~CHAPTER 49~
The physician, who visited once more at Aizen’s urging, gave the same diagnosis as before.
It was a severe case of body aches, and since there was no threat to her life, she would recover if they simply waited.
“It has already been three days.”
“Are you sure she didn’t catch a different illness you failed to detect?”
When Aizen snapped sharply, unable to contain himself, the physician smiled lightly.
“Your Grace should know my skills better than anyone.”
“Please don’t be too impatient.”
“A worn body simply needs time to recover.”
The physician glanced at Jena, who was panting with fever, and added calmly.
“It might be that the stress she has unknowingly endured has exploded all at once.”
“…”
“People who are used to enduring everything alone fall ill easily.”
With that, the physician politely bowed and left.
Aizen ruffled his hair roughly and dropped down into the chair beside the bed.
Seeing Jena’s sunken cheeks and dry lips made his expression tighten.
“You avoided the epidemic only to make me worry sick over body aches…”
He wiped her face with a damp cloth once, then picked up his documents.
He was actually very busy and could not focus solely on nursing her.
The epidemic had swept across the north in less than two months, but the scale of the damage was enormous.
He ignored his own overwork and continued working until he eventually drifted off to sleep.
When he opened his eyes, darkness covered the world outside the window and it was late at night.
He massaged his stiff neck and moved closer to Jena.
As he reached to pull the blanket back up, which she seemed to have kicked off in her sleep—
“Dad…”
A faint, moist voice slipped through her cracked lips.
Aizen froze and looked down at Jena.
A single tear slid down from beneath her trembling lashes.
“Dad, I miss you…”
He had wondered before.
Did Jena also have a real family somewhere?
Usually, spies sever their ties and live alone to remove all weaknesses, so he assumed she was the same.
Aizen reached out and wiped her tear.
Jena tilted her head, following his touch.
“Don’t go… stay with me.”
“Don’t leave me alone…”
Her burning cheek rested against his cold hand.
In her feverish state, she looked unlike herself, showing vulnerability she would never reveal normally.
It was as if she wasn’t even aware of what she was saying.
Why did it feel so heartbreaking?
He didn’t simply pity her.
Nor did he find it laughable.
Aizen sat at the edge of the bed and cupped her cheek with his hand.
His upper body leaned closer, and the dim moonlight above them cast a soft glow.
He whispered while gazing at her fragile face beneath the light.
“I’m not going.”
He remembered her comforting him when he cried last time.
‘You have me, don’t you?’
Yes.
At some point, he realized she had become that person for him.
But that also meant, in turn, he was becoming that person for her.
“I will stay beside you.”
Hearing that, Jena nestled her cheek deeper into his large palm with a peaceful expression.
A gentle smile appeared on Aizen’s lips as well.
He quietly tucked the blanket up to her neck and returned to his chair.
“Ha…”
He let out a long sigh and rubbed his eyes with his palm.
In that brief moment, he realized too many things he shouldn’t have.
Why he hesitated to answer Nelle’s question.
Why Rene’s reply bothered him.
Why he worried and chose to personally nurse Jena.
Why his chest ached when she cried.
Why his heart swelled when she smiled.
‘I… don’t want to lose this woman.’
Not simply because losing her meant losing the chance to cure Iceblood Disease.
He didn’t want to lose Jena herself.
He wished she would never regain her memories.
He wished she would never leave him.
He could no longer deny it.
He was drawn to her.
But all of this was only a fragile illusion he created.
What would Jena think when she learned the truth?
Whatever her response, she would want to leave.
Ironically, the best way for him to keep her was to maintain their current double-life.
‘Did I fall into my own trap… unable to move at all?’
Aizen ran his fingers roughly through his hair and leaned his head back.
Completely ruined.
* * *
When I opened my eyes in the morning, it was the second time I had seen my husband’s face so close right after waking.
I stared at Aizen, who was lying beside me, though I didn’t know why he was there.
Last time, I had been half asleep and couldn’t look properly.
‘Crazy… he’s too handsome even from this angle…’
I screamed silently inside and filled myself with shameless admiration before slipping out of bed.
I stretched my stiff body, then returned to the bed and poked Aizen’s cheek.
“Wake up, darling.”
His eyelashes twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes.
His purple irises looked unfocused from lingering sleep.
I prepared a smug smile and was about to say something cheesy like ‘Good morning, darling’—
Whoosh.
Aizen suddenly pulled me tightly into his arms.
“…!”
“Do you no longer have a fever?”
His low, husky morning voice rang quietly above my head.
I froze, unable to breathe for a second, as he placed his hand on my forehead and mumbled with half-closed eyes.
“You still do.”
“Sleep a little longer.”
His large hand gently stroked the back of my head and patted my back.
Should I… actually go back to sleep?
Just as I slowly closed my eyes, Aizen’s eyes snapped wide open and he suddenly sat up like a startled cat.
Thwack!
He hit his own head hard, shocking me into grabbing his arm in panic.
“Goodness, darling! What are you doing?!”
“…My apologies, madam.”
“It seems I fell asleep beside you while comforting you since you were groaning in pain last night.”
“Oh, really? Then I should thank you.”
“There’s no reason for you to apologize.”
“But I touched your body without permission…”
“We’re married.”
This kind of affection is welcome.
I tried to lean my head against his chest again, but he quickly moved back and pressed my forehead.
“Ah…!”
“It looks like your body aches are gone, but don’t overdo it.”
“Rest for now.”
“Resting in your arms—”
“I have a mountain of work to do.”
“Since you’ve recovered, I’ll be going.”
Ignoring what I was trying to say, Aizen wrapped me tightly in a blanket, basically tying me up.
My whole body, except my head, was trapped, making it impossible to stand, follow him, or even grab him.
I stayed rolled up like a burrito until Greta came in later and freed me.
* * *
“Greta, I think I’ve developed an illness.”
“What kind of illness, milady?”
“The kind where you die of boredom if you don’t do anything for more than four days.”
It had been four days of enforced rest at Aizen’s insistence disguised as concern.
I had slept enough, lazed around enough, and fully recovered my strength.
I couldn’t lie down any longer.
“I want to go outside.”
“I want to eat something good.”
“And they said the quarantine is over, so I’m free to roam now, right?”
“Yes, milady.”
“The medicine you created has been distributed throughout the north, and the Black Breath disease has disappeared.”
“Then I’m going out!”
Greta hesitated for a second, then nodded at my enthusiastic plea.
Excited, I searched the wardrobe for clothes to wear outside, when someone suddenly knocked on the door.
Knock knock knock.
“It’s me.”
“May I come in?”
“Oh, Father?!”
I tossed the clothes aside and rushed to open the door.
“Welcome!”
He flinched when I stood very close to greet him, and cleared his throat awkwardly.
“I’d like to talk to you.”
“Do you have time?”
“Yes, please come in!”
He sat on the sofa and looked around awkwardly as I sat across from him.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t visit earlier to check on you…”
When I was busy making medicine and then collapsed afterward, I hadn’t seen him since the quarantine ended.
I heard from Greta that both Father and Mother had recovered fully.
I wondered if he had felt upset, so I tested the mood carefully.
He waved his hand urgently.
“No, not at all.”
“Don’t ever feel sorry.”
“Do you think I’m the type of heartless man who expects greetings from someone who is ill?”
“Of course not, Father.”
“I simply felt guilty for not thinking of you sooner.”
His eyes trembled slightly at my words.
Silence filled the room for a while.
He looked away for a long moment, then slowly turned back toward me.
He met my eyes and spoke clearly.
“Do not apologize.”
“The one who came to apologize today… is me.”
