Chapter 14
I went to see Mikael and happened to run into his attending physician, who was coming out after examining him.
“Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”
“How is his condition?”
It seemed the emperor actually cared a little—by his order, the physician examined Mikael once a day.
Though that would only last until I found the evidence I was looking for.
“He is improving compared to before. He has regained some strength, so if things continue like this, he should be able to take walks outside by next month.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But it is important not to overexert him until then.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
The physician bowed to me and left the palace. By now, Mikael should be taking his medicine. I motioned to a servant and entered his room with somewhat familiar steps.
There, filling my view, was not a handsome face but a slightly mottled torso.
“!”
“……”
I stiffened slightly upon unexpectedly seeing my husband with his shirt off.
Hmm.
“Shall I look away?”
“Ugh.”
A small sob followed.
Mikael, having hastily covered his torso with nearby clothing, lowered his head. I glanced at the medicine bottle on the table as I observed him.
“Please, turn around for a moment.”
“You’re not going to apply the medicine now, are you?”
“No!”
Well, technically yes.
If you were going to deny it, you should’ve at least covered the bottle first.
“Shall I apply it for you?”
I couldn’t diagnose his illness, but when it came to treatment, I had experience even stitching wounds.
Judging by the bruises on his body, moving must be uncomfortable. Having someone assist him, even a little, would make things easier.
“Ah, no, you don’t have to…!”
I sat down right next to him, and Mikael’s eyes gradually reddened. I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh at how embarrassed he looked.
I felt like a total scoundrel.
“Good, right?”
Fifteen-year-old Shatrina was two years younger than him. But mentally, I was at least a few hundred years older. I had been through countless experiences; surely I had seen far worse than a man’s back.
The situation looked a bit odd, but whatever—I wasn’t meticulous enough to worry about that.
“Turn around. Your back must be difficult to reach.”
I inadvertently spoke informally, but Mikael didn’t comment. He simply focused on covering his torso.
“If it’s really uncomfortable, let me know now, and I’ll call a servant.”
“……No. I want you—”
“Eh?”
“I want you to do it. I don’t want anyone else.”
Saying this, Mikael slowly let go of the clothing he had clutched like a lifeline. The fingers hidden beneath wiggled hesitantly.
‘Yesterday, he was completely stiff.’
Had he returned to his usual self?
Yesterday’s concerns now seemed pointless. I was relieved to see his calm expression, yet secretly annoyed.
It felt like I had worried all by myself. Seeing his face, as if he had forgotten everything, hurt my pride.
I sighed and picked up the medicine bottle from the table.
“I’ll start with your back.”
“Please.”
The loosened clothing was gripped tightly by his hands again. Mikael rotated his rounded shoulders inward and slowly turned his back toward me.
I pressed the areas with the darkest bruises with fingers coated in medicine.
“Ugh!”
“……”
“Sniff… my lady—”
His reaction was stronger than I expected, and my hand paused. Why did I feel guilty?
“Does it hurt?”
“Y-Yes. Gently, please.”
The sobs grew louder, suggesting it really did hurt.
“I’ll be careful.”
I patted the side of him that wasn’t injured, and his pale back quickly turned red.
Yet to me, Mikael’s back only showed traces of what he had endured. Old scars, fresh wounds—all varying in size and shape. Even the scars that had been noticeable when I first saw him became more vivid up close.
‘So many scars.’
I examined Mikael’s back, swallowing my curse. Any harsh words would surely startle him.
‘I should’ve at least given him a gentle kick.’
What I had done earlier was just to immobilize him slightly, and now I regretted it.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“When you’ve fully recovered, let’s exercise together.”
Mikael needed strength.
Not just the power to prevent anyone from harming him, but the ability to protect himself.
“Together…?”
“Yes. If you can go out for walks by next month, try to gain a little more strength.”
I didn’t need to explicitly add that if he lived, I would too.
Mikael, who had momentarily been silent, nodded slowly.
Turning his torso slightly toward me, he blinked deliberately.
“I will.”
The embarrassed look he had shown just moments ago was gone, replaced by a resolute gaze reminiscent of the one I had seen yesterday.
