CH 14

“Ryleine, what are you doing here… … .”

“Can you get up from me?”

This position could create a horrible misunderstanding.

Aiden, who got on top of Ryleine, hurriedly got up from his position.

"Sorry. You never know when people would try to ambush you... … .”

“Who else than me could ever come down to this cell?”

"I know, but you got so close... … .”

Aiden, speechlessly, looked at her .

There was doubt in Aiden's eyes, seen through his narrowed eyes.

“… … Come to think of it, why were you so close?”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I was just trying to catch your fever because you were coughing… … ! It's my job to look after the prisoners' bodies!"

When Rylenne explained, Aiden nodded.

“… … All right."

In the blank space before answering, I got the feeling, 'I'm very suspicious, but I'll pass it on.'

Lailenne hid her embarrassment and took out the food she brought from her pocket.

What Rylenne was holding was a ceramic bottle with a stopper.

'Oh, it's hot.'

There was hot stew in it, and the pottery bottle it contained was heating up as well.

I'm sorry to the chef, but he insisted that I have to take it now, so I got it while preparing breakfast.

[My favorite food is… … There is none.]

[just… … It reminds me of warm food.]

It was because he remembered what Aiden hesitantly said.

It is impossible to cook and serve hot food here, but if you bring the cooked food quickly, you can eat it while it is not cooled.

I hurriedly transferred the stew to the bowl that Rylenne had brought. And she snorted.

“Now, hot stew. Eat quickly before it gets cold.”

Rylenne looked at Aiden with twinkling eyes.

“… … .”

Unexpectedly, however, Aiden did not rush to eat the stew.

just stare at yourself

“Why do you look at me like that?”

Did I look at you with eyes full of expectations?

Lailenne thought it was strange that Aiden remained resolute even in the face of appetizing food.

“… … Sanacho.”

huh?

“What happened to Sanacho?”

I don't eat stew because I'm curious about that... … ?

Lailene was surprised by Aiden, who was more interested in the story of Sanacho than the appetizing stew in front of her.

Aiden asked hesitantly.

"If it's okay... … Can I smell Lailenne-sama's body and see if she still smells like sancho?"

Rylane blinked.

"smell… … ?”

“Apart from star-shaped spots on the body of a person who uses sancho, there is a slight odor. You'll know right away when you smell it.”

I checked to see if the star-shaped birthmark had disappeared today, but I was worried because it was still there.

Of course, I know that it takes time for the medicinal effects of sancho to completely dissipate from the body.

Just in case, I smelled the newly brought lilacs in the morning, but luckily it didn't smell like the last time.

So the star-shaped spots will go away soon, but it's good to be sure.

Resolved, Ryrene held out her hand with caution.

“You can smell it as long as it smells on your wrist.”

Aiden looked down at his wrist and frowned.

“No wrist.”

“… … Why?”

“Because I can’t tell them apart just by the weak body odor from my wrist.”

Aiden approached Lailenne. She had Aiden close by, looking down at her.

“It has to be the nape of the neck.”

Like an animal ready to bite your neck at any second.

Even though his feet were bound in shackles, Aiden's figure felt somehow overbearing.

Rylaine unconsciously nodded her head.

“Did you allow it?”

“Yeah, yes.”

After permission was given, Aiden bowed his head like last time. I saw Aiden's face getting closer and closer.

The sound of a throbbing, rapidly accelerating pulse resounded in my ears.

Aiden buried his face in the nape of his neck. He drew in a deep breath.

I was afraid that the sound of a strong pulse would be heard in his ears.

'Driving me crazy.'

Lailene waited for this situation to end quickly. However, unlike the last time, Aiden didn't raise his head right away.

“Why, why is it taking so long?”

Rylenne turned her face slightly to the side and said to Aiden.

The sunken eyes could be seen between his lowered eyelashes.

“The smell… … It doesn't go well.”

Your voice sounds even lower.

Surrounded by a strange feeling, Rylenne barely spoke.

"then… … make it stop.”

"I think I'll know if I take a little more."

Rylenne reluctantly nodded at the serious look.

'Oh, I can't help it... … .'

Aiden put his nose to the nape of his neck again and inhaled a weak breath.

Rylenne hoped that Aiden would finish this act quickly.

Perhaps through the wind, Aiden immediately raised his head.

“It’s done.”

“… … Does it smell like sancho?”

Aiden lowered himself and answered.

“Now it doesn’t smell like sanacho.”

It was as I thought.

I bought a new flower, but this time it was not scented with sancho.

Then, could it be that Helen and the other culprit noticed in the meantime...? … ?

