#8
Maybe it’s because of the shadows.
Even though it was the same smile, the atmosphere seemed different.
“Ahaha, Archduke. Standing like that, you look exactly like a grim reaper who bewitches the living to take them to the afterlife.”
“Is that so?”
His blue jewel-like eyes calmly held me within them.
As if he wouldn’t let me escape.
“Are you worried I might run away?”
I carefully grabbed his collar and pulled.
He stared intently at my hand touching his collar without even blinking.
“I won’t. I have something I must accomplish…”
“You have something you must accomplish. You?”
He spoke in an indifferent tone.
It was clearly something that came out without him realizing it, but he didn’t seem to mind much.
In fact, there was no need for him to treat me kindly.
So I put on a subtle expression as if I was starting to reveal my true self, or as if I was someone it didn’t matter to show it to.
With a face that would appear half-shadowed to him.
‘I must look quite suspicious, right? At least this should properly buy me some time.’
He must have followed me this far thinking that was my purpose.
I shrugged my shoulders, then lightly pulled his sleeve once more.
“Are you curious about me? Then the Archduke should show me something I want to see too.”
“Your appearance in the sunlight.”
“Ahaha! You know me well.”
He slowly drew a smile.
And after quietly examining the area around my forehead and neck, he readily stepped beyond the door.
As he revealed himself under the sunlight, the surroundings brightened dramatically and it seemed like all the world’s lighting was directed toward him.
“Ah! How dazzling. Can I pray like this?”
I plopped down by the pond and called out playfully.
“You’re free to do so.”
Meaning whether it would be answered was up to him.
Answering like that, he slowly looked around the small garden. He must be checking that it wasn’t a curse.
When his eyes held me again, I smiled wryly.
That’s when he suddenly approached.
“…Huh?”
“It’s been strange since earlier, but as I thought.”
“Archduke?”
“Your Highness.”
He drew a gentle smile.
A very kind and deep smile.
That was the smile he made when he had the situation in the palm of his hand.
“Cold sweat like this… Aren’t you feeling unwell somewhere?”
“…Oh my.”
“My. I wonder if it’s not me but Your Highness who’s dressed too lightly.”
Hmm. I thought he wouldn’t notice this much.
I muttered inwardly while staring at him.
“Wow, Archduke. Are you touching me right now? How bold of you.”
Usually people would be reluctant to touch me, saying they might get cursed.
Except for those who want to use violence.
Perhaps sensing that I was flustered, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Because I’m worried, Your Highness.”
“Oh my, to make the Archduke worry.”
I let out a deep sigh, then began to smoothly cover up the symptoms of my illness that had started two months earlier than before my regression.
“Well, you know. I lack exercise. I sweat easily even with just a little movement. I was actually going to rest a bit, but you caught me?”
Yes. Very smoothly.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. So even if you find it unpleasant, please bear with me, Archduke. I’m running around like this on foot even though I lack stamina, all to see that brilliant appearance of yours. Right?”
The smile slowly faded from the Archduke’s face.
With an expression close to expressionless, he gazed at me quietly, then—
“Sigh. This is why shut-ins shouldn’t do certain things.”
When I grumbled and flopped down on the grass, he obediently removed his hand from my cheek.
The place his hand had touched seemed to burn.
Hiding the fact that my attention kept being drawn there, I deliberately let out a strange laugh.
Suddenly our eyes met.
The gaze looking down at me was cool and also…
‘A bit—strange.’
Rather than simply being suspicious, it felt different, persistent.
* * *
The Archduke looking up from below looked like a living statue.
After a few seconds that felt like time had stopped, he gently curled up the corners of his mouth again and muttered.
“To think Your Highness has weak stamina…”
He released his posture of kneeling on one knee to touch my cheek and naturally moved to beside my head.
I barely maintained the smile on my lips as I quietly moved my gaze following the path of his movement, then laughed as if amused the next moment.
Because he was looking down at me with an affectionate expression as he gently placed his hand on my forehead.
It was such an intimate and sudden action.
“Hmm. Are you trying to make me die of emotion here?”
As I barely held back what would have been a scream and muttered with my eyes half-closed, he burst into small laughter.
…Really, why is he doing this?
I was confused but couldn’t ask him.
