Chapter 64. Because You Are Hurting

“I need to check on Seraphina’s condition myself first.”

In the end, Johann made a slight excuse. He glanced at Ionia’s expression and added quietly. Of course, in a voice loud enough for her to hear.

“…She was unwell when I visited a few days ago.”

He was referring to a hangover. Well, being sick from a hangover is still being sick, so it wasn’t a lie.

Ionia looked at Johann with a doubtful gaze, then turned to Jesuf. When it came to Seraphina, she could no longer trust Johann.

“You personally brought her from Hilton’s territory, right?”

“Yes.”

“How was she?”

As she asked with eyes sharp as a falcon, and as Jesuf pondered how to answer, Johann swallowed nervously.

Then Jesuf, deep in thought, opened his mouth.

“She did overexert herself.”

Phew…

Johann secretly sighed in relief.

He was reevaluating Jesuf, who had almost become a clueless fool for not bringing Seraphina to the Imperial Palace.

He sure knew how to say the right thing.

As expected of my right-hand man.

Johann could also guess that Seraphina had overexerted herself.

No matter how comfortable the unicorn-blooded Sylphid made the ride, long-distance travel was still exhausting.

“She fainted after vanquishing the bone wyverns, and we brought her to Elmon right after returning to Hilton Castle.”

Jesuf continued.

“Because of someone.”

He emphasized the last two words, staring intently at Johann.

Indeed, one could never let their guard down.

Was there no one he could consider an eternal ally in this world?

Feeling uncomfortable, as if he was sitting on pins and needles, Johann averted his gaze.

To be honest, he had no excuse for that. He had been so shocked to hear she had fainted again. Had he known, he would have told her to rest for a few days before coming…

Yet, he also felt a bit wronged.

Right after that arduous journey, she drank herself into a stupor with that Marc or Cork guy.

But he couldn’t let it be known that it was a hangover.

“Ahem.”

Johann cleared his throat a few times, turning the atmosphere back in his favor, and spoke.

“Anyway, Seraphina’s deployment will be decided after confirming her health condition.”

He looked pointedly at his right and left arms as if daring them to voice any objections now.

Ionia clicked her tongue.

When one is sick, no matter how important the problems at hand are, they become irrelevant. Losing health means everything is over.

They couldn’t afford to lose the purifier who appeared after several years…

Citing the invincible shield of health reasons, Johann spoke triumphantly.

“Since it’s a serious matter, I, Marseus, will check personally.”

* * *

He returned to District 14 after a few days.

Johann took a look around the street and let out a deep sigh.

When leaving the Imperial Palace, he was only thinking about how to keep Seraphina in Elmon, but as he approached her house, other thoughts became clearer.

Particularly, the events from a few days ago.

<You pervert!>

<Get out right now…!>

He had been so indulgent.

How dare she treat the emperor like a pervert?

Such insolence was unheard of. She didn’t even come to the palace to pay her respects in the end.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

At some point, Johann found himself rooted to the spot, staring intently at one place without realizing it. It was the closed green window of Seraphina’s house.

“……”

What was he hesitating for, having come all this way?

Johann’s throat bobbed heavily.

Though he was still angry about being treated like a pervert, he had no desire to become one… or could he truly say he had no desire? Could he swear to God?

Before he knew it, his breath had become hot.

Images of Seraphina’s skin, which he glimpsed while changing her clothes, floated vividly in his mind.

Enough.

The more he thought about it, the more she would just treat him like trash.

He tried to stop thinking by closing his eyes, but his mind only filled with more vivid images.

“Damn.”

Johann let out a low groan and opened his eyes.

It seemed worse because he was alone. If she were in front of him, he might be able to restrain himself a bit.

With that thought, Johann took a deep breath and moved forward.

* * *

Finally, the moment arrived.

The sound of knocking on the door made my heart sink.

“Seraphina, it’s me.”

