Chapter 228
‘By the way, I’m so dizzy I could die.’
Is this the result of not being able to properly take care of even one body? I forced myself to eat and struggled to get even a little sleep, but it was all useless.
“I want to tend to Luwen’s wounds now. Can I go in?”
I wanted to quickly examine and treat Luwen before my physical condition got worse.
“Ah, yes. Do that.”
The 3rd Prince’s permission was given, so I tried to enter the medical barracks, but my feet wouldn’t move easily. A premonition that I might lose my balance.
‘Of all times, now…’
I can’t collapse. I need to take care of Luwen first. I clutched my dizzy head and caught my breath. Buzzing- noisy tinnitus pierced my ears.
“Fei!”
Couldn’t I even stand properly? I was definitely heading toward the medical barracks, but I could see the sky. Ethan’s face was caught at the edge of my vision.
Did he catch me as I was falling backward? I hated being docilely held by that guy more than death, but now was the time to be grateful.
“Thanks for catching me.”
“No, well. It’s only natural.”
“I’m okay now, so could you help me stand up?”
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
Ethan smiled brightly and did as instructed. When my body swayed a little, he supported me firmly.
“Fei, I’ll help you.”
“No. It’s fine.”
I rejected the 3rd Prince’s offer and leaned on Ethan. Then he held me firmly but controlled his strength so it wouldn’t hurt. I didn’t know this frivolous man could be so thoughtfully considerate.
‘He’s really going to be angry about this later.’
But what could I do? Ethan is a noble of an enemy country, and I have to return to the Empire with Luwen. Only that matters now. Since Ethan isn’t someone precious to me, the situation was too difficult for me to think about how he would accept being used by me.
“Fei, I…”
The 3rd Prince opened his mouth and reached his hand toward me.
Normally I would have behaved docilely, but because of my poor physical condition, I reflexively avoided his touch. Because he was the culprit who hurt Luwen, an instinctive rejection arose.
This resulted in me being almost embraced by Ethan, but that wasn’t what mattered. The 3rd Prince’s expression darkened. He looked exactly like he’d been hurt.
“Why… are you avoiding me?”
“Ah, I was startled.”
“…What do I have to do for you to treat me like before?”
“Is there something between us that could be called ‘before’?”
The 3rd Prince bit his lower lip. He looked pitiful, as if he might burst into tears.
‘…This is really strange.’
I couldn’t understand how he could show such obvious favor after betraying me. Is this also a trick to make me let my guard down? For what purpose exactly?
“Why do you have that expression? You look like you’re about to cry.”
“Do I…?”
But I don’t know what more he wants now that things have gone as he wished, why he would try to make me let my guard down. If there’s no other intention, it would be pure affection. That was hard for me to accept.
‘What friend, when you betrayed me.’
I turned my head away, avoiding the 3rd Prince’s feelings that I didn’t want to know about.
“Ethan. Could you take me to the barracks?”
“Well…”
Ethan seemed troubled, as if gauging the 3rd Prince’s reaction. I couldn’t see, but whether the 3rd Prince gave silent permission, after a moment Ethan said ‘Let’s go’ and courteously supported me to the barracks.
“I’ll walk by myself from here.”
I dismissed Ethan at the barracks entrance.
My physical condition was still the worst, but I gritted my teeth and entered the medical barracks. In the meantime, the position of the chains wrapped around Luwen had changed from his chest to around his waist.
‘But somehow… why is the air so stuffy?’
Both Luwen and Lord Blight were sweating and glaring at each other. As if there had been a struggle, the items inside were also in a mess.
“Fei!”
When Luwen acted like he would run to me, Lord Blight immediately reacted. He pulled the arm with chains wound around his wrist inward to his chest while using his other hand to pull the chains. He was using such tremendous force that his arm muscles bulged.
“Grr. Your Highness. I don’t think we can leave this colt-like bastard as he is.”
“While Luwen and colts do share the common trait of being cute, it’s unpleasant when you call him that, sir.”
I approached Luwen while receiving Lord Blight’s incredulous stare.
“Are you alright, Fei? I heard suspicious sounds from outside, but because of that beggar-like bastard—”
“Who’s a beggar!”
