“You’ve finally arrived.”
That was the first thing Müllen Cassus said the moment he spotted Elisha and Dante.
Dante’s jaw dropped as he looked at the desk that had taken over the space in front of the bedroom.
How on earth did he even bring that in here?
“Since this is the first time His Majesty has fallen ill since ascending the throne, I’ve been so worried that I haven’t been able to focus on my work.”
Perhaps sensing Dante’s gaze, Müllen said this with a hollow laugh. Dante was even more appalled.
Who in the world brings a desk in front of the Emperor’s bedroom to conduct official business just because they can’t focus?
‘Everyone here is insane.’
Surviving among these madmen is truly a daunting task.
“……And you’ve come as well, Miss. Forte.”
Müllen, who had shifted his gaze from Dante to Elisha, smiled warmly. His tone sounded as if he had been waiting for her.
Elisha bowed her head slightly in greeting.
“Sir Renard asked me if I might be able to cure His Majesty’s illness, so I accompanied him.”
I never said any such thing—look at her lying without even blinking an eye.
Dante blinked his violet eyes rapidly, looking back and forth between Elisha and Müllen.
Müllen lightly ignored Dante and continued.
“He has suffered from this every year since he was very young, so I suppose one could call it an illness.”
“…….”
“But perhaps, it could also be seen as nothing more than His Majesty’s childish whim.”
Müllen adjusted his monocle and let out a hearty laugh. His tone was somewhat cryptic.
Elisha blinked a few times in response instead of answering.
What exactly is Müllen Cassus trying to tell me?
“In any case, now that you two are here, I can attend to my duties with a much lighter heart.”
Having said his piece, Müllen took a few steps back, clearing the way for Dante and Elisha. Dante gave Müllen an awkward nod before slowly gripping the bedroom door handle.
At that same moment, a faint ripple of mana surged over the door latch, and the magic of the barrier that had been enveloping the entire bedroom vanished in an instant.
‘Elisha used to be the one who did things like this.’
I was always just a bystander watching from behind, so I’m not sure how things ended up like this.
Dante carefully pushed open the bedroom door, the barrier now dispelled.
The inside of the bedroom was as silent as the grave, as it always was. Not even the chirping of a bird could be heard.
Amidst that silence, only the sound of someone’s labored breathing and the soft noise of the door closing lingered, as if they might fade away at any moment.
Dante took a breath and quietly opened his mouth.
“Erich, are you asleep?”
“…….”
“I see you are.”
Sleep well.
Having finished his words quickly, Dante immediately turned around to look at Elisha. Elisha signaled to him without a word.
Dante read the emotion in her eyes and scratched the back of his head.
Was she thanking me just now?
“……Sir Renard.”
Elisha called out to Dante and gestured with her chin toward Erich’s bed. Dante blinked a few times before letting out a small exclamation.
Is she telling me to stay here while she goes ahead?
‘Well, Erich is a light sleeper, after all.’
She must have thought that if she took the lead as Lucy Forte, she might be treated like a stranger.
With that thought, Dante moved forward cautiously once more.
To think he’d come for a visit when he and Erich had been in the middle of a cold war.
‘You’d better just stay asleep.’
You don’t really like Elisha coming here anyway. It would be best if you stayed in a deep, long sleep and only woke up after she’s gone.
That’s the only way that’s good for you, for me, and for Elisha.
‘……If it looks like he’s going to wake up, should I just knock him out again?’
I could just cleanly strike the back of his neck before he says anything.
Lost in all sorts of imaginings, Dante finally stood at Erich’s bedside and held his breath.
Contrary to all his plans, Erich was sleeping as if he were dead. There were even moments when his soft, rhythmic breathing couldn’t be heard at all.
“……He is still alive, right? He seems to be in a very deep sleep, at least.”
“Try holding your finger to his nose.”
“I’d rather not.”
Isn’t the fact that I can hear his breathing every now and then proof enough?
Dante ignored Elisha’s suggestion and instead gestured for her to come closer. Elisha moved with silent footsteps and quickly stood by Dante’s side. She remained a few paces further back than usual.
Whether as Elisha or as Lucy Forte, this distance was sufficient for now.
Elisha stood still, looking down at Erich.
His face was neither smiling nor angry, just peaceful.
“……He really is asleep.”
There was a time he had fallen asleep like this before. Was it in Dante Renard’s office?
