Chapter 53
"......Huh?"
What the hell did I just hear? I doubted my ears for a second, but then I froze when I saw Evelyn's expression.
Where had the haughty princess gone who was just prattling on about pride? All that was left was someone gazing up at me with a face full of worry, on the verge of bursting into tears.
What the fuck? Why is she overreacting this hard?
Just moments ago, she'd strode off like she couldn't care less.
Ignoring me completely, Evelyn suddenly grabbed my arm and yanked it.
"You're really not doing well, are you?"
Uh...... I'm fucking fine right now. Totally, completely okay.
This whole disaster happened because I was trying to hide that I'd chugged that precious Saint Grade Potion from Lily.
I'd meant to watch my words, but ended up accidentally lying to her.
"Ah. Sorry. It must hurt a lot."
Evelyn flinched in surprise and let go of my arm.
No. It doesn't hurt at all.
Her touch was so careful, it felt like she was handling some fragile glass artwork.
Watching her like that, a pang of guilt crept up from the corner of my heart.
If this conversation drags on, the lie's gonna snowball out of control.
I decided to bail fast and opened my mouth.
"I-It doesn't mean I'm about to collapse or anything that bad."
"......"
"I just wanted to desperately convey my sincere intent not to earn Your Highness's resentment."
"I get it. I won't make you talk anymore."
Evelyn urged me again.
"Let's head to my carriage first."
"Huh?"
"No way I can ride in the princess's carriage. I'm a guy, Your Highness."
Who the hell has karma this twisted?
"That's not what's important right now."
Then what the fuck is?
Evelyn's red eyes gleamed with firm resolve.
"A patient needs treatment."
"......"
"I'll get permission from Professor Wilhelm for you, so let's head to the nearest temple first."
Oh. Shit. This is bad.
The misunderstanding had already snowballed beyond control.
What if she later found out I'd sucked down a temple's Saint Grade Potion and was totally fine by now? She'd flip out for sure, screaming something like, 'How dare you fake it in front of the princess and insult me?!'
That'd be a massive scandal I couldn't handle.
I frantically waved my hands.
"R-Really, I'm totally fine."
"......"
"Seriously, completely fine. I just need to head back to my carriage and rest quietly on my own. Could you indulge me like that?"
"......Are you really okay?"
"Yes. It did hurt earlier, but a good sleep in the carriage should fix it right up."
My words were coming out all jumbled. It sounded weird.
But what could I do? Better to throw a tantrum here than let it tangle more.
Thankfully, after my desperate plea, Evelyn bit her lip, looking conflicted.
She still seemed reluctant, scanning me with a dark expression.
But soon, she nodded faintly in resignation.
"Alright."
Phew. Saved.
Her face suggested she wasn't fully buying it—still harboring some misunderstanding—but my gut told me it was better to bounce now and avoid piling on more than to clear it up.
"Then no need to escort me to the carriage. I'll go rest right away."
Oh. Right, that.
"Yes. I deeply thank you for your generous consideration."
I bowed politely and turned away without a second thought.
The moment I got back to the carriage, I flopped spread-eagle onto the long, cushy bench.
I'd shut all the windows and curtains, plunging it into darkness.
"Ah. This is fucking nagging at me."
Why the hell did the princess suddenly switch up and freak me out like that?
There'd definitely be fallout later.
This wasn't something I could handle solo.
Once back in the capital, I needed to consult Muller Viscountess.
What's a cool, capable big sis who treats me to meals for if not times like this?
I lifted my heavy arm and stared at the back of my hand.
Sparkle sparkle.
Maybe because the inside was so dark, the crap on my hand stood out even more vividly.
It had faded a lot since earlier, but faint dandelion-fluff-like sparkles still danced around.
"This effect is fucking insane."
Not even the limited-edition skins you gotta whale on in gacha games for ages are this flashy.
At least it was fading, so thankfully it wouldn't stick around forever.
No side effects from this, right?
As holy and mystical as the effect looked, the reason I was seriously worrying about side effects out of nowhere was...
"Haa...... My body's going haywire."
Fucking suddenly, insane drowsiness was crashing over me.
Right after chugging that Saint Grade Potion from Lily, I'd felt like a brand-new machine fresh off the factory line.
Light as a feather, bursting with energy.
Even during the walk with Evelyn, nothing seemed off.
But by the time I headed back to the carriage after parting ways, the sleepiness hit like a truck.
......This isn't dangerous, is it?
Probably not. Think positive.
Repairing a wrecked body takes a ton of stamina and mental energy anyway.
Maybe all that fatigue was hitting at once, delayed.
"Ugh. Whatever."
Screw it, sleep first.
I'd even downed that super-expensive potion.
This must be part of the recovery. No way it'd backfire like, 'Oops, my bad. Shoulda let you die, but saved you by mistake.'
I couldn't fight the overwhelming sleepiness anymore and slowly closed my eyes.
Maybe because the carriage was so dark, my consciousness sank into deep slumber in under ten seconds.
Silence enveloped the carriage interior. Only steady breathing filled the space.
Kasian's face, dead to the world, was the picture of peace.
But soon, an eerie, discordant cracking sound shattered the quiet.
