Episode 35
After that day, Oki started getting treated like a VIP again.
For a while, I had been making him run errands, so his status had dropped, but now he was back to being treated like a precious guest.
The reason was obvious—he had encouraged Raymond to call for me when he was hurt.
“Oh, my smart Oki. Enjoy your food.”
“Ook, ook!”
Peck peck peck peck.
I smiled warmly as Oki happily pecked away at his sunflower seeds.
This is why I always liked you.
Sometimes, I wondered if Oki had trained me on purpose to develop my healing power. It felt like he knew exactly where this was all headed.
Also, since I healed Gwangho, Oki hadn’t brought me any more injured animals. It wasn’t like no one was getting hurt anymore, so I couldn’t figure out the exact reason.
“Oki, why haven’t you been bringing any hurt animals lately?”
“Ook, ook-ook, ook, oook oook, ook.”
“I really wish you could speak human.”
“Ook, ookoo~”
Oki seemed like he was trying to explain something, but I couldn’t understand him at all. I just rested my chin on my hand and listened to his little coos.
Knock knock.
Just as I was starting to feel a bit disappointed, there was a soft knock at the window.
Huh? Who could that be? Raymond didn’t say anything about coming.
I instinctively looked at Oki’s leg, but there was no message tied to it.
Was it Koa?
I felt a little nervous as I walked to the window and pulled the curtain aside—and standing there was someone I didn’t expect. His black hair shimmered in the moonlight, and his glowing blue eyes looked down at me.
“Raymond…”
Raymond smiled handsomely and knocked on the glass again. I quickly opened the window, and his excited face appeared.
“Eilene.”
Wow. So this is what it feels like when your boyfriend shows up unexpectedly. No wonder people say it’s the best kind of excitement.
Totally heart-fluttering!
I forgot what I looked like and just stared at him in a daze.
“Sorry for showing up without notice.”
“Oh, don’t worry! Come on in!”
A surprise visit like this? I’d welcome it a hundred times.
I offered him a seat while wondering what brought him here so suddenly. Oki, who had been eating sunflower seeds, flapped his wings to greet Raymond.
“You were with Oki.”
Raymond looked around the room quietly. This was his second time here, but his first time really staying for a while, so I could understand why he felt a little awkward.
But it also felt like he was avoiding saying what he actually came here for. Maybe I should break the ice first.
“Raymond, what brings you here?”
“Ah, well… I was curious about something. And I missed you.”
“Feel free to tell me. What were you curious about, and what did you miss?”
I looked at him with wide, open eyes, encouraging him to speak. But for some reason, his face turned completely red.
“Well… it’s about the potion.”
Oh right, the potion!
Now that I thought about it, he did show up looking totally healthy.
“Are you feeling okay now? Let me see.”
I reached out to lift his shirt and check. As I pulled it up, I felt his body tense, and what I saw nearly gave me a heart attack—his muscles were smooth and flawless, not a single scar in sight.
“Gasp.”
My eyes practically shook from the shock. His skin was so perfect, it made me feel dizzy just looking at it.
It felt like my nose might bleed. I quickly pulled my hand back.
“You’re… completely healed.”
“Thanks to you. After I used the potion, the pain and the wound disappeared.”
“That’s amazing! Ah, why is it so hot in here?”
I fanned my cheeks with both hands, trying to cool my flushed face.
Sure, I was momentarily distracted by his hot body, but the most important thing was that Raymond had recovered.
My healing power really worked.
It felt incredible to know that I had discovered my ability, trained it, and used it to help him. All the exhaustion I’d felt before now seemed to vanish.
Raymond adjusted his clothes and asked me a question.
“Eilene… can I ask where you got the potion?”
“Huh? Um… well…”
It felt like a surprise attack.
What should I say? Should I tell the truth right now?
My brain went into panic mode because I hadn’t prepared an answer.
As I struggled to respond, Raymond gently shook his head.
“If it’s hard to say, you don’t have to answer. I didn’t mean to pressure you.”
“It’s just that… I kind of… snuck it out of our family’s storage. So I don’t really know where it came from. I’m sorry.”
