Chapter 61: The First Letter (61)
Chapter 61: The First Letter (61)
When I opened my eyes, I saw a ceiling that had become all too familiar.
The pure white marble scattered a soft glow, using the cozy sunlight as its lamp. Though there were no gaudy ornaments, the hospital room, furnished with expensive pieces, was needlessly opulent.
This wasn't the kind of luxury a second son of a rural viscount should be enjoying. It was a privilege possible only because this was the Academy.
As soon as I stirred, a dull ache throbbed in my forearm. The stinging pain left my hand feeling numb, as if it were paralyzed. I clenched and unclenched my fist, unable to do anything but offer a bitter smile.
I couldn't even count how many times this had been. Lately, it felt like I was visiting the temple every other day. And that wasn't even counting the times I came to visit acquaintances, rather than being the patient myself.
I usually stopped by Emma’s room once or twice a week, so I figured I should go see her on my way out today.
As I tried to push myself up, a soft sound of breathing tickled my ear.
I followed the rhythmic huffing with my eyes. There, a petite girl with black hair lay with her face buried in the edge of my bed, fast asleep.
It was Celine. Last night, after receiving emergency treatment to stop the bleeding, I had headed straight for the temple. I had lost so much blood that I fell into a dead sleep almost immediately. It seemed Celine hadn't returned to the dormitory even after I conked out, staying by my side all night instead.
It made sense. After all, the reason I was hospitalized was an injury sustained during a real sword duel with her.
Fortunately, it wasn't a major wound. Of course, the blade had bitten deep enough to reach the bone, raising concerns about contamination reaching the marrow, but the Academy’s temple always had high-ranking priests on standby. The injury itself was healed quickly. Though I did find myself swearing under my breath during the purification process to scrub out the contamination.
However, no matter how versatile divine power was, it couldn't wash away the fatigue accumulated in the human body. My body had already reached its limit from several consecutive injuries. Regardless of the healing, I needed a few days of rest.
That was why Professor Andrei from the Theology Department, who handled my treatment last night, had forced me to stay, ignoring my protests that I was fine. He remained unmoved even when I mentioned I was worried about my grades because I’d missed too many lectures recently.
In fact, Professor Andrei took such a firm stance that he said he would personally notify the professors in charge of my classes today. He even went as far as to swap my attending priest for the Saintess herself, as if to drive the final nail into the coffin for my disgruntled self.
I had already been getting lectured by the Saintess lately. If she found out I’d suffered another major injury that almost cost me an arm, there was no telling how long her sermon would last. Plunged into despair, I lost all will to resist.
Celine, seeing my gloomy expression, had been constantly walking on eggshells around me.
No matter how many times I told her I was fine, she refused to leave. I thought she might head back at dawn, but perhaps out of guilt, she had stayed awake with me through the night.
As she slept soundly, Celine looked like nothing more than a lovely girl. She had a cute appearance that made it impossible to imagine her as the energetic, foul-mouthed girl who would go as far as to draw a sword against Seria.
She was pretty, undeniably so. I’d heard that high-ranking nobles had been constantly hitting on her since her first year, and looking at her now, I could see why. Was it said that she and Seria were the two pillars of the second-year Swordsmanship Department?
None of that mattered to me. To me, Celine was just Celine. No matter what she did at the Academy, my childhood friend Celine had only ever been one person since a long, long time ago.
I carefully raised my upper body, worried I might wake her.
Contrary to my fears, Celine showed no signs of stirring from her deep slumber. Seeing her smack her lips with a little "Mmm-num," a mischievous thought crossed my mind.
Let’s see how long you can stay asleep.
My index finger poked Celine’s soft cheek. As my finger sank into her supple flesh, she furrowed her brow slightly and shook her head.
Even so, she didn't open her eyes. She was out cold. My hand poked her cheek once more.
Poke. Still no reaction. Just as I was about to poke her one more time—
Perhaps annoyed, Celine let out a slightly rougher breath and straight-up bit the finger that was about to poke her.
Then, she began to suck and lick my finger as if she were nursing.
A strange sensation tickled my spine, a mix of pleasure and an electric jolt crawling up from my tailbone through my spinal cord.
Wait, the atmosphere suddenly got weird.
While my body froze at the unfamiliar sensation, Celine diligently licked my index finger. The texture of her moving lips pressed against my finger with a firm elasticity. Her expression looked strangely peaceful.
I wondered if a baby sucking its mother's breast looked like this. The problem was that I was a man, and I certainly couldn't give Celine any milk.
No matter what you do to a finger, no liquid comes out. Now, if it were a different part, that might be another story.
