‘Fuck!’
Ruel bit his lip. He had spent nearly a week at the Ice Castle recovering from the injuries inflicted by the Great Man. He had been so close to realizing it. He could have t the king sooner.
Clack clack.
The sound of approaching heels echoed in the room, causing Ruel to snap out of his thoughts. As the footsteps ceased, a shadow fell over him, prompting Ruel to turn towards the door.
Jayel’s expression was tense, a mix of confusion and surprise evident in her eyes. Ruel narrowed his eyes slightly at her reaction. ‘Surprised?’
It seed that the Red Ash had already caught wind of the events at the second defense line within just a few hours. Wasn’t that a bit too fast?
Tinkling.
A tinkling sound drew Ruel’s attention to Jayel’s necklace, which was unusually flashy for a casual visit. Adorned with nurous gems, one jewel shimred distinctly.
‘As expected. You ca to check on —to see if I’m really in this room.’
With the First Setiria gone and the entire Beast Forest purified, chaos must have erupted within the Red Ash. They would be scrambling to find the culprit, and he was the pri suspect, albeit based on re speculation.
“Your Highness.”
“Don’t get up,” Jayel interjected, halting Ruel’s attempt to rise, her touch on his arm more than a re gesture. The shimring in her necklace intensified.
At that mont, Jayel’s eyes flickered, and Ruel felt an urge to vomit. The part of his arm she had touched throbbed, leaving a tallic taste in his mouth. Magic had been cast upon him. ‘That’s it. She’s confirming if it’s really .’
After calming his churning stomach, Ruel managed to speak. “What brings you here in broad daylight?”
“I heard you weren’t feeling well, but I was busy yesterday, so I couldn’t co to see you. That’s why I’m here now.” Jayel regarded Ruel with a worried expression, though it felt insincere.
Hiding his true feelings, Ruel responded, “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Lord Setiria,” Jayel cautiously addressed him.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Today marks the end of the welco banquet. Do you think you can attend? If it’s too difficult, I can explain to His Majesty on your behalf.”
“This banquet is being held for ; I must go today, at least.”
“There’s no need to strain yourself.”
Ruel detected a hint of anxiety in Jayel’s expression. “…No, I can go, so please don’t worry too much.”
“Don’t you look ready to collapse at any mont? I’ll have my palace’s best physician attend to you.”
‘What is she playing at?’
The peculiar sense of superiority that Jayel had displayed during the welco banquet had dissipated. Now, she appeared genuinely concerned.
“I’ve brought my physician, so… cough.”
Ruel grimaced at the cough that interrupted his speech. His entire body throbbed with pain, now compounded by a sharp ache in his chest. It felt almost unbearable.
‘I’m sure I’m taking painkillers…’
Jayel scanned the unfamiliar dical equipnt surrounding Ruel, her true emotions revealed through slightly. “This won’t do. I’ll fetch the physician imdiately. What are they all doing when our esteed guest is in such agony?” She turned towards the door, her voice so gentle that one might mistake her closeness to Ruel.
‘Why is she doing this…?’ Ruel, puzzled, soon found the corners of his mouth lifting. ‘Ah, I see. She doesn’t want dead just yet.’
He had been threatened by the Red Ash so much that he had forgotten this. He was a valuable asset, destined to beco the vessel of the Great Man. Even if suspicions lingered regarding the events at the second defense line, what difference did it make?
The devotee of darkness of Setiria was none other than himself. Moreover, hadn’t Jayel just used a magical tool? Though not entirely free of suspicion, it seed she had temporarily set her doubts aside. If not, Jayel wouldn’t be in such a fluster.
‘How amusing.’
The tables had turned drastically. The Red Ash that had sought to kill him were now trying to save him. Ruel found the situation rather comical. ‘Oh, what should I do?’ A mischievous idea had just dawned on him. If he could utilize Jayel’s arrogance and superiority to his advantage, he felt he could further destabilize the current situation.
“Your Highness.”
“Speak.”
“Thank you for your concern, but my personal physician suffices. I appreciate your goodwill.”
