Chapter 14
“How is she?”
The attending physician nodded, seemingly satisfied with the examination.
“She’s doing much better. Her heartbeat is normal, her pulse is normal, and her magical reaction is also stable.”
“That’s a relief.”
Mehen sighed in relief.
“We’ll still need to monitor her, but this kind of improvement is quite remarkable. What exactly did you do?”
The physician asked with an amazed tone.
Mehen gave a wry smile.
Normally, when Arellin had a seizure, she would be unconscious for at least a week. The fact that she had recovered to normal after just three or four days was certainly fast.
“I didn’t really do anything…”
The only thing that had changed was that Mehen had stayed by her side.
Could that have made such a big difference?
“She also seems much more stable emotionally. She used to have a rather anxious aura around her.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“At this rate, she can start eating regular meals and doing light activities.”
“Understood.”
“However…”
A shadow passed over the physician’s face.
“However?”
“It seems that the young lady’s body is gradually growing weaker over time.”
Mehen bit his lip.
“At this rate…”
“Enough.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“No, you don’t need to apologize.”
At the time of the initial diagnosis, they had said she wouldn’t live past five. But now? Arellin was six.
She could collapse at any time, and it wouldn’t be strange if her health suddenly deteriorated. Mehen was fully aware of that.
‘That’s why I frantically kept trying to contact that damned lord.’
It was all because he felt they should meet at least once while she could still talk and walk around.
Although now… even that seemed pointless.
“Please continue taking special care of her health.”
“O-of course! I will.”
After the physician left, Mehen approached Arellin. Her once haggard face had regained its color, her chubby cheeks now flushed pink. The sight made Mehen feel strangely at ease.
“What?”
Arellin asked as Mehen smiled softly.
“You can probably eat whatever you want for dinner tonight.”
“Good.”
Arellin smiled.
Seeing that smile, Mehen thought again—
Thank goodness I wasn’t too late.
If he had walked away without recognizing the deep bond that had inevitably formed, how would he have felt?
“Young Lady.”
“Mm?”
Her tiny hand, her small cheeks.
Had she always been this small?
It had taken him a long time.
Making the decision had been hard, but once he made it, everything became easier.
“May I hold your hand?”
“Huh…”
Her round eyes widened in surprise—adorable.
“Yes!”
As she confidently reached out her small hand, Mehen took it, making his own resolve.
From now on, I’ll raise her properly.
Meanwhile… at the Wednesday gathering.
A social group for the crown prince, by the crown prince, and about the crown prince.
The first, second, and third most important thing in this club was Crown Prince Fassion.
“What’s with His Highness?”
“Do you know him?”
“I have no idea.”
Everyone was competing to become the prince’s best friend.
But what if the prince himself seemed disinterested?
“Hmmm.”
No matter what happened—bored.
Not at all like the normally cheerful and lively Fassion. The other children were clearly confused.
“Um… Your Highness?”
“…”
“Y-Your Highness?”
“…”
Despite their nervous attempts to get his attention, Fassion’s mind was elsewhere.
Arellin didn’t come again today.
The fact that she wasn’t there.
And the message he’d received from Halbern:
“Young Lady Arellin has collapsed. It seems she won’t be able to receive visitors today.”
Fassion, who had been looking forward to playing with her, was crushed—and so worried he couldn’t focus.
“She collapsed again…”
How could someone collapse so often? Was her body made of glass?
Fassion even started to feel like Arellin was another species altogether.
How had she even survived this long, collapsing so frequently?
Worry, surprise, curiosity, and some unknown feelings all jumbled together, leaving him so distracted he barely noticed what was happening.
“You go ask.”
“N-no, you do it.”
“I-I don’t want to either.”
They had all noticed Fassion was acting strange, but no one dared ask why—afraid they’d fall out of favor.
They just kept passing the responsibility around.
Except for a pair of bright-eyed twins who approached, their eyes gleaming.
“Your Highness, why so down?”
“Your Highness, why so moody?”
Sperom’s twins, who had been off playing by themselves, had returned and were now clearly curious.
Fassion waved them off, annoyed.
“Go away. I’m not in the mood to play with you guys.”
Siel tilted her head.
“If not in the mood to play, what mood are you in?”
