CH 39

Inquiry

Sheila and Cody were in their room, arguing the whole time.

“I did plan to take a good rest today, but I didn’t say I would take the whole day off.”

“Your fever went up because you couldn’t rest, you know? I’m worried about what they might do to you again if you go outside. When I saw you in Jornwerner-sensei’s arms, it seriously shortened my life span.”

“But….”

“Anyway, just sit tight today. You’re on bed rest.”

She insisted that her fever wasn’t that high, but Cody was adamant and wouldn’t listen to her.

He must’ve been very anxious when she didn’t come back from the equipment room, but it was torture for her, who couldn’t stay still, to be asked to spend the whole day in bed.

“…. You’re being mean.”

She looked resentfully at Cody, who was holding a towel to her forehead as she burrowed into her blanket. Her friend seemed momentarily intimidated, but he was unwilling to back down.

“Maybe Sheila shouldn’t meet anyone today…..”

“Why?”

As Cody held his forehead, she heard him say, “Even I feel dizzy”. Perhaps he was speaking in consideration of the possibility of transferring the cold to someone else. It wasn’t even Sheila’s intention to transfer it to others, so she decided to back off meekly.

“…. I understand. I’ll stay put today. Sorry for bothering you again, Cody. I’ve been relying on you ever since I entered the academy….. It’s pathetic.”

The fact that he had given up his day off and woke up early in the morning to take care of her was something she couldn’t thank him enough for.

For some reason, she suddenly felt sad and covered her eyes with the blanket. Cody seemed to chuckle at the timid Sheila.

“For Sheila to say such an auspicious thing….. you must be really sick.”

“…. That statement says a lot about how you usually think of me.”

Cody wiped her sweat with a wet towel.

It felt so good that Sheila easily caved in. She closed her eyes and remembered the face of her brother, whom she was supposed to meet today.

‘I didn’t get a chance to tell Felix that I can’t come see him. Lulu might already be here to pick me up.’

The more she started thinking about it, the more anxious she became.

“….. Hey, Cody. I think there might be a carriage coming to pick me up. I’m sorry, but could you please check the carriage stop for me? If they are here, please let them know I can’t go home today.”

Cody nodded, but his expression clouded with concern.

“I got it, but I can’t exactly leave you here alone either―”

“Hey Sheila, I’m here to visit you!”

Suddenly, without warning, the front door was opened.

Zechs stepped in without hesitation, brushing his sand-colored short hair.

“Ah, Zechs. You’re just in time.”

Cody looked back over his shoulder and patted his chest in relief.

“I’ve got some errands to do, so I’d like you to stay with Sheila while I’m gone. People can feel very lonely when they have a cold.”

Sheila’s chest tightened as he gently stroked her head.

“Cody is so kind, I feel like I’m going to cry…..”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Yes, I’m glad.”

She was glad to have met such a kind person like Cody.

When she looked at him with eyes shining with gratitude from the bottom of her heart, his expression subtly tightened. Even Zechs, who was peeking at Sheila next to him, had his face tense up.

The two exchanged glances, then turned their backs to the bed and squared their shoulders stiffly.

“――Zechs, take care of yourself.”

“Yeah, got it.”

For some reason, there seemed to be a growing sense of solidarity, but she was worried that the cold was contagious.

“It would be bad if it’s contagious, so you don’t have to overdo it, okay Zechs?”

“What are you talking about? Just stay still, I’ll get you a blanket from my room. You need to get a little warmer.”

Zechs left the room along with Cody.

Sheila continued to stare at the door, feeling helpless after he told her not to push herself. She felt terribly lonely.

While living at home, Sheila rarely caught a cold, but once she did catch it, she tended to complicate it and make the illness last longer. Because of this, when she was weak, someone from her family was always there to nurse her. She had no idea that being alone could be so frightening.

When Zechs appeared at the door, she was happy to see him.

“How are you doing? Do you think you can attend class tomorrow?”

He looked into her face as he carefully covered her with a blanket.

“I’d like to, but I don’t want to pass it on to others, so I’ll hold out until I’m completely healed.”

“It’s best not to take a break, though, because everyone’s eyes are on you right now. They don’t like the fact that you’re on the special course.”

“I did take the medicine I made when I was in the village, though.”

The medicines made by the village’s traditional method were all very effective, although there were differences in efficacy. Zechs nodded his head in agreement, as he had also tried them on wounds.

“All the medicines from your hometown are very effective, aren’t they? To be honest, they may even be more effective than the ones in the royal capital. I’d like to sell them from my parents’ house.”

Zechs chuckled and suddenly showed his merchant side.

Sheila remembered the smiling yet calculating eyes of the merchant who visited the village several times a year. Zechs, who was born and raised in a merchant family, was probably a merchant at heart, even if he aspired to be a knight. His shrewdness seemed to be ingrained in him.

‘Merchants are an amazing race of people to offer a business deal to someone who is lying in bed….’

Exasperated, Sheila answered with a slightly hoarse voice.

“I don’t think we can mass produce that much. The number of villagers is too small.”

“Then, sell me the formula. If we make a deal to give a percentage of the sales to the village of Denan, your village will also benefit, right?”

“My village has almost no contact with the outside world. We are self-sufficient and need very little money.”

That was the reason why the merchants who visited the village gave up the deal.

As Sheila listed the reasons for their denial without hesitation, Zechs crossed his arms with a difficult look on his face.

“I see, the monetary value is low. So, if I can’t offer any other benefit, then we can’t have a deal….”

Judging by the way he muttered, it seemed he hadn’t given up yet. With this passion, she had a feeling that it was only a matter of time before they could close the deal.

Beside Sheila’s bed, Zechs stood up from his round chair.

“Well, then. Now that we’re done talking and I know what’s going on, I think I’ll go back to my room.”

Sheila was astonished when Zechs tried to quickly leave.

“Eh. Are you leaving already?”

“I haven’t finished the ancient language assignment they gave me yesterday.”

“Even so, you’re too cold. After all, you just talked about business.”

“I brought you a blanket, didn’t I? I was worried about you, but you’re not very nice to me.”

Zechs never indulged Sheila.

Although she appreciated that as a good contrast to Cody’s gentleness, only now she felt uncomfortable. Was it because of her sickness?

She was terribly sad to see the white, unwashed shirt slip away from her, and she found herself squeezing the hem to hold it back.

“Don’t go. Just stay by my side a little longer…..”

“No, I have a noble obligation to go see Arin-chan――”

When Zechs turned around, he saw Sheila lowering her eyebrows anxiously.

Red-colored cheeks and watery, yellowish eyes. Her slender shoulders trembled and she looked so delicate…..

Zechs, who turned pale, quickly distanced himself from the bed where the hazardous thing was sitting.

“Zechs?”

“….. Me.”

“Me?”

He couldn’t stand to see Sheila, who tilted her head and asked back.

“Don’t drag me into your world!!”

With a loud bang, Zechs ran out the door.

Sheila just felt resentful of her friend, who disappeared despite her efforts to stop him, thinking, “As expected, he was still cold.”