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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: An Unfamiliar Feeling
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It had already been several days since I’d unexpectedly become Enoch’s remedy and then his fake lover.
More than the Elders who tried to stick me with Enoch at every opportunity, more than Ariel who called Enoch and me “Mama” and “Papa,” there was a new worry that preoccupied my thoughts above all else. I let out a deep sigh.
‘What on earth is the problem?’
I stared at the source of my worry moving before my eyes for a long while before waving my hand.
“Your Majesty, come a little closer.”
“…I think we’re close enough.”
“This? I think we could run a race between us.”
So, what was this worry that had become my biggest concern lately?
It was that Enoch wouldn’t come near me at all!
Just a short while ago, he would follow me around, asking to be touched whenever he had the chance, and he wouldn’t let go of my hand as if it were his own.
But ever since we kissed, he’s been keeping his distance, reluctantly offering just a single finger…
If I got frustrated and tried to approach him first, he’d suddenly claim he had urgent business and leave.
And on the rare occasion I was lucky enough to touch him, his pale skin would flush red wherever my hand landed, as if stained with flower petals. I couldn’t do a thing.
“Sigh. What’s the point of deciding to be his remedy when the person who needs the treatment won’t even come near me?”
As I spoke loudly on purpose for him to hear, Enoch moved closer by a fraction of an inch, as if doing me a great favor.
Yet, he absolutely refused to meet my eyes, making it seem like he was angry, but maybe not.
Unable to fathom the reason for his behavior, I cupped my chin in my hands and stared intently at Enoch.
‘Hmm. Was the kiss that unpleasant for him?’
That was the only reason I could think of for Enoch’s sudden change in attitude…
But still. It’s not like I did it with any ulterior motives!
I only did it because I was worried about him. Isn’t this a bit much?
Look, he’s doing it again.
I was just trying to faithfully follow the Elders’ advice to have as much contact as possible to break the curse on his heart, but somehow, I seemed more anxious about it than Enoch himself.
Feeling a little resentful, I was persistently glaring at the nape of his neck, which was redder than usual, when the Elders walked into the room with wide smiles.
“Oh, our Little Marquess is here!”
The Elders, who as usual spread their arms wide to express their wholehearted welcome, sensed the strange atmosphere between us and hurriedly exchanged glances.
But that was only for a moment. As if plotting something, they poked each other in the ribs with their elbows and approached with sly grins.
“What is it? Why are you smiling like that? What are you planning to say now?”
Having been tricked by that smile many times over the past few days, I shot them a wary look. And just as I expected, more troublesome words came from the White Elder’s mouth.
“Little Marquess. There’s a charity event coming up soon.”
“And?”
“Oh, come on. You know.”
*Poke.*
The White Elder winked and poked my shoulder.
What’s this? Why is he acting this way?
Unsure how to react to the sudden, cutesy gesture from the elderly man, my pupils darted around wildly. Then, the Black Elder joined in.
“Please attend the event as His Majesty’s partner.”
My eyes widened. “What? Why me?”
Things are awkward enough as it is, and you want me to do what?
“Why, you ask? Because you are His Majesty’s lover.”
“But that’s…!”
As I was about to say it was just for show, the Elders’ cloud-like eyebrows drooped sadly.
“If the Little Marquess doesn’t go, our Majesty will just wander around looking pathetic all by himself again…”
“Yes. And then he’ll probably go around picking fights with other couples for no reason, like a ruffian. Sigh.”
“Hey, when did I ever…?”
Enoch, who had been avoiding my gaze and staring into space, tried to protest the badmouthing happening right in front of him with a look of disbelief, but the Elders didn’t stop.
“Then he’ll carelessly go and touch something strange and lose control again…”
“And when he freezes up like a snowman, we’ll have to carry him back to the palace. And deal with anyone who saw… Yes. If the Little Marquess doesn’t want to, we have no choice. We old men will just have to suffer a bit.”
Watching the two of them sigh deeply while patting their backs and knees, I raised both hands in surrender.
“Ah, I’ll go. I said I’ll go!”
As if they had just been waiting for my answer, the Elders, who had been bent over and groaning, suddenly straightened up.
Then, as if they had never been weary, they started clapping their hands busily and tried to get Enoch and me out of our seats.
“My goodness! Then you must hurry and prepare for the party! What are you doing just sitting there!”
“Pardon?”
“Come on, hurry and get up! You too, Your Majesty!”
The White Elder struggled to lift Enoch, who wouldn’t budge from his chair.
The Black Elder was pushing an unsuspecting me out the door.
“Wait, where are we going?”
“You need to get a dress fitted and choose accessories. There’s so much to do. Now, get a move on!”
“Can’t we just do that in this room?”
In novels, the tailors usually come to the house. Why are they telling me to go out and choose?
