The Little Demon King is Too Bothered by Her Brave Dads - Chapter 82

***

Something cool wiped away the cold sweat on my forehead.

The sensation of the cool touch against my feverish forehead was pleasant.

I managed to lift my heavy eyelids as if they were blocks of metal.

The hazy view slowly sharpened.

“…Dad?”

In a feeble voice, I called out to Siegfried, who was sitting beside me.

He must have been wiping my forehead with a wet towel.

“Tatiana, how’s your body feeling?”

His golden eyes gazed down at me, filled with concern.

“Of all times, for a demonic energy outbreak to happen now…”

I couldn’t finish the sentence, and Siegfried clenched his lips so hard they turned white.

“I’m okay.”

I quickly added.

Honestly, it does hurt a bit, but well, it’s not like demonic energy outbreaks are a rare occurrence.

Siegfried pressed his fingers to his forehead, hiding his expression.

The muscles in his jaw were tensed, as if he was biting down with all his might.

“By the way, I heard they’ve planted all sorts of flower seedlings in the greenhouse.”

A moment later.

Siegfried spoke in a low voice.

“Flowers?”

“Yeah. While we are staying, Grandfather told me to have a look at the greenhouse he had prepared in advance.”

Siegfried lowered the hand that covered his face.

He managed to force a smile, pushing up the corners of his lips with effort.

“So, when I´m feeling a bit better, let’s go see it together.”

“…Okay.”

I lowered my eyelids in a bashful expression.

I was overjoyed that he cared about me, even while I was sick.

But then.

Knock, knock.

A gentle knock sounded on the door.

“It’s me.”

“Ah, Father.”

Siegfried jumped to his feet.

At the same time, the door opened.

My grandfather entered the room first, followed by a person who appeared to be a doctor.

“So, Tatiana isn’t feeling well?”

“Yes. It seems she caught a cold from the long journey.”

Since the fact that I was of mixed human and demon blood was a secret, Siegfried improvised accordingly.

I felt a sense of concern in my grandfather’s gaze upon me.

“I’ve brought a doctor. Wouldn’t it be better to have a check-up for now?”

“…….Yes, thank you.”

Siegfried nodded silently.

I obediently underwent the doctor’s examination.

Even though the doctor couldn’t really fix the issue of a demonical energy outbreak, it seemed like a good idea to at least take some fever-reducing medicine.

Taking the medicine, sipping water, and then lying back on the bed.

Throughout it all, my grandfather and Siegfried never took their eyes off me.

***

Various wheezes and labored breaths echoed in the air.

Siegfried and the former Duke looked at the peacefully sleeping Tatiana, as if she had fainted.

“She didn’t even make a face when taking the medicine… not even once.”

The former duke’s expression was a mixture of bitterness.

Despite the medicine probably having a strong taste, Tatiana swallowed it without a single complaint.

Perhaps it was because she had been suffering for a long time.

The fact that the child had already grown accustomed to taking medicine made him feel quite sympathetic.

“…I had heard that she was naturally frail, but I didn’t expect her to overexert herself to the point of falling ill like this.”

The former Duke sighed with a mixture of emotions.

“Perhaps I should have had her stay behind and left. I shouldn’t have gotten so excited about my granddaughter coming…….”

“It’s my fault since I allowed her to come along.”

“Why are you saying that?”

The former Duke turned his heavy gaze towards Siegfried.

“When a child is suffering, it’s like a stake being driven into a parent’s heart.”

“…….”

Siegfried, instead of responding, stared intensely at Tatiana’s sleeping face.

If not for that, he would have wanted to shout in frustration.

Why did this proclamation of a ticking time bomb called a demonic energy outbreak have to come down on that child?

At this moment, he had the urge to grab fate by the collar and interrogate it.

‘If I could suffer in Tatiana’s place……’

Siegfried clenched his fist.

His nails dug painfully into his palms, but in the rush of self-loathing, he didn’t even notice the pain.

Then someone patted him on the back.

It was the former duke.

