Chapter 41. I Think I’m Sick

Yuelina smiled at Theo.

“Theo, aren’t you pushing yourself too hard? You’re sweating a lot.”

But Yuelina didn’t praise him as he had hoped.

Theo awkwardly wiped the sweat from his forehead roughly.

Yuelina took out a handkerchief and reached out.

“Wait, let me wipe it for you.”

She stood on her tiptoes and carefully wiped the sweat from Theo’s forehead.

Every time her touch met his face, Theo thought he was fortunate to be sweating.

Was it because of Yuelina’s touch?

His body, which hadn’t felt cold before, was strangely getting chills.

Theo bent down so Yuelina could wipe more comfortably.

Yuelina and Theo’s faces drew closer.

But why is it so cold?

Yuelina hesitated.

She had thought Theo was sweating because he was hot and tired.

But his forehead wasn’t hot – it was cold. His face was paler than usual.

Yuelina placed her hand on his cheek with a serious expression.

Theo looked at her while holding his breath at the sudden warmth.

It was a warm and gentle hand that he couldn’t refuse.

So much that he wanted to reach out and grab her hand.

“Theo, you’re cold. Did you know?”

“Is that so.”

“This won’t do. You need to go rest.”

Yuelina put down the axe Theo was holding.

She gestured to Ulysse.

“Yes, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”

“I think Theo is sick.”

Ulysse nodded knowingly.

It was natural for him to be unwell after overexerting himself with his internal injuries.

“Then Your Highness the Grand Duchess, shall we continue with the garden tomorrow?”

“Yes, of course.”

Yuelina carefully spoke while looking at Theo.

“It must be because you have too much work in the principality, right? You were up late yesterday too.”

“…That’s right.”

“Work is important, but you need to rest. Understand?”

Theo agreed.

Ulysse, watching from the side, tried hard to hold back his smirking lips.

Most of the principality’s work was handled by him.

It was Ulysse, not Theo, who stayed up all night.

“Yuna, let’s go for a walk together.”

“Huh?”

Just then, Asarim approached Yuelina.

“A walk. Is that okay?”

“Ah, yes. Let’s do that!”

Yuelina answered with a bright smile. Theo’s jaw muscle twitched.

“I’ll come too. For the walk.”

“You too, Theo?”

Yuelina hesitated.

There was something desperate about Theo’s voice.

But it seemed too much for Theo to go walking while covered in cold sweat.

She firmly shook her head.

“No. You need to rest, Theo.”

Theo’s shoulders slumped at Yuelina’s voice.

“Right. Your Highness the Grand Duke should rest. Besides, Yuna and I have things to talk about.”

Asarim’s lips were turning purple as he said this.

“What if you collapse during the walk?”

Theo whispered quietly so only Asarim could hear.

Asarim stared back at him unflinchingly.

“But it looks like you are the one who’s about to collapse right now?”

The two men’s gazes clashed in mid-air again. It was intense enough that sparks might fly.

Yuelina sighed and spoke.

“Theo, we’ll just walk around here briefly and come right back. Is that okay?”

Theo had no choice but to turn away at Yuelina’s gentle voice.

It wasn’t like they were going to sleep together – it was just a daytime walk.

If he coldly refused, Yuelina might feel hurt.

“Don’t go too far since it’s cold.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“And, I really do think I’m quite sick.”

Yuelina’s eyes widened at Theo’s voice.

“Are you feeling very unwell?”

Yuelina was genuinely worried about Theo.

Meanwhile, Raye and Ulysse’s faces were filled with shock.

Did their lord just admit, with his own mouth, that he was sick?

The man who wouldn’t show signs of illness until he was near death was now whining to his wife about being sick?

However, Theo continued speaking, unbothered.

“So come back quickly and brew that tea for me.”

“Was it effective?”

“It was.”

“Yes! I’ll brew more tea leaves for you.”

Theo felt relieved at Yuelina’s promise to return quickly.

