Chapter 63
When I slowly opened my eyes, a familiar ceiling greeted me.
The library with its endlessly high ceilings, the crimson sunset that used to shine through the huge windows—those were all gone.
But Heraith was still there, exactly where he had been.
As if my hand were a lifeline, he clutched it tightly in his sleep.
I stared blankly at Heraith’s closed eyes.
What a noisy dream that was.
No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t feel like an ordinary dream.
It was too vivid, too detailed for my weak imagination to have made up.
Maybe because it felt so real, it wasn’t like a dream—it was more like peeking into someone else’s memory.
No one had told me it was a memory, but I just knew.
It must have belonged to either Heraith or that woman.
The real question was—why had I dreamed it?
I have no idea.
It wasn’t even about anything important. The only thing that stuck with me was Heraith’s flushed face.
Never thought I’d live to see Heraith embarrassed.
The gap between his serene, sleeping face and that blushing one from my dream was staggering.
To think—behind that ascetic face, he could make such an expression when flustered.
I couldn’t help but curl my lips up.
When he wakes up, I’m going to tease him.
This was the perfect chance.
He always got the better of me, but now it was my turn. I could ask if he liked that woman, if she was his first love.
And then, and then…
…Why doesn’t that feel good at all?
My smile faltered.
Imagining teasing him didn’t sit right.
If he really blushed, like in the dream—
I found myself scowling, my mouth twisting.
He’s never blushed around me…
That unconscious thought startled me.
And when I realized it was jealousy—born of possessiveness and the desire to keep him to myself—I silently screamed and kicked the blanket.
“Siena?”
My fidgeting must have woken him. Heraith blinked at me with hazy eyes.
“…Why are you like this here?”
I muttered, rubbing at my tired face. Slowly, emotions returned to his sleepy expression.
“What happened? I remember collapsing, and then…”
Relief flickered across his features. I was just starting to sit up when I felt a sudden weight press against me. Heraith pulled me into his arms, tightening his hold around my waist.
“You really almost died…”
I blinked blankly into his chest.
Guess I scared him pretty badly.
I didn’t remember, but it must’ve been serious.
“You collapsed, just like before, the same way…”
His hand in my hair trembled as it held me tighter.
Just like before?
Did he mean the first time I coughed up blood?
“If anything happened to you, I…”
The faint tremor in his voice was so slight I wouldn’t have noticed if it weren’t murmured so close to my ear. I raised my hand and patted his back.
“Sorry you had to see me like that again.”
I’d coughed up blood in front of him more than once, but this was the first time he looked so shaken.
“But I think I’m okay now. I was in so much pain, but right now, not only am I not hurting, I feel light.”
Saying it aloud made it real.
My body felt lighter than ever before.
“Even breathing is easier…”
I slipped from Heraith’s arms and ran my hands over myself in surprise.
“It’s true? Why do I feel fine?”
I shook myself all over, letting out a cheer.
“No soreness! I always had muscle aches, but now—nothing!”
“Don’t move so much. You’re not officially cured yet.”
Worried I might collapse again, Heraith carefully pressed me back down.
“What happened after I collapsed?”
“After you fainted, Oel arrived. The cure was finally complete—good timing. We were lucky. We managed to give it to you right away.”
“So that’s why I feel so light.”
I hadn’t realized at first, but now I knew for sure.
All the other tonics were nothing compared to this.
Honestly, it felt like I’d been reborn.
“Heren, how long was I out?”
“Four days. If you hadn’t woken today, it would’ve been five.”
“No wonder… I feel like I slept forever. But wait—what happened to your lips? They’re split.”
I’d noticed earlier. What could’ve happened for his lips to be so damaged?
When I pointed at them, he sighed.
“…Some brat who tore me apart bit me.”
“Oh, Ban bit you?”
The scab looked nasty. He must’ve bitten hard.
I clicked my tongue, but Heraith looked at me strangely.
“What?”
“I just wonder how you always conclude that Ban was the one.”
“You two fight all the time. Didn’t you fight again?”
“…What a simple way of thinking.”
Heraith chuckled and shook his head.
“Hey, don’t mess up my hair!”
“I’m doing it because you’re cheeky.”
“What did I do?!”
As I struggled to stop him from mussing my hair, the door opened.
“Lord Ban, are you reading to the young lady again today?”
“Of course! By the time I finish this book, Siena will—”
Ban stopped mid-step. He and Rina froze when they saw me waving.
“Hi—”
“Siena?!”
Ban was the first to react. He bolted over faster than I’d ever seen, throwing himself into my arms.
“Siena, thank goodness. I really thought you were dead. Uwaaaah!”
“M-Miss! Miss, you’re awake…! Young Duke! The lady is awake!”
Stammering, Rina shouted as she ran outside.
“Don’t ever get sick again! You scared me to death!”
Ban cried huge tears, clinging to me.
I patted his back and looked up.
“Siena!”
Hearing Rina’s scream, Noah rushed in, hair flying.
Not just Noah—Oel and Ethan followed close behind.
“Siena, are you okay? Nothing hurts? Can you see clearly?”
“One at a time.”
I spread my arms and hugged Noah.
“I’m fine, nothing hurts, my body feels light, and I can see just fine.”
Noah’s hands trembled as he cupped my face.
“You’ve lost so much weight. You suffered a lot. You held on well.”
“Looks like you’re the one who lost weight, not me.”
I poked his cheeks before looking around.
“Sorry. You all went through so much because of me.”
I’d been unconscious, but they had endured four days awake, watching over me. It must’ve been hell.
“Enough questions about her health.”
Oel cut through the chatter, refusing to waste any more time.
“Let’s run a blood test.”
True to his dragon nature, he didn’t let emotions sway him.
I obediently gave him my hand, and with my free hand, I poked Ethan’s shoulder.
“Hey, you must feel good now, huh?”
“Don’t poke me. And what’s there to feel good about?”
“You played a big part in curing me. You’re practically guaranteed the position of High Priest now. Right, Noah?”
“Of course. Priest Ethan, if anyone stands in your way, I’ll cut them down myself to see you take the seat.”
“See?”
But despite being closer than ever to his dream, Ethan didn’t look happy.
“You think I helped you for that?”
“Didn’t you?”
“What do you take me for—!”
He started to snap, then pinched the bridge of his nose and spoke gruffly.
But I could see the relief on his face.
“Take better care of yourself. If you’re just going to collapse like that, you might as well go back to picking fights like before.”
Life really was strange. To think Ethan Dyke—the great Ethan—was telling me to go fight people instead of wasting away.
I stared at him, feeling oddly moved, when he suddenly stood up.
“Now that I’ve seen you awake, I’ll be going.”
“To the High Temple?”
“No. To the Mendel region.”
Mendel—that was where the red plum trees grew. The forest there had been said to be tainted.
If Ethan was going there, the temple must have needed his power.
He looked ready to rush out but hesitated.
“What is it?”
He placed his hand on my head.
A clear, refreshing energy spread through me.
Holy power?
It was my first time feeling Ethan’s divine power.
And now I understood why people adored him so much.
“…Please, just don’t get sick again.”
Despite his sharp words, his divine power was warm and gentle.