“You an your physician, who isn’t even by your side when you’re in this state?” Jayel laughed incredulously, blaming Fran.
‘Is she truly absent?’ At Jayel’s words, Ruel briefly pondered Fran’s whereabouts. Where could she be?
“Unless soone has driven her away, my physician wouldn’t abandon .” Ruel locked eyes with Jayel, emphasizing his point.
Fran had never left his side during his worst monts; she was unwavering in her support. Yet, she was conspicuously absent now. Unless Cassion had sent her away or soone had coerced her to leave, it made little sense.
“Are you doubting at this mont?” Jayel frowned under Ruel’s gaze.
“She’s my physician. I trust her implicitly.”
“Are you implying doubt in ?”
“I simply suggested that perhaps…”
Ruel paused to inhale Breath before continuing. “…But since Your Highness continues to raise the issue, I must voice my thoughts.”
Although Jayel’s bla towards Fran unsettled him, Ruel deliberately continued to provoke her.
“Given that everyone is aware of my illness, it’s only natural that my physician would accompany . Yet, didn’t Your Highness seek out Kran’s physician first?” He smirked, a smug grin playing on his lips.
“What are you trying to say? That I dismissed your physician? Even if I did, what relevance does that have to because of one physician!” Jayel retorted, her voice rising. This reaction was anticipated. Jayel was royalty; Fran, a re commoner.
“If I have offended you, I apologize. It was impolite.”
Ruel pretended to be sorry and looked at Jayel with an apologetic expression.
“It seems you’re really ill, considering the nonsense you’re spouting.”
With visible effort, Jayel regained her composure, dismissing his behavior with magnanimity. The timing was impeccable, akin to a balloon on the brink of bursting.
“Cassion.” As Ruel called for Cassion, he entered imdiately.
“Did you call for ?”
“Find Fran and bring her here.”
“Understood.” Cassion bowed and exited the room.
An incredulous chuckle escaped Jayel. “Lord Setiria.” As Cassion departed to locate Fran, Jayel’s gaze sharpened, reflecting her growing anger at Ruel’s deanor.
“What is it, Your Highness?”
“Must I overlook such rudeness?” Despite Jayel’s sarcastic tone, Ruel looked at her indifferently. He had expected her to react this way. The most powerful person in the room was Jayel. But in her emotional state, she had overlooked one crucial fact.
“Your Highness, your words are too harsh. I rely asked my butler to find my physician.”
“Did you not call for your attendant without seeking my permission first?” It seed Jayel didn’t even want to use the word “butler,” belittling Cassion.
“Your Highness, I apologize, but this is my assigned room. Shouldn’t you have sought my permission before barging in without any notice?”
“Rudeness? Overlooking it…?”
Jayel appeared to have discarded her mask entirely, her face revealing an unmistakable scowl.
“This is His Majesty’s castle.” Ruel pointed out a clear fact.
No matter how royal one might be, ultimately, before the king, they were not much different from re nobles. He suppressed a groan as fresh pain surged through him and opened his mouth to speak again.
“And I am the representative of the delegation called for by His Majesty Kran. This room was given to by His Majesty. Shouldn’t Your Highness have sought my permission to enter?”
From the beginning, Ruel was not on the sa level as the nobles loitering in Kran’s court; he held the position of a representative of the delegation. Even the king traditionally asked for permission before visiting, and the fact that Jayel, a re princess, disregarded this basic etiquette and clashed with Cassion was rude in itself. More than that, it was a disrespect to Leponia as well.
“Do you know why I woke up?”
At that mont, Jayel suddenly looked startled and fell silent.
“It was because of Your Highness’s rudeness.” Ruel smiled. “Now, do you understand, Your Highness? There is more than just one or two things that I have overlooked.”
Jayel’s face flushed increasingly red. How angry must she be to react like this?
“If you are done, please leave now. I am not feeling well, and it is becoming difficult for to continue this conversation.”
