CHAPTER 90……………………………………
“Wow… oh my, wow.”
Lauren peeked at the closed door and pressed her flushed cheeks. It wasn’t that her face was red from just taking a bath. It was because she had witnessed an extremely heated scene.
As soon as Lauren, freshly refreshed from her bath, opened the door, she was met with two people entangled on the bed. Linnegrim’s hand was resting on Luce’s shoulder, and Luce’s hand was caressing Linnegrim’s neck.
“No wonder…! They’re not just ordinary friends!”
Lauren banged her forehead against the wall.
When Linnegrim had been swept by an avalanche and fallen off the cliff, she remembered the frenzied energy Luce had radiated nearby. Even the way he had leapt off the cliff, losing all reason.
Love. It had to be love—there was no other explanation. Ten years of devotion to romance novels had trained her instincts to recognize it.
Back then, she had been too shaken by Luce’s overwhelming energy to notice, but didn’t this look like a scene straight out of a novel? To Lauren, Luce and Linnegrim were already the protagonists of a story.
Even their appearances alone were perfect enough to fulfill Lauren’s romantic fantasies.
What had Linnegrim said back then? Before leaving the royal palace, when she pretended to be someone else and sought advice, she had said she didn’t dislike him.
And the one she didn’t dislike was Luce!
The ambiguous way of saying “I don’t dislike him” clearly meant one thing.
“He definitely doesn’t realize it!”
Linnegrim had yet to recognize her own feelings for Luce, and Lauren had no intention of making her realize it.
Why?
“Because it’s fun!”
There was nothing more enjoyable than watching someone fumble in love.
“…Still, maybe I should give a little advice?”
If she left it like this, Lauren feared her own frustration might explode first.
As Lauren had said, the hot springs in the snowy mountains were incredible.
Soaking in the warm water and gazing at the breathtaking snow-capped peaks, she couldn’t help but smile.
Feeling dizzy from enjoying the springs and returning to the room with a refreshed face, she found Lauren sitting with her chin in her clasped hands, glaring at the door. The solemn expression, complete with cheeks puffed out like walnuts, startled her—she even imagined Lauren was holding a baseball bat.
“Ah! Senpai, what’s the matter?”
“Linnegrim. Come sit here.”
Lauren patted the space next to her. As she hurried over and sat down, Lauren’s expression turned somewhat mischievous. The twitching corners of her mouth gradually rose, and her breath grew hot.
“Remember the friend you mentioned before leaving the palace?”
“Oh, that friend? Yes.”
“You said you didn’t dislike him, right?”
“Yes, well… I guess so?”
“Is that really all there is?”
“Excuse me?”
“No, I thought about it again, and I don’t think it’s just ‘not disliking him.’”
“Well… that friend hasn’t really thought deeply about the other person.”
“You mean, you haven’t considered the possibility of a romantic relationship?”
“…Probably not?”
She had received something like a proposal, but had never imagined being Luce’s lover.
“You’ve never imagined holding hands, hugging, kissing?”
“…I don’t think so.”
Because they had already experienced all that in reality. There was no need to imagine it.
“Then why? Why do people imagine that?”
“Why? Well, when you like someone, you naturally wonder—what would it feel like to hold hands with them? To hug them? To kiss them?”
“…I was just a little embarrassed, though.”
“Really~? I see~.”
“…Senpai, somehow your tone feels like you’re teasing me.”
“Me? No way~ teasing Linnegrim, the pride and future of our management division~?”
There was no doubt. She was definitely teasing her.
“Seriously, what is it!”
“Nothing at all~”
Lauren laughed endlessly, burying her face in a pillow, even squealing and flailing her limbs in delight.
Had her brain frozen from the cold, Lauren wondered?
She watched Lauren rolling on the bed with pity.
Her laughter continued even on the way to greet the leader of Axion.
“Lady Lauren, is something the matter?”
Ethan, concerned, noticed her shoulders bouncing continuously.
“Ah, I was reading an entertaining novel.”
Fortunately, Lauren’s laughter disappeared completely just before entering the reception room.
The reception room door opened, and a stern-looking man greeted them.
“Ibnis. It’s been a while.”
“Ibnis, on behalf of the Axion clan, greets you. Lady Harisa, are you well?”
“As always, I am well.”
Though he claimed to be well, his face looked far too gaunt. His limbs were thin to the point that even his slightly swollen stomach looked strained.
“Please forgive me for not rising to greet you. My mobility is limited.”
“Please, have a seat.”
“And those behind you…”
Ethan stepped forward first, offering proper salutations.
“I, Ethan Croit, Captain of the Holy Knights, greet the divine beasts of the Axion clan.”
