~Chapter 21~
Meanwhile, Camilla was feeling anxious.
‘This heartbeat isn’t normal.’
Dane was sweating a lot, and his skin was cold.
His heartbeat was much slower than during the day.
“Inside my cloak…”
“What is it?” Camilla asked.
She searched inside Dane’s cloak and soon found a rolled-up piece of parchment.
What’s this?
Inside was none other than the doctor’s diagnosis.
The carefully written report explained all his unusual symptoms.
‘So this heartbeat is actually closer to normal than usual?’
Camilla frowned deeply.
‘How much pain has he been hiding all this time?’
Maybe it was true when Dane said he wasn’t very sick today.
Camilla held Dane’s hands tightly in both of hers, hoping her warmth would help him.
‘The diagnosis says nothing about how he reacts to another person’s warmth.’
That made sense, since no one found out until Dane became an adult.
“Camilla.”
“Yes, Dane?”
“A little longer…”
Hearing his weak voice, Camilla moved closer to Dane. She pressed her forehead against his and listened through the stethoscope.
Thump, thump, thump.
Dane’s pale face filled with relief.
Camilla felt her heart ache.
‘This is strange.’
Why does my heart hurt so much? I feel like crying, but there’s something sweet and warm in it, too.
Soon, Dane fell asleep, breathing softly. Camilla closed her eyes too.
Dawn passed quietly like that.
After that day, the two began meeting at dawn every day.
After it happened a few times, Dane realized that another person’s body heat actually helped lessen his pain.
“How about this?” Camilla asked.
Dane said nothing.
This time, it was more than just holding hands. Camilla hugged him tightly.
Seeing Camilla so serious, Dane felt the pain in his chest ease even more.
“Hold me closer.”
Dane hugged Camilla tightly, enjoying her warmth.
Because of this, Camilla couldn’t write the diagnosis, but Dane didn’t want to let her go.
Dane thought,
‘I feel at ease.’
The pain in his chest wasn’t completely gone.
But it was much less than before, and breathing was much easier.
When the attack passed, Dane looked sideways at Camilla, who was asleep in his arms.
She must be tired, since she had been staying up all night for days.
‘Her body is weak, and she’s only here to rest.’
Dane slowly brushed Camilla’s messy hair away from her ear. His heart fluttered at her thick lashes and rosy cheeks.
“Why did you come to me only now?”
There was no answer.
Without thinking, Dane touched Camilla’s lips with his finger.
Her warmth spread into him. Feeling like he’d done something wrong, he took his finger away and hugged her tightly again.
‘It would’ve been nice if you had come to me sooner.’
But right now, this was enough.
‘I want you.’
Dane usually left before any servants found them, but this time, he fell asleep holding Camilla.
He thought he’d have a good dream.
“Miss, are you awake— Aaaah!”
‘Oh no.’
Early in the morning, Camilla was woken by Marie’s loud scream. She could still feel the warmth of the person next to her.
‘Right, Dane.’
They had always finished their checkups and sent Dane away before dawn. But this time, Camilla had fallen asleep first.
‘Oops.’
She remembered wanting to record Dane’s heartbeat, but she’d fallen asleep by accident.
‘At the Mowin house, I only ever slept lightly. Is it the change of place… or…’
Is it because of this boy?
When Dane groaned and frowned, Camilla signaled Marie with her finger.
Marie quickly covered her mouth with her hands.
‘It probably won’t help to keep secrets from a traitor like Marie.’
Just thinking about what people would assume if they saw them sleeping side by side was enough to give Camilla a headache.
‘Well, it’s better than nothing…’
“Marie, be quiet and please bring another basin and towel.”
“Huh? Oh, yes, miss!”
“And please keep what you saw a secret.”
Marie nodded, looking like she was about to cry. She left a basin filled with warm water and a towel, then left quietly.
“Dane, Dane, wake up.”
“Mmm…”
“Don’t just say ‘mmm.’ We’re in trouble.”
Dane pulled Camilla into a hug.
‘Oh, not again.’
Sighing, Camilla gently patted his shoulder.
“Are you really not going to wake up?”
Wondering what would work, Camilla whispered softly,
“I’m going to tell the Grand Duchess that I can cure you.”
“…What?”
At last, Dane’s eyes opened.
Camilla gently moved his arm off her and smiled.
“So who told you to sleep in my room?”
No matter how young they were, people wouldn’t think it was innocent. Even the Baron used to talk about having a lover.
‘People here are considered adults at 17 and can get married. This is risky.’
Dane was only sixteen, but still, it was risky.
Camilla decided to blame Dane for not going back to his own room, even though she’d also made a mistake by falling asleep.
“What do you mean?”
“Marie saw us like this.”
Dane frowned, still half-asleep, as if to say, “Is that all?”
“If I can keep Marie quiet, that’s fine. But if I keep treating you, this could happen again, and who knows what rumors might spread.”
And those rumors could get very ugly.
Camilla’s experience as a working woman told her so.
“At least the Grand Duchess should know the truth. I think we should tell her first.”
“What do you mean?”
Camilla’s eyes sparkled as she whispered,
“We’ve already tested things—your pain gets better when you feel someone’s body heat.”
“…That’s true.”
“If I explain that to the Grand Duchess, she’ll let me keep treating you. Oh, and can I stop by the library first?”
‘Oh my god, what did I just see?’
Marie rushed down the hallway, panicking.
‘Of course boys and girls can’t just be friends. They must be in love!’
They’d only just become friends, and there was a big difference in their status. But noble families often had lovers anyway.
‘Even His Majesty the Emperor has a lover!’
Marie’s mother had been a maid for the Empress Dowager, so Marie knew all the palace gossip.
And the Empress Dowager had ordered her to watch the young Grand Duke.
‘The Grand Duke’s side should stay empty until he becomes an adult. You watch him closely.’
Marie’s job was to report if Dane got close to anyone.
‘But is that enough to please Her Majesty?’
Marie didn’t want to be just one of many maids’ daughters serving the Empress. She wanted power and success.
So she needed something even bigger.
‘If I can make that little lady get thrown out for a serious crime… the Empress will be even more pleased. I’ll spread rumors that she tried to seduce the Grand Duke.’
Marie started making a sneaky plan, smiling to herself.
But just then, she heard a noise in the hallway and turned around. She saw Camilla and Dane walking together toward the library, holding hands.
‘What? They’re even holding hands! So much for keeping it a secret!’
In the library, Camilla went straight to the bookshelf full of medical books.
“Is the book I mentioned here?”
“Yes, it’s here.”
Dane found the book and handed it to Camilla. She smiled brightly. Now she had everything she needed.
