Chapter 35

"Fjord, or rather, the young Duke Barat, he's a high-ranking person, right?"

"Yes."

"Then, the person who could have inflicted such injuries... Ah, could it be the traces of a sparring match?"

When Laub shook his head, Lirika remembered something Fjord had told her before.

"That's right. That's right. If so. Then."

Lirika bit her lip.

"I don't want to ask in detail. Fjord wouldn't want me to know. He kept saying he was fine. It's better not to see the injuries."

Laub sighed in relief and replied, "I think so too."

Lirika said,

"Should I wash the wounds now? Can I ask you, Laub?"

"Of course."

Until Brin returned, the two of them boiled a lot of water and boiled towels.

It was hot because it was summer, but they had to endure it.

Laub came in with a wet towel and then came out. The towel, which had wiped the wounds, was stained with blood, but Lirika didn't blink.

Meanwhile, Brin returned with bandages and antiseptic. Lirika handed the entire jar of yellow ointment, which was on the shelf, to Laub.

While Laub was bandaging, Brin went out again and returned with a large piece of ice.

"For such big wounds, heat is not good."

"Right."

Just as Laub came out of the room, Brin asked,

"Is it okay not to go in? Is he safe?"

"He seems to be."

Brin narrowed her eyes at this and nodded.

She brewed new tea and broke the ice with an ice pick to make iced tea in an instant.

"Here. This is iced tea made by the princess."

When Brin said this and offered the tray, Laub politely accepted the tea. Brin looked at the half-open bedroom door.

"It would be good to make some ice water to cool him down."

Laub stared at Brin. When their eyes met, he asked,

"Did the princess make that yellow ointment herself?"

"Yes, she did."

Brin replied with a provocative expression, as if to say, 'So what? What are you going to do about it?'

Laub calmly sipped the tea in his hand and said,

"In the future, it might be better to hide the source."

"A royal secret should be enough."

Brin replied calmly. Laub chuckled at this.

"Why are you laughing?"

At Brin's question, Laub cleared his throat and answered,

"Because it seems like I'm inside the circle."

If Brin had considered him an outsider, she would have denied that the princess made the ointment herself.

Or she might have made up a story about it being a secret passed down in the Takar royal family.

But Brin spoke the truth honestly. That meant she recognized him as an ally of Princess Lirika. It made him feel good for no reason.

Brin snorted and shook the ice pick.

"It's not my circle. The princess trusts you."

Laub approached and said,

"I understand. Then I'll make the ice water."

Brin quickly hid the ice pick and said,

"I'll do this, so go and fill the water jar."

"Understood."

Laub obediently listened to her. While he was filling the water jar, Brin entered with a basin full of ice water.

Lirika, sitting at the head of the bed, looked serious. Glancing at the patient, it seemed that the young Duke Barat was indeed safe, as Laub had said.

'Even if he wakes up in this state, it would be hard for him to attack the princess.'

"Princess, I've brought the ice water. Since he has a fever, putting it on his forehead will make him feel better."

"Thank you, Brin."

Lirika quickly dampened a towel and placed it on Fjord's forehead. She then asked seriously,

"Brin, can I stay here and sleep tonight?"

"Well, wouldn't Her Majesty the Queen or His Highness the Crown Prince be surprised?"

"I guess so?"

Lirika rolled her eyes and then exclaimed, "Ah!"

"Then, how about going to greet them and pretending to sleep, and then slipping out?"

Brin asked quietly.

"Are you that worried? I can stay if you want."

"Yes, but..."

Lirika thought back to when her stomach ached and her mother had massaged it all night, providing great comfort.

She wanted to be by Fjord's side, not just anyone. Having someone who had shared a bit of camaraderie with him would be better, wouldn't it?

As Lirika hesitated, Brin smiled and said,

"I understand. Let's think of a way together."

"Brin!"

Lirika hugged her with gratitude. Brin smiled faintly.

Actually, Brin didn't find it pleasant to get involved with Barat.

'But.'

Barat's greatest masterpiece.

Fjord Barat.

No matter how many times she looked, it seemed he was becoming devoted to the princess.

Traitors from within are always welcome.

'Of course, I'll always keep a close eye on things.'

Barat could even create such wounds as a ruse to manipulate people. So she would always, always be suspicious, but there was no reason to deliberately stop the princess.

"Let's observe the situation and decide next."

"Right, it's a bit of a stretch, but thank you for listening. I'm sorry, Brin. I've been acting like a spoiled child lately."

Brin smiled and patted her princess's back. Her short, dark purple hair fell softly.

"Taking care of a spoiled child is my pleasure. And this isn't even that much of a spoiled request."

"But I keep asking you to do difficult things."

"Really? I don't find it difficult at all."

As Lirika lifted her head from Brin's embrace, Brin smiled.

"I'm just following the princess's request."

At this, Lirika's eyes widened, then she looked determined.

"Yes, I'll take full responsibility."

If Athil got angry again, she might have to take a hit for him. When Athil hit Fjord, she might have collapsed if he hit her the same way.

Lirika clenched her fists.

