âFjord, no, Young Duke Barat is a high-ranking person, isnât he?â
âThatâs right.â
âTâthen, who could hurt him like thatâŚâŚ Oh, could it be signs from sparring?â
When she recalled what Fjord had said before and asked if that could be the case, Lauv shook his head. Those were wounds that were inflicted unilaterally on a restrained opponent.
âI see. I see. In that case, in that case.â
Lilica bit her lip.
âI wonât ask you for details. Fjord wouldnât want me to know either. He kept saying that heâs fine. Itâs better if I donât look at the wounds.â
âI also think so,â replied Lauv relievedly.
Lilica said.
âIs cleaning the wound all thatâs required right now? Iâm sorry, but can I leave it to Lauv?â
âOf course.â
The both of them boiled a lot of water and soaked towels in them while waiting for Brynnâs return.
It was hot because it was summer, but she had to endure this much.
Lauv went in with a bunch of damp towels and came out.
Blood stained the towels that were used to clean up the wound, but Lilica didnât bat an eye at that.
Meanwhile, Brynn returned with bandages and disinfectants.
Lilica handed all the yellow ointment that was on the shelves to Lauv.
While Lauv was bandaging him, Brynn went out again and returned with a large pack of ice this time.
âBecause it wouldnât be good if he has a fever with such a large wound.â
âMm.â
Just then, Lauv came out from the room and said.
âThe wounds have been tended to.â
âCan I go inside and look at him now?â
âYes.â
After saying that, Lauv stared at Lilica dazedly for a while.
He also knew that the yellow ointment was made by her.
Apparently, itâs an ointment made of dandelions, but he only realised after applying it a while ago.
âThe wound healed too quickly.â
Heâd wondered if it was due to the natural healing ability that bluebloods naturally possessed, but that wasnât the case.
Before he applied the ointment, blood was still flowing from the cleaned wound. He clearly saw the open wound on Fjordâs body.
âBut when I began applying the ointment, the blood stopped immediately.â
After some time passed, even the small puncture wounds were already healed.
âIf this is the power of the ointmentâŚâ
He didnât know what to say.
Lilica ran past him into the bedroom and came out right away.
Lauv asked in astonishment.
âIs there something wrong?â
âThank you, Lauv.â
Immediately after saying that, Lilica hugged him. Lauv became rooted to the spot.
âBrynn too, thank you! Lauv, Brynn brought ice, so drink some chilled tea while waiting.â
Afterwards, Lauvâs stiffened shoulders dropped when he watched the princess rushing into the room again.
Brynn asked.
âIs it alright if she goes in without you? Is it safe?â
âI think itâll be okay.â
Brynn hmphed at the remark, narrowed her eyes and nodded.
Chilled tea was instantly made when freshly brewed tea was poured onto the ice, which was split into smaller pieces with an ice pick.
âHere you go. The chilled tea that the princess has bestowed upon you.â
Brynn spoke while holding out the tray, and Lauv politely accepted the tea.
Brynn glanced at the half-opened bedroom door.
âTo reduce his temperature, Iâd better make some ice water first.â
Lauv stared at Brynn openly. When Brynn met his gaze, he asked.
âDid the princess make that yellow ointment herself?â
âYes, she did.â
Brynn replied with a defiant expression, like she was asking, âAnd so? What about that?â
Lauv drank the tea he was holding calmly and said.
âI think itâll be better to hide where itâs produced from now on.â
âSaying that itâs an ointment made with the Imperial familyâs secret recipe will do.â
Brynn also answered nonchalantly. Lauv snorted at that remark.
âWhy are you laughing?â
Lauv cleared his throat and replied to Brynn.
âI feel like Iâve joined a circle.â
If Brynn had defined Lauv as an outsider, she would have denied that the princess made that ointment personally.
Or she would have said that itâs a secret recipe belonging to the Takar Imperial Family. She would have dodged the question like that.
But Brynn told him the truth frankly.
This meant that she recognizes him as someone on Princess Lilicaâs side.
That made him feel good for no reason in particular.
Brynn snorted, âHmph.â and waved the ice pick.
âItâs not out of my own will. Itâs because the princess trusts you.â
Lauv came over and said.
âThatâs right. Then Iâll make the ice water instead.â
Brynn hid the ice awl and said.
âIâll do this. You can go and fill up the water vat.â
âAlright.â
Lauv followed her instructions obediently.
