Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: A Touch of Healing
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Smack-!
A sound so enormous it was impossible to believe it came from one person striking another rang out. Frederick had tried to hug Nihil from behind and gotten smacked for his trouble.
Everyone was utterly shocked since Nihil, who was usually so tolerant of physical contact, had never lashed out with violence like this before. Especially since he'd shown no reaction at all when Sir Evan had picked him up.
The impact was so massive it seemed like his cheekbone might cave right in, and had Frederick not hastily summoned mana to shield his face, that would have become reality.
"You let Sir Evan do it without a fuss, so why hit me?"
"Did you think I wouldn't notice you deliberately muffling your presence and sneaking up?"
Nihil continued speaking while still gazing only at Lianus.
"Do it one more time, and I won't hold back."
Nihil was a bit prickly. Just like during their first meeting, when he'd been covered in blood.
Sir Evan quietly watched this prickly Nihil, then scooped him up like it was nothing, as if to say, "What are you gonna do about it?"
He could see Nihil's tiny fingertips twitch, but he didn't swing.
"Little wildcat, take a break."
"...I've done nothing but rest until now. What are you talking about?"
"Nothing? You've been on such high alert you've turned from wildcat to hedgehog. Aren't you tired?"
Sir Evan clicked his tongue as he said it.
The very fact that he could act normally after losing one sense was absurd, but the guy was pulling it off.
Handling others' gazes, confirming everything reflected in their eyes, sensing the faint vibrations in the floor and shifts in the air with every step.
Sir Evan glanced at the herbs and mortar, then continued.
"What's that?"
"Your medicine."
"...No need. Just rest."
"Skipping doses reduces the effect."
"......"
"I'll make this batch and then rest."
"...Fine."
Sir Evan reluctantly set Nihil down again.
The sound of grinding herbs went on for a good while—thunk, thunk. Even the curious kitten just watched quietly from the side.
Perhaps too lazy to transfer it, Nihil held out the entire mortar to Sir Evan.
Sir Evan's face twisted at the acrid steam rising from it. His tongue hadn't even touched it yet, but he could already feel the bitter, astringent taste lingering at the tip.
As Sir Evan stared blankly at the medicine without drinking it down, Nihil tilted his head.
"What, should I mix in some chocolate?"
"...No need."
He couldn't show weakness in front of their cute little kitten, so Sir Evan tilted the mortar back. This must be what drinking poison felt like.
He barely managed to swallow the thick sludge when a rustling came from his feet. The wildcat was unwrapping a chocolate.
"......"
Sir Evan narrowed his eyes at being treated like a pet, but he didn't refuse the chocolate Nihil offered. It would be a waste now that the wrapper was off.
Yeah, I'm eating it because it's a waste. Definitely not because I wanted it.
As he accepted the second chocolate, he felt a hand gently petting his head. Looked like the brat wanted to praise the good dog for eating nicely.
Sir Evan stopped Nihil from unwrapping a third and scooped him up again.
"Enough. Now rest."
"......"
The wildcat stared up at him wide-eyed, then pulled something from his pocket and handed it over.
"What's this now?"
"Pain... no, painkiller."
"...Paralytic poison?"
"I... might not wake up at dawn. If the pain gets unbearable, take it. But it'll dull your body too, so keep that in mind."
"Feels all better now. Doesn't hurt a bit."
Of course it doesn't, since I'm taking the excess for you.
Nihil didn't voice that fact. He'd been wondering how to offload the excess today when the puppy had dozed off, making it easy.
When the pain had woken the puppy, he'd really thought they were busted.
"Puppy, I've got something to tell you about the awakening..."
"Agh! It's not urgent, so rest now!!"
Sir Evan finally bellowed at Nihil, who refused to rest. But Nihil still glanced anxiously at Frederick.
Frederick, catching the look, grinned and spoke up.
"Don't worry. I'll guard the big baby and the little baby both."
"......"
Reading Frederick's lips, Nihil leaned comfortably against Sir Evan. The broad chest he was nestled in rumbled with what sounded like the big baby grumbling something, but he closed his eyes anyway.
"...Sir Evan, you okay?"
"...Yes."
No, honestly, not really. To the point where he was debating using the wildcat's so-called painkiller... pretending to be paralytic poison. Still, it was much better than dawn, when he couldn't even move.
The night had passed and the sun was high, yet the wildcat hadn't woken. Poofu and Popo lay on either side of him now. He'd wondered what "Popo" was at first, but it seemed to be the name their prince had personally given the rabbit doll Nihil received as a gift.
Conclusion: their prince's naming sense was adorable too.
"But Sir Evan, you're still breaking out in cold sweats..."
Noah, who'd come to play early that morning, rolled his eyes and peeked at Sir Evan. Thanks to that, Frederick couldn't show himself, leaving Sir Evan to awkwardly stand guard.
"...I'm fine, young master."
Sir Evan was a bit annoyed at Noah's early arrival but glad to be their prince's playmate in place of the deeply sleeping wildcat, so he offered a slight smile.
"Eek-!"
"......"
But the kid freaked out, so he quickly wiped it away. His expression must not have been smooth, thanks to holding back the pain.
"Sir Evan, don't push yourself. Rest."
"No, Your Highness. I'm much better. What would you like for lunch?"
"Uh... um..."