“Lord Blight. Please loosen your grip. You’re constricting Luwen’s waist.”
I placed my hand on the chains that had taken away Luwen’s freedom and made the request.
He looks like he’s in pain. This area is still okay, but his chest was too much of a mess. He looked so painful that I felt like tears might trickle out.
“Your Highness.”
“…Release him.”
“Pardon?”
I was as surprised as Lord Blight and turned around. The 3rd Prince was smiling faintly.
“Though I brought him here through violent means, haven’t I said repeatedly? That he’s a guest. We should treat him accordingly.”
What’s this? Why did his attitude suddenly change? It was too suspicious to accept gladly, so my wariness surged instead. As if this wasn’t discussed beforehand, Lord Blight also stared stupidly at the 3rd Prince as if wondering whether he’d heard wrong.
“What are you doing? I said release him.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
Lord Blight reluctantly released the chains. Luwen, having regained his freedom, swung his wrist around, then without any warning suddenly threw a punch.
A cut-like wound appeared on Lord Blight’s cheek and blood burst out.
“Tch. Did you dodge?”
“A-Are you crazy! If that had hit properly, I would have died!”
Lord Blight, feeling around his own cheek, shouted while even stammering his words.
“If you had been careless, that might have happened.”
Luwen chuckled as he replied. His face looked very refreshed, as if he’d been wanting to land one hit all along.
“Your Highness, will you still say to release him even after this?”
“Yes. I realized I need to change methods.”
Still a suspicious answer. I strengthened my wariness, vowing never to be fooled by the 3rd Prince again.
Even so, I did my best to treat Luwen. I felt sorry for him enduring without letting out a single groan despite the pain.
The treatment was finished. The bandages wrapped around Luwen’s chest made me upset. It hurt my heart even more that he kept trying to comfort me with words like this is nothing, it doesn’t hurt, I’m fine.
“Fei looks more painful than I do.”
“He collapsed a little while ago. Though he woke up quickly…”
It was something said to me, but the 3rd Prince answered. How dare he butt in arbitrarily. Luwen examined me as if to confirm the facts. The warmth that touched my cheek was warm.
“You don’t have a fever, but… your complexion is definitely pale. It would be good for you to rest.”
“It’s because I couldn’t sleep properly without you by my side. If I get a good night’s sleep, I’ll be fine.”
“Didn’t you say your head hurt? Is that okay now?”
The leader pretended not to know and informed about my symptoms.
“…I want to kill them all.”
The muttering voice was very small, but contained enough murderous intent to drop the temperature inside the barracks. Lord Blight instinctively drew his sword and stood in front of the 3rd Prince.
“This is… truly tremendous.”
The 3rd Prince’s voice trembled thinly. His fear of Luwen was clear.
Though Luwen’s murderous intent was sharp enough to make one’s legs go numb, it always bypassed only me, so I leaned against him as if embracing him.
The 3rd Prince still couldn’t be killed, and he couldn’t remove the burden that was me from Luwen. The penalty Luwen carried was too great to fight against many in the middle of enemy territory, so he had to endure for now.
“Put me to sleep, Luwen. Then everything will be better.”
I felt a touch encircling my waist. Luwen pulled me close, embraced me, and buried my face in his shoulder. The familiar breath and body scent brought comfort.
“Did you take your medicine?”
A gentle, spring breeze-like soft tone enveloped me. I should keep my wits about me, but drowsiness poured over me.
“…I didn’t finish making it.”
“Please take your medicine first before sleeping.”
To do that, I’d have to finish making it… bothersome. Right now I just wanted to sleep. With Luwen by my side, both my body and mind relaxed.
“…I should, but I’m sleepy…”
Lifting my eyelids became increasingly difficult. Strength left my body and my posture became uncomfortable.
I just shifted slightly, but Luwen keenly noticed this fact and lifted me up.
“Sleep well. I’ll be by your side.”
“…Mm.”
Blink blink. I couldn’t endure any longer.
* * *
3rd Prince Idwen stared intently at Luwen’s back as he carefully laid Fei on the bed. He had known from the beginning that the two were lovers. Even if everything else was fake, the fact that they were dating was true.
‘But why do I feel this way?’
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
