Chapter 16

This situation didn’t suit them at all. Nadia, who had helped him to this point, and the King, who held her back.  

Countess Vellevin should have been standing here. Nadia felt a moment of cognitive dissonance.  

“Wouldn’t you be uncomfortable?”  

Nadia asked with genuine concern.  

“Countess Vellevin would be better than me.”  

“She’s not well right now, either.”  

Ah, so that’s it. 

Nadia nodded in acceptance.  

Actually, she didn’t want to leave the room either. The image of him—specifically, the way he staggered with a headache—kept replaying in her mind.  

The scene she’d witnessed earlier naturally brought up another memory, but it soon faded like smoke. Nadia shook her head to clear away the remnants and sat beside Lev.  

Only then did Lev close his eyes. Was he going to sleep? Nadia wondered.  

“You seem close to Young Duke Lordgin.”  

Nadia flinched and looked at him. The King still had his eyes closed. He must have seen them together earlier.  

“We used to meet often as children… He was a distant relative of my mother.”  

Nadia added, worried Arons might suffer because of her.  

“We hardly met after we grew up. The Duke of Lordgin didn’t like my relationship with him.”  

“There were marriage talks when you were young.”  

With those words, Lev opened his eyes. The sudden attack of words and gaze felt overwhelming. Nadia’s eyes wavered for a moment.  

“…It was when I was very young.”  

“Hmm.”  

“How did you know?”  

“Well, it’s a famous story, no need to ask.”  

Is it? 

Nadia frowned and tilted her head slightly.  

It wasn’t a story serious enough to spread as a rumor…

“But you seemed close even earlier.”

“Ah, that was… We were just exchanging greetings.”

Nadia naturally recalled her earlier meeting with Arons.

“Are you being left alone on a day like this?”

He approached her warmly, a bit worried and even slightly annoyed. Nadia waved her hands in fluster.

“No, he just stepped out for a report. He’ll be back soon.”

But Arons didn’t seem to believe her. Nadia felt unsettled and began to defend the King.

“His Majesty the King entered together with me earlier as well. Did you not hear what people around us were saying? Everyone said they could hardly believe their eyes….”

She realized she shouldn’t have said that. Nadia smiled awkwardly, and the conversation broke off. Arons looked at her with concern.

“Are you doing well?”

“Yes. I eat food that suits me every day, and life is peaceful.”

Of course, the contempt and humiliation around her made things far from pleasant. Still, it was better than living as a foreigner in another land.

Her genuine feelings showed in her faint smile, and Arons’s expression relaxed a little.

“You know, I’m on your side. If you ever have trouble…”

He pressed his lips together and finished,

“I’ll help you.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

Nadia’s answer was a gentle refusal. Even if she had trouble, she wouldn’t ask Arons for help.

She worried he might suffer for being her mother’s distant relative or childhood friend.

She knew he was second in line to the throne, but still…

She hadn’t asked for help when she was almost sent abroad for marriage, for the same reason.

She didn’t want to burden a friend who’d grown distant. She didn’t want to taint those beautiful childhood memories with her current situation.

She still felt that way, and always would. Nadia was about to end her conversation with Arons.

“But I’m fine, so please don’t worry about me…”

She saw Lev, brow furrowed and staggering, in her view. For a moment she wondered if she was seeing things, but it was definitely the King.

He reminded her of someone else. Without time to think, she had to follow him.

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

His voice broke her thoughts, sounding a bit annoyed.

Was he annoyed she’d been distracted during their conversation? Nadia thought she’d made a mistake and hurried to speak.

“I was thinking about you, Your Majesty.”

Lev fell silent for a moment, then let out a dry laugh. The nuance was hardly positive, so Nadia added nervously,

“Earlier, Your Majesty…”

“No, it’s fine. No need to explain.”

He waved off her explanation and closed his eyes again. Nadia felt uneasy, but didn’t have the courage to continue the conversation.

“I’m tired. Stay until I fall asleep.”

He wouldn’t see it, but Nadia nodded.

***

“Your Majesty.”

At the soft voice calling him, Lev immediately opened his eyes.

Dr. Chekhov entered his view. The middle-aged palace physician, his hair starting to gray, spoke with a short sigh.

“I’ve brought your medicine.”

Lev tried to sit up, and Anton approached to help. Lev waved him off—he wasn’t that much of a patient yet.

Sitting up on his own, he saw an unexpected sight: Nadia was asleep, lying across the bed.

“…Why is she still here?”

“She stayed by your side the whole time, Your Majesty.”

Anton handed over the water and Dr. Chekhov’s medicine. Lev swallowed several round pills at once and drank the water. The bitterness made him frown.

“It’s strong.”

“I made it stronger since you have a fever now.”

Dr. Chekhov replied matter-of-factly.

“You must have been in unusually severe pain. Please don’t overdo it for a while.”

Lev smiled silently at the pointless request. Realizing his patient would never really listen, Dr. Chekhov frowned.

“You dragged this old man all the way to the capital. If you keep being uncooperative, I’ll just go back to Kennen.”

“I’ll try, so don’t be too angry.”

“Don’t just say it!”

Dr. Chekhov glared resentfully at a patient who’d never cooperated since his terminal diagnosis.

But doctors can only lose to patients in the end. He sighed and looked at Anton.

“Sir Anton, please take care of His Majesty. You’re my last hope.”

Honestly, Doctor, if he won’t listen to you, he won’t listen to me either.

Anton wanted to retort, but Dr. Chekhov looked so tired that he simply nodded. He could feel the doctor’s exhaustion from rushing to make new medicine after the King’s sudden decline.

It was already well past midnight. Dr. Chekhov grumbled about elder *buse as he left. Anton glanced at sleeping Nadia, then asked Lev,

“What should we do about Her Majesty, the Queen?”

“Wake her.”

Letting the woman he hated most sleep in his bedroom—he’d really pushed himself today.

Lev gestured for Anton to leave, then shook Nadia awake.

“Nadia Turik.”

Yes, this woman was Agnesa Turik’s daughter. Lev sharpened his senses, remembering that fact—why he’d made her Queen.

“Mm…”

Nadia lifted her head slowly with a faint groan. Her half-open eyes focused vaguely on Lev.

But Lev’s gaze was sharp, so she was completely exposed in her defenseless state.

“…Your Majesty?”

Her voice shattered a plate in his mind.

“Pull yourself together.”

“Ah…”

At his low words, Nadia jolted and blinked rapidly. She hurriedly sat up and touched her cheek.

“When did I fall asleep…”

“It’s late. You should go back.”

“Oh, yes.”

Nadia got up and left in a daze. Lev, left alone, stared at the spot where she’d been lying and brushed it with his hand. It was still warm.

He let out a dry laugh at himself. Was it the fever, or just waking up? He felt mentally off.