~Chapter 16~
The noise calling out to me from all directions made my ears ring.
“Ma-maaaahhh—!”
“Lin, Lin, open your eyes. Lin, Lin!”
“Your Majesty, please, allow me to check on the patient. Your Majesty!”
It was so noisy.
Too many things were interfering with my wish to just sleep quietly.
Three different voices.
One was Joshua, one was Mikhail, but who was the third?
No matter. I couldn’t keep my eyes shut any longer because it was so noisy. I forced my eyes open and blinked.
“Ma-maaaah!”
Joshua, sniffling with tears and snot running.
“Lin, you’re awake?”
Mikhail, pale as a corpse, looking down at me.
“Th-the patient, p-please let me—!”
Someone else pointing at me with one hand over their mouth. What a mess.
So besides Joshua and Mikhail, who was the third one?
Ah, the palace guards.
All of them, looking like they thought I’d died and come back to life, making such a commotion.
I was about to tell them I was fine and that they could leave when a dark shadow suddenly darted in from the window side.
“Who’s there!”
Before I could react, Mikhail’s knights drew their swords, pointing at the shadow.
But it was only for a moment. Thunk. Something hit the floor, and the knights were pushed back.
“Lin, how much did you vomit blood? Did you collapse?”
That familiar voice made my eyes widen.
“Cassian?”
The dark shadow I had thought was something sinister was Cassian.
“Your Majesty! It’s dangerous!”
Amid the shouting knights, Mikhail raised a hand. The knights immediately froze.
Mikhail shouted quickly:
“He is Lin’s physician! He’s not a threat.”
If Mikhail had spoken a second later, Cassian would have been turned into a porcupine by the knights’ blades.
Even amidst that chaos, Cassian’s eyes were fixed only on me.
His face holding my wrist looked paler than even Mikhail.
Pupils wide as if shocked, lips trembling.
I worried something had happened to him without me knowing, so I pulled my wrist away and held his hand.
“Are you okay?”
Cassian looked at me for a moment, then held my hand.
“Yeah, seems like I’m fine. Luckily.”
With a faint smile, Cassian stood there while Mikhail exhaled a relieved sigh.
“Good. I was about to reprimand you for leaving your post, but since Lin’s fine, we’ll call it nothing happened.”
Though Mikhail said that, his face was cold as ice, glaring at Cassian.
Cassian seemed to notice and slowly turned his head to look back at him.
I had asked if Cassian was okay, but it seemed Mikhail had misunderstood, thinking I was asking about myself.
“Ma-maaa—!”
I gently pulled Joshua close and hugged him, glancing back and forth at the two men. They couldn’t look away from each other.
“How much blood did you vomit?”
“About three times the amount that soaked my dress.”
Even as we asked and answered, they kept staring at each other with heated eyes.
What is this suspicious atmosphere? I decided to examine Cassian more closely since he was nearer.
Cassian’s pallor was fading, his cheeks slowly turning pink. Tiny beads of sweat appeared on his forehead; he must have run all the way here.
And yet, no sweaty smell at all. Instead, he gave off a subtle fragrance, reminiscent of flowers.
Hah. Even after running to the point of sweating, his beauty somehow increased. No wonder Mikhail couldn’t look away. I admit it.
Then I looked at Mikhail.
Being the male lead of this little “game,” Mikhail was equally stunning, easily holding his own against Cassian.
And that expression—sharp, intense. Truly artful. Cassian would like that.
Cassian liked it when I pouted, so I guessed he would probably accept it if Mikhail pouted too.
It seemed their feelings for each other weren’t simple curiosity or attraction.
Probably a mixture of awe and competitiveness at seeing someone as attractive as themselves, with deeper emotions hidden beneath.
A noble flower blooming amid an unexpected encounter and collision. That, I thought, must be love.
I figured it was best to mediate before they fought. I straightened my face and spoke to them:
“You two. What exactly are you doing?”
Only then did they shift their gaze from each other to me.
Cassian lowered his eyes and reached his hand toward me.
“Sorry, there was an outsider in your room, so I had to check. Now I’ll focus on you. Sorry I wasn’t paying attention.”
Before he finished, Mikhail spoke quickly, not wanting to lose ground. He, too, extended one hand toward me.
“I expected that the wizard who is your physician would reflect a little on the disaster that occurred while he left his post. I was mistaken. Sorry, Lin.”
What?
I looked down at the two hands extended before me.
A perfect standoff. I avoided their hands and hugged Joshua tightly. Both men awkwardly withdrew their hands.
