Chapter 99
“Why Is He Sick?”
“Normally, the royal family’s Swordmaster receives two sword auras, but… one of mine disappeared.”
“……”
“I only received one aura. They’re still investigating it in Ignis, but so far there’s no clue. A strange thing indeed…”
Wasn’t this royal family confidential?
Was I even supposed to be hearing this?
Still, I was a capable knight, so I didn’t show my surprise. I simply answered calmly, “I see.”
The prince kept talking, drifting between trivial matters and state secrets, until finally, drunk, he nodded off to sleep.
I asked his guards to watch over him, then stepped outside to get some air and prepare myself.
It seemed I had heard something important—but another matter weighed heavier on my mind.
“There’s still some time before the concert begins.”
If the prince didn’t wake up by then, I could just watch it alone. That would truly be a “solo performance.”
“That wouldn’t be so bad either.”
Standing on the street, I looked at the concert hall. Soon, I would see Wilderness Era perform. My heart swelled with anticipation.
“Serdin Vivi?”
I turned at the familiar voice.
“Senior Simon?”
“I heard from Enia. You’re meeting Prince Ellus today, right?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Oh? His Highness? Where is he now?”
“He’s sleeping inside the mansion. I plan to wake him around the concert time.”
“I see.”
Simon nodded. Then he said something completely unexpected.
“By the way, Serdin Vivi… it’s strange, but Roitz is sick.”
“What? The Commander is sick?”
Roitz?
No—that couldn’t be. Roitz wasn’t someone who got sick.
He was like a man made of iron. No matter how cold it was, he never needed extra clothing. He could care for someone bedridden all day without catching anything himself. That was Roitz.
“You’re joking. For a second, you really scared me.”
“I’m not joking.”
“He’s really sick?”
“Yes. Haven’t you heard?”
Simon looked slightly offended.
“Do I seem like the kind of man who lies about things like that?”
“It’s just… it doesn’t make sense. The Commander, sick? That iron man?”
“I couldn’t believe it either, but it’s true. He’s in terrible condition. He looked like he was dying.”
Simon explained that he and Enia had visited, but now Roitz was alone.
After that, he chatted a little about himself, asked me a few questions, then left.
“……”
At that moment, the prince finally returned, looking a little pale from his nap.
“Sir Vivi, let’s go.”
I followed him toward the concert hall.
“Roitz is sick…?”
The Roitz who had always been the strongest man in the world.
Even when I, who rarely fell ill, caught a cold, he was perfectly fine—as if made of steel.
Even when he gave me all his own things to keep me warm in the freezing cold, Roitz himself never faltered.
And now… Roitz is sick?
“Sir Vivi, what’s wrong?”
“Huh?”
We were already approaching the concert hall, walking up the carpeted stairs.
“This is no ordinary matter.”
At that moment, my head should have been full of thoughts about the Wilderness Era.
I should have been filled with joy, looking forward only to the concert waiting for me inside.
That was the natural thing to feel.
But instead…
“Your Highness.”
I stopped walking.
“Forgive me, but I…”
The fact that I wasn’t feeling what I should meant only one thing:
“I must have gone insane.”
From outside the residence, someone rang the bell.
Roitz ignored it the first time, glanced toward the window the second, and only on the third ring did he finally get up.
…Who is it.
He wasn’t in the mood to meet anyone.
“Prince Ellus personally went to find Serdin.”
A prince rarely visited someone just to invite them for a meal. And more than that—
Yesterday, when Roitz had dragged his aching body to the palace to make his report…
“Sir Velkyrente, you have a fine knight in Elche. She even watched the final firework with me.”
What? She watched the fireworks with him?
Even in front of the prince, Roitz couldn’t hide his expression then.
And now, alone in his residence, sick and weary—how could he control himself?
Not only was Serdin on his mind, but his illness made it even harder to keep his face in check.
Normally, Roitz was composed and gentlemanly. But now, all of his raw emotions showed plainly.
