Chapter 64
“Tia! Are you okay?”
He’d thought she was an enemy and had grabbed his sword to strike. Her wrist—where she’d been holding on—must hurt a lot.
Startled, Killian dropped his sword and checked Tia’s wrist.
“Where does it hurt most? Tell me.”
“Killian? Is that you?”
Tia tried to pull the hood off his head with her free hand. Killian bent forward so she could take it off easily and apologized.
“Ah… I scared you because I was wearing the hood. Sorry, Tia.”
“How did you get here? Without so much as a notice. I thought you were a bad person.”
Killian was about to say he’d come to surprise her—he’d wanted to startle her a little—when he suddenly sat up and looked at her.
Tia furrowed her brow and cocked her head in confusion.
“If you thought I was a bad person you should’ve run away or screamed for the knights. Master, where are the other knights? Why aren’t they on guard? What are you doing out here alone!?”
Her heart thudded as she talked.
“Q-quiet, Killian. Everyone’s asleep.” Tia whispered.
“Then why is everyone sleeping at a time when they should be guarding the estate?”
Tia wrenched her hand free from his still-holding grip, rubbing her wrist as she scolded him.
“I said I needed to go in and rest for a bit. I wanted to walk alone.”
“You really—going out alone at night with no fear! At least wake up Adel!”
Killian ran a hand through his hair. He wanted to scratch, but it wouldn’t look cool, so he resisted.
“You were here, ta-da! Don’t be mad.”
Tia wrinkled her nose and closed her eyes, and Killian’s heart tightened. He felt embarrassingly flustered.
“…I’m not mad.”
“Yeah, I know. You were worried.” Tia poked his shoulder with her knuckle.
“You gave me a scare. If I’d actually attacked you… ah. Horrible…”
Killian buried his face in his hands. Tia stroked his hair.
“It’s fine. Nothing happened, so it’s okay. But how did you get here? Aren’t you hungry?”
“I rode from the domain. I’m fine, actually.”
He’d been on horseback for two days straight without even time to eat, but as the thought that he might have hurt Tia hit his mind, his appetite fell away.
“Really? You must be hungry. It’s quite a distance from the domain.”
“No.”
“Don’t be like that—stay here for a bit. I’ll go get bread and water.”
Tia insisted she was fine but hurried off.
“Phew—”
Watching her walk away, Killian let out a long breath.
Tiptoeing.
I grabbed orange juice, cool water, dinner rolls and strawberry jam from the kitchen, then popped a napkin in the basket and headed toward Killian.
My wrist still throbbed from when I’d been dragged along holding his sword, but the fact that my favorite had come here filled me with energy.
“Killian!”
I called quietly and he promptly came, taking the basket from my hands.
“I told you I’m okay.”
“‘Okay’ my foot. You must be hungry.”
Rumble.
Right on cue Killian’s stomach rumbled and I giggled.
“Stop laughing, Tia.”
He flushed with embarrassment.
What a rare sight! So delightful! I tried to hold back my laughter but he was too cute.
“I don’t want to eat,” he muttered.
“No, no. I’m sorry. I swear I won’t laugh. Eat quickly—do you want me to spread jam for you?”
“This jam is made from the strawberries we picked. Did I wash my hands clean? I carefully spread the jam on the bread and handed it to Killian.
“Thanks, Tia. I’ll eat well.”
“Yeah. Chew slowly. I’ll pour the orange juice too. This was made from oranges picked from the first tree.”
Killian munched and nodded.
“You should’ve come sooner. Adel went to bed early. The orange tree planting must’ve been tough.”
Honestly, I was a bit disappointed his name wasn’t on the sign earlier—that had kept me awake. Maybe that’s why I came out; I couldn’t shake the emptiness and somehow expected Killian to come.
I chattered while spreading jam; Killian polished off four rolls in no time, drank the orange juice, and then shook his head.
“I’m full, really.”
“Only four? Adel eats seven at dinner alone.”
“He… ah… anyway, I’m full, really.”
“If you say so.”
Before I could even tidy up, Killian neatly cleared everything away and offered me his hand.
“Huh?”
“Let me see your wrist again.”
“My wrist? I’m really fine. It doesn’t hurt at all.”
“Still… come on, Tia.”