Joshua noticed the tension and looked at me, then asked:
“Ma-ma, who’s this pretty person?”
Cassian smiled faintly and gently brushed the tear-swollen eyes of the child. A pale green warmth spread over Joshua’s eyes.
Cassian had just used healing magic for Joshua.
“I’m a wizard.”
Such a kind way of speaking. Kids loved him, of course.
“Ma-wap-ssa?”
Mikhail brushed Cassian’s hand aside and lifted Joshua in his arms.
“Yes. He’s the one who can heal Lin.”
Joshua blinked rapidly and asked me:
“So, this pretty ma-wap-ssa will make sure our Ma-ma doesn’t get hurt?”
Not entirely, but he was helping me, so I nodded.
“That’s right. Smart boy, Joshua.”
Suddenly, Joshua threw his arms around Cassian.
“Wow! Thank you, ma-wap-ssa! You’re so pretty! You’re amazing! Thank you, ma-wap-ssa!”
Joshua seemed to see Cassian as the only person who could save me.
Cassian, caught off guard, looked at Mikhail in disbelief.
Mikhail was still holding Joshua’s legs. This put Mikhail and Cassian very close together—similar posture, similar eye level. If they had been any closer, an accident might have happened.
Wow. This could have been a legendary scene.
Not just legendary—it could be the start of a legendary romance.
I shook my head in awe, secretly.
Both of them were stuck in awkward expressions, unaware of the tension between them.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Pfft.”
They looked at me, slightly reproachful.
“Sorry. Your expressions were way too serious. Anyway, Your Majesty, I’m fine, so could you please leave? I’m too weak and need to rest.”
“Are you really okay? You vomited so much blood.”
“I said I’m fine. The wizard is here now, isn’t he?”
Mikhail had a lot to say, but he let the knights and palace guards leave as I requested. Even Joshua was handed to the steward and escorted out.
Mikhail glared at Cassian as he spoke:
“Even if you are a wizard, how dare you not show proper respect to the emperor?”
“The wizards of the mage tower aren’t subordinate to any one country. We are respected by all nations. I wonder why Your Majesty feels the need to treat me, a sovereign, as if I were your subordinate.”
“If you’re in Creras, you must follow Creras’ law. Didn’t you establish a position in my country?”
“If you dislike my country’s position, I will leave—with my patient, of course.”
Mikhail’s eyes widened.
“Are you threatening me with Lin’s life?”
Cassian calmly responded:
“It is Your Majesty who placed your pride above Lin’s life.”
Neither side would back down.
I sat on the bed, watching their standoff. They were clearly trying to insult each other while being unable to tear their eyes away from one another.
This is… it’s that thing!
The way they secretly care for each other yet deny it… there was a term for this, right? I thought hard, and then it hit me.
Yes! Denial of fangirling.
Looking again, it was clear. Neither could take their eyes off the other.
Definitely. Both were in denial about their feelings.
I covered my mouth with my hands, wishing I had popcorn and cola to enjoy this.
Both were handsome, really fun to watch. If only I could take a photo to preserve it… but no phone, argh!
I thought maybe I’d need to hire a skilled artist to capture it.
Then I noticed the dress I was wearing.
The one stained with blood—the one from the dinner I had attended.
I glanced at Mikhail—still staring at Cassian, not at me.
Yes, it was confirmed.
Cassian knew I was okay, but Mikhail still had all his attention on him.
Objectively, I had coughed up a huge amount of blood and hadn’t even received proper treatment.
Considering how worried Mikhail had been, maybe I needed to cause a little fuss to stay consistent with his previous behavior.
But Mikhail was entirely focused on Cassian despite me being covered in blood.
I was surprised. Even in a story with a fixed plot, things like this could happen.
Apparently, a striking beauty like Cassian could cause chaos anywhere.
This would definitely change the love dynamics with Ensou and Mikhail.
A strong internal conflict rose.
Ensou and Mikhail? Or Cassian and Mikhail?
Considering my human relationships, Cassian and Mikhail were the obvious choice. But according to the game, it was Ensou and Mikhail.
While weighing both, an old saying came to mind:
“Love must be won.”
No love is simply handed to you. Only those who fight and win can claim it.
I silently waved my imaginary cheer stick, rooting for Cassian.
Come on, Cassian! Soon Mikhail will admit he likes you too!
Even if the love partner switched from Ensou to Cassian, what does it matter?
The background is still Flower of Creras, and Cassian is just as dear to me as Ensou.
Squee! Amazing! Mikhail, you’re handsome! Cassian, you’re gorgeous!