A grinding sound of Jayel gritting her teeth was clearly audible. She was openly displaying her murderous intent, as if she wanted to kill him right away. However, Jayel managed to suppress her emotions with great difficulty and forced a smile. “I… was tired yesterday, which made a bit irritable.”
“No, Your Highness, it is I who was rude as I was not feeling well. Please forgive .” Ruel graciously accepted Jayel’s apology, acting magnanimous.
“I was worried that your physician had neglected you while you were in this state, but who could be more trustworthy than the physician you brought? I was just overstepping.”
It was a twisted remark, as sharp as a knife. But Ruel wasn’t finished yet. He intended to provoke Jayel to the point of losing her composure.
“Well then, I hope to see you at the banquet tonight.”
Right at the banquet she had ntioned.
Click.
The sound of the door opening caused a frown to appear between Jayel’s eyebrows. Fran entered alongside Cassion.
‘Ah, perfect timing!’
Ruel realized that Cassion had deliberately tid his entrance to this mont. Fran noticed Jayel and quickly bowed her head. “Your Highness…” Jayel scoffed at Fran.
Click-clack.
Before Jayel’s high heels faded from the room, Ruel raised his voice deliberately loud enough for her to hear. “Fran, where have you been?” Jayel stopped in her tracks and glared fiercely at Fran.
Fran bowed her head again at Jayel’s gaze. “Your Highness, is there sothing you want to say to my physician?” From Fran’s reaction, Ruel realized that his guess was correct. Jayel had indeed sent Fran away.
“No, it’s just that I’m familiar with her face. That’s all. Well then.” Even though she knew Ruel had said it on purpose, there was nothing Jayel could do at that mont.
As she left and the door closed, Ruel forced a smile. As soon as the door closed, Ruel stopped smiling. His throat was sore from forcing his voice. ‘That should do it.’
Despite the pain, Ruel smiled again. He had managed to provoke Jayel. She would definitely be furious with him now.
“I apologize, Ruel-nim.” Cassion bowed to Ruel.
“No. Even if it wasn’t now, Jayel would have co to find eventually.”
After speaking, Ruel inhaled Breath, redirecting his gaze to Fran. Fran, like Cassion, lowered her head.
“I apologize for not being by your side; I feel ashad.”
“It’s alright. I understand that it couldn’t be helped.”
Ruel felt the tension within him start to ease, but fatigue weighed heavily on his eyelids.
“Cassion.”
At Ruel’s call, Cassion approached him. Ruel’s voice lowered to a whisper.
“Have Billo dig up the graves. Report back on what’s empty.”
Instead of responding, Cassion glanced at Fran. ntioning graves suddenly, he sought confirmation that he heard correctly. Ruel, battling against overwhelming drowsiness, reiterated, “You heard right.”
“Understood.”
“I will be present at the banquet, so wake when it’s ti.”
“No, you mustn’t!” Fran exclaid, imdiately realizing her raised voice and covering her mouth. “I’m sorry. But at this mont, Lord Ruel needs rest. Your condition isn’t good.”
Ruel had anticipated that his actions at the second line of defense would worsen his condition. However, the mark had ceased. He would recover faster, so there was no need to worry.
“No. I must attend.”
Ruel could no longer keep his eyes open and let them close.
“Fran.”
“Yes, Lord Ruel.”
“I am relying on you.”
With that final request, Ruel peacefully drifted off to sleep. Fran stared at him blankly, her mind seemingly blank as well. Then, she let out a bewildered laugh at the audacious request. What had Ruel asked of her? To sohow prepare his body for the welco banquet. Was he thinking clearly to make such a demand?
“W-What are we going to do, Cassion-nim?”
Fran was so stunned that she called out to Cassion.
He looked surprisingly calm as he pulled out a communication device.
“It’s about ti you get used to this, isn’t it?”
Cassion pointed to a chair beside Ruel.
“Huh?”
“Ruel-nim is like this. Just accept it.”
Fran felt embarrassed for getting upset at Cassion’s seemingly nonchalant attitude.
“You have been through a lot…”
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