While he was filling the water vat, Brynn went inside with a brass basin full of ice water.
* * *
Lilica was sitting at the bedside with a serious expression.
When Brynn took a furtive glance at the patientâs condition, it was just as Lauv had mentioned, Young Duke Barat seemed safe.
âEven if he wakes up in this condition, it would be hard for him to attack the princess.â
âI brought over some ice water, princess. Since he has a fever, putting this on his forehead will be cooling for him.â
âThank you, Brynn.â
Lilica quickly wet the towel and put it on Fjordâs forehead. She asked solemnly.
âBrynn, can I sleep here tonight?â
âWell, would the Empress or Crown Prince be rather surprised if they found out about it?â
âI guess so.â
Lilicaâs eyes searched around the room diligently, exclaiming, âAh!â
âThen what if I went back and bid them a good evening, pretended to sleep, and then came back here?â
Brynn asked softly.
âAre you that worried? I can stay.â
âYes, butâŚâŚâ
Lilica remembered the time she had a stomachache. It was so comforting when her mother rubbed her stomach all night long.
She wanted to stay by Fjordâs side, and not anyone else.
Wouldnât it be better if itâs someone that he was on good terms with?
As Lilica hesitated, Brynn smiled and said.
âUnderstood. Letâs come up with a way together.â
âBrynn!â
Turning emotional, Lilica hugged her tightly. Brynn gave a faint smile.
Truthfully, she didnât like getting involved with Barat.
However.
Baratâs greatest masterpiece.
Fjord Barat.
No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like the princess was so obsessed with him that she couldnât see anything else.
Internal traitors are always welcomed.
âOf course, Iâll always keep my eyes wide open.â
Barats are the ones that could use such a wound to spin lies in order to entice people.
Therefore, she would always have doubts whenever and wherever it happens, but thereâs no need to stop the princess.
âIn that case, letâs make a decision after watching the situation.â
âYes, Iâm being unreasonable, but thank you for listening to my request. Iâm sorry, Brynn. Iâve been acting like a spoiled child lately.â
Brynn smiled and patted the princessâs back lightly. Strands of dark purple hair fluttered from her bob smoothly.
âItâs my pleasure to accept your spoiled behaviour. And this level isnât even considered childish.â
âBut Iâve only been making troublesome requests.â
âOh, itâs not the least bit troublesome for me.â
When Lilica lifted her head up from her embrace, Brynn smiled.
âIâm just agreeing to the princessâs request.â
Lilicaâs eyes widened those words and made a determined expression.
âYes, Iâll take responsibility for everything.â
If Atil gets angry again, he might hit Fjord again.
If Atil hits her like how he hits Fjord, she might fall to the ground.
Lilica clenched her fist tightly.
âIâll protect you, so donât worry, Brynn.â
âYes, my princess.â
Brynn smiled.
* * *
Fjord felt a cool breeze.
It also felt nice when the skin thatâs sticky with sweat was wiped with a warm towel.
âShould we switch shifts?â
âNo, itâs alright.â
âArenât you tired?â
âIâve been sitting all this while.â
He opened his eyes inadvertently at the soft murmuring.
He could spot something going back and forth before his blurry vision.
Fjord only knew that it was a round fan when his eyes managed to focus clearly.
âAh, Fjord, youâre awake?â
When the fan stopped and a round face appeared, Fjord looked blankly at the other person and asked.
âIs this a dream?â
âNo, unfortunately? Or not? Hm, it isnât a dream regardless.â
After speaking, she continued fanning again.
After mulling over her response while feeling the breeze, Fjord rose sharply.
His vision swirled as he supported himself on the bed.
Startled, Lilica got down from the high chair and quickly grabbed his shoulders.
âAre you alright? Your fever has gone down, but you canât move around like that yet.â
âWhere, how long, exactlyââ
His words came out intermittently. Lilica explained.
âThis is a cabin in one corner of the garden, and we met this morning. Itâs currently dawn, the next day. Itâs still in the middle of the night.â
Soon after, Lilica held out a cup, saying, âYouâre thirsty, arenât you?â
Fjord carefully accepted the cup.
After finishing the sweet honey water that had a little salt added, Lilica helped him back down.
âSleep a little more. Your fever has just broken.â
âButâŚâŚâ
He was quite muddleheaded.