As I stood there dazed, accepting Celine’s ministrations, I suddenly snapped to my senses. It seemed I had lost my mind for a moment due to the peculiar sensation.
I quickly yanked my finger out of Celine’s mouth. Celine, who had been sucking my finger with a dazed, silly look on her face, immediately looked dissatisfied. But I had no choice.
What kind of things was I imagining about such an innocent girl? I traced the sign of the cross with my index finger and muttered along with the Saintess’s usual prayer.
"Immanuel. O Heavenly God, deliver this wretched soul from sin."
Then, fearing my carnal desires might flare up again, I quickly gave Celine a flick on the forehead. It was the price for daring to tempt me even in her sleep.
"Ow, ouch!"
This time, Celine couldn't help but wake up. She let out a cry and opened her eyes, her hand instinctively flying to her forehead.
"Ugh..." She glared at me with dissatisfied eyes, but then she seemed to snap out of it, her eyes widening.
She asked me urgently.
"Y-you're awake? How's your body? Are you okay?"
"It's nothing. I'm a man who's slain ten demonic beasts, you know."
I had seriously almost died back then. To be honest, if someone told me to do that again, I absolutely couldn't. Yesterday's wound wasn't light, but it was nothing compared to facing those beasts.
Despite my bravado, Celine still looked like she was about to cry. It seemed like tears would drop at any moment. She immediately offered her apology.
"I-I'm sorry... If I hadn't done that weird thing at the end..."
"It's not like you did it on purpose. Don't worry about it. I've never picked up a real sword without being prepared to get hurt."
I said it nonchalantly to put her at ease. To be precise, it was a situation where I could have been cut through the heart, not just the arm, but I didn't bother pointing that out.
What would be the point other than making her cry more? Though, come to think of it, that might have been entertaining in its own way.
Right now, Celine looked like a water balloon swollen with tears that would burst at the slightest touch. So, I forced myself to set aside my wicked thoughts.
"Still, if anyone was going to get hurt, it should have been me..."
Celine muttered in a voice full of regret. Her eyes silently drifted to the floor. She looked completely dejected.
In those amber eyes that were usually so full of life, only guilt flickered. So, without a word, I reached out and stroked Celine’s cheek.
Celine flinched, her body trembling as if surprised by my sudden touch. Her eyes met mine. I gave her a smile mixed with a sigh. A bittersweet smile.
"It was my choice."
"...Huh?"
"I'm saying it was my choice that I got hurt instead of you."
Celine’s eyes went blank at my words. I cleared my throat and continued.
"No matter what, I couldn't let you get hurt. That's why I got hurt instead... It was my choice, so it's only right that I take responsibility. So don't worry about it too much."
Those were my honest feelings. I was a bit too embarrassed to look her straight in the eye, but the sentiment was real.
I didn't want Celine to get hurt. I didn't regret what happened last night.
Even after hearing my words, Celine was silent for a long time. She just stared at me with a dreamy gaze before suddenly bursting into tears.
Tears filled her eyes in an instant. Sobbing, she grabbed the hand that was stroking her cheek with both of her own.
"I'm sorry, hic... I'm sorry, Ian-oppa. I'll never, hic, I'll never do it again... Waaaaah!"
I had said it to keep her from crying, but I ended up making her cry anyway. I looked at Celine with a sense of awkwardness. It didn't seem like her crying would stop anytime soon.
I comforted her in the warmest voice I could muster.
"Why are you crying again? People are going to start calling you a crybaby."
"Sniff, but... I'll really, really listen to you from now on, hic, Ian-oppa... Uwaaaaah..."
After I spent some time patting her back and soothing her, Celine finally stopped crying. Even so, tear stains were still clear on her face, and her eyes were moist.
She looked pretty even like that. Her eyes were now filled with affection for me. It looked like she would do anything I asked right now.
This was perfect timing. I cautiously broached the subject with Celine.
"Uh, Celine. By the way, do you remember?"
"...Huh? Remember what?"
"We agreed that the loser would grant the winner a wish."
Celine seemed to have completely forgotten about that promise. Her eyes widened for a moment before she broke into a tender smile.
Then, she rubbed her cheek against my hand, which she was still holding with both of hers. It felt like she had become a submissive pet. She whispered in a low voice.
"Yeah, okay. I'll do anything."
"...Anything?"
I couldn't help but ask back at that subtle nuance. Celine’s eyes curved into crescents. A smile that could be a joke or the truth.
But the hot, damp breath touching my palm felt undeniably sincere.
"Yes, anything... Even if you ask for all of me, I'll give it to you."
With that, Celine gently moved my hand downward. Past her neck, her collarbone, and toward the soft sensation below.