“I will become healthy. So I can walk with you, my lady.”
It was as if he were casting a spell on himself. His voice was firm as he made his promise to me.
I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. Not because his words were funny, but because he looked genuinely cute.
“Yes. I’ll wait.”
“!”
His lips pressed together tightly, his eyes wide. Seeing his happiness, I felt a small sense of relief.
Why I felt relieved—I wasn’t quite sure.
“I’m glad you seem to feel better.”
“Feel better?”
Mikael tilted his head in confusion.
“You didn’t seem to be in a good mood yesterday, during the meal with the Second Prince.”
“……That was…”
Mikael seemed to understand what I meant and awkwardly scratched his cheek.
“I was a bit… nervous.”
“Nervous?”
“Yes. It’s the first time I’ve met other royals besides His Majesty the Emperor and you.”
“But—”
It wasn’t just simple nervousness; Mikael’s face had been quite serious at the time. Especially considering he had gone pale.
‘Should I ask him?’
But I quickly abandoned the thought. Even though they were meeting for the first time, Cedric was a difficult person.
He could converse casually but was like a viper who could bare his fangs at any moment.
It was understandable if Mikael felt uneasy. This wasn’t even the part I had worried about.
“I thought Your Highness was upset with me.”
“Upset?!”
Mikael’s reaction to my words was so unexpected that he waved his hands before I could continue.
“Whatever you think, I am not upset. Absolutely not! How could you think so?”
“Because I said you were cute.”
Exactly from that moment, I had felt Mikael was avoiding me.
“Cute…?”
Mikael mulled over my words and suddenly lowered his gaze. A soft sigh was barely audible.
Turning his back again, he made a small groaning sound.
“Your Highness?”
I tapped his unbruised shoulder with my finger, and Mikael twisted slightly.
Pressing his lips with the back of his hand, he stammered,
“I-It’s not because of that. Really, it’s just… I was embarrassed by the word ‘cute.’ I… didn’t know what to say.”
I could only gape at his candid answer, my mind going blank before quickly filling with colors.
So, now,
‘He avoided me because he was embarrassed?’
I had been thinking about this all night?
A boulder seemed to drop on my head.
‘So embarrassing!’
Ahhh!
I bit the inside of my mouth so hard, teary-eyed, that it didn’t even hurt.
If only I were on my bed, I would have rolled around holding my head.
‘Crazy. Crazy!’
I had never felt my hands and feet shrink and curl up like a squid before. My face turned red instantly.
‘Ugh, this idiot!’
So utterly embarrassing!
My husband was just shy, and yet I was putting on a whole drama by myself.
I felt wronged for suffering so much, yet relieved, but an inexplicable wave of frustration surged.
‘Annoying!’
Even if my husband was innocent, there was a problem. I pounded the bed with my fists, pouring my frustrated heart into it.
“M-My lady?!”
Mikael, unaware of how embarrassed I was, was stunned by my actions.
He hastily grabbed my hand, speaking rapidly,
“The bed is hard! If you hurt your hand—!”
“It’s fine!”
Ah. I wanted to cry.
I bit my lips hard, unable to hide my reddened face. Seeing this, Mikael asked cautiously,
“Are… you worried?”
Startled, I deliberately raised my voice.
“No, absolutely not!”
But the moment I said it, I regretted it.
‘Damn it.’
Just go ahead and broadcast that you cared.
After some effort, the misunderstanding was cleared, and I had finished applying the medicine to his back. I had to work hard to cool down my flushed cheeks.
“Are you alright, my lady?”
“I-I’m fine.”
I wasn’t fine at all, but I couldn’t admit it.
Receiving comfort from him, I managed to compose my face after feeling so humiliated.
“Is it alright for me to attend the tea party?”
“Of course. Moreover, it is a place you wish to attend.”
Madness. I was going to that party to survive!
The words caught in my throat, leaving only a sigh.
I don’t know how Mikael perceived me, but he smiled shyly.
“I’m glad.”
…That I was embarrassed?
Just as I was about to feel embarrassed again, Mikael added,
“Since that day, I thought you were avoiding me.”
