Chapter 78
In His Palace
“Huh?”
When Tervan suddenly lifted her into his arms, Ellua couldn’t help but be startled.
And then their eyes met as he looked down at her.
“What are you doing right now?”
“I figured you wouldn’t listen if I just said it.”
“No, I—”
When Ellua tried to get down, Tervan only tightened his hold on her and started walking in the opposite direction she had been going.
“Wait a moment. Where are you taking me?”
“Treatment comes first. We’ll talk afterward.”
Tervan’s gaze was fixed straight ahead, as if refusing any more protest.
Realizing she couldn’t resist him, Ellua stopped struggling and instead wrapped her arms around his neck.
Borens, who had been waiting outside for her, was taken aback when he saw Ellua carried out in Tervan’s arms.
“Your Highness?”
But the answer came from Tervan.
“I’m taking her to receive treatment. Follow us.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Borens quickly composed himself and trailed silently behind them.
As Ellua watched Tervan stride forward, carrying her with ease, she noticed with a jolt that some of her blood had smeared onto his neck.
When did that happen?
She gently rubbed his neck with her clean hand to wipe it away, and Tervan suddenly froze mid-step.
When he lowered his head to look at her, Ellua’s eyes asked why.
“Why did you stop so suddenly?”
“You really don’t know?”
His eyes drifted down to the fingers that were rubbing his neck.
“Oh, it’s just… my blood got on you, so I was wiping it off.”
Unaware of how that ticklish touch made him flinch, Ellua only looked apologetic.
“It probably got on your clothes, too. If I walk on my own—”
But as soon as she began insisting again, Tervan resumed walking, ignoring her protests.
Defeated by his firmness, Ellua finally gave up, tightened her arms around his neck, and leaned against him.
I don’t even know anymore.
She felt the warmth of his embrace, yet the situation itself was surreal. Normally, it should have been Chenille he would have rushed to.
“Why did you come to me, really?”
Even though Ellua’s voice was clear, Tervan gave no answer.
I don’t know either.
No—he couldn’t answer, because he didn’t even know himself.
The sight of Ellua, looking as though she might collapse at any moment, had made his body move on its own. In that instant, nothing else entered his mind.
Soon, they arrived at Tervan’s own palace.
From the moment he carried her inside, Ellua could feel the curious stares and wished she could just disappear.
She buried her face against his chest out of embarrassment, and his quiet chuckle reached her.
“Hiding won’t make anyone forget you’re the princess.”
“You’re teasing me, aren’t you? I’m sure before the day is over, rumors will spread beyond the palace. Why here of all places?”
“Because it was closer than your quarters. And besides, you never seemed like the type to care about such things. Am I wrong?”
“I don’t avoid things because I’m scared. I avoid them because they’re a hassle.”
Her blunt honesty made Tervan think, That’s just like her, as he stepped into an empty room and gently laid her on the bed.
When she shifted her body, pain flared through her injured parts again.
“Ah…”
“Falling from a galloping horse—what’s strange is if it didn’t hurt.”
“I know that much myself.”
She was about to argue further when the chamberlain burst in, flustered.
“Your Majesty?”
“Bring the court physician here.”
“In the meantime, I’ll fetch a change of clothes.”
As the chamberlain and Borens hurried out, Ellua cautiously moved her arm.
“It doesn’t feel broken. Probably just from the impact.”
Which meant training would be impossible for a while.
“How could you even think to throw yourself like that in the moment?”
“How could I not? Something terrible could’ve happened. If not me, Harris would have been badly injured. Better me than her.”
Hearing her willingness to take the injury upon herself stirred something heavy inside Tervan.
“You are a princess. Anyone else would’ve chosen to run away in that situation.”
“But I don’t regret it. Even if I could turn back time, I’d do it again.”
Was she foolish, or simply too kind?
Why did she insist on bearing every danger alone, instead of leaning on someone?
Tervan sat beside her and tilted her face toward him.
There were scratches on her face as well, standing out starkly against her pale skin.
When his fingers brushed a cut, Ellua flinched at the sting.
“It hurts.”
“And yet you claim falling off a horse was fine?”
His voice carried both exasperation and frustration.
“I really am fine.”
“That’s enough. From now on, you’re forbidden from saying you’re ‘fine.’ You always say you’re fine when you’re hurt, fine when you’re misunderstood…”
He’s too close.
The air grew taut as the distance between them shrank—until a knock broke the moment.
“Your Majesty, I’ve brought the physician.”
Ellua quickly pulled back, and Tervan also released her, rising from the bed.
“Come in.”
The physician who entered was Wontil, with Borens behind him.