My mind went blank. Come to think of it, the hospital room was filled with a sweet scent. That unique scent of a woman's skin shook my sanity.
Celine leaned her upper body forward slightly, looking up at me. Then, she whispered in my ear.
"...What do you want to do?"
"I... Celine... I mean, I..."
Slowly, strength returned to my hand. Breaking free from Celine’s grasp, my hand firmly gripped her shoulder. Our faces were inches apart. Celine looked at me with slightly widened eyes, appearing a bit surprised.
I could hear the thumping of a heart. Our pulses synchronized. And just like that, I whispered into Celine’s ear.
"...Let's be partners for the Hunting Festival."
Thwack! The sound of a dull impact on flesh rang out. Unfortunately, it was my forearm.
My scream filled the hospital room.
Celine was once again looking at me restlessly. I had to shoot her a grumpy look while stroking my stinging forearm.
It was because she had hit me right on my injury. No matter how well it was stitched up with divine power, an injury was an injury. My arm had been halfway severed; there was no way the inside was perfectly fine yet.
Celine stomped her feet anxiously before cautiously asking me.
"A-are you okay?"
"No, it hurts. A lot."
"I-I'm sure it does, but..."
After flusteredly looking around, Celine seemed to have decided to be shameless. She let out a sharp cry.
"I-I mean, who told you to say something like that in that situation?! You're so... so clueless! Seriously!"
It wasn't a bad strategy—getting angry to turn the tables. Since she was pretty, most men probably would have backed down at this point.
But her opponent was me. A veteran with over ten years of experience dealing with Celine.
I immediately clutched my forearm and let out a groan.
"Agh! Hearing such a loud voice suddenly made my arm...!"
"R-really?! I-I'm sorry... What should I do? I should call a priest, a priest...!"
Celine fell into a state of panic, trembling at my exaggeration. The teary face was a bonus. Watching her, I smiled inwardly with satisfaction.
How cute. No matter what, you're no match for me.
However, what I hadn't expected was for the hospital room door to open at that exact moment. It was just as the foot-stomping Celine stood up.
Visible beyond the door was gray hair.
Celine froze on the spot as she met those aquamarine eyes. The other person was the same. Seria, who had come to visit early in the morning, flinched as if momentarily flustered.
Even though her face remained expressionless, I could tell. Seria was feeling extremely awkward about Celine’s presence.
An awkward silence instantly filled the room. Seria hesitated for a moment before seemingly making up her mind, walking toward me with a determined look in her eyes.
Celine watched Seria with an unreadable expression, but even as Celine’s gaze followed her, Seria remained silent. She seemed to be intentionally avoiding conversation with Celine.
I don't want to fight, so I'll ignore you. It was the same tactic Celine had used against Seria a long time ago. To think the day would come when Celine would be on the receiving end of it.
The world truly was full of surprises. Seria passed Celine and naturally took my hand in both of hers. Her hands were soft. The supple touch felt good.
Celine’s gaze became even more peculiar. Her eyebrow twitched.
"Um, Ian-sunbae. Are you feeling alright?"
"No, how did you know...?"
Regardless of Celine, I had no choice but to ask Seria in confusion as she questioned me in a gentle voice.
I had only been hospitalized last night. How could word have reached Seria so early in the morning?
The answer was surprisingly simple.
"Professor Andrei told me. He said that this morning's training would be difficult because you were hospitalized..."
"Ah, I see."
Come to think of it, Professor Andrei did mention he would leave a message for the professor in charge of my schedule today. It seemed he had passed the news to Seria while doing so.
I figured he must have mentioned Seria’s dawn training while going over my schedule last night. I looked at Seria, who was holding my hand tightly, thinking simply.
Her worried expression looked both gloomy and anxious. She was someone who only showed such blatant emotional changes in front of me. I spoke slowly to reassure her.
"It's not that bad of a wound. It's just that Professor Andrei insisted I rest..."
It was then.
"...Brother Ian."
A small voice was heard. A clear, bell-like voice leaking in from outside the room.
That voice possessed a strange magic that instantly captured the attention of the three of us in the room. Everyone’s gaze turned toward the door.
Standing there was a woman with a somewhat displeased face.
Those pale pink eyes scanned the interior of the room. Her appearance was reminiscent of a work of art, and her body possessed seductive curves.
It was the Saintess. Her eyes took in me, Seria, and Celine in turn.
Then, she gave a bright smile and spoke to me.
"You seem to be doing well."
I had no choice but to press my hand to my forehead. Since it was the arm that had been injured, the sensation hadn't fully returned, but I couldn't help it.
How could she come to visit at such a perfect—or rather, imperfect—time?
It was the moment three women gathered in a single room.