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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: A Sudden Sickness
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I accepted the notebook reluctantly.
From the very first page, written in Mera's handwriting, were the words, "Read a fairytale every night," and "Please check if the young lady is sleeping well every two hours."
It was a clear sign that they were conscious of my past of being neglected at the viscounty.
Turning to the next page, I saw Yelena's handwriting emphasizing, "Take after meals," and also the elegant script that was unmistakably Winter's.
Even Viscount Rose had specified, "Ensure she sleeps in a clean, insect-free space."
Wh-what is all this…?
"It's easier to just give up."
Menelik, who had suddenly become my caretaker, said while chewing on a piece of candy.
I quietly moved aside, making room for Menelik to sit.
Soon, he began to read the fairytale.
…His reading skills were so terrible that, thanks to him, I fell asleep quickly.
* * *
A day passed, then two, and the priests grew accustomed to the luxurious journey.
The youngest priest's name was Zenon, and he would strike up a friendly conversation whenever I was alone.
"I contacted the Grand Temple with the communication stone yesterday. It was such a relief that the Saintess wasn't too angry… She said she'd make a special exception this one time, in recognition of our service in escorting you, my lady!"
But perhaps because Menelik frequently exuded a murderous aura, the other priests avoided coming near me under any circumstances.
Then, on the night before we arrived in the capital, Menelik read me a fairytale about a kind hero and a bad monster.
"'When the bad monster monopolized the good land, the people asked the kind hero for help.' Such one-dimensional descriptions."
"..."
Until that point, I had been dozing off.
That blueberry ice cream I had for dinner was so good. I hope they have it for breakfast tomorrow…
He continued reading the fairytale in his characteristic low voice.
At first, I was only half-listening, but soon I was seized by a strange feeling.
Even with the kind hero's strength, it wasn't enough to capture the bad monster. Neither poison nor traps worked.
After much deliberation, the kind hero gathered his companions.
Soon, a clever plan was devised: to first capture the beloved companion of the bad monster.
"Isn't this just capturing them to use as bait? That's not clever, it's cunning, isn't it?"
Menelik added his own commentary.
When its companion was captured, the bad monster went insane.
The kind hero succeeded in defeating the crazed bad monster, and the land became the people's.
It was a very straightforward story: the monster was defeated for possessing the land because it was "bad," and the hero won by using tricks because he was "kind."
"Do kids these days find this sort of thing interesting… Cheria?"
My body was trembling uncontrollably.
Wh-why am I suddenly like this?
I shrank back and looked up at Menelik.
"I-I think I'm a little cold."
Menelik immediately covered me with a blanket and said with a reluctant expression.
"I'll bring a priest."
I shook my head.
Ugh, I feel dizzy.
"I'm, fine."
Divine power would be of no help to me.
"If you don't get better, I'll have Emil bring the physician."
Menelik warned in a stern voice, but the hand he placed on my forehead was warm.
"You're breaking out in a cold sweat."
I heard the book fall from Menelik's lap.
I bit my lip hard and tugged on Menelik's clothes.
"Hm?"
"That… that book, please get rid of it."
"You didn't like the story? It's quite famous, enough to have an original text."
It made me feel sick.
It was truly disgusting.
"Yes, completely. Please get rid of it quick… no, it would be better to throw it in the fireplace."
Ugh, I'm so dizzy I don't even know what I'm saying.
Still, it was true that I hated the fairytale.
When I pleaded with a groan, Menelik tossed the book into the fireplace.
Only then was I able to calm down, even if just a little.
Without knowing why, I curled into a ball to preserve my body heat.
As I shifted my position, the necklace containing Kivrin's scale slipped down.
…That's right, I have Kivrin's scale.
As if by instinct, driven by the will to live, I clutched the necklace.
At that, the trembling subsided considerably.
My blurry vision cleared up as well.
This is strange. What's wrong with me?
Did I subconsciously associate Kivrin with the "bad monster"?
But I don't think of Kivrin as a monster.
Even if I did, getting sick so suddenly like this doesn't make any sense.
