whenever I met clients for work before.

Indeed, I don’t know if it’s because we’re far from the tower now, or because we’re far from the magic circles that were surrounding the tower, but it seemed like it was still difficult to remove the black magic on me.

“Is it really impossible for me to get treated at the tower instead?”

“If I’m going to do any major spells inside the tower over a long period of time, then I would need to completely dispel all the magic circles in the tower. If that happens, they’ll know that I’ve regained my strength, and we can no longer stay inside the tower.”

“I see…”

It’s also understandable that Albert had no other choice but to do this since the coup still wasn’t ready.

I never did like passive protagonists who couldn’t do anything, but I understand now since I’m in a bit of a pickle myself.

…There’s nothing I can do. Nothing!

“Stay still. I have to draw a magic circle around you.”

“Don’t worry, that’s the thing I’m the best at.”

Yes, yes. That’s all I can do. And this isn’t self-deprecation, just self-awareness.

Reading a book on magic wouldn’t change a thing for me. Entering a contract with Albert wouldn’t give me any abilities I didn’t already have. Well, not everyone’s capable.

I should just do what I can.

“Prince, is there anything you want to eat?”

While hugging my knees, I asked bravely.

“What I want to eat, you ask.”

“While you’ll be sick in bed later, I’ll make it for you. Among all the dishes I cooked for you, just choose! Or I can learn to cook another thing that you like.”

“I’m afraid that it’s going to be your favorite spicy dishes again.”

“No, I’ll try to suit Your Highness’ tastes this time.”

Light was being emitted at the end of his index finger as he began to draw something around the bed. While he was drawing the magic circle, Albert raised his head for a moment, his brows furrowed.

“I don’t care. As long as it’s what you like.”

“But Your Highness doesn’t like spicy food very much. I’ll feel guilty if I just feed spicy stuff to a sick person…”

“Seems like you’ve changed your taste.”

“……”

“Whatever you make is delicious.”

“The royal palace’s chef will cry if he hears Your Highness saying that.”

I shuddered, but it didn’t feel bad hearing this.

“Then while we’re here in the north, I’ll make porridge for you… I’ll also cook fried rice for you… And I’ll grill meat for you, too.”

“Okay, do what you want to do.”

Since this is a castle, there are a lot more ingredients! It’s a bit daunting that we’re in the north right now, but I’m also pretty excited. After all, this was the castle of Liam, who was both a duke and a mage.

I also liked the fact that what I could do here could make the prince happy.

“Now, lie down on your back.”

From just sitting against the headboard, I listened to his words and tucked myself in. Lying there quietly, I glanced slightly towards Albert.

Albert was crouched on the floor next to the bed, his gaze focused. Huu. Letting out a small exhale as he swept his bangs, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

Then, I realized.

I never want to have a boss like Albert…

I work for him under a contract, but I wonder how difficult it really was to be working under him. I mentally sent my well-wishes to Liam and Schubert, who would continue working under Albert.

While thinking about nonsense like this, the magic circle surrounding the bed lit up and suddenly became a formless tether that went around my body.

As if resisting it, dark energy then flowed out of my body. More particularly, I could see the energy surrounding my hands much clearer.

Albert furrowed his brows. His face’s complexion didn’t change, but I could see sweat gradually forming on the sides of his face.

I continued to lie still and comfortably receive this treatment, feeling not one prickle of a thorn over the softness of the bed beneath me. I watched in real time just how much the prince was working hard next to me.

“…Prince, would you rather I stay quiet or say something?”

“What will you say?”

“…Anything.”

“Then tell me about yourself.”

Albert whispered with a low voice.

About me. Is there anything about me that’s not that far off from the real Rosé?

Actually, I’m much more interested in hearing about Albert than saying something about myself. It seemed like Albert didn’t really like talking about himself at all.

It’s the first time he said anything about the adult dragon, too.

But in this situation, it’s a little difficult to ask Albert to tell a story about himself.

Mulling it over for a while, I decided to talk about my last trip to Los Angeles before I entered the workforce.

“Before I started working, I went on a trip to the beach…”

Of course, I didn’t mention the name of the place and when exactly it happened.

Even though it was winter when I went there, the sunlight was so dazzling as it poured down over the blue sea. There was a lively crowd who also visited, and I walked along the shore all day.

I walked leisurely and proudly enjoyed my alone time in a place where no one knew me. I went where I wanted to go, visited a restaurant that I found beforehand, ate something that was delicious.

I loved the freedom that traveling gave me, especially the experience of seeing new places.

“I think traveling is really nice.”

That’s why I’m going to strive for it later. During this time in confinement, I’ve forgotten even the ‘tra’ in ‘travel’.

Ending with words of admiration for traveling, I turned to glance at Albert—only to be startled to see him gasping.

“P-Prince?”

This was something I didn’t see even when he was working out before. His hair was soaked on the sides with the sweat trickling down his face.

He let out a low exhale. There was an unreadable look in his eyes as he stared at me as though he was going to devour me.

“Rosé.”

Albert’s hand hovered over my right hand. He looked into my eyes for a moment, as if asking for my permission.

I’m not someone who’d stop a sick person from wanting to hold hands. I nodded quickly.

Immediately, he intertwined his fingers with mine and held tight.

“Rosé.”

The way he called my name again with a low voice made me entirely nervous. With a quick nod, I replied.

“Yes.”

His grip on my hands grew stronger. His face was so close to mine.

“I know you’re thinking about leaving me behind and going to some place far away.”

His breath touched the tip of my nose as his voice rang close.

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