"Well, he did say it… that he’d make happy."
The sudden bombshell left everyone speechless.
Elise clung to my arm, refusing to let go.
Through my fingertips, I could feel the warmth of her touch.
Though her words were brimming with the potential for misunderstanding, her expression remained utterly composed.
If anything, she blinked at as if to ask, "What’s the problem?"
"Excuse ?"
As I stood there, flustered, her fingers intertwined with mine.
The distance between us grew narrower.
Holding that pose, Elise asked calmly.
"What’s wrong? Is there a problem?"
A nonchalant question.
It left at a loss for words and forced to think seriously.
"…"
Where was I supposed to start untangling this?
She wasn’t exactly lying.
Whenever she had questioned why I helped her, my answer had always been that it was for her happiness.
In its simplest sense, it was an unembellished truth.
But the issue was…
"Th-that’s not…"
"What?"
It was her tone that invited misunderstanding.
Standing in front of us, both the protagonist and the villainess stared at in shock.
Their reactions ca swiftly.
"Make her happy? Did the young lord really say sothing like that?"
"Your hand… it’s on Her Highness’s stomach…"
I couldn’t help but rub my temples.
This was deliberate mischief.
At first, I thought Elise might have spoken without realizing the implications, but her smirking eyes gave her away.
She was enjoying this.
Perhaps this was her way of getting back at for the countless tis I’d teased her.
"Of course."
The thorny rose.
Though she had softened in recent days, I had forgotten that her sharp and daring personality remained.
Her years of illness had left deep scars, and she seed determined to exploit misunderstandings to throw off balance.
With a strained smile, I voiced a polite complaint.
"Your Highness, this doesn’t seem like a particularly amusing joke. Such misunderstandings only harm those who know nothing of the truth."
"I only stated the facts."
"That may be true, but…"
"Or have you already forgotten?"
Elise’s gaze turned sharp.
For a mont, I nearly got swept up in her deanor.
It was as though she’d perfected the art of evoking sympathy, her sad eyes a masterpiece of manipulation.
I looked down at her, exasperated.
"That expression suits you."
Elise chuckled softly.
Though her face was shrouded in gloom, a faint smile blood like a delicate petal.
It was a beautiful mont, like a gentle breeze carrying the scene.
"…"
I found myself staring at her.
The urge to scold her lted away.
Just days ago, this sa girl had been consud by despair, preparing for death.
Elise’s expression now was entirely different.
"This is…"
A good sign, perhaps.
It ant she was beginning to regain so emotional space.
My lips curved into a soft smile as I gently ruffled her red hair.
She seed startled by the unexpected gesture.
"Well, let’s leave it at that."
"What are you doing?"
"Why? Is sothing wrong?"
"You're supposed to be more flustered."
"Why should I fear sincerity? My wish for your happiness is entirely genuine. There’s no falsehood in it."
"…"
"Your joy, Your Highness, is my blessing."
"…There you go again."
The sharp thorns seed to dull, and Elise reverted to her gentler deanor.
Her lips pouted in mild annoyance, while a faint blush spread across her pale cheeks.
She muttered quietly.
"Annoying…"
Well, she still had so way to go before her antics could truly fluster .
"Even so, I would appreciate it if you could be more mindful in public. This directly impacts Your Highness’s reputation, after all."
As the Empire’s Second Star, Elise’s actions carried significant weight.
The implications of her mischief were far-reaching.
If this continued, it wouldn’t be long before rumors spread like wildfire.
I added a note of concern.
"And besides…"
Playing pranks like this was my specialty.
I silently hoped she wouldn’t rob of one of the few joys in life.
"Heh."
anwhile, the two girls standing nearby were still lost in confusion.
Their trembling voices revealed their bewildernt.
"Y-you… is what Her Highness said true?"
"I had no idea…"
"I can’t believe this. First the head maid, and now the Empire’s hidden star…"
"And the ring you gave … I’ve been treasuring it all this ti…"
Emilia shot a look filled with contempt, while Regia seed on the verge of tears.
