IMNTI CHAPTER 44

CHAPTER  44

‘Will he go back to the North with me? The saints appointment is supposed to happen in a few days…’

Luisa was to stay in the capital for about two weeks.

Duke Blake couldn’t afford to leave the North unattended for long, so he returned right away. However, he had instructed Damian to stay a bit longer and return with Luisa, since traveling immediately might be too hard on her.

“…When did you become so close?”

Lost in her thoughts and missing the beginning of the sentence, Luisa blinked.

“Close with whom?”

“With me.”

Who did she get close to…?

Ah, maybe he means Damian. Luisa tilted her head slightly.

“Well, we kind of have no choice but to be close, don’t we?”

She figured he was asking because she and Damian, who had seemed a bit distant before, now appeared to be getting along.

But it was curious that Raphael of all people was asking. He’d seen them together more than once, so it felt a little out of the blue.

“I didn’t expect you’d allow him to call you by name.”

“Do you need to get permission to call someone by their name?”

Luisa furrowed her brows slightly in confusion, though it was barely noticeable compared to the way Raphael’s brow twisted with tension. Veins began to rise on his thick neck, and his Adam’s apple bobbed heavily.

“…Why would you do that?”

“Because we’re family.”

“Family? Are you saying you let him call you by name because you’re engaged?”

What is he even saying? Luisa widened her eyes.

“What does being engaged have to do with my brother?”

“Pardon?”

“Sorry?”

There was an awkward silence as the mismatched conversation trailed off. The two stared at each other until Raphael ran a hand down his face in frustration. It was a subtle but palpable silence.

He seemed like someone trying to collect his emotions, inhaling and exhaling deeply.

“…I wasn’t talking about Damian. I meant Prince Saint.”

“Ohh, the Second Prince?”

“Yes. He even gave you a gift last time. For people who’ve only exchanged greetings, you seem quite close.”

His tone was unusually sharp, not the usual curt monotone. He even brought up her past answer, when he asked about Saint’s gift and she’d said they’d only exchanged greetings.

Luisa gave him a puzzled look.

“We’re not particularly close. I never gave him permission to call me by name, either.”

“…Is that true?”

“But even if it were, would it really matter? It’s just a name.”

In noble society, it was customary to use first names only if you were close, but Luisa didn’t care much.

Besides, if a prince wanted to call you by your name, no noble would reject him to his face. Her opinion didn’t matter in such a case.

Pretending to be close was a bit annoying, sure—but it wasn’t something she could control, so it was best ignored.

“It might be ‘just a name’ to you, but you never allowed me to call you that.”

“Did you ever ask for permission…?”

Luisa tilted her head, trying to recall if she’d missed a moment when he might have asked.

“Well…”

“Well?”

“Do engaged couples really need to ask for permission?”

Where was this conversation even going? Luisa scratched her cheek and rolled her eyes. Why was he being so prickly?

Was a name really that important? Surely, he wasn’t acting like this just because she hadn’t let him call her by name… but she couldn’t figure out which part of this was bothering him.

‘Even if I did agree to call the Second Prince by name, would it be that big a deal? Hm… wait.’

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

‘Could it be that the two of them really don’t get along?’

She stared at Raphael, who was now fidgeting with his earlobe.

They were always a bit distant as brothers, but she’d thought things would be fine since Raphael had willingly entered the temple and seemed content to let go of the throne. But now that she thought about the original story, where he immediately fought with Bella over the main character, it didn’t seem like their relationship had ever been particularly good.

Well, close brothers are rare—practically unicorns. Maybe that’s why she herself still found Damian a bit unfamiliar and awkward.

“…You’re right. You don’t need permission. Call me whatever you like.”

Though she wasn’t sure how long this engagement would last anyway.

“Ahem… Then may I call you by name as well?”

“Yes.”

It was just a name. Luisa nodded calmly. Honestly, switching between “commander” and “prince” depending on the situation was tiring anyway.