“Probably not up to you either.”

“…Father.”

“Still… Let’s wait a little until the child recovers.”

Siegfried forced a smile, inhaling deeply.

“Yes.”

However, his voice held no strength at all.

***

Afterwards.

My condition had improved considerably.

After falling asleep and waking up again, the fever had subsided for the most part.

There was no cold sweat, and the color had returned to my pale cheeks.

‘The energy…… seems to have subsided, doesn’t it?’

Only then did my grandfather and Siegfried, who had become slightly relieved, kindly bid me goodnight.

“Sleep well, Tatiana.”

“If you feel unwell at any time, don’t hesitate to call for us.”

“Goodnight!”

At this point, I knew I’d be up and out of bed in no time.

I was filled with anticipation.

However, as if to mock me, the moment dawn broke, the rampage of the demonic energy began again.

Siegfried and my grandfather rushed over, called the doctor, administered fever and pain relievers, the symptoms eased a little due to the effects of the medication.

And as soon as it was the solitary early hours, the energy started boiling again…

Such a situation continued for several days.

‘Something is strange.’

While clutching the pillow and moaning softly, I pondered earnestly.

Of course, during the early days after I left the demon realm, I would lie sick for over a week when the demonic energy went on a rampage.

Lately, it would calm down in about 2-3 days.

But now, there’s no sign of it settling down at all.

‘And there’s something else that’s strange.’

There was a clear distinction between when I was sick and when I was recovering.

When First dad and my grandfather are by my side during the day, my fever goes down, and I can move around more comfortably.

But when night falls, and I’m alone in bed, my fever keeps rising, and I start vomiting blood…

And here’s the craziest part.

“The princess has collapsed again!”

“Tatiana?!”

“Child, are you okay?”

The thing is, the moment my grandfather and first dad come into my room, I feel better!

‘What is this, am I pretending to be sick or something?!’

Frustrated, I pressed my forehead against the pillow.

Of course, they are genuinely concerned for me, but now I feel unjust!

‘It won’t do, I have to find a way to solve this problem somehow…!’

Back when I was trying to hold myself together alone…

Knock, knock.

A short knocking sound echoed.

“Cough, come in.”

……Ugh, really.

I wanted to answer as composedly as possible, but why did my cough have to mix in like that?

I looked towards the door in frustration.

“Tatiana.”

My grandfather, who had entered the bedroom, looked at me with a worried expression.

“How’s your body feeling?”

“I’m fine. Thank you.”

“…You sure are. You were coughing earlier.”

Oh no, he heard it.

I awkwardly managed to smile.

My grandfather reached out and tidied up my disheveled hair.

“Child, staying indoors all the time isn’t good for your health.”

Then he grinned and winked.

“By the way, the flowers have bloomed beautifully in the greenhouse. How about we go together for some fresh air and enjoy the view?”

I blinked.

‘Come to think of it, grandfather mentioned that he planted flowers in the greenhouse for me.’

Due to my recent prolonged illness, I hadn’t even thought about that part.

I smiled and nodded.

“Yes, I’d like to go.”

As I tried to get up unsteadily, my grandfather quickly stopped me.

“Where do you think you’re going with no energy left?”

“But I need to go to the greenhouse…”

“I can carry you.”

“Grandfather?”

Slightly surprised, I stammered as my grandfather mischievously asked.

“Why, don’t you want to be held by your grandpa?”

“No, it’s not that.”

Blushing and avoiding eye contact, I mumbled.

“I feel like I might be too heavy.”

“What’s so heavy about a small child like you?”

My grandfather’s expression turned serious.

“I might not be as strong as your father, but I’ve lived my whole life as a knight.”

“Still…”

“Stop with the unnecessary thoughts and come here.”

My grandfather spread his arms towards me.

After a moment’s hesitation, I shuffled over to my grandfather.

He embraced me gently.

“How does it feel? Do I seem exhausted?”

“No.”

I held onto my grandfather’s neck tightly.

His embrace was as warm as Siegfried’s.