“I, Lauren of the Countess Dalia family, greet the divine beasts of the Axion clan.”
“I, Linnegrim of the Count Peahil family, greet the divine beasts of the Axion clan.”
“Everyone, lift your heads. I heard a mage came with you?”
This was a problem. Luce, of course, did not come to greet them. He had simply said he would take care of things himself and left.
As they hesitated on what to say, Eve’s quick thinking shone.
“He went to check on the sacred tree. It would be dangerous if attacked.”
“Ah, yes. I heard the palace was attacked. How did that happen? And what did it mean that the intruder accused Axion?”
“It is only speculation based on words spoken in anger. I know very well that the divine beasts of Axion would not commit such acts. The request to visit the palace was merely a formal investigation.”
“Even if it was only formal, you should have gone sincerely. But given the timing, you could not cooperate. I apologize for bringing you all to these harsh mountains.”
“No need, Lord. Visiting the snowy mountains is entirely our choice. If it helps Lady Harisa, nothing could make us happier.”
Eve continued speaking smoothly, as if her tongue were greased.
“Thank you, Ibnis. And thank you to all of you for making the long journey.”
“I am honored.”
“I hope the banquet we prepared suits your taste.”
Contrary to the lord’s concerns, the banquet prepared by Axion was excellent.
There was one peculiar thing: all food was cut into bite-sized pieces and only spoons were provided—no forks or knives appeared on the table.
“Thanks to that, the meal was enjoyable.”
“I’m glad it was tasty.”
Harisa, who had barely eaten due to nausea, called me after finishing her meal.
“Are you Linnegrim?”
“Yes, I am Linnegrim of the Peahil family.”
“I’ve heard rumors of your skill. Do you have something for back pain?”
Back pain could be treated effectively with the painkillers I had brought.
“Yes. I’ll prepare it immediately. Excuse me for a moment.”
I excused myself and headed to the room with my bag.
Good thing I had packed generously. I put herbs into a small mortar and began grinding, feeling a penetrating gaze on me.
“…Do you have something to say?”
Rihasol was leaning half in the doorway, staring at me intently.
“I came to check if the medicine for my mother is reliable. What herb is this?”
“Oh, it’s the root of Hedera. While the fruit is toxic, the root is mild and used as a painkiller. Crush it finely and mix with water to relieve pain.”
“Hm… I haven’t seen this plant in the north.”
“Hedera grows in mild climates, mainly found in the southern hemisphere.”
“And this? What plant is this?”
“These are leaves of a herb called Pannol. It cools the affected area, especially useful for burns.”
“I see… there are many herbs I didn’t know about.”
“It’s difficult to find various herbs in the northern climate.”
Rihasol started curiously rifling through my bag, like a cat discovering a toy.
She paused when she uncovered the scalpel and needles wrapped in cloth.
“Oh, these are medical tools—”
I quickly explained to avoid any misunderstanding about weapons. Suddenly, Rihasol clutched her chest.
“Ah… aah…”
“…Rihasol?”
“KYAAAH!!”
“Rihasol! What’s wrong?!”
She hit her chest, then collapsed, clawing at her hair. Her fine white hair snapped under her sharp nails.
“Is there no one outside?!”
“Linnegrim! What’s happening?!”
Ethan, with his sharp hearing, came first, drawing his sword, assuming an attack.
Rihasol grabbed her tangled hair, looked at Ethan, and collapsed like a broken doll.
“Rihasol!”
I barely caught her head, checking her pupils. They were widely dilated, a sign of excessive sympathetic nervous excitement.
“Sol! Sol, focus, Sol!”
Reed arrived, holding Rihasol.
“Lay her on the bed first! Lauren, come here and massage her limbs!”
“Got it!”
Lauren and I massaged Rihasol’s limbs continuously. After a few minutes, her pupils shrank, and her breathing gradually calmed.
“W-Why did this happen suddenly?”
Startled, Lauren sniffled but didn’t stop massaging.
“…I don’t know either.”
Rihasol reacted first when she saw the scalpel and needles wrapped in cloth. She tore at her hair in fear and collapsed at Ethan’s presence.
“No, it’s not Ethan…”
Her gaze was lower, toward Ethan’s hands. Rihasol had a phobia of sharp objects and had a panic reaction upon seeing the sword.
“Sol…! Focus, Sol!”
“…Reed.”
“Why, why?”
“Rihasol fears sharp and pointed objects.”
There was only one possible explanation.
Aichmophobia.
A condition where one experiences abnormal emotional agitation and fear upon seeing sharp objects.
Rihasol suffers from aichmophobia.