The unannounced visitor arrogantly assumed that just saying ‘me’ would make me understand. And I did recognize Johann’s voice perfectly.

Sigh.

What should I do?

The disloyalty of having snapped at the emperor that day came to mind, and I shut my eyes tightly. When I opened my eyelids again, I was already opening the door.

“…Come in.”

“……”

An extremely awkward atmosphere lingered.

I glanced around, hesitated, and stepped back to make way for him to enter. Johann slightly raised his chin, stared intently at my face, and walked in.

Click.

Why did the sound of the door closing seem so loud?

As the space became enclosed, an unavoidable silence enveloped us. It might have been better if we had naturally taken seats, but unfortunately, we missed that timing.

As I stood rooted to the doorway like a post, it became harder and harder to breathe.

It felt like sweat was soaking my back.

What was that look in his eyes?

Was he contemplating how to punish the insolent purifier? Was he hesitating because he was angry if he left it alone, but worried about harming the purifier who appeared after years if he punished too harshly?

Under his gaze, which seemed like it could pierce through my face, I eventually averted my eyes.

“Come in.”

Repeating what I had already said once, I awkwardly extended my arm. Since we couldn’t just stand here, I gestured for him to take a seat.

“Ahem.”

Johann cleared his throat and moved his legs. After a few steps, he reached the table. The only place to sit in this house was at the dining table.

Perhaps because he had been here once before, Johann skillfully pulled out a chair and sat down, crossing his long legs.

“Isn’t it customary to offer tea to guests?”

“I’ll bring it, I’ll bring it.”

Glad for his words, I quickly started boiling water in the kettle. In moments like this, anything that could dispel the awkward atmosphere was welcome.

Bubble bubble.

“Hmm.”

But as the sound of boiling water quietly filled the house, it was uncomfortable in its own way. I made meaningless noises and tapped my feet.

Pretending to look around the house, which had nothing to see, I briefly searched for a place to rest my eyes, then finally decided to muster up the courage.

“Well, about that day…”

“Seraphina.”

Johann and I spoke almost simultaneously. Our eyes met.

“You go first.”

“No, please, you go ahead.”

“Speak first.”

“No.”

I bit my lower lip. I was nervous about what he might say. There was a high chance he would question my rudeness from that day…

Wouldn’t it be better for my future to apologize first?

As I was thinking that, Johann urged me again.

“Quickly.”

“Yes.”

In that short moment, I changed my mind and quickly responded. Pouring hot water into a mug with fruit syrup, steam rising, I swallowed dryly. Marc’s words floated in my mind.

<It seems Emperor Marseus considers you quite special…>

<He drew his sword and got angry because he was worried something might happen to you.>

So maybe he didn’t just treat me like an object.

Perhaps, in truth…

He might actually think of me as a person…

“I was too harsh with my words that day.”

I handed him the mug and cautiously began to speak.

Johann’s gaze moved from the mug on the table back to my face.

Why does he keep staring so intensely?

For some reason, his gaze felt particularly heated today.

Feeling embarrassed, I fidgeted with my fingers and continued speaking, partly revealing my true feelings.

“But why do you keep coming in person? If you sent someone to summon me to the palace, I would have gone.”

“……”

“Coming here to receive greetings seems a bit strange, doesn’t it?”

“……”

“……”

Why is he silent?

Is he deliberately trying to make this awkward?

Feeling oddly upset, I turned my diverted gaze back to him. At that moment, Johann spoke.

“Well…”

Trailing off, he rolled his eyes towards the ceiling, then looked back at me and said something strange.

His smoothly extended hand cupped my cheek. The warmth made my heart beat a little faster.

“Because you’re unwell.”

“Pardon?”

I’m not sick.

As I blinked in confusion, he spoke in a nonchalant tone.

“You’re hard of hearing. You’ve been unwell since arriving in Elmon. Let’s say that’s the case.”

“Sorry?”

Confused, I asked again.

What kind of nonsense is this?