Lailene noticed the stew cooling down while she was confusedly rolling her head.

'Ah, it's getting cold.'

“Aiden. Now don't worry about sancho, just eat this.”

Rylaine pushed the bowl away, and Aiden accepted it without hesitation.

Fortunately, the still hot stew was steaming.

“… … I will enjoy this food."

Aiden looked back and forth between Stew and Rylane, then raised a spoon.

This time I didn't slurp it, I ate it with a spoon.

'Although the speed of moving the spoon is fast.'

Aiden emptied the bowl in an instant.

Lailene looked at Aiden with a proud face.

“How is it, the culinary skills of Duke Ergen?”

“… … Delicious."

Honest reviews are back.

It was hard to believe that Aiden, who meekly acknowledged the taste, was the same person as the person who glared at Kaverion with murderous eyes in his memory.

It felt like the venom had been crushed.

'If I act like this when Kaverion comes to the cell later, there will be no regrets.'

Helis is a no-brainer.

[It's enough to defeat a beast that doesn't listen. Because pain works for both animals and humans.]

Since he was the one who said this, even if Aiden wasn't polite enough, he would throw his hand away right away.

Rylaine was clicking her tongue inwardly when she heard Aiden's voice.

“Are you just giving me this? … ?”

Would you sell it then?

Rylaine wanted to respond to Aiden, who was so suspicious, but she knew why he was asking this question.

It must have been because it felt like a favor for no reason.

“It’s a prize.”

As Lailene explained, Aiden's gray eyes filled with doubt.

"Didn't you tell me about Sanacho's existence?"

Aiden tilted his head and looked at Lalaine.

“The reward is… … Didn't you say you would bring sweet potatoes?”

I... … .

[Aiden, Go… … !]

[I'll bring sweet potatoes next time.]

I was going to say thank you to Aiden, but the quick change was to bring sweet potatoes.

This guy has an unnecessarily good memory.

"It's my heart, are you dissatisfied!"

When Rylene shot Aiden, Aiden shook his head.

And there was silence for a while.

I was thinking about getting out of the cell, but Aiden asked as if holding on.

“Did you find the culprit… … ?”

When I went up, I was going to ask Caverion what was going on.

Yesterday, I went to look for Helen.

"yet."

“Sancho is a medicine that the general public can never obtain. So you... … No, those who want to harm Lailene must be powerful.”

'A man of great power... … .'

Then, the employees of Duke Ergen are excluded from being the real culprits.

As expected, the real culprit was different, except for those who moved under the influence like Helen.

Lailene was thinking with a serious face, but she suddenly had a question.

“Why are you giving me such information? The real culprit could be a member of the Bedsian duchy.”

Aiden didn't answer right away. Then he slowly stared at Rylenne.

“… … Because I hate it.”

Are you talking about the Bedsian Dukes?

Well, if you think about it, it was.

The people who drove here are the Bedsian dukes, so there's no reason to worry.

Lailene concluded to herself and nodded her head.

"okay. I won't let you go.”

Oh no, I almost forgot to bring it.

What Rylenne took out of her pocket was a dirty piece of clothing. Aiden's clothes were too old and dirty.

“Put this on.”

Aiden stared at the clothes in Rylenne's hand.

'Anyway, there's no way to get it all at once.'

“Would you like me to change clothes?”

Only then did Aiden quickly hand over the clothes.

“The reason for giving me new clothes is for my aesthetic sense that I can't stand those rags. So don't get me wrong.”

Rylaine gave Aiden a cold glance and left the cell.

It was a secret that the next time he came, he was happy to imagine Aiden looking more normal.

* * *

As soon as Lailenne climbed up, she looked for her brother, Caverion.

I had to ask how Helen was doing yesterday.

Just then, I saw Carverion walking around the hall.

Seeing that he didn't even notice to get close, Caverion seemed to be deep in thought.

"Brother."

When Lailenne called Caverion, Kaverion turned her head in surprise.

“Lylaine.”

His gaze landed on Rylenne's street clothes. Speaking of street clothes, it was a dark blue robe.

“Look where you’ve been.”

"I've been to the dungeon."

“So early… … ?”

The morning was now dawning.

Lailene hurriedly explained.

“I woke up early, but I have nothing to do… … .”

Why should I even pay attention to this?

In case Aiden's story continued, Rylaine quickly changed her words.

“Brother, you went to catch Helen yesterday. How did it go?”

“I was about to talk about that, but that lady-in-waiting named Helen.”

Cracks appeared on Kaverion's tall forehead.

“It seems to have disappeared.”