I felt Menelik wiping my face with a warm towel. He seemed quite accustomed to taking care of someone.
As if trying to ease my tension, he asked.
"Was it worse than the story about the dolphin family?"
That was the fairytale Menelik had read yesterday, the one that sent me off to dreamland in five minutes flat.
"The dolphin family was just boring, but this one makes me angry."
I pouted.
"I'll be more careful with the book selection next time."
"..."
"Are you hurting anywhere else?"
"I'm fine now."
Of course, he didn't buy it.
"One person lying to me is enough, and that's Kivrin."
Menelik pressed the towel gently against the corner of my eye.
Huh? Was I crying, too?
"...I-I'm a little dizzy. No, a lot dizzy."
Menelik finished wiping my face and took out the communication stone.
He quickly exchanged words with Yelena.
It was… strange.
When I was sick at the viscounty, everyone pretended not to see and just passed by.
There was no one to even ask if I was okay.
Why is Menelik still by my side? He could have just ignored my stubbornness and called the priests.
The truth was, compared to Winter, Menelik was still a stranger to me.
I didn't know what he thought of me… and he was never portrayed very favorably in the novel…
Well, I'm in a position to be grateful as long as he doesn't kick me out.
I rubbed my eyes. The ceiling was spinning.
My chest felt heavy, as if a stone were pressing down on it, and tears welled up in my eyes.
A moment ago I was freezing, and now I was burning up.
Ugh, something's really wrong with me!
I managed to get out from under the covers and plant my feet on the floor.
I was so hot I felt like I would go crazy if I didn't get some cool air.
Just then, Kivrin's voice came from the communication stone.
"[Ch-Cheria? Are you sick?]"
My head snapped up.
The tears that had been welling up again fell like pearls.
"I… I'm, *hic*, okay."
It was so nice to hear his voice after a full nine days.
But silence descended from the other side of the stone.
"[Is Father bothering you?]"
…Huh?
A chill laced Kivrin's question.
He didn't even stutter just now, did he?
"I can't say my conscience is entirely clear, but I'm trying my best."
Menelik fanned the flames with his unnecessary remark.
Suddenly, he looked down at me with a strange expression.
For a few seconds, he seemed to be conflicted over something I didn't understand, before uttering something unbelievable.
"And what would you do if I was bothering her? It's not like you can leave the castle anyway."
"[...]"
Excuse me?!
"Ah, I misspoke. You *won't* come out, right? Because you're a bad monster who torments people."
Menelik forcibly ended the communication, and the light from the stone vanished.
I was so shocked that, for a moment, I completely forgot I was even sick.
"You're so mean, Your Grace. How could you say such a thing…?"
After prodding his own son's greatest weakness, he calmly rummaged through the medicine bag.
"I've never been a nice person. So don't be too much of a bother."
The corners of my eyes didn't even sting.
This much was, well, bearable.
Menelik had treated me well for no particular reason. It was about time he started getting tired of me.
This was as far as he was willing to accept me. I understood.
But taking it out on Kivrin is just wrong, isn't it?
I'd like to refuse a genre change to a tragedy, thank you very much!
Menelik took out the medicine Yelena had mentioned over the communication stone.
I snatched it from him and tossed it into my mouth.
"Yes, mister!"
Even if I get kicked out today, I'm on Kivrin's side! Hmph!
I was so dizzy I slammed my head into the wall, but I somehow managed to get out of the room.
Finally, my eyes began to sting.
I was crouched on the stairs, catching my breath, when a hotel employee cautiously spoke to me.
"Do you need any help, my lady?"
"I'm crying because I'm sick, because it hurts. Not because I'm a burden."
I don't even know why I'm acting like this. Jeez, I don't want to be sick either.
I felt wronged, resentful—all sorts of emotions were swirling inside me.
A concerned voice floated down from above me.
"...I heard you were unable to bring a servant with you. Please, ask for anything you need."
I sniffled and roughly wiped away my tears. Then I shot to my feet.
"Yes! Please help me!"
"Oh my…?"
When I asked so frankly, the employee smiled.
"My name is Letty. Shall we go together, then?"
