SIDE STROY 02………………………………….
“Ah, it’s Rinne!”
“See! I told you Rinne would be here!”
“Rinne, you collapsed yesterday too and ended up in the infirmary.”
I felt Ethan’s gaze on me. All I could do was lie still and roll my eyes.
“Ah, haha. Not the first time, the second. Well… lately, my memory’s been a bit… off.”
“Three days ago. Five days ago. Ten days ago. Rinne was lying in the infirmary each time.”
“Luca, please be quiet…”
“The time we were supposed to meet passed ages ago, and you weren’t there, so I came looking! Hina knew you’d be here!”
“Amazing, Hina…”
As I desperately turned my back to Ethan, the bed sank slightly. Kinya had climbed onto the bed sluggishly and nestled against my side. I spread my arms instinctively and held Kinya, who looked up at me with those pretty golden eyes.
“Rinne, are you sick again?”
“I’m not sick, Kinya. I’m just a little sleepy.”
Kinya’s lips pouted like a little beak.
“It’s because Rinne doesn’t sleep. Your room is always bright at night, and even when I bring a pillow, you don’t sleep together…”
A year older, Kinya was tattling with precise pronunciation.
“I didn’t read you books every day for this…”
No excuse. I closed my eyes in resignation.
“…It’s just the final stretch. As Sir Ethan knows, the medical department’s inauguration is next month. To prepare without a hitch, I have to push myself to make everything perfect—”
“Are you the only member of the medical department?”
“Not exactly, but as head… ahem… I have to set an example.”
“Rinne.”
Ethan’s large hand covered mine. Compared to his, my hand looked especially small and pale today.
“Trying to carry everything alone is a bad habit of yours.”
“R-Really…?”
Ethan nodded firmly. He had always been like this—direct advice tempered with care.
“Yes. Trying to solve everything alone is arrogance.”
“…I know. I just want to do my best as much as I can…”
It would be a lie to say I didn’t feel a little hurt. But in retrospect, his advice was always exactly what I needed.
“There are plenty of people around you willing to step up for your work. Myself included.”
No sooner had Ethan finished speaking than small hands shot up.
“Kinya too! Kinya’s here!”
“Hina too!”
“Luca as well.”
Before I knew it, I was embracing the children who had climbed onto the bed.
“The medical department is not a burden you must bear alone, Rinnegrim. It’s a place you lead together with your members. So trust and rely on them.”
Ethan patted me gently with his rough hand.
As expected, his advice was exactly what I needed.
“…I’ll do that. Thank you, Sir Ethan. I’m glad you’re by my side.”
I felt overwhelming gratitude as I wrapped my remaining hand around his.
“Touching.”
A voice came through the slightly open infirmary door—one that seemed to say it wasn’t touched at all.
And I realized how this scene with Ethan must look to him.
“Lu-Luce… you’re here?”
Damn. I tried to greet him calmly but bit my tongue.
I let go of Ethan’s hand, trying to appear natural, and cleared my throat so my voice wouldn’t sound pathetic.
“Ahem… our friendship is kind of touching, isn’t it?”
“Not that.”
Luce leaned against the wall, arms crossed, staring at me.
“Rinne. Hearing that come from your mouth is touching. Even if it’s not directed at me, it’s nice to hear.”
“…What did I just say?”
They say when someone is too flustered, their brain freezes. That’s exactly how I felt. I couldn’t remember the words I’d just said.
Surely, I had taken Ethan’s hand and spoken with a very grateful expression. But what had I said?
[“Thank you, Sir Ethan. I’m glad you’re by my side.”]
“Crazy.”
I covered my mouth. It’s a common phrase between friends, but if Luce heard it, it would mean something else entirely.
“Luce. Don’t misunderstand.”
“What misunderstanding?”
“This is a phrase friends often say. If you misunderstand the relationship between me and Sir Ethan, I’d be very sad. We’re inseparable friends!”
“Oh, really?”
Luce’s gaze shifted to Ethan. They stared at each other for a long moment. I couldn’t help thinking—shouldn’t it be them explaining, not me? The intensity in their eyes was unreal.
“I interrupted a good moment between friends.”
He emphasized the word “friends,” I think. Luce left the infirmary after a short apology.
“Luce!”
I hurriedly tried to get off the bed but sat back down from dizziness.
“Rinnegrim!”