“I greet His Majesty.”
“Treat the princess.”
Already briefed on the situation, Wontil sat by her bedside with a worried expression.
“I heard you fell from a running horse.”
“It’s nothing serious.”
“That’s for me to decide.”
Wontil became stern in matters of injury. For proper treatment, he addressed Tervan with formal politeness.
“May I ask Your Majesty to step outside? She will need to remove her clothes for examination.”
For once caught off guard, Tervan quickly left the room.
Then Wontil turned to Ellua.
“Shall we remove your clothing for treatment?”
With Borens’ help, Ellua took off her outer garments, revealing the white shirt beneath, stained deep red with blood.
Wontil’s brows furrowed.
When she removed the shirt completely, the bruises and wounds from impact and tumbling were revealed—especially severe on her right arm and shoulder.
Borens, pained by the sight, couldn’t bring himself to watch.
“You must’ve been in terrible pain.”
“It was bearable. I could still move.”
Wontil carefully cleaned, disinfected, and dressed the wounds, bandaging the right arm and shoulder. He also applied ointment to the cuts on her face and elsewhere.
“I’ll prescribe medicine to take after meals. But you mustn’t use your right arm or shoulder for now—and of course, no training.”
“I suppose I’ll have to.”
After finishing, as Ellua hastily draped her clothes back over herself, Wontil’s worried voice followed.
“It seems ever since you came here, you’ve suffered too many injuries.”
“Not by intention. Please, keep this between us. I don’t want everyone at the palace worrying.”
“I can’t promise it will stay a secret forever.”
He glanced at Borens as he said so.
“As long as you don’t say anything, it’ll be fine. I may be foolish, but I don’t want to cause grief for those around me.”
Am I truly foolish? To harbor such feelings for someone so far above me…
At those words, Wontil dropped the medicine container in surprise, the loud clatter startling Ellua.
When she tried to move, he quickly stopped her.
“Stay still. It’s nothing.”
He hurriedly gathered the scattered medicines. Old memories he had long tried to bury resurfaced—the pleading voice of someone who had once begged him to keep a secret.
“I’ll be going now. Please remember: no overexertion.”
He left the room, pausing by the closed door.
“It’s been so long since I thought of her.”
He had avoided the memory, because Elle’s death had been too painful.
The princess reminds me so much of her.
But he shook his head.
“No… impossible. I must be getting old.”
“Is the treatment finished?”
Tervan, now changed, approached him at once.
“Yes. The injuries are serious enough that she must be careful moving. That way, she’ll heal faster.”
Wontil pushed away his thoughts, telling himself firmly it was only an illusion.
Meanwhile, Harris and Cheilen walked toward the carriage waiting to take them back to the Marquis’ estate.
Unlike when they were with Ellua, silence hung heavy between them. Cheilen was still furious over her injury.
The memory of watching helplessly as she plummeted made his heart pound with dread. He remembered how he had run to her without hesitation.
Lost in thought, he only stopped when Harris called out to him.
“Duke.”
He turned back to see Harris lagging behind, calling to him.
“Could you slow down a bit? It’s hard for me to keep up right now.”
Realizing he hadn’t considered her struggle, Cheilen returned to her side.
“My apologies. I was distracted.”
“I understand. I imagine you were thinking the same thing as me.”
This time, he adjusted his pace to hers.
“If you’re busy, you can go ahead.”
“I could. But Ellua asked me personally, so I’ll see you home.”
Even with her beside him, his tone carried clear annoyance—and Harris, too, didn’t bother to hide it.
“I just hope no one sees us like this.”
“Tomorrow, the palace will already be buzzing with talk of what happened earlier. No need to worry.”
“Then I suppose that’s a relief.”
She glanced up at him, studying his hair, his eyes, then spoke bluntly as was her nature.
“You like Ellua, don’t you, Duke?”
Cheilen froze mid-step, turning to her. His gaze wavered visibly, making Harris laugh softly.
“You look too surprised.”
He resumed walking, feigning indifference.
“Not really.”
“But you didn’t deny liking her.”
“You seem to be enjoying this far too much.”
“Other people’s romances are always fun to watch.”
At that, Cheilen gave a helpless chuckle.
As he had first suspected, she was candid and unrestrained even with him. It was oddly comfortable.
“So, what exactly are you trying to say?”
“Nothing in particular. I don’t intend to interfere. I just plan to enjoy watching.”
Her amused expression told him she genuinely looked forward to it. Cheilen resigned himself—there was no stopping her.
So she really is Ellua’s friend. Quite a remarkable one, in her own way.
Somehow, he felt as though he’d been caught by yet another formidable person.