It was clear that I needed to clear up this misunderstanding quickly.
"Ahem… Allow to clarify. This is all a misunderstanding."
I calmly explained the situation, condensing the details for simplicity.
As my explanation unfolded, the girls began to regain their composure, and I succeeded in clearing my na.
The protagonist and the villainess finally seed to understand the situation.
"So, you’ve beco Her Highness’s physician… that’s why you’ve been by her side?"
"I-I’m so sorry! I completely misunderstood…!"
"It’s fine, Lady Regia. Anyone would have misunderstood. If anything, you’re just an innocent victim of Her Highness’s playful mischief."
"…Was that aid at ?"
"Of course not."
The atmosphere eased naturally.
I felt a sense of relief.
As for Elise’s illness, I avoided specifics, vaguely describing it as an incurable condition of unknown origin.
The idea of being the one to handle such a case naturally raised questions.
Why ?
What connection did I have?
What ability allowed to take on such a role?
But…
"Well… I suppose nothing surprises anymore when it cos to you."
Emilia, already familiar with my abilities, seed to accept it readily.
"That’s because the young lord is amazing…!"
Regia nodded enthusiastically.
Perhaps she regarded so highly that even the unusual seed plausible.
Thanks to their assumptions, I was spared the trouble of further explanations.
Standing side by side, the girls exchanged glances as I addressed them with a smile.
"That’s the story. Since we’ll all be spending ti together from now on, I hope you can get along."
A simple request.
The girls each responded in their own way.
"Do you think I’m a child? I don’t need you to tell that."
"W-well… if it’s okay for to be here, I’ll try my best…"
"…I’m not comfortable around strangers."
The prideful one.
The dutiful one.
The thorny rose.
Though their words carried hints of complaint, none refused.
It was the beginning of their shared acquaintance, a mont they would all rember.
***
About 30 minutes later.
Elise and I finally arrived at her dormitory.
Her assigned dorm was conveniently close to mine, likely arranged to make my frequent visits for treatnt easier.
This had Selena’s thoughtful influence written all over it.
"…I’m exhausted."
Elise looked utterly drained.
Her weakened state left her unable to move much, so I carried her from the wheelchair to the bed.
I gently laid her frail body onto the soft blankets.
She seed slightly self-conscious, adding a quiet comnt.
"Sorry."
"It’s nothing. You’ve had a long day."
We had been outside the entire day.
For Elise, it must have been overwhelming.
Having spent the last ten years confined to her "cage," every sight and sound outside was likely a new and intense stimulus.
Even though she had been in a wheelchair, it had undoubtedly been an exhausting day.
"What about Tanya and my sister…?"
"They’ll be here soon. Since the three of you will be staying in the sa building, they ntioned moving their belongings from the dormitory they were originally assigned to."
"I see… From now on, I…"
Elise murmured softly, as if she still couldn’t believe what was happening.
Her eyes glimred with a rare light, as though she were dreaming.
I smiled at the sight, careful not to disturb her thoughts.
Quietly, I turned to leave.
"I’ll take my leave now."
She needed rest.
Lingering would only disrupt her.
As I began to step away…
"…Are you leaving?"
A faint tug on my sleeve stopped .
I turned back, following the slight pull, to see her green eyes gazing up at .
Her expression was uncertain, her emotions wavering just beneath the surface.
"Your Highness?"
Did she have sothing she wanted to say?
I tilted my head curiously.
What ca next was unexpected.
Elise bit her lip, hesitated, then asked in a quiet voice.
"Can you… stay with ?"
Her tone was soft, almost fragile.
Perhaps she was feeling uneasy.
It made sense.
After spending so many years in isolation, such a drastic change in environnt could easily provoke fear.
I realized then that I had been thoughtless.
She wanted soone by her side.
If I were to leave now, she might feel as though she were truly alone in the world.