Lianus hesitated. He'd scarfed down breakfast in the bedroom too.
Sir Evan hadn't even gotten out of bed until morning, and his best friend lay utterly motionless like a corpse, so he'd ended up eating alone with Sir Frederick seated across from him.
Sir Frederick had kept chatting, but his heart had felt so empty. Probably because there was no best friend to push the veggies aside and feed him.
"...Sorry to Noah, but could we eat in the bedroom? I just... don't want to leave Nil alone..."
As he mentioned Nihil, Lianus flinched and glanced his way. Just in case he heard and woke.
But his best friend lay perfectly still and silent. Of course he wouldn't hear.
"Of course, Your Highness! It's an honor to be welcomed so warmly despite my sudden visit."
They decided on lunch in the bedroom and passed the time playing chess with Noah when another guest arrived.
"Your Highness, long time no see! Sir Evan, you too."
Karus set down the little girl in his arms and greeted them energetically. Bella, who'd trailed after him, waved excitedly at Lianus.
"Karus, come on in!"
"Welcome, Marquis."
Lianus and Sir Evan greeted first, and Noah, who'd been watching, shyly bowed.
"Ah, hello, Marquis Francesca. I'm Noah Allie."
"Haha, good to meet you, Allie."
"M-me too! N-nice to meet you!"
"Sun's high in the sky and you're still lounging in bed? Can't get lazy just because it's the weekend. Oh, this is my youngest sister. The, uh, culprit behind the coal cookies."
As Karus introduced her simply, the little girl clinging to his pant leg peeked out. A five-year-old with the same pale teal hair and eyes as Karus.
"Kara, greet the prince."
"Kara! Here!"
The girl greeted boldly. Then she toddled over to Lianus and stared up at him with big, sparkling eyes. Lianus found her utterly cute until the gaze grew burdensome and he stepped back.
He glanced at Karus like, What's with the kid? Karus chuckled.
"Haha, she must think Your Highness's eyes are fascinating."
"Yeah! Pretty!"
Lianus shyly turned his head at the compliment. It was his first time being praised so openly. Everyone else just teased him about his freakish peepers.
"By the way, where's your friend?"
"Ah... Nil's... sleeping."
Lianus nodded toward the bed. Unsuspecting Karus cheerfully approached Nihil, chiding him for sleeping in even on a rest day.
"Hahaha, friend, rise and shine. Sun's high~"
"......"
"If you don't get up, I'll make you uncomfortable?"
Karus massaged Nihil's limbs as he said it. It usually roused his reluctant younger siblings without much fuss.
But after kneading for a while with no response, Karus tilted his head curiously.
"......?"
"Um... Karus, Nil's sleeping really deeply..."
"...Did he take some medicine before bed?"
"Well, no... but he was in a bit of pain."
At that, Karus looked worried and scooped Nihil up.
"Friend, you still need to eat before sleeping, even if you're hurting."
"......"
But the frail body hung limp, utterly unresponsive. You'd think it'd wake irritated from all the prodding, but it just lay there with eyes closed, like an exquisitely crafted doll.
"...This is okay, right...?"
Karus's face hardened as he shook Nihil a bit roughly with still no reaction.
"Probably fine..."
Then Kara piped up.
"In stories, princess wakes when prince kisses her!"
"...?! W-what?!"
Prince Lianus jumped in shock. He couldn't very well assault his sleeping best friend, so he hurriedly added an excuse.
"K-Kara? Th-that's just a, a fairy tale...!"
"Kara be prince!"
"......"
"Haha, shall our Kara be the prince?"
Karus, with the real prince right there, handed Nihil to his youngest sister like it was the cutest thing.
"What are you doing with a sleeping kid...? Ugh..."
Sir Evan couldn't stand by and snatched Nihil away, only to groan from the surging agony.
Stiffened in place hugging the boy, Karus asked where it hurt.
"Why are there so many patients?"
"Tell me about it..."
Lianus looked a bit downcast.
Lady Bella was there, and Noah's guard Sir Michael too, so escort wouldn't be an issue. He'd been about to tell Sir Evan to go rest when,
"...Awake?"
Black opal eyes slowly rose.
"......"
Nihil rolled his eyes to blankly stare at Sir Evan—drenched in cold sweat from the pain—then asked in a slightly hoarse voice.
"...The medicine."
"Bearable, so I skipped it. Can't be a sluggish guard, though."
Sir Evan straightened his torso a bit more, rambling to preempt any scolding from the wildcat.
"Anyway, I'm fine now, so don't worry. Now that you're up, eat and sleep."
"......"
Still half-asleep, he didn't reply, just slowly blinked. Come to think of it, could he hear now? Honestly, damaged hearing recovering overnight was even more unbelievable, but...
"Can you hear now...? What?"
He'd been about to ask if he was okay when Nihil placed a hand on his cheek. Sir Evan wondered what the wildcat was up to, but the touch was weak and so slow and careful he didn't stop it.
Then the hand seemed to rise toward his head—maybe a pat?—so he ducked slightly, thinking his hair might be a bird's nest again.
"Hair a mess? I'll fix it myself, so wake up pro—"
Mid-sentence, their foreheads bumped with a conk.
"......?"
Was he checking for fever? That instant,
"You...!"
The excruciating pain ripping through his back vanished into thin air.