Ethan supported my back as I stumbled. The children rushed in, startled.
“Rinne! Are you okay?”
“Are you scared of Luce?! Hina will hit him! Right in the shin!”
“But Luce won’t scare you, Rinne.”
“No! Luce is scary! Kinya’s too young to understand!”
“Kinya’s not that young! Kinya’s five!”
“Hmph! If your powers hadn’t manifested, you’re still a kid!”
Hina’s blunt remark made Kinya sulk. A sensitive topic for Kinya, whose abilities had manifested late.
“…Hina’s a fool.”
“Hina’s not a fool.”
“No! Hina is a fool!”
I stomped my foot and shouted at Hina, who snorted. There was genuine anger in my chirping voice.
“Hina-sis Rihuela, fool! Bird poop! Caterpillar!”
What kind of insult is that? My vision spun and I closed my eyes, but the words were hilarious.
Apparently, it shocked Hina.
“Kinyaksis Rihuela…! How could you say that…!”
“I don’t know! Hina-sis, I hate you! I’m not talking to you anymore!”
Clattering footsteps quickly receded.
When I opened my eyes, Hina was staring blankly at the open door. Kinya was nowhere to be seen.
“…Kinya got mad at Hina.”
“Hina, it’s okay. Kinya just—”
“Kinya… to Hina? How dare you?”
“…H-Hina?”
Something about this situation feels… off.
“Who do you think wants to play?! Hina’s not playing with you either! Kinyaksis Rihuela!!”
Hina’s roar shook the palace like it might collapse. My newly steadied vision trembled again—my head felt like it was shaking entirely.
Hina stomped furiously, then, still angry, transformed into her true form and flew out the open window.
“You guys are already a headache… now you too?”
“Rinne. Luca stayed still.”
“Well done, Luca…”
I covered my ears and swallowed back tears.
“First, I need to deal with the urgent things.”
Finally freed from Ethan’s embrace, I slowly stood. A faint dizziness remained, but it was bearable.
“Rinnegrim. You still—”
“I’m fine, Sir Ethan. Thanks to you, I rested enough.”
Ethan, standing with me, eyed me suspiciously as I pressed against the wall to move forward.
“You said to rely on those around me.”
By the time I reached the door, the dizziness had completely subsided.
“So I’m going to the one person I most want to rely on.”
“Rinne…”
“There’s one piece of wisdom I’ve learned in life: it’s better to resolve difficult problems—and Luce’s anger—quickly.”
With that, I dashed out of the infirmary.
Over the past time with Luce, I had learned a lot about him. One thing was that he tends to walk very slowly when lost in thought.
Which meant, even as I staggered and ran, I could catch up to him easily.
How long had I run? More like a brisk walk at maximum speed, but eventually, I spotted Luce.
Even his absent-minded, thoughtful back was perfect.
“Luce!”
His shoulders jolted. Then his pace quickened.
“Huh?”
I called, but he ignored me? Panicked, I hurried my steps.
“Luce!”
I thought I knew him well. If he truly wanted to avoid me, he could have vanished with magic. But he stayed just within reach—close enough to be caught.
It was clearly a plea to chase him and calm him down!
I ran the short distance without hesitation, dizziness rising from my feet but swallowed willingly.
Finally, at the last step, I threw my arms around him.
In that brief moment, Luce turned and held me back.
“Ugh…”
Even as I weakly groaned, he relaxed instantly.
It was a relief that he liked contact—he never refused hugs, even when angry.
I buried my face in his shoulder, gasping. My legs felt weak; I could barely stand.
“Ugh…”
My weakened stamina, reduced from sitting holed up in the infirmary, was exhausted by this minor effort.
As I tried to stand properly, Luce, watching my trembling legs, grabbed my waist.
“What are you trying to do—agh!”
My body floated. When the spinning subsided, I was already perched on the windowsill.
“What… what?”
Being on the first floor, height wasn’t scary. But Luce, gripping the sill like he was holding me in place, was a bit intimidating.
“Why are you fluttering like this?”
“Me? When?”
“Sleep.”
I avoided his eyes. If I said I hadn’t slept, he’d surely check on me every night from now on. Either way, I wasn’t getting sleep, so I had no reason to tell the truth.
As my silence dragged on, his eyebrows raised.
We faced each other in tense, unspoken standoff—a fierce duel without retreat.
“R-Rinnegrim. What are you doing there…?”