Whoever came to see him at this time would have to understand his cold and irritable mood.
Deng, deng.
By the fifth chime, Roitz dragged his heavy body to the door. When the ringing stopped, the visitor began to knock.
Who on earth…
Then, suddenly, he realized the sound was familiar.
It was the same knock he heard so often at his office—the sound of Serdin’s fist.
“Not home?”
Her voice outside confirmed his instinct.
As her footsteps turned away, Roitz threw the door open.
“There you are, Commander.”
Serdin turned back at once. Her casual voice fell sweeter than he could believe.
Am I mad? Am I hallucinating?
He wiped at his eyes, unable to believe Serdin—who should have been on her “date” with the prince—was really here.
“Are you crying? Are you very sick?”
Serdin came closer, checking his face. Roitz just stared at her, not stepping back.
He was feverish, sick, every raw emotion plain on his face. But he didn’t care.
“Commander?”
“You… why are you here…”
“Ah, actually—”
“No, don’t answer. Come inside first.”
Only when Serdin stepped through the entrance did he realize he had pulled at her sleeve.
She looked a little surprised, but followed without complaint.
“It’s so strange, Commander, seeing you sick. I was shocked.”
“Is it that surprising?”
“Of course! Since Yudelrn, you’ve worked like you had five bodies, and I never once saw you sick. And now, the flu? This is rare.”
“So you came just to see this rare sight?”
“That’s part of it, sure.”
Chattering playfully, Serdin followed him straight into the bedroom.
Roitz didn’t stop her. He told himself: I’m sick. A sick man should go to bed. She just happens to be coming along.
“Lie down, Commander.”
Serdin jerked her chin toward the bed.
Only then did Roitz notice she was carrying a bundle.
As he kept staring at it, Serdin tapped the bed, urging him.
“What are you doing? Sick people should rest right away.”
“…Alright.”
Roitz obeyed her words as if they were law.
Serdin pulled a chair to the bedside and sat, unwrapping the bundle on the table.
When she glanced back suddenly, Roitz realized he had been staring at her and quickly looked away.
“It’s nothing strange. It’s medicine for the flu.”
She chattered about where she got it, what it was good for. Listening to her, Roitz found himself smiling.
“Why are you smiling?”
“No reason.”
“Tell me.”
“Didn’t you have an appointment with the prince today?”
“No, it wasn’t postponed.”
“What? Then how are you here—”
“Because I left His Highness and came here. That’s why you have to get better today, alright?”
She left the prince for me?
Why?
“Alright, you hear me?”
Serdin pressed him sternly, snapping Roitz out of his shock.
“…Yes.”
He nodded.
Serdin poured a thick liquid from a jar into a small bowl, then handed it to him with a spoon.
“This works wonders for the flu. Drink it all.”
“…Fine, I’ll drink it all.”
“What are you waiting for? Take it.”
She put the bowl and spoon firmly into his hands.
Her casual yet careful manner made Roitz grip it tightly.
“Why are you sick?”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly that. Why are you sick?”
“Is there ever a reason for being sick?”
“Of course. You wouldn’t know since you never get sick.”
Serdin tapped the bowl as if telling him to hurry.
When Roitz finally began to drink, she rested her chin on her hand, watching him.
“That day, you jumped into the sea. That’s why you’re sick, isn’t it?”
“No.”
Her lips tightened, as if ready to say “Yes, it is.”
But instead, she just watched him quietly. Then she stood.
Was she leaving?
“Make sure you finish it all, okay?”
She emphasized again, picked up her bundle, and looked down at him before turning away.
“I’ll get going now.”
So she was leaving.
Watching her back, Roitz thought of what he had felt earlier at the door—
When he first saw Serdin there, he thought he must have gone mad. That he was hallucinating.
But it wasn’t an illusion. She had really come, and she was standing here before him.
Even so, he realized—he truly had gone mad.
“…What is it?”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have grabbed her hand as she turned to leave.
“Don’t go.”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said those words with that expression.
