Chapter 16: I was Checking if You Were Dead
"Your Highness, Your Highness."
Soft, white strands of hair brushed against Eric’s cheek.
Eric barely managed to lift his heavy eyelids to look at the girl filling his
vision. Clear blue eyes, which even the faint shadows under them couldn’t hide,
were staring only at him...
"Your hair... move it......" Eric spoke slowly, catching his ragged breaths.
Elisha blinked twice, then slowly shook her head. With that movement, her hair
danced across Eric’s face once more, tickling him gently.
"What are you... doing."
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Eric reached up and brushed Elisha’s hair
aside. Only then did Elisha, who had been leaning close, straighten up.
"You wouldn't have moved if I hadn't done that."
"......"
"I was checking to see if you were dead."
Her voice was incredibly calm, as if she were merely recounting the day's
events. Eric was about to let out a hollow laugh, as if he had expected such a
response, but a wave of heat rising from his throat made him cough instead.
At that, Elisha’s eyes widened, and she rushed toward him again—this time, with
her hair tucked back.
"Your Highness, are you very ill?"
Elisha’s distinct, clear, and bright voice echoed in the bedroom. Eric let out a
ragged, metallic breath and managed a weak nod. Seeing that no one had stopped
her, it seemed they were the only two in the room. It was natural, since he had
dismissed all the maids to sleep in peace. But that didn't mean he had invited
her.
"You... how... did you get in here......"
"I teleported."
Before Eric could even finish his sentence, Elisha cut him off with the answer.
Then, she frowned for a moment as if she couldn't understand something, before
speaking again, enunciating every word clearly.
"I saw the Royal Physician hesitating outside. Are you sure it's alright for you
to be alone like this?"
"Because they are noisy......"
"What if you lose consciousness while you're alone?"
"I... I won't. I'll be better... if I rest."
Eric said, stealing a glance at Elisha through half-closed eyes. Her silhouette,
which was barely visible, split into two, merged back into one, then split
again, repeating the cycle. It seemed to be because of the fever.
At times like this, all he had to do was close his eyes and sleep for a full
day. It wasn't the first or second time he had been sick like this. However, the
reason he kept forcing his heavy eyelids open was...
"The expression... on your face... is truly funny."
...because the ripples on that fair face, which was always so calm, were somehow
interesting to watch. Eric muttered, letting out a small cough. At that, Elisha
touched her face a few times before knitting her brow.
"Your Highness's face is funnier. It's strange."
"......"
"It's as red as a tomato."
"And Your Highness hates tomatoes."
The young girl grumbled, her face wrinkled in a deep frown. Eric was suddenly
filled with the urge to tease her, even though he couldn't force himself to do
it, as his head throbbed and his throat ached with every syllable.
"You would be... the same... if you were sick......"
But that didn't mean he would let it slide. After finishing his fragmented
sentence, Eric mustered all his strength to curl the right corner of his mouth.
Elisha stared at him in daze.
"I have never been sick before."
She replied, tilting her head as if she had heard something incomprehensible.
Then, she pursed her lips, tilted her head to the other side, and finally, a
faint smile touched her lips.
"Your Highness is weak."
She never failed to say something that would provoke Eric. Hearing her words,
Eric's eyebrows rose involuntarily. He was already burning with fever, but her
words made him feel as if a fire was being stoked inside him. If he had known he
would hear this, he would have rung the bell immediately to have her removed...
"But Your Highness is brilliant at inventing magic."
But before he could reach for the bell, Elisha spoke first.
"So one day, you'll create a spell that can heal something like this in an
instant, won't you?"
"......"
"Until then, I will protect you."
Then, the young girl’s small palm rested over Eric’s eyes. Really, why was she
so obsessed with this sense of duty to protect him? Just as Eric struggled to
lift his arm, which felt as heavy as lead, to remove her hand...
"Because I want to."
Elisha whispered softly, as if she had read his thoughts.
"I don't like seeing Your Highness sick."
"So, it's just because I want to."
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