Asarim blocked Yuelina and Theo’s path as if he couldn’t stand watching anymore.

“Let’s go quickly.”

“Okay. Sure.”

Yuelina briefly bid farewell to Theo and headed toward the walking path with Asarim.

The two walked side by side along the narrow forest path leading to the hunting grounds.

Theo spoke while staring at Asarim and Yuelina’s retreating figures.

“Ulysse. Send the Shadows. Tell them to report everything they do, from start to finish.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Theo spoke in a cold voice.

He was still sweating cold, but the naive face he had shown in front of Yuelina was nowhere to be seen.

* * *

Asarim thought there were too many spectators for a walk.

Two moving through the treetops.

And one secretly following behind Yuelina and himself.

They must be the ones Theo sent to monitor them.

That despicable bastard.

Asarim chewed his lips.

He acted like a helpless fool in front of Yuelina, but behind the scenes he used such underhanded tactics.

“Isn’t this place amazing? They say it’s all thanks to the magic stones. Even with such harsh winds, the leaves are so lush.”

“They are.”

Yuelina guided Asarim along the walking path with her gentle words.

Flowers and trees blooming are everywhere, and the animals are moving about between the trees.

In the village too, Yuelina was particularly fond of flowers, plants, and animals.

It was a voice he had missed.

The warm and soft voice seemed to fill his body.

At such times, Asarim felt like he had the whole world.

Those moments, walking with Yuelina, were the most precious to Asarim.

But the ordinary daily life he had, the routines he thought would naturally continue, disappeared in an instant.

Because of the coming cold.

Asarim felt both longing and awkwardness surge up simultaneously.

This wasn’t the village.

The lush leaves growing abundantly and the scattered blooming flowers were sights unseen in the village.

Above all, the wind sharp as a blade was a sensation unfelt in the village.

Yet Yuelina seemed to accept this place as if it were completely familiar and natural.

It had been a long time.

The time Asarim spent apart from Yuelina felt especially so.

But it was also a short time.

Too short for a beast-like man and an unfamiliar principality to feel like home…

It should naturally have been too short.

“But what’s that over there?”

Asarim pointed to a cabin visible in the distance.

It was Theo’s cabin.

Without realizing it, they had walked all the way to the hunting grounds where the river was visible.

“That’s Theo’s cabin.”

“Then, let’s talk in there.”

“Talk? We can talk here.”

“I want to be alone with you.”

Asarim grinned and grabbed Yuelina’s wrist.

Yuelina tilted her head at Asarim’s words.

They had been alone, just the two of them, all this time. So what did he mean by wanting to be alone?

Though puzzled, Yuelina followed Asarim without showing it.

Fortunately, the cabin wasn’t locked. Yuelina entered the cabin with Asarim.

Conversely, the shadows following them frowned and moved close to the cabin windows.

Asarim was also aware of their presence.

He smirked, finding it ridiculous.

– Yuna. Since it’s just us two anyway, let’s talk comfortably.

He didn’t mind suspicious guys following him and Yuelina.

After all, they wouldn’t be able to relay what he and Yuelina were saying anyway.

– Asarim, would you like something to drink?

– No, it’s fine. Let’s sit here first.

Asarim barely hid his pain as he sat down.

The pain was getting worse as time passed.

Even without seeing it, he could feel his whole body was covered in bruises.

Even sitting was difficult as every joint in his fingers ached.

– Are you okay? Your lips…

– Yeah. It’s because it’s cold. It’s so different from the village.

– Should I get you a blanket?

– No. I’m just happy to be with you after so long.

Asarim quietly looked at Yuelina sitting diagonally across from him while leaning on the sofa.

Yuelina looked beautiful in her red velvet dress.

Which made her feel even more out of place.

In the village, she always wore light, flowing dresses.

The clothes Yuelina was wearing now seemed too burdensome for her. No, they must be burdensome.