The lie rolled off my tongue so smoothly. It wasn’t that I wanted to hide my power forever, but I honestly wasn’t ready to tell him the truth.
I mean, how was I supposed to tell him… it was my saliva?
Most people with healing powers have some elegant, holy glow in their hands or something. But mine? Nope. I spit into water and call it a potion. There’s no way to make that sound graceful.
Sigh… Dear God, if you were going to give me a power, couldn’t it at least look nicer?
Sure, I don’t have bad breath and my teeth are healthy, but still, it’s so embarrassing.
At first, I was just grateful for the healing power, but now I couldn’t help feeling a tiny bit annoyed.
“You don’t need to apologize. I should be thanking you.”
Raymond slowly shook his head.
He believed the potion was a rare magical item that even money couldn’t easily buy. Only mages with deep knowledge could make such potions, and they only traded with people they trusted.
So, he thought I had given him something precious from my family’s collection. He was practically honored.
But that wasn’t true at all.
He probably felt frustrated knowing he couldn’t get more of the potion. Now that I thought about it, his team didn’t have any healers. There were some temple forces he had ties with, but that was all political.
I’m sorry, Raymond. I’ll tell you the truth someday. Sob sob.
I promised myself I’d come up with a better story soon.
“I’ll come again soon. Next time, let’s have a meal together.”
“Sounds good.”
I nodded happily. I used to survive by just looking at his face in drawings, but now I could see the real thing and heal my heart for real.
I wonder when he’ll visit again?
As I returned inside after seeing him off, I looked at Oki—who was still eating sunflower seeds—and smiled to myself, full of excitement.
The very next night, Raymond came again.
I thought it would take him a few days, so I didn’t expect him this soon.
“Eilene, let’s go.”
“Ah! Raymond.”
He peeked his head through the glass door and gestured for me to come out. But I wasn’t dressed to go out—I was still wearing my nightgown.
“Wait a moment. I should get changed first.”
“Oh, right. Sorry. I’ll wait outside.”
Once he realized how lightly I was dressed, his face turned red and he turned away, planning to wait on the terrace.
“Raymond, don’t stand out there. Come inside.”
“I can’t do that. It’s not proper to see a lady in her nightgown.”
“But if you stay out there, people might see you.”
“Ah.”
Raymond understood what I meant. He was tall and broad-shouldered, so standing on the terrace like that would definitely draw attention.
“Ahem… Then I’ll come in just for a bit.”
He stepped inside, clearly trying his best not to look in my direction. It was so cute I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hehehe.”
“Why are you laughing?”
“Oh my. Raymond, you’re just too cute.”
I blurted out my affection without hesitation. Any fan would understand that this was actually a very low-level reaction. Usually, I’d be punching walls with excitement.
But to Raymond, it seemed like he’d heard something shocking. His eyes trembled and his face turned bright red. He even went to a corner like he was trying to get far away from me, mumbling, “Cute? To a grown man…?”
Did he think I was treating him like a child?
But I knew he only looked like a cold city guy. Deep down, he was sweet and warm. That was way more attractive than the Emperor’s slick and experienced attitude. Raymond was the ultimate “gentle guy.”
I turned my back to him and went to the wardrobe to change clothes.
Even though it was just a moment, being half-dressed while he was in the room made me nervous and embarrassed. The soft rustling of the fabric made my side feel ticklish.
“I’m done changing.”
I changed into some comfortable activewear and walked back over. Raymond was still standing like a statue, staring out the window.
“Raymond?”
He didn’t move when I called him, so I gently tapped his arm. He flinched like he had been burned and quickly turned around.
“Eilene.”
“I’m dressed now.”
“I see. Then… shall we go?”
His face was still burning red. What had he been thinking about?
We stepped out onto the terrace, and just like before, Raymond wrapped one arm around my waist. Last time, he had done it confidently. But tonight, he seemed hesitant and awkward before reaching out.
Wait… did he see my belly earlier?
I had eaten a fancy steak for dinner and went a little overboard. My belly felt puffier than usual. If he had warned me earlier, I would’ve eaten less. It would’ve made me lighter to carry, too.
I was a little annoyed… but more than anything, I was grateful he had come to see me so soon.
