episode_0095

I was staying at the palace, continuing my role as the attending physician.

I wondered if it was too long to keep missing academy classes, but I had already asked Selena about this, so there was no need to worry. After all, I had received the position of head assistant precisely for situations like this.

“Are you saying you’ll be away for a while?” “I don’t intend to say no, but… it’s worrying how often this has been happening recently.” “You mustn’t neglect your duties as a student.” “I won’t press for the reason for your absence. Our relationship was established under such conditions from the beginning.” “However, I will add the advice to always take care of yourself.”

I received permission without much difficulty. My master might have been curious with her disciple wandering around like this, but she didn’t ask a single question. She simply let me do as I pleased. Indeed, choosing Selena as my backer was an excellent decision. If it had been the other professors at Gallimard, they would have been desperate to control my actions as they pleased. I chewed on my relief anew.

‘Thanks to this, I have time.’

Thanks to this, I could focus solely on the matters at hand.

Over the past week, I worked on two main things. The first was, of course, treating Rose, and the second was gradually taming the young princess. It was also a necessary process when considering subsequent episodes. Both were tasks that required patience, so I approached them slowly and with endurance.

Of course, you can’t expect immediate results.

“I told you to get lost.” “I have no intention of receiving treatment, so don’t touch my body.” “Just let me die.”

This was especially true for Elize. The older sister was slowly opening her heart, but the younger sister consistently maintained a cold attitude. No… it felt like she was getting sharper and sharper. Even though her physical condition was clearly improving, as if she couldn’t accept that fact, the girl never stopped fiercely resisting every moment she received treatment. Because of this, I had to deal with her for several hours every day.

“Ugh… you piece of trash.” “Treating a princess of a nation like this, hmph, do you think you’ll be safe…?” “I’m definitely going to kill you.”

Whenever a gentle touch landed on her pale skin, her hazy eyes glared this way. Beyond her empty pupils, even her killing intent shattered hollowly. As her sweet breath became ragged, her red hair soaked with sweat, and a sticky scent of skin permeated the surroundings, the girl lay exhausted. Her shabby eyes always reflected resentment.

“Die.”

It seemed I was hated unintentionally, but even so, I had no intention of letting go easily. The moment I gave up, not even a shred of salvation would remain. Because Rose’s death would soon lead to the tragedy of the young princess. That’s why, even as I was pricked by sharp thorns, I gently caressed the red petals. Always with a smile.

“You will get used to it soon.” “I hope you can focus solely on recovery, without any worries, and without giving up on life.” “I will help you by your side.” “Even if Your Highness does not wish it.”

Taming is not achieved overnight. Only by watching for a long time and putting in steady effort can one make a beautiful flower bloom. This was such a stage. A stage of implanting meaning in each other, rather than finding meaning in each other. I needed to have a little patience.

‘Of course.’

That’s not to say there was no progress. While Rose was certainly raising her thorns, the young princess, on the other hand, was steadily coming over. Charlotte expressed her gratitude every day.

“The frequency of her seizures has noticeably decreased.” “Her complexion seems to be getting better too.” “Yes… it’s all thanks to you.” “Because you helped us. Only you can save us.”

The effect of repeated learning seemed to be showing. Every time Elize fell asleep after treatment, we would have a private meeting in the next room for about two hours. Ostensibly, it was to report on her progress. In reality, it was closer to a process of building trust with the girl by increasing the time we spent together. I whispered whenever I had a chance.

“Your Highness has no need to worry about anything.” “You simply need to entrust everything to me and wait patiently.” “Because I will take care of everything.”

Words offering myself as a complete reliance. Charlotte, who had seemed hesitant at first, now nodded blankly. Perhaps it was because I was the only hope she saw. Seeing her sister’s complexion improve day by day, the older sister had no choice but to follow the voice that reached her ears. Perhaps she didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

“I’ll follow your words.”

Her unfocused blue eyes. Whenever the girl’s eyes held a wavering gaze, I stroked her head as a sign of reassurance. A princess of a nation did not push away the touch of a mere snake. Instead, she gradually melted into its coolness, merely accepting the narrowing distance. I often wore a satisfied smile.

‘It’s going smoothly.’

This too was done with the future in mind. The more Charlotte came to rely on me, the easier it would be for me to use her. A high status is always useful. As the disease showed progress, trust steadily built up.

‘Charlotte… and Elize.’

Before long, I had become a part of their daily lives.

***

Late in the evening.

At a time when even the bright scenery outside the window was dyed in darkness, I finished the consultation, which had continued for a long time, and was tidying up the messy surroundings. The bed where Rose lay was a mess again today.

“Haa, haa…”

Hot breaths exhaled. Her red hair, soaked with sweat, was scattered everywhere. Perhaps because of her unusually fierce resistance, her top, which normally only became dishevelled, was completely stripped off today, revealing all her pale skin. She wasn’t even wearing underwear, so she was practically naked. Only a precariously draped blanket covered her body, concealing the protuberance at the end of her soft flesh. Perhaps because of her exposed skin, a sticky body odor brushed past my nose.

“Haaa… Ugh.”

“You’ve endured much.”

I said to the exhausted girl. A single word announcing the end of the treatment. As I removed my hand from her abdomen, a moan escaped from between her pale red lips. It was a sorrowful echo that she couldn’t quite utter.

“Ugh.”

The treatment had lasted for a staggering five hours. Perhaps because she had been pressed down so many times, clear handprints remained on her stomach. Elize lay twitching.

“……”

Her limbs, bound by shadows, did not move. It seemed she had no more strength left. Her bloodless lips were the same. Only her green pupils stared this way. There was a glistening moisture in her eyes, but that didn’t erase the feeling that she was glaring.

I responded with a refreshing smile.

‘How long will she react like that?’

She should be getting used to it by now. I lightly flicked my fingers.

*Click!*

Immediately after the short popping sound, the chaotic scene neatly organized itself. The sweat-soaked blanket also returned, and the girl’s explicitly revealed silhouette was covered. I quietly looked down at the bed.

“I will check again today.”

I then extended my hand. Rose’s arm was still bound. As I rolled up the thinly covering sleeve, a thick bandage could be seen beneath it. With a cautious gesture, I peeled away the fabric.

*Rustle.*

The bandage came undone limply. Only then did the scars on her wrist become visible. They were lines haphazardly drawn like slashes. Had she used a knife again when I wasn’t looking? New wounds, not present yesterday, had appeared. Thinking, “Just as I expected,” I let out a low sigh.

“Your Highness.” “Why.” “Didn’t I tell you? That it’s not a very good habit.” “What do you care?”

Intentionally inflicting wounds on her body. By releasing the mana that flowed backward, it had the temporary effect of alleviating pain, but it was an act that provided no help to her treatment whatsoever. Despite being warned, she couldn’t stop herself.

“…Because it hurt so much in the early morning.” “Excuses won’t work. If you were in such pain, you should have called me.”

I took out an ointment from the shelf. As I applied the medicine to her bleeding wrist, Rose turned her head away with an indifferent gaze. A demeanor as if her wounds were of no concern to her.

“It doesn’t even sting much.”

There was no will to recover. Pushing aside my bitter feelings, I posed a question I had kept to myself until now.

“Does Your Highness truly not believe in hope?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

From what I had observed over the past week, she was like a single flower broken by wind and rain. A misfortune so trampled that she could not rise again. Elize had given up on life. Having continued to battle illness in a dark room for over 10 years, her heart must already be filled with an insurmountable despair. The girl’s haggard, faded eyes proved that time. Rose no longer seemed to believe in hope.

“You seem to be mistaken about something… whether you can truly cure this illness or not, that’s none of my business.”