He couldnât recall exactly. Can he really stay here?
âIâll remain by your side.â
Unexpectedly, those words were enough to melt his tenseness.
After she took a seat back on the high chair, Lilica began fanning again.
Flick, flick.
His hair fluttered slightly.
The sound of insects audible through the window. The sweet scent of jasmine wafted in along with the night air through the window.
The newly built cabin smelled of freshly cut wood.
The bed sheet was made of cotton, not silk, and it felt rather crisp as it was dried in the sun.
ââŚâŚâ
Above all, if he turned his gaze over, heâd spot a robin sitting on a high chair.
The red ribbon worn in her brown hair was rather vivid.
Although it was at night, her eyes were still a beautiful turquoise that shone iridescently.
When their eyes met, she said, âOh, my,â and began fanning a little faster.
âGo to sleep.â
âIâm scared that if I avert my eyes, itâll end up as a dream.â
If this was a dream, he wanted to stay a little longer.
Lilica tucked the fan under her chin and got down from the chair.
She climbed onto the bed like her mother did.
â!!â
Lilica pulled the astonished Fjordâs head carefully to lean against her shoulder and said.
âThis is okay, right?â
ââŚâŚYesâŚâŚâ
He looked away hurriedly because he couldnât tell if what he spewed out was alright or not.
Then, he spotted a crow of the imperial family standing at one side.
âA wolf as well.â
Not bad.
After making that judgement, he closed his eyes.
The princess was safe even though it was a dream, so he could close his eyes in that case.
No one would hurt him,
And he wouldnât hurt anyone either.
It was that kind of safe place.
He felt warmth while leaning against that small and round shoulder.
He fell back asleep instantly.
It was a deep and comfortable slumber.
It was to the point where he didnât even notice a teardrop sliding down his cheek.
Lilica reached a hand out to wipe away his tears but dropped her hand instead.
She didnât want to disturb his sleep for nothing.
âI thought I was all grown up at my age.â
When the boys and girls of the slums reached a taller height than her, they began acting as adults.
As such, when Lilica looked at those older brothers and sisters, she also wanted to grow up sooner.
âMaybe not.â
The real adults probably are people like Tan, Lat and His Majesty.
Lilica picked up the fan and moved it side to side again. Watching his thin silvery hair flutter gently at the fanâs breeze was quite fun.
âIâm sleepyâŚâ
His fever shot up so high during the night that she didnât know what to do, but it started to recede like a miracle.
Then everything became fine in an instant.
Lauv reassured Lilica, saying, âHeâs probably in recovery.â
She was up all night long.
She felt relieved when she saw Fjord wake up, and soon began to feel sleepy.
As Lilica leaned backwards, she began to doze off and soon fell asleep.
Brynn nimbly caught the fan before it slipped out of her little hand and fell to the ground.
She placed the princessâs hand on the bed and covered her with the blanket she brought over.
âAlthough spending a night outside is nerve wracking.â
Brynn bit her lip.
âLetâs return just before dawn.â
* * *
Before dawn, Fjord opened his eyes according to his usual sleep cycle.
After he grasped the situation while lying down, he slowly turned around and looked at Lilica.
The sight of her sound asleep gave him an indescribable feeling.
He wanted to continue lying down like this forever.
But that was impossible.
He got up slowly. It felt surprisingly refreshing.
After moving his limbs and confirming that there wasnât any pain, he slipped out of bed.
Fjord sensed a sign of movement from outside, so he looked for something that could serve as a weapon reflexively.
The one that opened the door calmly and came in was the imperial familyâs crow.
She glanced at him before completely ignoring him. She approached the bed feather-footedly and began waking Lilica up.
âPlease wake up, princess. Itâs time to return back to White Dragon Chamber.â
âUnnghâŚâŚâ
âPrincess.â
Fjord stood at a distance blankly, completely ignored.
After a while, Lilica, who woke up after rubbing her eyes, yawned quietly and was surprised to see him up on his feet.
âFjord! Are you okay now?â
âYes, Iâm fine.â
Lilica smiled broadly.
âThatâs a relief.â
He couldnât help but return her smile.
Although he wanted to hear the situation in detail, it didnât seem like a good time.
At that moment.
âWhatâs this? You made all this and kept it under wrapsââ
Atil, who opened the door with a joyous expression, was rooted to that spot.