In the dark, someone sat by his bedside. As Enoch instinctively lifted his hand to touch his face, a damp and cool thing fell beside his head. It was a wet towel.
âOh⊠oh⊠you woke up?â
He could hear the voice of the princess. His eyes fluttered. She seemed surprised. Enoch sighed, not hiding his tiredness.
âWhat are you doing here, princess?â
âI heard you were sick⊠Iâm here because Iâm worried.â
âWhy didnât you wake me?â
âSo you can rest.â
She was wary of peopleâs eyes so she came at night like a thief. Enoch managed to get himself up and light the lamp with a groan.
âDonât get up⊠Iâll do itâŠâ Aran muttered.
âWhen did you come?â Enoch asked, ignoring her words.
âA little while ago. Well, I brought a little food because I wasnât sure if you had dinner.â Aran wiggled and took out a soup full of meat, soft bread, and fruits. Contrary to her words that she had just come, the soup was cold. Aran looked embarrassed when he found her out. âWhy did it cool so fast? Iâll bring another one.â
Under the lampshade, her face was visibly red.
âNo thanks. Leave it there and Iâll eat it later.â
âI brought some medicine, so take it after the meal.â
âYour Highness.â
âHuh?â
When he saw her innocent face, his heart felt a little wheezy. It would soon be her fifteenth birthday. But she wasnât being careful and he needed to point this out.
âItâs not wise to sneak into my room alone at night, Your Highness.â
âBut what can I do if I canât help it?â
âYou shouldâve sent someone else.â
âYouâre afraid someone saw me? I didnât tell anyone and came to see you secretly. Donât worry. Iâm good with windows. Actually, the day I first saw you, I sneaked out of the window.â
Aran told him not to worry in high spirits. Enoch couldnât figure out where to start. He didnât know what all the princessâ private tutors and maids were doing without her.
âThatâs a secondary problem. What if I do something to you? You should have brought a guard or a maid along with you.â
Aran tilted her head. âHuh? Why would I need to?â
Thinking itâd be faster to say it to Aran clearly once than uttering the words deftly a hundred times, Enoch gently grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her closer. Aran allowed him to lead her without any resistance. Her face, which turned a rouge red, turned hotter as she neared his nose.
âYou need to watch out for men, Your Highness. There are many men in this world who are anxious to lure in the princess whoâs almost at a marriageable age.â
Including me. Enoch didnât say his thoughts aloud. He didnât mean to seduce her rationally, but it didnât feel right using her as he pleased.
Only then did Aran, who understood what he meant, avoid his eyes, not knowing what to do.
âOh, no⊠I didnât mean to barge into your room like this. I was just worried about your condition, but coming in like this wasnât polite. I was just going to open the door slightly and leave the food and medicine behind.â
âBut?â
âBut I came in because you kept moaning.â
âIâve been moaning?â Enoch frowned. It seems that the spoiled princess heard the sound of his pain echoing across the room while deep asleep. He was offended at the sight of his weakness being exposed.
âItâs not a lie. I didnât mean to sneak in from the beginning⊠IâI mean it.â