Now that everything seemed settled, Luisa began to walk again. She just wanted to rest. The nausea was lingering longer than expected.

‘Is this really because of the alcohol? The growing tightness in my chest feels oddly familiar…’

Luisa touched her chest and furrowed her brows.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“Ah… I think it’s just the alcohol. My stomach’s a bit off.”

“…Are you using that as an excuse to hide it again?”

“Huh? When did I ever—oh.”

“Didn’t you do that at the garden party? I know everything now. Why do you keep hiding it?”

“No, I really did drink too much—ack.”

Suddenly, her heart thudded violently. The loud pounding reverberated through her whole body, and like a crumbling dam, a wave surged inside her.

Luisa clutched her mouth and rushed into the room on her left. She could feel Raphael right behind her, but she had no time to worry about him—she had to reach the window.

Thud—. Dark, crimson blood splattered outside into the night.

“Huff, huff…”

Clutching the window ledge, Luisa gasped for breath. A large hand gently touched her back, then began to slowly pat it, as if to soothe her.

Luisa looked over, embarrassed, and saw Raphael holding out a handkerchief with a clenched jaw and a deeply furrowed expression.

“…Th-thank you.”

Her hands trembling, Luisa took the handkerchief and covered her mouth. That single, powerful burst of blood had shaken her entire body.

She had no idea why this was happening. What had triggered it? Her confused violet eyes darted around.

Suddenly, a small, clear vial appeared in her view.

“Here. Drink this.”

It was holy water. Luisa’s wide eyes turned to Raphael.

“This should help calm you down. It did the last time too.”

“Ah…”

She hadn’t expected such kindness. Luisa, stunned, took the vial.

She hesitated under his piercing gaze that silently demanded she drink it, then finally raised the holy water to her lips. The liquid cooled her burning throat and calmed her unsettled stomach.

“If I say I’m going to call a physician… will you refuse?”

“…I drank the holy water, so I’m fine. Still… thank you for this.”

Raphael sighed as if he’d expected that response. Then he stared at her for a long while. His transparent eyes seemed to see straight through her, never once looking away.

Luisa awkwardly fidgeted with the empty vial and wiped her lips again.

“I think the journey to the capital was too much. I just need to rest.”

Their eye contact broke only when Raphael looked down. His long lashes trembled slightly as he closed his eyes tightly, then opened them again.

After staring into space for a moment, he sighed and met her eyes again.

“Why do I keep feeling like you’re ignoring your own condition? Do you actually know how to treat it?”

His face was a mix of emotions. It was impossible to guess what he was thinking.

He looked angry… but also anxious. Luisa felt frustration rising in her chest. Why was he being so bothersome when she was already feeling terrible?

“What does it matter to you? Whether I live or die—it’s not like you care.”

Her words slipped out, sharp and impulsive.

“…That’s…”

Raphael flinched. His chin trembled ever so slightly, and he looked completely shocked.

He opened his mouth as if something were caught in his throat, and for a moment, the room was filled with nothing but the sound of their breathing.

‘Ugh, what am I even saying?’

Luisa pressed her fingers to her brows. She needed to de-escalate things, not make them worse—but her reason had faltered for a moment.

The silence was heavy, almost tangible. Just as she opened her mouth to try to say something, Raphael rubbed his face harshly, and she closed it again.

“…I don’t know either.”

“…?”

“I don’t know why. I just… can’t stop worrying about you.”

“Huh?”

Luisa blinked blankly, tilting her head.

He was worried about her? What did he mean? Ah… could it be—

‘Is he saying that my poor health is bothering him, and this is his way of saying it?’

From Raphael’s perspective, she’d refused treatment and continued the engagement despite being unwell, and now that Bella had shown up, it might be even more irritating.

‘…Wait, but is he actually getting closer to Bella? If so, wouldn’t they have come to this party together?’