episode_0158

A story that was short if short, and long if long.

As if to prove the steps taken so far.

The scent of approaching spring completely erased the lingering winter that had settled over the season.

Outside the window, the fresh scent of grass leaves wafted by.

Completely melted snow, a world of pure white, a cloud-covered sky—all of it became traces of the past.

Like paint dissolving from a brush, the world softened.

We spent calm and quiet days.

‘Peaceful.’

Leisure.

Perhaps a value that re-evaluated a life once strained.

The imperial atmosphere was utterly calm.

‘Of course.’

They weren’t merely indulging in leisure.

There was a reason they had remained at the imperial palace for a while even after the treatment ended.

It was for Elize.

“It’s strange that my body doesn’t hurt.”

“It’s a little confusing.”

“The feeling of being completely cured is faint, and I don’t quite understand His Majesty either… I guess I still need time.”

Literally.

Elize needed time to adapt.

Because there had been a 10-year gap.

Now that her body had recovered and she was no longer confined to a wheelchair, she had to get used to walking on her own.

This process was essential for a girl facing a new world and new stories.

Once she returned to the academy, she would take many steps.

Perhaps it would be easier to think of it as a reprieve for tomorrow.

‘Moreover.’

I wanted to give the family time too.

Valkaros, Charlotte, Elize.

Having passed through a long-tangled skein, they were finally beginning to understand each other.

I hoped they would at least talk to each other while they stayed at the imperial palace.

It was a small consideration, perhaps close to meddling.

‘The atmosphere doesn’t seem bad either.’

Was it because he was such a doting father?

Valkaros actively tried to close the distance with his daughters, the princesses.

Of course, as 10 years was by no means a short gap, it was also true that there was still a long way to go.

However, the important thing was that hope was slowly budding.

Whatever path they walked, it would be incomparable to their past.

I merely believed that tomorrow would shine a little brighter.

“Yuda.”

Anyway.

We lived each day bustlingly.

Even if it wasn’t a very long period of leisure.

“Whew… it’s still tough.”

“You’ve worked hard, Your Highness.”

Elize collapsed onto the prepared wheelchair.

Her clothes were soaked with sweat.

It was right after finishing her physical training, which had proceeded as usual today.

In truth, the training was nothing more than a stroll in the garden, but for Elize, who rarely had the chance to move, even this was a great challenge.

“Your stamina has improved greatly, Your Highness. You’ve been moving for almost half a day today.”

“My entire body aches from muscle soreness…”

“That’s because you’re using muscles that were neglected before.”

“It was easier just riding in a wheelchair.”

“Even though you grumble every time, you always do your best once you start.”

“Because I can’t remain disabled forever.”

“In that regard, you are truly admirable, Your Highness.”

The girl always did her best.

Once she got out of the wheelchair, she would keep walking until she was utterly exhausted.

In her no longer dark eyes, only resolute determination shone.

As if she would surely overcome the present and reach a recovered tomorrow.

“I never imagined you would be so passionate, Your Highness.”

“Well, I promised.”

*Poke.*

Her index finger poked my cheek.

Where her gaze landed, only a meaningful smile bloomed like a wave.

Her alluringly curved eye-corners were somehow fatal.

Elize said.

“That I would always be by your side.”

“……”

“To do that, I need to be at least a little healthy.”

“Your Highness is truly a wonderful person.”

“No need for flattery.”

Elize shrugged her shoulders as if it wasn’t necessary.

I stroked the girl’s hair.

Her damp red hair resembled petals in the morning dew.

Just by placing my hand, I could feel the hot warmth from her tired breaths.

However, it didn’t feel particularly unpleasant.

Perhaps due to her natural scent, a fragrance similar to spring flowers wafted from her.

Seeing that she didn’t even have the typical smell of sweat, I even wondered if royalty was truly a different species.

I sorted out these idle thoughts.

“There will be good news soon, Your Highness.”

“I truly hope so.”

It wasn’t empty talk.

Although intense activities were still too much for her, her recovery was steadily progressing.

I was certain she would be able to stand on her own in the not-too-distant future.

If that happened, would my role as her personal physician no longer be needed?

On one hand, I felt a sense of regret.

Because quite a few memories had accumulated during that time.

“I greet the second star of the Empire.”

“My name is Juda Snakers, and as of today, I will be Your Highness’s personal physician.”

To think that was already five months ago.

It was a moment that made me realize the passage of seasons anew.

We walked in silence, each lost in our own thoughts.

*Thump thump.*

The rolling wheels and footsteps exited the garden.

As I pushed the wheelchair in the momentary quiet, the girl suddenly opened her mouth.

What followed was a soft call.

“Um… Yuda.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Was it just my imagination?

Elize’s voice was somewhat subdued.

“There’s something I want to ask of you.”

“Hmm?”

A request.

I showed interest in the sudden topic.

It was rare for her to express herself so directly.

Elize hesitated, unable to continue her words.

‘What is it?’

Elize, her expression stiff.

She had seemed deep in thought for a while, but what could she want to say that made her hesitate so much?

I became curious. I looked down into her green eyes as if asking for a reason.

Then the girl subtly avoided my gaze.

And then, she parted her lips.

“This is something I’ve thought about a lot.”

“You’re uncharacteristically pausing, Your Highness.”

