CH 18

Rox and Ripley looked at each other and listened to Eugene next words:

“It’s a well-known fact that my mana is of the light-type. And as I heard earlier, your’s is of the dark-type. It can create a special synergy, but it’s a rare combination.”

This was because the two types of mana themselves were rare. It was a welcome opinion. Eugenes’s young eyes looked at Cain. It was a very interesting idea, worth a try, and also a method which offered enough hope.

It was early in the evening. At twilight, where few lanterns were turned on, they began to come up with ideas together to minimize the side effects.

Although someone’s determination to “help the relationship between Eugene and Cain so it doesn’t get worse!” was meaningless, but the atmosphere between Eugene and Cain was already not bad. A day and two days passed just like that.

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I can’t see my handsome guys.

I was withering away. Eugene was nowhere to be seen for two days. You said you’d come back. Of course, I was enjoying my life even while withering. Last night, Rinnie baked ginger cookies with Ireen.

“Rinnie made this?”

“Yes, your highness. Even the chef said they were good. Actually, he said I shouldn’t give them to your highness, but I brought it secretly!“

I burst into laughter as I opened my eyes wide and covered my mouth. Irene smiled quietly next to her. Wahahaha, I laughed and begged them to teach me as well as a way to solve Eugene’s withdrawal symptoms. The two, who were a bit confused, nodded with a determined face as if they remembered that I had been gloomy all day. And tomorrow morning, Rinnie was eventually arrested by the chef because of the savory smell of cookies.

“I can’t believe you were baking cookies alone in the evening! It could’ve been dangerous, Rinnie! Why do it at night? Why not do it during the day?”

It was the first time I’ve seen Chef Theo in person. I was worried about it, so I came out of my room for a while and wandered around the palace. I immediately surrendered when I found Rinnie, who was crying.

“I’m sorry. I forcefully dragged Rinnie along…… Next time, I’ll do it during the day, chef.”

Irene was already standing there as well.

“Oh my…”

Was this the appearance of a chef who has hardened without saying a word? In addition, the reactions of the maids, servants, and a few knights watching were spectacular. My jaw is going to drop down. I’m sorry, but it was a bit of a funny sight to see.

“Oh, it’s okay. Oh, huh? Your Highness?

After making a lot of gestures to thank the chef for his clumsy response, I turned gracefully.

“Even so, I was thinking of doing some pretty things along with Rinnie and Emma, but this went well.’

As soon as I went back to the room, I closed the door and burst into laughter. And I greeted lunch time and dinner time again. I couldn’t even catch a glimpse of the my handsome men‘s noses. It would feel a bit odd to visit Cain on my own while I was trying to to get close with Eugene.

I fell asleep grumbling sullenly by myself. But isn’t there a saying that happiness comes suddenly just like misfortune? The next morning, I could see Cain, who said he was on vacation, and Eugene, who returned to me.

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“Your Highness!”

As soon as he said hello to me, Eugene had to support me. I stumbled as the two handsome men came into view. This is because I was ecstatic and felt dizzy.

“Are you okay?”

Looking at Cain, who approached and asked politely and firmly, I was out of my mind: “Oh, Duke Irick? Why … here?”

“I’ve come here to help you, Your Highness.

Didn’t you reject the idea of the Trojan fruit? But thanks to that, Rox didn’t  suffer in vain locking for some mythical fruit. I’m grateful for that, but I don’t know what to in return.

We’ve never met before.

“Well, I’m grateful for the thought, but…”, I shaked my hand while saying so.

We’ve never talked before.

Was Cain this kind? As far as I know, he was a very shy type. That’s why I tried to go with Eugene. However, being that part of being shy seemed to remain the same. When I was staring at him silently, he rolled the sad black eyes and avoided my eyes.

His appearance was a magnificent. When I forgot to say something and was watching him, Eugene pulled me slightly away from Cain as if to calm myself down.

“Your Highness, if you have time, why don’t you go to doctor Rox together with us?”

There was a strange euphoria in the words he said with a bright smile.

“That’s … yes.”

Together with us?

Only then did I feel strange. Isn’t this a nuance that feels like the two met first? As I followed them, I thought about it a little seriously. Cain couldn’t possibly get along with Eugene and behave like this for my sake.

The reason for his bad relationship with Eugene, other than the interference of the crown prince, is because their personalities are complete opposites. Now, it may seem like they’re united trough the same goal, but that’s what’s important.

But why? Why are they together? For my sake? Why did Cain do this?

“…….”

Cain was somewhat treated as a weapon in the imperial palace because of his family’s characteristics. He had never shown favor or rejection of the imperial family, but he was a person who was considered very difficult to be friends, because of that relationship.

I guess I should ask about this.

After much consideration, I carefully asked Cain: “Duke, did you say you took a vacation?””

“Yes, your Highness.”

You said in the original work that you took your first vacation for Ariel. I couldn’t help but look at him with very unfamiliar eyes. But he replied with a little frown on his face as if he knew what I meant with my gaze: “…I know.”

“What?”, asked I puzzled. Eugene also glanced at him, but there was no particular bad feelings in his gaze.

Recognizing it with hawk eyes, Cain said in a slightly saggy voice: “I know what vacation is, your Highness.”

There was a moment of silence. I couldn’t tell whether I should laugh or comfort him. I heard a giggle of laughter next to me. Oh, I see. At least one knew how to react. The relationship between the two seems to went well so I didn’t have to fix it.

It was such a relief. At that moment, I was more relieved about Cain being less likely to antagonize Eugene than to question Cain helping me. So I looked at Cain still and tried to swallow the laughter that came out.

“I never said that you didn’t know what it meant.”

“Yes.”

“Haha!” Eugene eventually burst into laughter at Cain’s gloomy answer.

I also smiled happily and told Cain: “I’m kidding. I didn’t hurt your feelings, did I?”

“Not at all.”

The cavernous voice attacked my nerves every moment, but because I was noticing the changes in the contents and expressions of the word kept me from fainting.

“So what have the two of you been doing till now?”

“We’ve found a way to slow down the progression of your illness”, told Eugene me with a worried face.

I was frightened. Of course, I think it’s a good thing for me if it’s true that they’re able to delay it, because the effects of the disease remain in my body for now. But it wasn’t just a surprise. Even if it’s because Eugene and I feel like friends to some extent, but Cain…?

“Don’t worry. I made the medicine to a level that I should have no side effects.”

Seriously, Cain… Why would you help me?

“Well, Duke. Why are you helping me so much despite not knowing me well?”

I didn’t say it on purpose that it’s my first time. I was thinking about unnie‘s memories just in case. Eugene looked closely at me and Cain and began to walk closer to me.

“That day.”

A little later, Cain opened his mouth with his unique slightly humming voice.

“Your highness on that day, even though you were in despair, you showed no signs of fear.”

“What?”

The day he is talking about, there is only one possible day: he is talking about the day we briefly met in the Duke’s office at the Black Tower. The day I I caused an incident because of his beauty……? Hmm? Why would I have been afraid of his beauty that day?

I tilted my head and asked: “Was there anything I should have been afraid of?”

“If you weren’t afraid that day….”

Cain stopped for a moment. Then Eugene put me behind him with a look that seemed to be very annoyed.

Cain whispered to me, lowering his black eyes a little gloomy: “I thought it wouldn’t be bad if it were you that sat on the throne.”

“uh… yes. Yes?!”

It was so unexpected that my mind went blank for a moment. And as soon as my thoughts returned to normal, I shouted: “Never!”

Oh, Leticia! Our supporting male lead is trying to kill me!