Chapter 48: Moaning Pain (2)

And I don’t care if you seduce me…

Enoch pretended not to hear Aran’s meek mutterings. She probably had no idea what the term seduce meant.

“…You used to take care of me, too, when I was sick. Of course, you didn’t sneak in, but… I… I couldn’t just leave you alone knowing that you’re in this state.”

“It’s fine, I get it, but don’t do this next time.”

Aran nodded vigorously. Enoch, who had finished what he had to say, lifted his hand from her shoulder and gently pushed her away.

“Thank you for your care and attention, but it’s getting late. Go back.”

Aran rubbed the shoulder that his hand had touched with a regretful face.

“I’ll just watch you eat. Uh… because I have to bring the basket and the tableware back.”

Aran made an excuse to see Enoch for a little longer. It was the same when she saw him sleeping, but when he woke up and they had a conversation, she couldn’t find it in herself to be separated from him.

Although his mouth was dry, Enoch swallowed the bread at the princess’ stubborn demands. He thought he had no appetite, but when he put the food in his mouth, he couldn’t stop. After he finished the cold soup, bread, and fruit, Aran handed him a round pill and the water she had just poured. Enoch swallowed that, too.

“Good job.”

He heard a rustle and something touched his lips. When he opened his mouth in a daze, a piece of candy popped in. He wasn’t a child. Enoch looked at Aran with bewildered eyes, and Aran grinned as their gazes met. Instead of smiling back at her, Enoch turned his head and shrunk away from her.

Their meetings were limited before the fall of his family, so he could easily disregard such childish behaviors. But now, the situation and their standings have changed. The princess would continue to try and break into his daily life as she was doing now. If he wanted to use the princess, he’d need to adjust to her rhythm to a certain extent, but his head ached at the thought of it.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

Aran rose slowly and carefully. It was a clear sign that she was dying to stay longer.

Enoch looked out the window. The weather had been cloudy since morning, and the moon was obscured by the clouds.

“I’ll escort you,” said Enoch.

“Huh?”

His unexpected favor cast doubt in Aran’s chest.

“It’s a long way from here to the palace. How do you intend to go alone this late at night?”

“But you’re sick, and you don’t have to. I came alone earlier so I can go back alone, too. I know shortcuts that people don’t frequent.”

Aran quickly stopped Enoch. Though, still, she was happy to hear his kind offer. But Enoch, against her advice, got out of bed. It was annoying, but he didn’t want to send a little girl back alone in the dark night. His pain was tolerable for now except that a wave of dizziness washed over him the moment he stood.

“I’ll be fine. Really,” Aran said.

“Lead the way,” Enoch, who ignored Aran’s words, made a curt command.

With a strangely overbearing attitude, Aran took a step, reading his countenance. Enoch followed suit.

It was deep in the night and no one was around. Occasionally, guards on night duty patrolled around, but every time they did, Aran found a way not to run into them like a ghost. It seemed that there were more times than Enoch could count where she snuck out like this at night.

“Uhm… I’m going to pass this road now.”