Elisha exhaled softly as she recalled the memory.
If he could fall asleep like this, even with someone else nearby, it must mean that the recent events had been truly exhausting for him.
“I think it was a good idea to come.”
Elisha murmured quietly. Dante raised an eyebrow as if asking what she meant.
“He’s sleeping so defenselessly—what would happen if someone were to break in?”
“I think you’re the only one who could break through that barrier and get in here.”
To Dante’s question, Elisha shook her head lightly instead of answering.
At the very least, the man she had faced would be able to get in.
If his true goal was the destruction of Cardion, he would target Erich sooner or later.
In fact, at the banquet, he had summoned a monster outside the barrier while Erich was off guard.
And now, Erich wasn’t even conscious. Even if it wasn’t ‘that group,’ he was in a situation where he could easily become someone’s target.
If she had remained as Lucy Forte and hadn’t even received help from Dante Renard in the midst of all this.
No, if Dante Renard hadn’t discovered her.
“……I’m truly glad you’re here.”
Elisha muttered in a faint voice. Dante’s eyes went wide as he looked at her.
Elisha must have caught something from Müllen Cassus. He wasn’t sure exactly what, but it was certain she had caught something.
Otherwise, there was no way she would have suddenly said something like that.
“Are you sick, too?”
Dante asked, looking genuinely surprised. Elisha immediately narrowed her eyes and glared at him.
“Lower your voice, Renard.”
“Oh……, alright. But are you really sick?”
Dante whispered, having lowered his voice perfectly this time. Elisha rolled her eyes without relaxing her expression. It was a blatant display of dismissal.
Looking at her like that, she doesn’t seem to be sick.
Dante kept glancing at Elisha, still looking as if he couldn’t believe it.
Perhaps she had caught Erich’s fever. Though, he had never once seen Elisha fall ill.
‘And for Elisha to have a fever, of all things.’
I’d sooner believe that Erich is the world’s greatest romantic.
“Fine, whatever.”
I’ll just assume I misheard her.
Dante shuddered once and walked over to the sofa to sit down.
Since he hadn’t brought any work like Müllen Cassus, he planned to spend some time here and leave whenever Elisha asked him to.
Usually, he would be taking a nap around this time, anyway.
“You should come and sit down, too.”
Dante gestured toward Elisha while lounging on the sofa. Whether she cared or not, Elisha shook her head. She remained standing where she was.
Dante raised his upper body slightly and frowned.
“Are you going to keep standing like that? Until when? Until Erich wakes up? How do you know when he’ll wake up?”
“Be quiet, Dante Renard.”
“You’re a mage, not a knight. Save your stamina.”
“I’m not sick enough for that.”
“It’s not about being sick, it’s been hours.”
Even someone who exercises regularly would find it exhausting to stand in one place without moving. And she wasn’t even walking.
“Oh, forget it. Do whatever you want.”
I’m going to rest without worrying about you.
Dante shook his head in exasperation and laid back down on the sofa.
Now that he thought about it, Elisha had a tendency to be stubbornly persistent when it came to Erich. She was usually so quick to accept other things.
As a friend who had known Elisha for a long time, Dante found that aspect of her very frustrating.
‘They don’t have any good feelings left for each other, so I don’t know why she goes to such lengths.’
The other party had practically chased her away, after all.
“You two are really hard to understand, you know that?”
Dante muttered as he continued his train of thought. But there was no reply.
Fine, you two can just endure this silence together.
Dante turned his head away and closed his eyes. Or rather, that was the moment he tried to.
“Sir Renard. Can you hear me?”
Suddenly, Müllen Cassus’s deep, dignified voice drifted in from beyond the bedroom door.
Dante felt a chill run down his spine.
Why is Müllen Cassus looking for me?
“Th-there’s no one here by that name.”
“I had a question regarding your vacation, Sir Renard…….”
“Dante Renard is coming right now.”
Vacation-related matters—it must be because of his recent contributions.
As soon as Müllen finished speaking, Dante sprang up from the sofa as if he had been launched.
Even then, he paused his excited steps toward the door and glanced back at Elisha.
Seeing her standing just five paces from Erich’s bed, watching over him in case there was any threat to him…….
‘Let’s not worry about it.’
Dante turned his head again and began to walk away.
Nothing would change even if he cared, so he really shouldn’t worry about it.
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