CH 117

“Aren’t you lying?”

Annette asked with slightly wary eyes. Normally, she was just a gentle and soft herbivore, but there were times when she became very sharp.

―This was the part that Sislin liked very much.

He grinned and stared at Annette through his damp bangs, gently licking his lips.

“Well. Why would I lie like that?”

“That…”

“A little more.”

Sislin snatched her words and continued naturally.

“Because I want to touch you?”

“……!”

Annette’s face turned red. He had the nerve to say it.

“I’m in a situation where I have no choice but to believe what Your Highness says, so I’m trying to make sure.”

“Then trust me. I’m not crazy enough to lie in such pain.”

Annette looked at Sislin’s trembling eyes. She could feel the remnants of the pain he was feeling while sitting very calmly and leisurely.

In an instant, her heart ached.

‘But… It must hurt a lot, Sisl.’

Um said earlier.

“It must have been quite painful. It’s really tough, isn’t it?”

…It’s a very painful situation right now.

Yet he said he couldn’t lie.

‘Poor Sisl. Because of my strength, he ended up getting sick, so I’m also responsible.’

Annette ended up giving up a move.

“I will trust you and cooperate. But I can’t just sit back and watch Your Highness suffering in pain.”

“…….”

His long fingers tapped sharply at her back. One by one, like hitting piano keys. As if deliberately pulling her senses to play a prank.

Annette’s nerves were focused on her sensitive back. It was then.

“I’m in trouble now, Annette.”

“Yes?”

It wasn’t really a big deal. Sislin was smiling.

His mind was at ease. Holding her completely in his arms.

“You said you can’t watch me being sick. To tie my heart to your wrist and lend me your body warmth whenever I’m in pain…”

The red eyes that were like a trap shone sharply.

“You can’t go anywhere else forever.”

“…….”

Annette’s expression softened. Another attack like this. She spoke clearly,

“Well. Artifacts could be removed by finding a way to unlock it, and above all, this is just a simple ‘act of treatment’.”

Annette continued, squinting.

“I don’t care about that.”

He slowly followed her words.

“You don’t care.”

“Yes. As you said, being by my side is nothing more than an ‘act of treatment’.”

Sislin raised the corners of his lips.

He was so delighted with her painstaking effort to draw the line that he forgot about the pain.

That’s weird.

“How exactly can I help reduce the pain?”

“Exactly, how?”

Sislin’s gaze turned to her, who asked sincerely, just like a model student trying her best to learn.

Then he picked up the fallen vial on the floor that wasn’t smashed, brought it to his mouth and swallowed the contents.

The hot medicine that burned the esophagus would make him forget the pain for a while.

The excruciating pain he was willing to take in exchange for a hug.

“I’m only going to explain it once, so pay attention.”

“Yes, great.”

Annette’s eyes shone. It was like watching a teacher explaining a problem that would definitely come up in the test.

Gradually bringing his head closer, he brought his lips to her ear.

Before he knew it, his eyes went to her ears, which were ripe red, in a pretty color like a fruit.

His tenacious gaze slowly gazed at the soft-looking earlobe and whispered.

“The deeper the skinship, the better it gets.”

“……!”

He hid his sharply drooping eyes, and laboredly directed his hazy gaze forward, and before long, their cheeks touched. 

“The more I touch you, the more you touch me…”

When he came into contact with her hot cheeks, those soft cheeks twitched and shrank back slightly..

—It was lovely.

“The pain is lessened.”

Annette was so startled that she forgot that he was a patient and shoved him away.

“…….”

The moment when their gazes were skillfully intertwined in the air.

Tok tok.

A knock on the door was heard.

“Come in.”

Sislin answered softly, not taking his eyes off Annette.

Owin, who was politely entering the room, paused at the entrance for a second.

It was as if he had sensed the strange atmosphere that filled the air of the bedroom.

But soon, professionally, he bowed his head and said,

“I have prepared water in the bathroom.”

“Okay. I’m sweating a lot and it’s very uncomfortable.”

Fortunately, the effects of the medicine kicked in and his senses were being suppressed to some extent.

As he raised his gigantic body, the black sheet covering his body slid down.

A firm chest and muscular abdomen were revealed at once.

“……!”

Annette quickly looked away. It’s like she didn’t want to look.

Dun, dun.

Sislin walked across the marble floor, draping a silk robe around his waist and tying it loosely.

And…

“Duchess Valienne.”

“…Yes, Your Highness?”

“Now is the time when I need an ‘act of treatment’. All of a sudden, I feel really sick.”

‘I forgot about that.’ Annette had turned her eyes away when he said that he was sick, and looked at him worriedly.

There was also a little bit of suspicion.

“Aren’t you going to the bathroom?”

Sislin’s lips rose slightly and mischievously. He uttered slyly,

“So…”

“……!!!”

Duchess Valienne stared at His Highness the Crown Prince as if she was looking at the world’s most shameless man.

‘This naughty Sislin?!’

“Haha.”

Annette’s eyes turned into silts as Sislin smirked at her reaction.