“My hand is cold, so I thought it might help Your Highness even a little.”
“I don’t have a fever though.”
“You didn’t know. You have a slight fever.”
Should I call it fortunate?
I soon learned the reason for his excessive behavior.
His mana was flowing into me very faintly through my forehead.
It was such a minute amount that only someone with mana-related illnesses like mana depletion syndrome could detect it.
‘He’s suspicious. He’s trying to find my weakness.’
He was trying to find out everything about me that he didn’t know.
‘Since there’s no certain method other than causing pain.’
Or he’d have to expose bare skin to see traces, but he couldn’t do that right now.
Mana depletion syndrome isn’t easy to recognize at first glance.
Because the initial symptoms aren’t characteristic.
At most cold sweat, slight fever, dizziness?
So to know for certain, he had to flow mana in to see if I felt pain.
‘Sorry, but I can’t be caught right now.’
I was used to enduring pain without showing it. Minor symptoms or my insides churning were everyday occurrences.
In my case, since this illness wasn’t congenital but unnaturally caused by my mother’s curse, several additional symptoms were added.
‘Like suddenly fainting in situations where mana is concentrated around me like now.’
Fainting is hard to hide, but fainting or vomiting blood should start only after about a month, so that’s still okay.
‘At least a month.’
During that time of enduring while covering it up as being weak, I should handle as many curses as possible…
“Oh my, I really should exercise…”
Roughly gauging my physical condition inwardly, I continued the conversation nonchalantly.
“No wait, if my stamina improves, the Archduke won’t do this for me again. Right?”
“If you wish it, please say so anytime. How could I refuse Your Highness’s command?”
“What a joke.”
When I smiled wryly and played along, he smiled strangely.
His cool gaze remained the same, but it inevitably left me with an ecstatic sensation.
Maybe because it was an unexpected action.
…Ah. Perhaps he intended this kind of illusion.
Since he’s someone who knows well that he’s beautiful.
“Archduke… is being kind your nature?”
Watching him just smile ceremonially without answering, I grinned, then briefly withdrew my gaze from him.
And I gazed distantly at the sky.
He, who had been quietly watching me, looked around the garden more carefully.
How much time had passed?
“It seems Your Highness’s palace has a skilled gardener.”
“Ahaha, you can come anytime you want.”
It would be nice if we came together often.
I don’t expect anything from him. I didn’t hope for him to view me favorably.
Rather, I knew well that this place would become a factor for him to be wary of me.
So I just, I just…
‘Like the time we spend together.’
Even if I have to hide my trembling every time we meet and desperately act nonchalant.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
He smiled with his eyes slightly narrowed. It was a leisurely face that knew nothing of despair.
If I were really a mischievous 2nd Prince, I probably would have fallen into delusion at this moment.
That I had become close to him in just half a day.
So I would have surely shown my true feelings, whether asking for his help or seeking cooperation.
No, without even going that far, I wouldn’t have been able to brush off his earlier question about whether I was hiding a skilled mage.
Whether it was Eris who created this place, or another confidant.
If that confidant exists, whether they’re alive, or whether they’re still working for me now.
I would have spilled everything he wanted to know.
But I gave no answers.
I only expressed that I found him appealing.
Perhaps that was also unexpected, as his gaze had changed slightly again.
‘…No. Something’s still a bit…’
I’d understand if it was a look wanting to tear me apart.
But that’s less murderous than I expected.
‘Like discovering a toy he wants to possess… No. It must be my imagination.’
…If he wanted to possess me, I’d gladly give myself to him.
I knew too well now that ours was a relationship where I couldn’t even hope for such trivial desires.
So I should think that I’ve successfully earned his wariness.
‘Successfully made him focus on me.’
Even though it was to buy time, I had many things I wanted to say.
I couldn’t help but like how he reacted to all my words in his attempt to figure me out.
It was only regrettable that my breathing was about to become rough.
I closed my eyes and slowly regulated my breathing.
‘Since I have to see Marcus hyung afterward too…’
I have no intention of sleeping well. I just need to rest my body a little…
That’s when he slowly removed his hand from my forehead.
The regretful sensation was brief.
‘…!’
I began desperately trying not to let strength enter my body.
‘The buttons…?’
To my bewilderment, he had begun unbuttoning my shirt.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
