Chapter 48
I had been quietly listening as the children whispered to each other, but eventually I just couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst into laughter.
I could handle Lin calling me “big sister,” but Rowen calling me “princess” was far too much.
He had clearly picked it because he didn’t know what else to call me, and that alone set me off laughing.
“Uh… uh?”
The children froze, eyes round, when I suddenly woke up laughing.
Still smiling, I looked at Rowen and Lin and greeted them first.
“Hello, Rowen, Lin.”
When I opened my eyes, the two of them were sitting side by side right next to the bed I was lying in.
They were acting like it was a huge shock that I had woken up, and since they had turned into little statues, I spoke gently.
“How are you two—”
“P-Princess is awake!”
“She’s awake!”
Before I could even finish a sentence, Rowen and Lin jumped to their feet and sprinted toward the door.
This time I was the one left stunned, staring blankly as they bolted away. And then, only after a moment, I realized… this wasn’t my room.
“Huh?”
I looked around the bed and the room with bewildered eyes. The bed was unfamiliar, the room unfamiliar.
What happened? I quickly searched my memory. And then, a moment late, I remembered.
I had come to the Luhannes ducal estate, held Rixion Luhannes’s hand in his room… and fallen asleep.
So this is still the Luhannes duchy.
My eyes darted around the room. The moment I tried to move my arm, a familiar pain shot through my entire body.
Ack!
I froze, silently screaming.
Don’t tell me this is because of that again?
Back when I cured Rowen and Lin of their plague, I woke up with the same full-body muscle pain.
I didn’t think much of it then, but getting the exact same aftereffects now made the suspicion feel like certainty.
Just like with Rowen and Lin, I used the same power today on Rixion Luhannes, so of course my body was reacting the same way.
I sighed heavily once I put the pieces together.
And today, my condition was far worse than back then. Not just one elephant—an entire herd of elephants had used my body as a highway.
I gave up on standing completely and just looked toward the door again with a deep sigh.
Now that I was looking properly, I could clearly see the door wide open—and lined up outside were what looked like Luhannes estate guards.
Anyway, where did the kids go?
Since they still weren’t back after quite some time, I attempted to move little by little.
My entire body screamed in protest, begging me to stop—but I grit my teeth and forced myself.
I couldn’t keep lying in someone else’s room, in someone else’s bed.
Besides, I distinctly remembered telling the butler that I’d only be out for a little while.
If I was too late, he might tattle to Brother Michael. I had to get up and go home as soon as possible.
The next challenge: getting off the bed.
Just sitting up had made sweat gather at my chin.
Panting, I grabbed the bedside table and slowly stood up. My legs trembled as if they’d give out at any moment.
I summoned the spirit of the Korean stubbornness in my soul and staggered toward the door.
Ah, I’m going to fall…
I was only three or four steps away from the door when it happened.
My left leg suddenly gave out, collapsing at the knee.
I was so close!
Bracing myself for the impending pain, I clicked my tongue regretfully. With all those people by the door, maybe I should’ve just asked for help.
“Huh?”
To at least avoid slamming my head on the floor, I reached my hands out—only for something to stop them mid-air.
Strong arms appeared from nowhere, supporting my arms and waist, pulling me upright.
Shocked, I raised my head with a dazed little noise.
It was Rixion Luhannes.
He was breathing harder than I was. Sweat trickled down his cheek.
He stared at me with an equally shocked expression, checking me over as if confirming I wasn’t hurt before finally relaxing.
“Huh…”
I made another stupid noise.
“Lady Christe—”
“Are you okay now?”
I burst into a relieved smile before I even realized it.
I didn’t expect to feel this happy to see him, but seeing him standing there, perfectly fine, filled me with relief and joy.
“When did you wake up? Thank goodness. Has your fever gone down? Is it okay for you to move? Does anything hurt?”
Like Brother Michael used to do to me, I fired off questions nonstop.
I touched his forehead, then checked his face from different angles.
Then I froze—because he wasn’t responding.
He just stared at my face with a stiff, blank expression.
Only then did I realize, oh. Maybe I treated a grown man like a child a little too much.
Feeling awkward, I avoided his gaze.
Wow… he must’ve hated that. Still, he could at least say something instead of just staring. That’s embarrassing…
I had genuinely been worried for him, so a bit of disappointment crept in.
But before I could think further, I froze completely.
Because the arms holding my waist suddenly pulled me closer.
He hugged me.
Carefully, as if I were a fragile piece of glass—but with undeniable strength.
“Just… for a moment…”
His low voice brushed past my ear.
“Just for a moment. Like this…”
He bent down and buried his face in my shoulder.
He’s not… crying, right?
I stiffened like someone hit by lightning and slowly moved only my eyes.
Aside from the faint sound of breathing, he said nothing.
He didn’t move.
He just held me, motionless.
Unable to ignore the trembling, breaking sound in his voice, I stayed still in his arms.
I let out a silent sigh of sympathy.
Sheesh… he must be remembering his childhood again.
It felt ridiculous—me, feeling sorry for a man bigger and stronger than me, a man who made the entire continent tremble.
But right now, I couldn’t help it.
He felt like a lost child who had finally found an adult willing to help him—and was desperately clinging to them.
So I couldn’t push him away.
Though he said “just a moment,” he showed no sign of letting go even long after.
Eventually, I slowly raised my arms and hugged him back.
Then I patted his back gently, soothingly.
He twitched. His large frame trembled once, then slowly relaxed.
For quite a long time, I stayed there, patting his back in his embrace.
While wondering how long this would last, I noticed Rowen and Lin peeking nervously from behind the door, watching us.
“Oh! You two!”
I was genuinely happy to see them—and it was the perfect excuse to escape this situation.
Smiling brightly at the kids, I gently tried to pull away.
But the arms around me tightened instead.
Wha— what?!
Startled, I froze before speaking carefully,
“Um, Your Grace? If you could let me go now…”
“……”
He must’ve realized he couldn’t ignore a direct request, because at that moment, his grip finally loosened.
The moment I was free, I stepped back.
I peeked at his expression—only to find it surprisingly blank, unreadable.
Passing him, I approached the kids.
“Where did you two go after abandoning me?”
I poked their chubby cheeks playfully.
They flailed, scrambling to explain.
“W-We went to tell His Grace!”
“He said to tell him right away if you woke up!”
Ah.
So he came running because the kids informed him.
For some reason, the image of Rixion Luhannes telling children, “Notify me when Lady Christener wakes up,” made me want to laugh.
“I see. You were both very responsible, then.”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
Oh no.
Are they doing this on purpose?
They answered in perfect unison, looking up for praise with those adorable eyes.
That was it. I had to hug these cute kids immediately.
I bent my knees—
And pain shot through me like lightning.
No!
My knees buckled again, and I realized I might fall on top of the kids and hurt them.
At that very moment—
An arm wrapped around my waist again.
A firm arm pulled me backward, into a solid chest and abdomen.