“You’re on medication, so you’ll be fine for the time being. Because I can’t always be by your side… Please only call me when you’re really struggling.”

“Oh.”

He muttered, tilting his head loosely.

“My Annette is very cold-hearted.”

Then he walked towards the bathroom at a slow pace. There was a smile on his lips.

She only let out a long breath when the wide, huge back passed through the door.

“Ha…”

Her face is blushing fiercely. She murmured in disbelief.

There was one question she had been holding back.

“What disease treatment is so naughty?”

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

There was an acrid steam in the bathroom.

Sislin had his long, muscular arms spread across the marble railing, soaking his body and closing his eyes.

Owin, fully dressed, spoke in front of him. It seemed there was something he was curious about for a while.

“Your Highness, I heard earlier that you needed Duchess Annette as an ‘act of treatment’. Have you found a cure for your disease?”

“I found the cause.”

Sislin answered with his eyes closed. Owen’s eyes widened a little.

Wouldn’t it be possible to prevent the disease from getting worse by knowing the cause?

“What is the cause?”

“It’s because of Annette’s awakening ability. She stimulated the growth of my abilities, which made my symptoms worse.”

“……!”

In surprise, Owin gasped out.

“Then, why don’t you move away from Duchess Annette right away…!”

Owin, the moment he said that, bit his tongue.

Somehow, he knew.

What his master said to Annette about his illness.

It was possible to infer from the conversation the two had had earlier.

A crazy human being who’s already connected the heart. He was a man who would do anything to keep her.

Now I was going to walk to the fire with her in my arms. Willingly believing that the road was to heaven.

Owin’s neck stiffened.

It was astonishing.

‘I did something wrong.’

Again, a wave of regret came over him.

‘I thought Annette would pay more attention to him if he showed his sickness.’

Rather, to embrace the pain and be with her; it was a sad choice by the master for the aide who served him.

Because the most important thing for Owin was his master.

“…Please.”

Owin lowered his head politely.

“Look after yourself more, Your Highness.”

Ah, how depressing.

This was the heart of the servant who left advice that wouldn’t be taken.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

The days in El Dorado flew by quickly, like an arrow. As there was much to be done.

In the meantime, I had done my duties.

As the Duchess of Valienne, I took care of the duchy’s affairs and prepared for my mother’s funeral.

At the same time, I also decided the direction of operation of Bayonaire’s <Little Bakery>.

First of all, Noah wanted to inherit the bakery, so I asked Um to pass on the baking recipes.

“Ugh, it’s bread again as soon as I come back…!”

Of course, Um suffered a little bit because he was trapped in the terrible cycle of bread.

And there was an applicant for a position who would help in the actual operation. 

The applicant was a little surprising—

“I’ve adored the cream bread of <Little Bakery> since a very long time ago.”

He was one of the Larva, called Number 19.

Fearing that Gerard might intimidate the villagers of Bayonaire, he decided to temporarily work at the bakery and protect them.

There were frequent letters from residents, most of which were about how much they missed me and the ‘golden bread phenomenon’.

‘Huhu, I’m a little proud.’

‘Still, I’m really surprised.’

It didn’t seem like being a duchess would fit my aptitude, but in a way, running a duchy had a similarity to running a bakery, so it was quite doable.

Above all, Victoria was by my side and helped me a lot. It’s like someone who repays the favor of one’s predecessor.

Handing me a package of letters, Victoria said,

“It will soon be the national foundation day.”

“…I know. Victoria, don’t I have anything to prepare for the national foundation day banquet?”

“You just need to prepare to attend.”

It was when Victoria was replying with a soft smile.

I found a familiar emblem on a package of letters.

Along with the emblem, there was also a familiar signature.

“……!”

<Bizet Winston>

“Ah.”

The innocent aspiring father-in-law! It’s been a long time since he sent me a letter.

My heart was pounding like it was a love letter.

Because I still have a lot of gratitude for Marquis Bizet.

I quickly opened the letter.

「Dear Annette,

It’s been a long time since I said hello.

How have you been?

I’ve heard everything from Kyle.」

He started with a light greeting and also shared how he was doing. He wrote that he had put everything down and went on a trip.

Yet he always thought of me.

Reading it brought a smile to my face.

The warmth of consolation and thoughtful consideration for me who lost my mother was felt on the ground, and it touched my heart.

It was written that he missed me.

‘I want to see you too.’

The only adult I felt love from as a child.

The one who took care of me all this time.

I wanted to thank him properly. I suddenly missed him so much.

「As such…

I’m planning to attend this year’s national foundation day banquet.

Can we meet on that day?」

“Absolutely!”

As I was happily replying to the letter, pale fingers came out from behind and grabbed the letter together.

“Umm, what is this? Sister?”

“……!”

I looked to the side in surprise, and saw a handsome face with disheveled hair, clutching a white sheet.

The sheet was white and rich, making him look just like a puppy buried in the snow.

Heinrich, having just woken up, yawned as he rubbed his drowsy eyes.

“…Heinrich!”

‘Since when have you been sleeping in my bed?’