“It’s not even visible, why bother—”
Reluctantly I held out my hand. Killian gently helped me to my feet and led me to the beach, lit by a bright moon.
“No bruises—thank goodness.”
“I said I’m fine.”
“But it must sting. When we get back to the palace, get checked. And put medicine on it.”
Under the bright moon and the shimmering sea, my favorite was worried for me… my heart pounded so wildly that I felt maybe I should get it checked after all.
Feeling exposed under his gaze, I started scanning Killian’s body.
“You’re worrying too much. Are you okay? Nothing happened at the domain? Oh! Looks like you got jam here. So messy.”
I wiped a red mark at his side, but—
“Ah.”
He flinched.
“Why? Ticklish? Stay still while I wipe the jam—”
That’s not jam.
I brought the sticky red smear on my hand close to my nose.
A metallic tang of blood hit my nostrils.
“T-Tia, wait a moment. Don’t do that.”
“This… this is blood, right?”
“It’s just a small cut.”
“It’s not small—show me.”
I pushed away Killian’s hand as he tried to stop me, and lifted his shirt slightly.
“Huh… it’s okay. It’s nothing serious.”
Killian exhaled.
Even in the moonlight, the claw-like scratch—like something from a beast—looked painful.
“Killian.”
“Tia…”
“You call that ‘nothing’? It’s still bleeding! You should’ve treated it back at the domain. Why come here? Skipping meals and all… When did you get hurt? You fuss so much about my wrist but hid your own injury so I couldn’t see?”
“Tia, it only grazed me lightly. It really doesn’t hurt at all. Honest.”
“Doesn’t hurt? It’s bleeding!”
I slapped his chest repeatedly.
“Ouch ouch. That hurt more. Tia’s hands are really harsh.”
“My hands hurt more, okay? When did you get so rugged?”
Killian looked at my hands.
“Really? Let me see. I’m sorry, Tia. I didn’t mean to—”
What is he even saying?
“Enough! Enough! Let go! Get me a bandage.”
“Tia, I’m really okay.”
“I’m not listening. Before I order you, let go of my hand and stand right here.”
I glared and demanded, and Killian puckered his lips and answered,
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Don’t say it so cute as if you’ll get away with it. Tsk!”
I glared at him, stomped, and headed back toward the villa.
“That fool—if you’re hurt why come here! Stubborn! Ugh, can’t live with him! If that wound leaves a scar! It’d be sexy, but—no, wait! Not that! But… his abs were fine earlier, right? Hah! Not that either!”
I grabbed the first-aid kit with emergency supplies and hurried back to the beach where Killian waited, eyebrows low, looking like a sad kitten.
I approached and, sounding like an order, said, “Take your shirt off, now.”
Hearing my own words made my cheeks tingle, but stay calm—I’m only performing medical treatment.
Killian unbuttoned his shirt and took it off clumsily.
Oh no. If his body is already perfect, what am I supposed to do?
Adel, wait. I’ll treat this so no scar remains. Enjoy later.
I slathered ointment on Killian’s wound and began wrapping bandages.
His torso was thick and wide; each time I wrapped, I nearly buried my face in his chest, but I clenched my jaw and endured.
Done with the turtle-neck treatment.
“Don’t go and get hurt anywhere else, seriously.”
“Okay, Tia. I’m sorry.”
“You can’t help getting hurt, but don’t hide it. If you hide it I won’t know and can’t treat you.”
“You want me to let you treat me when I get hurt?”
“I’ll do it. Who else would do it? Of course the duke’s house and the domain have doctors…”
“There aren’t any court physicians. And there won’t be one going forward.”
He probably shouldn’t have said that. Did I just promise something I might fail to keep…?
I looked away from Killian and said,
“Why’d you suddenly cut off a comfortable physician’s livelihood? I mean—just saying. In situations like this I’ll do it.”
“Oh… only in unavoidable situations?”
What’s with that disappointed tone?
But thinking about it, it made sense. Ever since we were kids I’d been basically his guardian.
So I made a promise again.
“…Even if it’s not an unavoidable situation, if you want, I’ll do it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. So try not to get hurt, and if you do, don’t hide it, okay?”
“Okay. Of course, Tia.”
Killian smiled brighter than the moon.
Phew… is this okay…?
Regret washed over me, but it was too late.