“In-the-mood-to-not-play mood?”
The twins giggled, and Fassion sighed.
“I’ve got something on my mind.”
“What is it?”
“What is it, what is it?”
“Well…”
“You have a worry?”
“Your Highness has a worry?”
At first, Fassion hesitated—was it okay to share this with them?
But he soon realized he didn’t really have anyone else to talk to.
“I visited someone in the hospital a few days ago… Is it okay if I go again?”
An unexpected question.
The twins looked at each other.
“Isn’t that fine?”
“If you want to visit, just go again.”
Fassion brightened.
“Right? That’s what I thought!”
“…?”
“…?”
Why was he so happy?
Graham, standing beside them, smacked his forehead.
With renewed energy, Fassion stood up, smiling brightly.
“Guys, sorry! I’m leaving. I’ve got something to do.”
“Huh?”
“Graham, come with me!”
Fassion abruptly rushed off.
“Let’s go visit her!”
As the energetic prince dashed off, the twins exchanged puzzled looks again.
“Who’s he going to visit again?”
The twins tilted their heads in sync.
“Arellin!”
Oh no.
“I came to visit!”
Why is he here again?
The cheerful little devil had arrived—the same devil who knocked her out the first time and now pretended to care. She wouldn’t be fooled again.
“Are you really sick? You collapsed again? Do you always collapse this much?”
Even though Arellin raised all her defenses, she couldn’t win against Fassion’s overbearing enthusiasm. Her head throbbed, and she shut her eyes for a moment.
This kid… is dangerous.
“Ah! Arellin, what’s wrong? Did I do something wrong again? Are you in pain?!”
“No, I’m fine. Just give me a second.”
His overwhelming energy made her feel like she was being exorcised. Could a human really shine this brightly? Maybe the Crown Prince wasn’t even human…
My mind’s clearly gone if I’m thinking like this.
Trying to regain focus, she looked at Fassion. He stared back at her with sparkling eyes, like a well-trained golden retriever, just waiting for her to say something.
Why… do I feel like I can see ears and a tail?
“Isn’t today the day of the Wednesday club?”
“Yup! You remembered!”
“Yes, but… why are you here?”
Why was he, who should be at the club, standing here?
The Crown Prince apparently didn’t understand subtleties. He replied brightly.
“I heard you collapsed again, so I left in the middle to come visit!”
“Oh…”
There goes my life’s peace and quiet.
The most popular and powerful boy in Albrecht was showing interest in me, ignoring everyone else?
This should’ve made her heart flutter… but her heart was pounding for a very different reason.
I’m doomed.
She could already imagine the jealous stares and malicious gossip.
Even though her social life had never been abundant, it was now officially ruined.
Pouring poison before even fertilizing the field.
Not that I ever planned to grow that field anyway.
Still, there’s a big difference between not doing something and being forced not to by others.
“Are you really that sick? Why are you always sick? You have a disease, right? Is it incurable?”
The cheerful little question-murderer bombarded her with inquiries, oblivious to the chaos he’d caused.
Help me, Graham. Help me, Mehen.
Graham looked like he had no intention of helping, and Mehen wasn’t even here. Others couldn’t step in due to the status gap.
“Hah. So lonely.”
Life is suffering. Alone.
“Huh?”
“Nothing.”
If this kept up, she would be drained dry by his enthusiasm. She could already see her withered corpse waving from the near future.
She tried to shift the conversation.
“Why did you come?”
“Huh?”
The prince tilted his head.
Didn’t you understand the question? It was simple.
“I came to see you.”
Right… but why?
“To see me? Why?”
“Huh?”
“Did you have something to say?”
“Nope!”
“Any reason?”
“Sick visit!”
“Other than that?”
“Nothing!”
The more they spoke, the more it felt like two people having disconnected monologues.
Is this even a real conversation? Are we exchanging anything of value?
“So… you came to see me without any particular reason or message. Is that correct?”
“I came to visit!”
“Besides that.”
“Yup!”
“…”
I don’t get it.
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to see you?”
“…”
“Why? Is that not allowed?”
The Crown Prince tilted his head.
And for the first time, Arellin had no idea how to respond.
Because no one had ever said that to her before.
“…I…”
What was she even supposed to say to that?
