Chapter 43
The next day, I suffered from a terrible hangover all day long.
“It seems your constitution isn’t well-suited to alcohol, and yet you drank far too much,” said the physician who came to check on me.
“That can’t be right… I’m not that weak! Back home, I could drink two bottles of soju, easy.”
“So… ju?”
The physician tilted his head, and Arin awkwardly laughed, hastily explaining, “It’s a type of liquor from another land.”
“In any case, Lady Ishtar seems to have overestimated her tolerance. Alcohol simply doesn’t suit your body. It would be better to drink tea instead.”
“What…?”
The words hit me like a thunderbolt.
No way. In my previous life, I was a total drinker — and now, in this world, I can’t even handle a drop? That’s just cruel.
“Though your body appears that of an adult, your internal organs are as fresh and fragile as those of a newborn. How peculiar… I’ve never seen such a case before.”
“Ah…”
His words made sense. I remembered when I first transformed from a cat into this human body — my legs had been so shaky I could barely walk.
And just like the Little Mermaid, I hadn’t even been able to speak properly back then. Being able to live like a proper human now was practically a luxury.
“I’ll prescribe you some herbs that help with hangovers. Take them until tomorrow and rest in bed for the day. You need to stay still until the effects of the alcohol are completely gone.”
I nodded weakly in agreement. The physician bowed politely and left the room.
A short while later, a bundle of herbs arrived.
Arin, who had been taking care of me since early morning, jumped up.
“Lady Ishtar, I’ll brew the medicine for you. Please rest a bit. You need to take it after eating, so I’ll bring some porridge too.”
“You’ll brew it yourself? That sounds tiring…”
“It’s fine. I’d rather do it myself than leave it to someone else. Medicine works better when made with care. My sincerity will help you get better faster.”
Her sweet words made my chest tighten with emotion.
“Then I’ll leave it to you, Arin.”
“Yes, I’ll be right back.”
When Arin left, I touched my burning forehead.
I’d never experienced a hangover in my previous life, so now I finally understood how terrible it was.
It felt like someone was hammering my skull.
“…Looks like my body still isn’t fully stable.”
Since receiving Ashtar’s power, I’d been able to speak and function normally in daily life.
In fact, I’d been so full of energy that I’d forgotten how new and fragile this body really was.
Letting out a long sigh, I leaned back into the soft bedding and closed my eyes.
Since my lessons with Aziz were postponed anyway, I had plenty of time to rest.
At some point, I must have dozed off.
I felt something cool settle on my feverish forehead.
When I blinked my eyes open, a familiar face slowly came into focus.
“…Awake, Ishtar?”
That calm, deep voice belonged to none other than Suleiman.
I’d assumed it was Arin returning, so I shot upright in surprise.
“What are you doing here at this hour?”
“I heard you were unwell. I stopped by while passing through.”
Avoiding my eyes, Suleiman rubbed the back of his neck a few times, looking slightly awkward.
“How are you feeling? Still in pain?”
“Um… it’s just a bit of fatigue. I have a fever, but it’s not too bad…”
“Let me see.”
Before I could finish, Suleiman leaned closer.
His large, rough hand gently covered my small forehead.
After carefully gauging my temperature, he murmured with concern,
“Your fever’s high. This seems worse than just a hangover.”
His beautiful crimson eyes met mine from just inches away.
You’re… too close!
He was so near that our foreheads could almost touch.
Feeling my heart threaten to explode, I quickly grabbed his hand and pulled it away.
“I—I’m fine! Really. It’s just a hangover, not a cold.”
“Has the physician seen you?”
“Yes. He said I’ll be fine after a day of rest. Arin went to fetch the medicine right now…”
I ducked my head, hiding my flushed cheeks—right as Arin entered the room with a large tray.
Her eyes widened when she saw Suleiman there.
“Uh… I brought Lady Ishtar’s meal and medicine.”
“I’ll take care of her. Hand me the tray and wait outside.”
“Y-Your Highness? You’ll do it yourself?”
Arin hesitated in confusion, but Suleiman calmly took the tray from her hands and dismissed her.
I could only gape as he set the tray on the table beside the bed and pulled up a chair.
On the tray sat a bowl of plain white porridge and a cup of dark, bitter-looking medicine.
Picking up the porridge bowl, Suleiman scooped a spoonful and blew on it.
Then, without hesitation, he held the spoon out toward me.
I blinked, frozen. “What… what are you doing?”
“This is called nursing care… I think.”
He said it so casually, with that same expressionless face, that I was left speechless.
“W-why are you doing this? You’re a prince! You could’ve asked someone else—”
“Let’s just say I feel guilty for not supervising yesterday’s events properly. Now eat. My arm’s getting tired.”
I wanted to argue that I wasn’t an invalid and could feed myself—but his serious face told me it wasn’t up for debate.
Overwhelmed by the subtle authority in his voice, I shut my eyes tight and obediently took the spoonful.
“…Eat more.”
He scooped another bite, blew on it again, and offered it.
Watching him gently blow on the spoon made my chest feel strange.
His eyelashes… they’re so long.
As he concentrated, his red eyes were cast downward beneath those soft, dark lashes.
His straight nose and full lips came into view, and—
God, I’m losing my mind.
The memory of last night’s kiss flashed vividly through my mind, and my face burned.
While I fidgeted in embarrassment, he spoke again, low and firm.
“What are you waiting for? Open your mouth.”
“Wh—what?”
“Eat. You’ll recover faster if you do.”
When I looked up, the spoon was already right in front of my nose.
Suleiman motioned with his chin for me to eat.
My palms started sweating. Gripping the bedsheet, I finally gave in and took the spoonfuls one after another until the bowl was empty.
“Now for the medicine.”
“Suleiman, I can drink it myself—”
“No. You’re burning up. Moving will only make it worse.”
With a firm tone, he brought the cup to my lips.
Ignoring my flushed face, he carefully tilted it so I could sip the bitter liquid.
Thanks to him, I didn’t have to move an inch to finish both the porridge and the medicine.
But instead of cooling down, my body felt even hotter.
When did he start taking care of me like this?
Before his journey, he’d kept a polite distance.
Now, after yesterday… and today… he seemed completely different.
“Um, did something happen while you were away?”
“What do you mean?”
“You just… seem a lot kinder than before.”
Not that I disliked it. When he wasn’t around, I’d felt an emptiness I couldn’t explain—like part of me was missing.
Only after he returned did I realize how much space he’d come to occupy in my daily life.
But this… this is too kind.
In my past life, even when I had the flu, I’d never been cared for like this.
As an orphan, I’d never had anyone feed me or nurse me back to health.
This unfamiliar warmth in my chest—what was I supposed to call it?
I bit my lip and lowered my gaze.
“Nothing special happened,” he said softly. “I just needed some time to think.”
“To… think?”
“Yes. Fortunately, aside from being ambushed by a few idiots on the way back, I had plenty of time. I found some answers to what had been bothering me.”
“What were you thinking about?”
“Well… who knows?”
He smiled then—a rare, bright smile that made my heart skip a beat.
Why is he smiling like that… it’s dangerous.
Normally so stoic, his gentle grin made my heartbeat race all over again.
“Now lie back and rest. Your face is still red—you need more time for the medicine to work.”
He set the dishes aside, then carefully supported my shoulders, easing me down onto the bed.
His touch was so gentle, as though handling fragile glass.
“I’ll put a cool cloth on your forehead again.”
He dipped a silk towel into a basin of clean water, wrung it out, and laid it across my forehead.
The cool, damp fabric soothed my fevered skin.
But deep inside, my heart burned hotter than ever.
