Chapter 53
You’re My Savior! (2)
‘So that’s why he told me to ask for help if I needed it? But how did he know?’
After trying to move her legs a few times, Elluciana let out a quiet sigh. She wasn’t sure what had happened, but it felt like her legs didn’t belong to her. Just as he had said, she probably wouldn’t even be able to take a single step on her own.
‘It’s not like I’ve been cursed… Wait, could it really be magic?!’
There was no other logical explanation she could think of. But still, why would the Grand Duke bother pulling a cheap trick like that?
‘No, that’s a stretch. Sometimes your legs just go numb from standing too long, or stiffen up and refuse to move… That’s all it is.’
Watching the Grand Duke for a moment, Elluciana carefully opened her mouth.
“Um, Your Grace? Could I… just stay standing?”
“Are you hoping I’ll feel guilty?”
“N-no, I didn’t mean it like that…”
“Then please sit on the sofa, Elluciana. It makes me uncomfortable otherwise.”
His firm response left her momentarily speechless. He said it was out of concern, but the pressure of refusing him felt overwhelming.
With no other choice, Elluciana had to plead softly.
“Your Grace… I’m sorry, but… could you please help me?”
Aster let out a short laugh and answered as if it were nothing.
“Shall I support you?”
Elluciana’s face stiffened at his words.
‘So he knew. He knew I wouldn’t be able to move.’
Hiding her thoughts, she nodded obediently.
“…Yes. For some reason, my feet won’t budge at all.”
“That happens sometimes if you’ve been standing too long. I’m not in the best health, so even a bit of strain makes me go stiff, almost like I’m paralyzed.”
“Oh…”
Memories of the previous day flashed through Elluciana’s mind. Could it be that the reason he was shouting her name so desperately in that room… was because he couldn’t move?
With that realization, the guilt she had tried to suppress came rushing back.
“Here. Take my hand.”
Aster had stood up and was now holding his hand out to her.
“I’m sorry to be such a bother, Your Grace.”
“What a funny thing to say, Elluciana. You helped me first, didn’t you?”
As he spoke, Aster reached out and gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder. His hand was larger than she had expected, and the moment it touched her, she flinched.
‘…Why does this feel so strange?’
Focusing on her trembling shoulders, Elluciana sneaked a glance at the Grand Duke beside her.
She hadn’t noticed while he was sitting, but now that he stood beside her, he seemed to tower over her by at least a head or two.
And his arms—
‘I thought he’d be thin, but he’s surprisingly solid.’
Realizing she was admiring him, her ears flushed red with embarrassment.
“Don’t keep your distance—lean on me.”
“Ahem. Yes. Um, could I ask you to speak casually? I’m just a lady-in-waiting, and Your Grace being so formal is a little uncomfortable.”
“I’ll work on it. I’m just not used to informal speech.”
Elluciana tilted her head in confusion.
‘Huh? Didn’t he speak informally to the butler?’
At that moment, Aster pulled her closer, his hand drawing her shoulder in tightly.
“Shall we try walking?”
“Ah, y-yes!”
Following his lead, she cautiously lifted one foot. Thankfully, it moved without issue. But no matter how hard she tried, the other foot wouldn’t budge.
“How is it?”
“I… it won’t move.”
It was like something out of a horror story.
‘Seriously, why won’t my foot move? Did someone glue it to the floor or something?’
As she struggled, Aster gently patted her shoulder in reassurance.
“If it’s too hard, you don’t need to force it. You don’t have to walk on your own.”
“What do you mean, I don’t have to walk—”
Before she could finish, his familiar red eyes softened with warmth, a golden ring shimmering within them.
“I mean it literally, Elluciana.”
“…What?”
Just as she blinked in confusion, Aster suddenly bent down and slid one hand behind her knees.
And then—he effortlessly lifted her into his arms.
“Kyah!”
She let out a shrill scream, her arms flailing in the air. But instinct kicked in before her mind could catch up—her hands clenched tight.
Like a reflex born from pure instinct, her fist swung.
Whack!
In the next instant, a loud impact rang out as Aster’s body tilted violently.
Aster gently rubbed his throbbing cheekbone. Just touching it sent a dull, stinging pain through his face.
He wondered if it might have fractured.
‘Well… maybe this worked out.’
Knowing how much she worried, she’d probably focus entirely on him until the bruise healed.
Though his plan to bind her perfectly fine legs with magic and use that as an excuse to indulge himself had clearly failed… it didn’t feel like a total loss.
After all, she was the type to feel deeply for the weak and helpless.
If he acted hurt and needy, she’d fall over herself trying to help.
“Ah! Your Grace! A-are you alright?”
“I’m… alright.”
“But you hit your head on the floor! I heard the sound—it was loud! Are you sure nothing’s broken?”
“My cheek hurts more than my head, actually.”
“Oh no! Your cheek—it’s swollen!”
Panic spread across Elluciana’s face.
No wonder—she had not only punched the Grand Duke mid–“princess carry,” but had also thrown her entire body weight on top of him.
He had collapsed like a stiff tree trunk, hitting both the back of his head and his cheekbone hard enough to briefly lose consciousness.
It was hard to believe a frail man like him could walk away from that unscathed.
“My head’s fine. I think my back hit the ground first, thankfully.”
“Really? Whew—that’s a relief. Still, please lie on the sofa. I’ll bring a physician.”
Just as Elluciana sighed in relief and turned—
“…Ugh.”
Startled by his sudden groan, she rushed back to his side.
“Y-Your Grace?!”
Deep lines of pain formed on Aster’s brow. He was clearly forcing himself to endure it, and the sight made her heart drop.
‘See? Of course he’s not okay! He even lost consciousness for a moment—how could he be fine?!’
Her job was to support him, but she had ended up putting him in danger. Elluciana cursed her own carelessness and began to rise—but Aster caught her wrist.
“There’s no need for a physician. I know my body best. It’s just a minor bruise.”
Despite his calm smile, Elluciana felt a surge of anger.
Astein had said the exact same thing before he vanished years ago.
‘Don’t worry, Lucy. I’ll be fine. I know my body better than anyone.’
As if saying that could make the pain disappear.
Why were they always so stubborn about the wrong things?
“I’m sorry, but I will call the physician, Your Grace. At the very least, you need some medicine. Supporting Your Grace is my duty.”
Her tone sharp, Elluciana pulled back, and Aster reluctantly released her wrist.
“…I already have some ointment. It’s quite effective. If I apply that, I should be fine.”
She had planned to ignore him and call the doctor anyway, but the mention of “effective ointment” piqued her curiosity.
She suddenly remembered the special ointment used in the temple when she was young.
“Where is it?”
“In the desk drawer.”
Elluciana made her way to his desk.
“It should be in the right drawer, all the way in the back.”
She pulled the drawer open fully and reached her hand into the far back.
Her fingers found something round, and she pulled it out immediately.
A palm-sized blue container.
‘It really is the special ointment!’
Nostalgia washed over her as she brushed her hand over the smooth surface. She remembered how her eyes had swollen shut after being struck by Astein. This was the same ointment she had used back then.
Even the physician had admitted that there was no better treatment than the temple’s salve.
“I got it from the temple. It’s quite rare, apparently.”
“If it’s from the temple, then we probably don’t need a doctor after all.”
Elluciana sat gently beside Aster and said,
“I’ll apply it for you.”
“…Then, please.”
She bowed her head slightly and opened the blue container. Picking up the small spatula attached to the lid, she scooped out a generous amount of the thick white balm.
As she held it in front of him, Aster’s body suddenly flinched.