"I'll protect you, so don't worry, Brin."

"Yes, Princess."

Brin smiled.

* * *

Fjord felt a cool breeze. The warm cloth wiping his sticky, sweaty skin felt good.

"Shall we take turns?"

"No, it's fine."

"Aren't you tired?"

"I've been sitting here the whole time."

He heard low voices and involuntarily opened his eyes.

In his blurry vision, something was moving back and forth. When his vision cleared, Fjord realized it was a round fan.

"Oh, Fjord, you're awake?"

The fan stopped, and a round face appeared. Fjord, dazed, looked at her and asked,

"Is this a dream?"

"No, unfortunately? No? Well, anyway, no."

She said this and started fanning again. Feeling the breeze, Fjord savored her answer and then suddenly sat up.

His vision spun, and he grabbed the bed frame. Lirika, startled, got off her high chair and quickly held his shoulder.

"Are you okay? The fever has gone down, but you shouldn't move so much yet."

"Where is this, how long—"

His words came out in fragments. Lirika explained,

"This is a cottage in one corner of the garden, and we met this morning. It's now the next day at dawn. It's still the middle of the night."

Then, "Here," Lirika offered a cup. Fjord carefully took it and drank the sweet honey water with a hint of salt. Lirika then laid him back down.

"Sleep a little more. Your fever just went down."

"But..."

He was confused. His memory was hazy. Was it okay to be here?

"I'll stay by your side."

At those words, his tension inexplicably melted away.

Lirika sat back on the high chair and started fanning again.

The breeze made her hair sway gently. The sound of insects chirping came from outside the window. The sweet scent of jasmine wafted through the night air and entered through the window.

The newly built cottage smelled of freshly cut wood. The bed sheets were made of cotton, not silk, and felt crisp from being dried in the sun.

"..."

Most of all, when he turned his gaze, he saw a bird perched on the high chair. The brown hair tied with a bright red ribbon was distinct.

Her teal eyes shone beautifully even in the dark.

When their eyes met, she said, "Oh dear," and fanned faster.

"Go to sleep."

"I'm afraid it might be a dream if I close my eyes."

If this were a dream, he wanted to stay longer. Lirika pressed the fan to her chin and then got off the chair.

She climbed onto the bed, just like her mother used to.

"!!"

Gently pulling Fjord's head, Lirika let him lean on her shoulder and said,

"Is this okay?"

"...Yes..."

He wasn't sure if it was okay, so he awkwardly turned his gaze. He saw a raven of the royal family standing to one side.

'And there's a wolf too.'

It's fine.

He made this judgment and closed his eyes. Even if it was a dream, the princess was safe, and that allowed him to close his eyes.

No one would harm him,

and he wouldn't harm anyone.

It was a safe place.

Feeling the warmth from her small, round shoulder, he quickly slipped back into sleep.

It was a deep and comfortable sleep.

So deep that he didn't even notice a tear rolling down his cheek.

Lirika reached out to wipe the tear but then pulled back. She didn't want to disturb his sleep.

'I thought I was grown up at this age.'

The boys and girls in the slums, who were much taller than her, did the work of an adult by the time they were his age. So Lirika used to look at those older siblings and think, 'I need to grow up quickly.'

'Maybe not.'

Real adults would be people like Tan, Lat, and His Majesty.

Lirika started fanning again. It was pleasant to watch his fine silver hair sway in the breeze.

'I'm sleepy...'

In the middle of the night, she had been at a loss when his fever spiked, but miraculously, it started to go down.

Everything was fine after that. Laub had reassured her, 'It seems he's in the recovery phase.'

She had stayed awake all night.

Seeing Fjord awake and reassured, sleepiness started to overwhelm her.

Nodding off, Lirika began to doze and soon fell asleep. Before the fan slipped from her small hand and fell to the ground, Brin deftly caught it.

She placed the princess's hand back on the bed and covered her with a blanket.

'Although it's unsettling to spend a night outside.'

Brin bit her lip.

'I'll return just before dawn.'

* * *

Fjord opened his eyes out of habit. He lay still for a moment to assess the situation, then quietly turned to look at Lirika.

Seeing her sleeping soundly, an indescribable feeling washed over him.

He wanted to lie here forever. But that was impossible. He slowly got up. He felt surprisingly refreshed. After moving his limbs and confirming there was no pain, he slipped out of bed.

He sensed movement outside and instinctively looked for something to use as a weapon.

The one who calmly opened the door and entered was the royal raven. She glanced at him and then completely ignored him, approaching Lirika to wake her up.

"Princess, wake up. You need to return to the White Dragon Room."

"Mmm..."

"Princess."

Fjord stood there, completely ignored. After a while, Lirika rubbed her eyes and got up, yawning softly. She was startled to see him awake.

"Fjord! Are you okay now?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

Lirika smiled sweetly.

"I'm relieved."

Seeing her smile, he couldn't help but smile back.

He wanted to know the details, but it didn't seem like the right time.

Then,

"What is this? You made something like this and kept it hidden—"

Athil, who had entered with a cheerful face, froze. Fjord swallowed.