Chapter 84
“Go wash up.”
Instinctively, I turned my head toward him.
Our eyes met as Calliere leaned close beside my right ear.
“Th-that… what do you mean…?”
“I didn’t ask you to let me sleep here just so I could lie in the dust.”
Trying to avoid his gaze, my eyes ended up scanning him instead.
The faint scent of soap lingered from his bath, his damp hair clung softly, and his flushed cheeks—whether from heat or something else—made my own face grow hot.
“Heat…?”
Without thinking, I reached out and pressed my hand to his forehead.
Calliere frowned at the sudden touch.
“Rebellia?”
“You—you have a fever.”
He gently removed my hand.
“It’s not a fever. Your hand is just cold—”
“No, there’s definitely a fever.”
I cupped his cheeks firmly with both hands and pressed my forehead against his.
Closing my eyes, I focused—and yes, I could feel a faint heat.
“You do. A mild fever.”
I opened my eyes again and saw his face right in front of me, startled.
So close, our noses nearly brushed.
I tried to back away, but his hand was still braced against the door, trapping me in place.
My eyes darted nervously—and I noticed his ears had turned red.
Strangely, that sight melted the heavy tension inside me.
I let out a small laugh.
“…Why are you laughing?” he asked, squinting at me.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Well… I just always thought Your Grace could handle anything with ease. But just now… you looked flustered.”
“….”
“I guess that’s why I laughed without meaning to.”
He gave a short laugh of his own.
“I didn’t know I could get this flustered. Seems I like you more than I realized.”
His answer stunned me, my eyes wide.
I couldn’t even speak, only blink rapidly. He straightened, pulling his hand away from the door.
“So you’ll sleep here tonight.”
“What?”
“I’ll take the first floor.”
He turned the doorknob and opened the door.
“….”
I quickly pushed it shut again with both hands.
He blinked in surprise. I frowned at him.
“You’re really going downstairs? Did you forget what I said? You have a fever!”
“It’s nothing serious.”
“No, absolutely not! You must sleep here.”
I shoved his hand off the knob and squeezed myself inside the room, glaring.
“Illness only gets worse when you let your guard down. You must sleep here.”
“Rebellia, don’t make me into a man too weak to even keep his own room.”
“Then don’t make me into someone heartless enough to steal a bed from a sick man!”
Our eyes locked stubbornly.
“…Really?” I pouted.
Calliere’s lips curved playfully.
“Rebellia. I already gave you a way to solve this.”
“…When?”
His earlier words replayed in my mind.
“Then let’s sleep together.”
My face burned bright red.
Calliere’s expression grew more serious.
“I promise.”
“….”
“Nothing will happen that you’re worried about.”
I hesitated, then sighed in defeat.
“…Fine. I’ll give in to Your Grace’s stubbornness.”
“Good. Then know that I gave in to yours too, by stepping back.”
Even now, he wouldn’t lose an argument.
“Do you have medicine for fever?”
“Zember probably packed some.”
“Then make sure you take it before you sleep.”
“I will. Now… go wash up.”
It was only natural—after all, I was covered in dust. But somehow his words made my face grow hot.
‘Maybe I should just wash up, then go sleep on the first floor. I could pretend I fell asleep from exhaustion…’
As my eyes flicked around nervously, Calliere added with a teasing tone:
“Oh, and don’t even think about sneaking to the first floor after washing.”
“….”
“If you do, I’ll be waiting outside the bathroom until you come out.”
“…I-I won’t.”
It was as if he had read my thoughts. I mumbled, avoiding his gaze.
“Unless you want it, nothing will happen, Rebellia.”
His words were meant to reassure me, but inside I felt an odd disappointment.
‘No, no, I must be crazy.’
I shook my head quickly, pretending it was nothing.
Feeling like my face might burst from the heat, I hurried out of the room toward the bathroom.
“…Feels like I dug my own grave.”
Calliere lay still, listening to Rebellia’s calm breathing beside him.
Just a while ago, with a tense face, she had pointed firmly to the very center of the bed.
“Do not cross over. This is a promise.”
As soon as he nodded, she lay down stiffly—her body so rigid it looked uncomfortable.
“Mmm…”
Yet in an instant, as if all her earlier unease had been a lie, she fell asleep.
The memory made Calliere’s lips curve into a smile.
‘Well, I suppose it can’t be helped.’
He shifted slightly to look at her sleeping figure.
Unlike the dusty first floor, the attic she used was spotless and cozy—proof of her words that cleaning had taken her an entire day.
“….”
The bedding smelled fresh, sun-dried and clean. The window frame beyond her face was free of even a speck of dust.
To make this hut livable, she must have carried water all the way from the distant stream, scrubbing until it shone.
‘That’s why she collapsed the moment her head hit the pillow.’
Calliere watched her quietly.
Through the curtainless window, moonlight poured in, making her violet hair shimmer beautifully.
He stared blankly, thinking he could spend the whole night just watching.
A quiet laugh slipped from his lips.
“…Enough. I should sleep.”
“Mm…”
Rebellia stirred under the blanket, squirming.
He glanced toward the window, wondering if a draft was sneaking through the old glass panes.
This place lay farther south than Esperos, but Hestonia was still colder than Xeros. And outside of summer, Hestonia’s night wind always carried a chill.
Calliere recalled how stubbornly she had insisted on sleeping by the window despite being the patient. He checked again—she was still deep asleep.
Just as he thought of switching places with her, it happened.
Like a small animal seeking warmth, Rebellia burrowed straight into his chest.
“…!”
Calliere froze, his whole body stiff, even holding his breath.
Looking down, he saw her once-pale, shivering face now relaxed in comfort.
“Ha…”
He let out a shallow sigh as she breathed softly against him, fast asleep.
Her warmth seeped through his thin tunic, almost too vivid. The faint scent from her freshly washed body stirred something inside him, and the fever he thought had eased began to rise again.
“…This is driving me mad.”
Calliere thought it must be punishment.
Punishment for laying a trap, hoping she would cross the line herself.
With a crooked smile, he closed his eyes as Rebellia rubbed her face against his chest in her sleep.
Without doubt, tonight would be the longest night of his life.
