Chapter 79
“Oh dear. That was almost very dangerous, Lady Servita.”
“……”
“At least it ended at this level.”
Julius spoke as he approached us after roughly taking control of the situation.
Unlike us—still trembling with unease—his voice remained calm, almost indifferent.
Reacting to his voice, I slipped slightly out of Ethan’s arms and turned my gaze toward Julius.
Ethan tried to hold on to me in that brief moment, but I deliberately pulled away from his grasp.
“What did you just say…?”
Already overwhelmed as I was, Julius’s characteristically light tone grated on my nerves.
Normally, I thought of his voice as relaxed and gentle—but now, it felt different.
Rather than genuinely worrying about Ethan or me, it almost seemed like he was enjoying the situation.
“Why are you so startled? If Grand Duke Clovis hadn’t blocked it, you would have been in real danger.”
“Is that really something you should be saying right now?! Ethan was injured because of me!”
“Pull yourself together, Lady Servita.”
This was the first time I’d heard Julius’s gentle voice turn so cold.
I flinched without realizing it, my body shrinking back—but I didn’t retreat completely from him.
“If Grand Duke Clovis hadn’t intervened, you wouldn’t be standing here alive.”
“What are you even—!”
“That’s enough, Eunice.”
Just as I was about to snap back, a voice sunk unbearably low called my name.
I reacted instinctively, turning around at once—only for Ethan to pull me tightly into his arms, as if he’d been waiting for that moment.
Held securely against him, I finally looked up and checked his condition properly.
“Ethan—Ethan. Are you okay? Does it hurt? Tell me.”
“…I’m fine. I’m fine, so calm down.”
“What do you mean you’re fine?! I can hear your voice shaking!”
“Don’t worry about that. More importantly—”
Ethan cut me off firmly, his gaze dropping to my leg.
He frowned when he saw the wound, where fresh blood was still seeping out.
Seeing that expression made my chest feel tight for no reason.
“Who’s checking whose injuries right now?! Do you know who’s actually in danger here?!”
“You look far more dangerous to me. You look like you’d collapse if someone poked you, and you’re injured like this.”
“Your wound is worse! Honestly, Ethan—you’re so reckless!”
My vision blurred as tears welled up, and I quickly turned my head away from him.
But Ethan didn’t miss that fleeting moment.
“…Are you crying?”
“W-Who says I’m crying?! Why would I cry because of you—!”
Despite my bold words, I kept my head lowered, avoiding his gaze.
A low chuckle fell over my head.
“I threw myself in to save you, and now you’re hiding your face like that. Lift your head.”
“……”
“Look at me, Eunice.”
I had bowed my head to avoid his infuriating face—but as his voice grew heavier, I couldn’t ignore him anymore.
In the end, I rolled my eyes nervously and lifted my head slightly.
Ethan grinned as if he’d been waiting for it, the corners of his lips lifting with ease.
Just moments ago, he’d been so dangerously unstable that he scared me half to death.
Now he looked like he’d fully regained his usual composure.
It was annoying—yet also a relief.
As if unaware of my conflicted feelings, Ethan stared at me for a moment before lifting his weakened hand and brushing beneath my eye.
His thick fingers came away faintly damp.
“I’m the one who got attacked—so why are you crying?”
“……”
“I’m the one worrying myself sick over your injury. So why are you the one crying? You’re making me anxious.”
His voice was as blunt as ever, but I knew the concern beneath it was real.
Maybe that was why—
The feelings I’d been desperately holding back slipped out.
“…I was worried. I thought something might really happen to you.”
“If I were going to die from a scratch like this, I’d have died long ago. Did you really think I was that weak?”
“That’s not what I meant! I just… I thought you were really going to break apart…”
When I confessed honestly, Ethan smiled in clear satisfaction and ruffled my hair playfully.
The tension that had hung so dangerously began to ease—just for a moment.
“Well, I think I’ve waited long enough now.”
“……!”
Startled by the voice that cut in, I flinched and pulled away from Ethan’s arms.
But since he didn’t completely let go, I merely leaned against him as I turned around.
As if he’d expected this, Julius approached smoothly.
“You should receive treatment now, Lady Servita. At this rate, it could truly become dangerous.”
“…Yes.”
My reply came a little late.
I could no longer look at Julius the way I used to.
His cynical expression from earlier lingered in my mind—perhaps that was his true nature.
Even so, he was the only one who could help us right now.
“…Please treat Ethan first, Your Highness. I’m fine.”
“That’s impossible. The Grand Duke’s mana and mine are incompatible. If I interfere, it may have the opposite effect.”
“He’s right, Eunice. Treat your wound first. You’ll collapse from blood loss at this rate.”
“Pfft. It’s just a small wound—ugh!”
As I grumbled, Ethan lightly grasped my hand.
“After you’re treated, you’ll treat me yourself.”
“That settles it, then. Please come this way, my lady.”
As if he’d been waiting for Ethan to finish speaking, Julius quickly extended his hand toward me.
For some reason, I hesitated to take it.
Yet Julius’s hand was the only thing I could rely on right now.
Caught between hesitation and necessity, I looked up at Ethan.
Though clearly displeased, he reluctantly let me go.
When I carefully stepped toward Julius, Ethan positioned himself behind me as if guarding my back.
Despite having pressed me so coldly earlier, Julius now wore his usual gentle smile.
The chill that didn’t suit him surfaced again—but I forced myself to ignore it.
“I wouldn’t call this treatment—just emergency measures. I’ll help you endure until we can leave this place.”
