Chapter 229: Change (3)

Chapter 229: Change (3)

“I’ll just hold your hand and sleep.”

Traditionally, the chances of that being a lie were one hundred percent.

As I tried to get up, Dorothy moved away from me.

I stood and looked at Dorothy. I was about to firmly decline, but when I saw her face, my words got caught in my throat.

She was breathing raggedly and her face was flushed red.

“What’s wrong, Isaac?”

I placed the back of my hand on Dorothy’s forehead. I brought my other hand to my own forehead.

Her temperature was high. I knew it was high, but it was higher than I had expected.

Her condition is still this bad?

My heart ached, and I sighed heavily.

“Haa...”

I went to the tree, picked up my clothes, and put them on.

“Are you sure we won’t get caught?”

Dorothy seemed surprised that I had agreed so quickly, but she soon smiled brightly.

“Of course, sneaking around and breaking the rules is my specialty.”

That didn’t seem like something someone with full demerits should say.

***

“Do you have a bathrobe?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Nihihi, I’ll take a quick shower!”

In the middle-high-ranked dorm, Elma Hall.

I went to my room and washed up. Meanwhile, Dorothy planned to sneak in through the window I left open.

I hadn’t been to the hideout in a while, and it would need cleaning first if I went there. That was why I came to the dorm.

As soon as I stepped out of the bathroom, Dorothy, who had already snuck into my room, cheerfully went to take a shower. I had expected her to wash up in her own room.

First...

While Dorothy was in the shower, I decided to prepare a few things.

On the dresser beside the bed was a bottle of aromatic oil. When I opened it, a pleasant scent filled the air.

It was an alchemical tool I used to help me get a good night’s sleep.

I quickly threw on some clothes and grabbed a basin. I filled it with cold water and soaked a towel.

Preparations complete.

I leaned against the wall next to the bed, waiting for Dorothy.

“That feels great...!”

Dorothy came out of the shower while humming a tune. She was wearing nothing but a bathrobe, giving me eye candy.

Though she tried not to show it, I could tell she had applied some makeup in the bathroom.

As she dried her wet hair with a towel, Dorothy caught my gaze and smiled mischievously.

“Why are you staring at me like that? Do I look that sexy~?”

Dorothy teased, deliberately exposing one of her delicate shoulders.

I quickly approached Dorothy and pushed her back.

“Oh? I-Isaac?”

Dorothy’s voice was flustered.

Without her magic, Dorothy couldn’t resist my strength and was easily pushed back.

“Get on the bed.”

“A-already? I’m not ready yet...!”

What is she talking about?

I laid Dorothy down on the bed.

Looking down at her, I saw her face flush red. Her eyes, which were staring into mine, trembled as if there was an earthquake.

The usually talkative Dorothy was silent. She swallowed nervously and settled into the silence.

“...”

Dorothy’s trembling eyes shifted to the side. Though she appeared tense, she gradually relaxed. She seemed to have made up her mind.

Her bathrobe loosened, revealing her cleavage. When I pulled the robe back up, Dorothy flinched in surprise.

I then got off the bed and covered her with a blanket.

“Huh?”

Dorothy looked dumbfounded.

I took the towel I had prepared, wrung out the water, folded it neatly, and placed it on Dorothy’s forehead.

Only then did Dorothy seem to understand my intentions, glaring at me with wide eyes.

Alright.

I checked her temperature with a thermometer.

As expected, she has a high fever.

It was better than when her starlight mana had rampaged, but still painful. Her headache must be severe.

“Why didn’t you tell me, Dorothy? You still have such a high fever. You should have sent Ella to let me know.”Thê source of this conte/nt n/o/v/(el)bi((n))

“...”

“Dorothy?”

Dorothy let out a quiet sigh.

“Today is not the day...”

Since Dorothy was my ally, I had already made it clear to her, just as I had to Kaya.

Thanks to Alice’s previous good conduct, she could gain a lot of support from the student body.

However, since the investigation was still ongoing, Alice needed to stay out of sight until things were settled.

“Sorry, we haven’t settled Alice’s issue yet. I didn’t expect you to come back so soon.”

[It’s alright. Can I bring Alice inside? We have nowhere else to go right now.]

“Huh?”

[Alice, it’s okay.]

I hadn’t given my permission.

But since I had no better solution, I couldn’t directly argue.

Alice couldn’t return to her room, which was now off-limits, and the hideout was dirty. Leaving her outside wasn’t an option either.

Alice Carroll floated up using telekinesis. I reluctantly let her into my room.

“Hello, Baby.”

“Alice...”

Alice approached me with a smile.

The memory of our kiss made my face flush, but I kept a calm expression.

The Phantom Cat Cheshire closed the window.

“You came back quickly.”

“You told me to come back soon. Is it okay if I stay here for a little...”

Alice glanced at the bed and paused.

“Dorothy?”

Alice spoke with a hint of displeasure.

“She’s not feeling well, so I brought her here.”

“I can tell just by looking at her.”

Alice walked over to Dorothy, sat on the bed, and gently stroked her cheek,

“She still has quite the fever, I see.”

“Yeah, and her starlight mana repels healing spells.”

“That’s odd.”

I went to Alice’s side, changed the towel on Dorothy’s forehead, and then sat on the chair next to the bed.

“Sorry, I couldn’t take care of you even though you just got back.”

“Hehe, it’s fine. Just saying that means a lot. But you look really tired, Baby.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty exhausted. I’d usually be asleep by now”

I kept yawning.

Seeing this, Alice smiled brightly and got off the bed.

She came behind me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, pulling me close to her.

My head ended up nestled against Alice’s chest, and my eyes widened. The incredible softness involuntarily made me submit to comfort, despite my usual mental fortitude.

I tilted my head back and met Alice’s gentle gaze, looking at me with a tender smile.

“What are you doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You look like you need to lean on something... Shall I sing you a lullaby?”

“This feels weird, you...”

“Why are you so surprised?”

She seemed quite elated.

The distance between Alice and I had shrunk considerably.

“Ah... feeling a lil’ shy? Doing this in front of your beloved Dorothy?”

Pretending to realize, Alice spoke in a breathy voice.

“Baby, Dorothy is... asleep right now.”

Her voice oozed seduction.

Her usually kind smile looked particularly sultry today.

“What are you thinking about, Alice?”

“Naughty thoughts.”

“What?”

Her bold answer made me choke on my breath.

What is she saying...?

Just then, there was a rustling sound from the bed.

Alice and I turned our heads toward the bed.

[...]

“...Ella?”

Somehow, a white cat magic beast was now glaring at me from the bed.

It was Dorothy’s familiar, Ella.

“Kugh...”

Dorothy groaned, clutching her head with one hand as she slowly sat up.

The cool towel that was on her forehead fell off.

Through her disheveled light purple hair, her cold starlight eyes stared directly at Alice, who was holding me.

“Good morning, Dorothy.”

Alice chuckled as she locked eyes with Dorothy and pulled me tighter to her chest.

The atmosphere grew heavy.

I felt like I was walking a tightrope and was on the verge of /genesisforsaken