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.
“Oh… oh… you woke up?”
He could hear the voice of the princess. His eyes fluttered. She seemed surprised. Enoch sighed, not hiding his tiredness.
“What are you doing here, princess?”
“I heard you were sick… I’m here because I’m worried.”
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
“So you can rest.”
She was wary of people’s eyes so she came at night like a thief. Enoch managed to get himself up and light the lamp with a groan.
“Don’t get up… I’ll do it…” Aran muttered.
“When did you come?” Enoch asked, ignoring her words.
“A little while ago. Well, I brought a little food because I wasn’t sure if you had dinner.” 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. “Why did it cool so fast? I’ll bring another one.”
Under the lampshade, her face was visibly red.
“No thanks. Leave it there and I’ll eat it later.”
“I brought some medicine, so take it after the meal.”
“Your Highness.”
“Huh?”
When he saw her innocent face, his heart felt a little wheezy. It would soon be her fifteenth birthday. But she wasn’t being careful and he needed to point this out.
“It’s not wise to sneak into my room alone at night, Your Highness.”
“But what can I do if I can’t help it?”
“You should’ve sent someone else.”
“You’re afraid someone saw me? I didn’t tell anyone and came to see you secretly. Don’t worry. I’m good with windows. Actually, the day I first saw you, I sneaked out of the window.”
Aran told him not to worry in high spirits. Enoch couldn’t figure out where to start. He didn’t know what all the princess’ private tutors and maids were doing without her.
“That’s a secondary problem. What if I do something to you? You should have brought a guard or a maid along with you.”
Aran tilted her head. “Huh? Why would I need to?”
Thinking it’d 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.
“You need to watch out for men, Your Highness. There are many men in this world who are anxious to lure in the princess who’s almost at a marriageable age.”
Including me. Enoch didn’t say his thoughts aloud. He didn’t mean to seduce her rationally, but it didn’t feel right using her as he pleased.
Only then did Aran, who understood what he meant, avoid his eyes, not knowing what to do.
“Oh, no… I didn’t mean to barge into your room like this. I was just worried about your condition, but coming in like this wasn’t polite. I was just going to open the door slightly and leave the food and medicine behind.”
“But?”
“But I came in because you kept moaning.”
“I’ve been moaning?” 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.
“It’s not a lie. I didn’t mean to sneak in from the beginning… I—I mean it.”