It wasn’t the solitude she feared but the abandonnt.
"Of course."
I didn’t leave.
Instead, I sat down on the edge of her bed.
"I’ll stay for a while."
"Really…?"
"I’ll remain by your side until you fall asleep… no, even after you’ve fallen asleep, I’ll stay right here. You can rest without worry."
"…Okay."
"This will also give a chance to continue the treatnt we couldn’t finish earlier."
Gently, I placed my hand on her stomach.
Her skin felt warm beneath my palm.
Though she let out a small, reflexive gasp at the touch, her breathing soon slowed, becoming steady and calm.
I softly massaged her, providing soothing warmth.
"Heh."
My movents were neither hurried nor invasive, only tender and comforting.
Like a lullaby being sung through touch.
"You’re… so weird."
"Am I?"
"Most of the ti, you’re trash or a pervert… Why are you only kind in monts like this?"
"That’s part of my charm, isn’t it?"
"If only you didn’t talk, maybe you wouldn’t be so annoying."
"Do you hate ?"
"Yes."
"Truly?"
"…No."
Elise avoided my gaze, her cheeks tinted a soft pink.
I chuckled at her response, drawing circles on her abdon with my fingertips as a light-hearted gesture of approval.
Her body twitched slightly at the ticklish sensation, and a faint whimper escaped her lips.
"Ugh…"
She glared at , pouting, so I placed a finger over her lips, urging silence.
"Shh."
Her soft, warm lips pressed against my fingertip, leaving a subtle, damp sensation.
The texture was strikingly tender.
Moving with care, I traced the curve of her lips, feeling the heat that radiated just beneath them.
It was almost as if our lips were touching, though they weren’t.
A soft red blush spread across her parted lips.
My thumb lightly grazed her lower lip, montarily slipping into her mouth.
Her stiffened tongue instinctively greeted the intrusion, warm saliva coating my fingertip.
Her mouth hesitantly accommodated the unfamiliar presence.
"Slurp…"
Her dazed eyes looked up at .
I smiled back at her, gently withdrawing my finger.
As the warmth left her tongue, Elise blinked a few tis as if coming back to her senses.
But I didn’t give her a chance to fully gather herself.
"It’s ti to sleep."
I covered her eyes with my other hand.
Her eyelids closed naturally, and her body visibly relaxed.
The tension that had lingered in her features began to lt away, her breathing growing steadier.
The faint blush on her cheeks faded as well.
"It’s been a tiring day for you."
"…"
Her breathing softened, becoming even.
I stayed with her, patiently waiting as her uneasy rhythm transitioned into the steady cadence of deep sleep.
Through the quiet of the night, I continued to offer her warmth.
"Goodnight."
The words were a gentle whisper, accompanied by a fond smile.
***
The next day.
It had only been two days since I returned to the academy, yet I couldn’t resist stepping outside the grounds once again.
There was soone I had to personally pick up.
After several hours of rattling along in a carriage, I arrived at the "City That Does Not Weep."
*Rkieh.*
This was the city where Astro's headquarters were located.
It had been quite so ti since I last returned to this place.
I made my way down a hidden stairwell to a concealed location. Descending further, I eventually reached a tightly sealed door.
As I stepped inside the headquarters—
*Thud—!*
A figure lunged at as if they’d been waiting for this exact mont.
The force of their embrace knocked backward, and I fell gently to the ground, still clutching onto the one who had collided with .
"Goodness."
Even amidst the chaos, two small hands gripped my waist tightly, refusing to let go.
Flat on my back, I looked up to see a girl perched on top of , her face buried in the crook of my neck.
There was no mistaking her distinctive appearance.
A swaying, crimson tail.
Perked ears twitching atop her head.
Calmly, I called out her na.
"Miss Irene."
A fox.
The girl, still nuzzled against , took a few deep breaths before whispering softly into my ear.
"…I’ve been waiting for you."
Her words carried the weight of a long, patient longing.
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