As I stood stubbornly in the doorway, expressing my reluctance with my entire body, a wrinkled hand gave my back a light slap.
“What’s this, young people cooped up indoors all the time? You should go out on occasions like this.”
As the Elder went on nagging, I pointed at Ariel.
“But Ariel is here.”
“We will play with the little lady and bring her on time, so do not worry.”
“She’ll look for me, though. Ariel can’t sleep without me.”
At my words, Ariel, who was playing in the small play area set up in a corner, waved her hand cheerfully.
“Mama, go out. Bye-bye! Riel can sweep by mysewf!”
“Really? Can Ariel stay by herself?”
“Uh-huh!”
The child, who had recently learned to form short sentences, beamed and let the Black Elder, who had approached her, pick her up.
“Gonna pway wif Gwampa!”
“You’re going to play with Grandpa?”
“Uh-huh, uh-huh!”
I was watching Ariel and the Elder, who seemed to get along strangely well, when my gaze shifted and met Enoch’s gray eyes.
Though, before we could exchange a glance or anything, Enoch quickly turned his head away.
Not to be outdone, I whipped my head away too, and this time, even Ariel joined in pushing me.
“Go!”
“Oh, right! While you’re out, please show everyone how affectionate you are with His Majesty. There are people who doubt that you two are lovers.”
“Affectionate? I’ll be lucky if we don’t look like enemies. He won’t even meet my eyes.”
As I was reluctantly pushed out of the room, I poked my head back in toward Enoch, who was still glued to his chair.
“Your Majesty! If you don’t hurry, I’m leaving without you.”
***
“By the way, Your Majesty.”
The White Elder, who was forcing a jacket onto Enoch as he dawdled in the room, carefully brought up a topic.
“Did you have a fight with the Little Marquess?”
“Hm? No?”
At Enoch’s look, which seemed to ask what nonsense he was spouting, the White Elder tilted his head.
“Then why are you avoiding her gaze and her touch…?”
“Ah…”
At that, Enoch rubbed his face with his hands and asked with great seriousness.
“Elder. Are there any side effects when the ice melts?”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“My body has been acting strange ever since that day.”
“That day? Which day?”
The White Elder, who had asked out of habit, remembered that the day Enoch was referring to was the day he had kissed Riana a few days ago, and his eyes widened.
“What is it? Is there something wrong with your body?”
“I believe so…”
“Could you please tell me what your symptoms are?”
My goodness. To think he’d been so excited and happy, completely unaware that the one he served was unwell.
The Elder, blaming himself for his lack of qualification as a retainer, found his expression changing subtly as Enoch spoke.
“I don’t know. Ever since the kiss, whenever I see Riana, my heart pounds and my face gets hot, even without any contact.”
“…”
“If our eyes meet, my mind goes blank, and even when she’s not here, I keep thinking about her.”
“…”
“And my lips…”
Enoch traced his own lower lip, where Riana’s had been, and looked at the White Elder with a grave expression.
“What do you think? It sounds strange, doesn’t it? My heart keeps tickling, too.”
The Elder was at a loss for words.
His heart had dropped, worried that something might be wrong with His Majesty’s body, but this was just… the feelings of an adolescent boy’s first love.
But the pitiful emperor before him, who had never interacted with people, wore a deeply serious expression, completely unaware of what he was feeling.
“It seems strange to you too, right? Is it some kind of side effect?”
“No, Your Majesty, this is…”
The White Elder opened his mouth to tell him the truth, but he snapped it shut.
‘No. Why should I tell him and spoil the fun?’
Gazing at the blush that wouldn’t leave Enoch’s face, the Elder suppressed the chuckles that threatened to escape.
“…Yes, Your Majesty… *Ahem*. Ahem! It seems to be a healing crisis.”
“A healing crisis?”
“Yes. It’s a natural reaction that accompanies the body’s improvement, so you need not worry too much.”
“Then what should I do? Should I just wait it out?”
“Until your body adjusts, you must consistently make contact with the Little Marquess and meet her eyes. Just continue as you normally would.”
“…Consistently?”
The Elder’s prescription seemed to strike him like a bolt from the blue, and a look of dismay washed over Enoch’s handsome face.
“…This is serious. My heart won’t be able to take it.”
Enoch, who was leaving the room while rubbing his face again, looked back at the Elder as if he had remembered something.
“What happened with the matter concerning the Duke that I asked you to look into?”
“It seems it will take more time. There is a strange lack of records or information.”
“Report to me immediately if you find anything, no matter how trivial.”
“Understood. By the way, Your Majesty, the Little Marquess will grow tired of waiting. You should hurry out.”
“…I’m going, so stop pushing me.”
Unable to resist the Elder’s urging, Enoch put on a pair of very sturdy gloves, took Ariel’s small hand to wave goodbye, and let out another sigh that seemed to shake the ground.
“Haaah… I suppose I’ll be back.”