“Because it’s that important to me.”

“Please speak.”

“Could you possibly… continue to be my personal physician in the future?”

“Are you referring to the imperial family’s personal physician…?”

“More precisely, my personal physician.”

I was merely a temporary physician.

Having taken on the role temporarily at Charlotte’s request, it was right for me to step down now that the problem was resolved.

Since I hadn’t followed proper procedures from the start, my position was also ambiguous.

Even without this, I had been preparing the relevant documents a few days prior.

It was during this time that the proposal or request came in.

“A formal employment, then.”

“A personal physician isn’t only needed when someone is sick, you know.”

She was right.

The duties of a personal physician included fundamental aspects such as examinations, consultations, and management.

A personal physician was a role dedicated to the patient in a broader sense.

Elize added, as if aware of my thoughts.

“His Majesty has already given his permission. No one will object to that decision.”

Of course.

For the girl, I came first.

“If you don’t want to, I won’t force you. I’ve already received so much from you. Just having you by my side is enough.”

I was silent for a moment.

What should I say?

Was this being upright, or was it being considerate?

Given her position as a princess, she could have been coercive.

The girl mumbled, barely audible.

“I don’t want to do anything that would make you dislike me, you see.”

“Even if you had, I wouldn’t have disliked you, Your Highness.”

I chuckled softly.

There was none of her usual prickly demeanor; only an obedient flower had bloomed.

The authoritative princess simply became a vulnerable girl in front of the boy.

A side of her shown only to me, and no one else.

Valkaros, Tanya, even Charlotte wouldn’t know.

The fact that Elize, famous for being prickly, could become so docile.

Our gazes intertwined and crossed.

“You’re truly cute at times like this, Your Highness.”

“……Will you just answer me?”

Her cheeks flushed.

In her leaf-like pupils, only my blonde hair was reflected. Her eyes conveyed a lack of interest in anything else.

*A subtle caress.*

A strange sense of immorality tickled my heart.

I swallowed the smile that threatened to escape and gently caressed her pale cheek.

Then, the girl’s affection was fully contained in my palm.

The lukewarm body heat that spread was hot yet cool.

Only then did I reply.

“Is there any reason for me to refuse, Your Highness?”

“……”

“I had no intention of becoming anyone else’s personal physician anyway.”

“Then…?”

“I will gladly accept.”

Her expression instantly softened.

It was a small relief.

Subsequently, having regained her usual composure, she added.

It was an extension of the request that began with the personal physician role.

“And, just one more thing.”

“What is it, Your Highness?”

“The treatment I’ve been receiving… I’d like you to continue it.”

“But your Mana Stone Sickness should already be completely cured?”

“I just want to keep receiving it. Is that not allowed…?”

“There’s no reason it wouldn’t be allowed. It’s also true that it has excellent effects on mana circulation. If you wish to continue receiving it, it will likely proceed more as a massage in the future.”

“Good. Do that.”

Elize nodded.

For some reason, she seemed subtly in a better mood.

“This kind of treatment, have you ever done it for other people?”

“Pardon? Not particularly, but why do you ask…?”

“Don’t do it anywhere else. Especially not for other women.”

“That’s not a difficult request, Your Highness.”

“……Because it’s an important matter to me.”

“I am a person who keeps promises, Your Highness.”

“Alright, I’ll trust you.”

She let out a soft laugh.

Suddenly, Elize grabbed my sleeve and pulled, as if beckoning me closer.

Without much resistance, I bent down to meet her eye level.

Our lips were separated by only a hand-span of breath.

Her slender arms wrapped around my neck.

The girl hugged me as if clinging to me.

Accompanied by a captivating whisper in my ear.

“Because you are, and always will be, my personal physician.”

“Those are joyful words, Your Highness.”

“I won’t let you leave.”

“I had no intention of leaving anyway, Your Highness.”

“Always remember.”

Her voice stretched like several strands of thread.

Words, threaded through a needle, joined together, then unfurled into meaningful sentences.

Her eye-corners curved.

“Because you are the most precious person to me.”

*Kiss.*

Elize then kissed my neck.

Just like the one left last night, she left a reddish mark on the boy.

The pattern covering my skin, the feel of her hot tongue, and her breathing that had become rough again.

When her lips soon parted, a glistening trail of saliva stretched long.

The girl smiled alluringly.

“Understood?”

A distinct mark remained on my neck.

Had she perhaps taken a liking to it recently?

Since the night she first made the mark, Elize had been renewing it every day.

Thanks to this, the embarrassing mark showed no sign of fading.

I mumbled with a troubled smile.

“This mark… His Majesty was angry about it just two days ago, you know.”

“It won’t be erased in the future. I plan to keep leaving it there.”

“I hope you would please refrain, Your Highness.”

“I want to go back to the academy soon. I want to show this to that vixen.”

“I’d appreciate it if you would also refrain from clashing with Miss Irene…”

“The beast-folk are the ones who act insolently first.”

Voices went back and forth, bustlingly.

We continued our conversation for a while, traversing the long corridor.

At the end of our path lay the next schedule.

‘Dinner.’

Valkaros.

It was dinner with the Emperor, who had been constantly making proposals for an imperial consort recently.

Worried about being pestered again today, I walked with a bitter smile.