“Please, Your Highness.”
I tried to sound composed, but my lowered hand trembled uncontrollably.
I didn’t even know why I felt so uneasy—only that I couldn’t stop shaking.
Then—
Tap.
“…Ah.”
A steady hand caught my wrist.
Before I could even turn my head, a low voice brushed against my ear.
“Don’t shake, Eunice.”
I didn’t know why those brief, indifferent words felt so reassuring.
As if he knew exactly what I was feeling, Ethan held my hand firmly and wrapped his arms around me from behind.
Watching us, Julius merely smiled faintly.
“Very well. Grand Duke Clovis, please hold onto Lady Servita firmly. Seeing her shake like that is unsettling even for me.”
Just as I was thinking how cold his voice sounded, Julius continued.
“I’ll let my mana flow into Lady Servita to temporarily suppress the wound.”
“…Mana?”
The unexpected method startled me.
The thought of accepting Julius’s mana made me feel vaguely uncomfortable.
“What’s wrong, my lady?”
“…It’s nothing.”
There was no other choice but to accept his help.
“It won’t take long, so there’s no need to be afraid. However…”
Mid-sentence, Julius suddenly trailed off and shifted his gaze.
Following his eyes, I finally understood why he hesitated.
The wound was on my leg.
“…This is a bit troublesome.”
It wouldn’t do to make the empire’s only crown prince kneel—so it made sense for me to lower myself instead.
“Then I’ll—ugh!”
Just as I moved to lower my body, I was suddenly lifted into the air.
My vision flipped, making me dizzy.
Startled, I curled in on myself—only to be caught securely in someone’s arms.
“E-Ethan!”
“This should make it easier for His Highness to treat you.”
Ethan had lifted me effortlessly into his arms.
Once the unstable mana settled, his grip felt even more solid.
But remembering that he was injured—far worse than I was—I panicked and tried to stop him.
“What are you doing?! Put me down! You’re badly hurt too!”
“I’m not letting you lower yourself beneath that guy.”
“What are you—”
“So stay still. You’ll only make it harder if you struggle.”
“Ethan!”
I tried to push against his chest, but he didn’t budge.
Julius approached, looking as if he were quite used to Ethan’s stubbornness.
“Who could possibly overcome the Grand Duke’s will? This makes channeling mana easier, at least.”
“….”
“Please stay still.”
Julius placed his mana-infused hand over my wound.
As his mana flowed in, a sharp, stinging sensation pierced me.
“Ugh!”
Startled by the pain, I flinched and tensed up.
Ethan pulled me closer, gently patting my back as if to soothe me.
It felt like he was calming me down—and without realizing it, I buried myself deeper into his embrace.
“Oh dear. It seems the mana was a bit too strong. My apologies, my lady. How is it now?”
“…It’s better than before.”
“Can you try standing?”
Instead of answering Julius, I looked up at Ethan.
He nodded and carefully lowered me back onto the ground.
The throbbing pain was still there—but manageable.
“I think I can endure it. Thank you, Your Highness.”
“That’s a relief. Then we should treat the Grand Duke next and leave quickly. Though things are mostly settled, we don’t know when another attack might come.”
With that, Julius cleanly withdrew his gaze, as if he were finished with us.
Once he did, I looked at Ethan more comfortably.
Despite his deep wound, his expression was calm.
“Are you okay now, Ethan?”
The question carried more than one meaning.
Ethan seemed to understand and smiled coolly.
“I am. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to look at you this calmly.”
“…You’re teasing even now.”
I scolded him lightly and pouted without a word.
Ethan stayed silent too.
But the look in his eyes—was unmistakably yearning.
I understood immediately.
“…Fine.”
“…?”
“You want me to treat you already, don’t you?”
“What?”
“That’s why you’re staring at me so desperately.”
“…Hah.”
Ethan let out a heavy sigh.
It didn’t seem like it was from pain—but from frustration.
“Yeah. I’m about to die from the pain, so hurry up and treat me.”
Muttering impatiently, he grabbed my hand and pulled me closer, firmly wrapping an arm around my waist.
The unusually lingering touch made me flustered, and I darted my eyes away.
“H-Hey… if you come that close all of a sudden…”
“That close?”
“…It’s embarrassing.”
“Is it? Too bad.”
“…?”
“I got hurt saving you. Don’t you think I deserve at least this much?”
…He really had a talent for leaving me speechless.
In the end, still held in his arms, I awkwardly clasped his right hand.
Soon, blue mana bloomed from my palm and flowed along his arm.
Yet Ethan showed no immediate reaction.
Is he just enduring it… or is Julius…?
Just as an uneasy thought crept in—
“Don’t think about another guy while you’re in my arms.”
Ethan’s cool voice snapped me back to reality.
As the blue mana seeped in, his expression gradually relaxed.
Not only did it suppress the wound, but it also seemed to calm his unstable mana.
“Haah…”
“Do you feel better now?”
“You’re pretty good at this. Much better.”
Ethan didn’t hold back his praise—rare for him.
Stepping out of his arms naturally, I grinned at him.
The lingering anxiety finally melted away.
Yeah… I must’ve been overthinking.
I smiled bitterly to myself.
Having barely escaped a dangerous situation, we knew we had to leave quickly.
But contrary to our expectations, there was no progress.
Because—
“Um… how long are you two planning to keep this up?”
Ethan and Julius were, quite deliberately, locked in a silent standoff—with me stuck right between them.