Crack!
It started with his right index finger. The sleeping Kasian's finger snapped up on its own with a dry, splintering sound like breaking kindling.
The joint twisted at an unnatural angle, then seemed forced back into place by some invisible force.
Crunch!Grind!
The ripple climbed from his fingers, through his wrist, elbow, and shoulder in sequence.
His shoulder dislocated with a gruesome noise, then popped back in, unleashing a chain of horrific sounds.
Any normal person would've screamed awake and rolled around in agony.
But Kasian didn't twitch.
He just drooled a bit at the corner of his mouth and sank even deeper into sleep.
It was because of the energy enveloping his body.
Hummm—
A golden aura began at his solar plexus, wrapping his entire body like a cocoon.
Too bizarre to be mere mana overflow.
The golden aura swept over his muscles and bones like a living organism.
Snap!Crack!
His spine straightened with a resounding echo inside the carriage.
The golden aura delved deeper, piercing beneath the skin into his body.
Crushed joints, ligaments, nerve clusters—everything inside glowed golden.
A grotesque yet profoundly sacred process.
Muscle bundles writhed under his skin.
Ssssh—
Black smoke-like vapor rose from his pores.
Waste and toxins accumulated in his body were being forcibly expelled.
But the foul energy was purified and vanished by the golden aura before it could disperse.
Thanks to that, the carriage filled not with stench, but a fresh, dawn-forest scent.
Thoom!
His heartbeat thundered like lightning.
The moment of massive change.
Swish—
The carriage's fabric door was being cautiously pulled back.
"......No matter how I think about it, I can't just let it go."
Evelyn gnawed at her lip.
Sitting still made guilt hammer at her heart.
That arrogant guy had even said he was begging on his knees.
It might not have been exaggeration.
"Your Highness, where are you—"
As Evelyn stood, her maid Yelena startled and blocked her path.
But Evelyn's eyes narrowed coldly.
"Move."
"But Your Highness, people's eyes..."
"For today."
Evelyn warned in a low voice.
"No interference with my decisions or actions. No backtalk. That's an order."
"......Understood."
Yelena bowed deeply under the princess's fierce aura.
Evelyn strode off without hesitation.
Step, step.
Her shoes on the dirt sounded unusually loud.
She ignored Yelena's fidgety presence trailing behind.
She headed straight for the oversized carriage shoved in the corner of the clearing.
Arriving at the front, Evelyn paused for a split second.
All windows shut, inner curtains drawn—she was certain her suspicions were right.
What reason would he have to hide the inside if not the one she imagined?
But.
This wasn't just sealed; it was forbidden territory for a woman.
Even a normal carriage alone together for an unrelated man and woman sparked rumors.
Let alone this one, used as temporary lodging too.
If word got out that she, the princess, had entered? The socialites would devour her as prime gossip fodder.
My reputation might crack.
But.
I can't hesitate over something like that.
He'd burned his body for the empire's people.
Was mere reputation worth more than a hero groaning in pain alone?
If he was in critical condition, she'd drag him to the temple by the collar if needed.
"Hoo."
Evelyn took a short breath and lifted the curtain with resolute determination.
"Kasian, pardon the intrusion..."
And in that instant.
Evelyn's red eyes went rigid.
"......!"
Her words caught in her throat.
What the hell was this scene before her?
The pitch-black carriage interior blazed brighter than daylight with golden light.
Crunch, snap.
Eerie noises battered her eardrums.
Kasian's body hovered slightly in the air, wrapped in a golden cocoon.
His limbs twisted and straightened wildly; something writhed and churned beneath his skin.
A horrific sight that would've made anyone scream.
But Evelyn instinctively knew.
"Th-This is......"
That light. It was mana, without a doubt.
Just impossibly pure and noble.
Grand, even.
It was dismantling his body—and rebuilding it.
"Your Highness?"
Then, Yelena's hesitant footsteps approached from behind.
Evelyn reflexively raised her palm.
"Don't come closer."
Her firm words halted the footsteps.
But Evelyn had no spare attention for her maid.
She was entranced by the sight before her.
With trembling hands, she gripped the curtain tight again.
Her intuition screamed.
This...... No one else can see this.
Thankfully, the sun hadn't fully set, so the faint glow didn't leak out.
Evelyn couldn't even take a deep breath as she silently watched him.
The profoundly mysterious phenomenon.
Grind!Crack!!Snap!!!Hummm—
Even as his whole body contorted, Kasian remained serene.
No sign of pain.
Just sleeping soundly, as if being reborn.
At least he's not in pain.
Then her role was simple: stand guard so no one disturbed this sacred ritual until it ended.
How much time passed?
Swoosh—
The crystalline light enveloping Kasian's body began to stir slowly.
Like a living being, it converged in one spot.
His mouth.
Through his slightly parted lips, the golden energy swirled and was sucked in.
Eerie enough to mistake it for him devouring the light.
Once the last strand vanished into him.
Kasian's body gently settled back onto the bench.
As if nothing had happened, he resumed his steady breathing, lost in deep sleep.
Darkness and silence returned to the carriage.
Even after all the supernatural events ended.
Evelyn silently watched Kasian.