34. Even Geniuses Catch Colds
Meanwhile, Seria was...
"......"
A date strolling hand-in-hand through the town... no, an inspection tour.
Ever since that embarrassing incident in the Young Master's room a few days ago, I could hardly look him straight in the face. The face of Grand Duke Calix from the novel kept overlapping with the Young Master's.
I'm crazy, Seria. You're his escort knight. How can you have such irreverent thoughts about your lord!
I'd hypnotized myself hundreds of times over, but every time I saw the Young Master meekly holding my hand and following along, my heart pounded like crazy.
He'd shot up so much that our eye levels were almost the same now. His silver hair sparkling in the sunlight, his shoulders brimming with mischief yet somehow more reliable. To be honest... the Young Master was pretty... no, extremely handsome.
"Seria, they're selling skewers over there. Wanna grab some?"
The Young Master pointed at a street vendor and asked.
"Y-Yes! Let me test it for poison first!"
"Hey, what poison in the middle of our own territory? Just say you want to eat it."
The Young Master bought two skewers and handed one to me. We munched on them as we walked the streets. When the spicy-sweet sauce smeared on my lips, he naturally pulled out a handkerchief and wiped my mouth.
"Eating like your face is a napkin."
"Ah... Th-Thank you."
My face burned again. Did he have any idea how much these little acts of kindness made my heart race?
We were wandering the town for a while like that when—
Plip.
Plop.
The sky suddenly darkened, and thick raindrops began to fall. It felt like the last rain before winter.
"Whoa? It's raining."
"Young Master, this way—let's take shelter!"
I grabbed his hand and dashed under the narrow eaves of a rundown building nearby. The overhang was way too small to fully shield us from the rain. We had to press our shoulders together just to stay dry.
"Haa, what a sudden downpour."
The Young Master grumbled, shaking off his wet hair. My uniform's shoulders and chest were soaked too.
"You'll catch a cold. Can't you use magic to block the rain?"
"Umbrella spells guzzle too much mana—total waste of efficiency. Let's just wait it out here."
The Young Master scooted closer to me. The cramped space, the patter of rain, and the warmth of his shoulder against mine. I was terrified my heartbeat was louder than the rain.
"Seria, you're pretty soaked."
He frowned at my drenched uniform, then reached out and gently squeezed a lock of my hair.
"Hold still. I'll dry it for you."
"Huh? Oh, it's fine..."
Hummm.
Warm mana flowed from his fingertips. As his hand softly stroked my wet hair, the moisture evaporated in an instant, leaving it fluffy and dry. It felt like a gentle spring breeze brushing through.
"Better? Nice and warm, right?"
He met my eyes and flashed a bright smile. And in that moment, one thought popped into my head.
Grand Duke Calix gently brushed aside Cecilia's rain-soaked hair. His shining eyes beneath his silver hair captivated her.
"If you catch a cold, it would hurt my heart."
Aaaahhh!!
I screamed internally. Why did the Young Master have to have silver hair too? Why did he have to be so sweet at this exact moment, toying with my heart like that!
"Seria? Why's your face so red? You have a fever?"
He reached to touch my forehead, concern in his eyes. But I didn't miss how his gaze drifted past my face to my rain-soaked uniform, where the fabric clung translucently to my chest.
"......!!"
His eyes widened slightly, and he cleared his throat awkwardly, jerking his gaze away.
"Ahem! Uh, it's really pouring, huh."
My face felt like it would explode. He'd just checked out my chest. It was only a split second, but I definitely saw it!
"P-Per-Pervy Young Master!!"
I shrieked, covering my chest with both arms.
"When did I look! I was just seeing some dirt on your shirt!"
"Liar! I saw your eyes go wide!"
"No, that was... you're bigger than I thought... Ahem! Anyway, I didn't look!"
The Young Master stammered, his ears turning beet red. Seeing him so flustered made me burst out laughing despite myself. I'd yelled "perv," but honestly, it didn't feel bad. If anything, I was secretly thrilled that he saw me as a girl.
I must be crazy.
I ducked my head to hide my flushed face. Under the narrow eaves, amid the roaring downpour, we stood in silence for a long while.
—The next day.
Swordmaster prodigy. Future genius swordsman who'll command the Empire. Monster who shatters wild boar tusks barehanded and unleashes aura with a wooden sword.
That's the Seria I know.
But.
"Achoo! Sniff..."
As you can see, even geniuses catch colds.
"Y-Young Master... Cough! D-Don't come in. It's contagious..."
Seria mumbled from under the blanket pulled up to her nose. Lying in bed, her face was flushed like a fireball. She'd gotten pretty soaked dodging the rain in town yesterday. I'd dried her hair with magic, but walking back to the Lord's Castle in wet clothes must've done it.
"Don't worry about me—focus on getting better."
I removed the lukewarm cloth from her forehead and replaced it with a fresh one soaked in cold water.
"Mmm... It's cold."
Seria narrowed her eyes pleasurably and nuzzled against my hand. Ah, seriously. Sick people turn into the sweetest lambs. I'd noticed it last time with the magic flu too—this girl oozes affection when she's under the weather.
"Wait here. I'll grab some food."
"The maids will... bring it..."
"I want to do it. Stay put, or I'll really get mad."
I laid down the law and left the room, heading straight for the Lord's Castle kitchen.
When you're sick, nothing beats porridge.
I remembered that legendary swamp sludge porridge Seria made when I was sick. The sweet-salty disaster dancing on my tongue, mystery chunks assaulting my throat. Back then, I'd vowed: if Seria ever got sick, I'd show her what real tasty porridge was.
"Today's chef is me."
I rolled up my sleeves, tied on an apron. I simmered prepped chicken to make stock, shredded the tender meat. Added soaked rice and a drizzle of sesame oil for that nutty aroma.
Fire.
I fine-tuned the flame's heat with my fingertip. Flame control is basic magecraft. I stirred with mana to prevent sticking, simmering it carefully.
Bubble bubble.
The savory, clean scent of chicken porridge filled the kitchen.
"Nice, smells delicious."
I ladled the steaming porridge prettily into a bowl, set it on a tray, and returned to Seria's room.
"Seria, time to eat."
As I approached, she struggled to sit up. I propped pillows fluffily behind her back and pulled up a chair beside the bed.
"I can feed myse—"
Her trembling hand reached for the spoon, but I snatched it first.
"Nuh-uh, patients eat what's given. Stay still."
I scooped a heaping spoonful, blew on it to cool, and brought it to her lips.
"Here, say ahh~."
"......"
Her face flushed even deeper—fever, or...? She rolled her eyes, glancing at me, then parted her lips just a tiny bit.
"Ah..."
Slurp.
The spoon slipped into her mouth. She chewed slowly and swallowed.
"How is it? Edible?"
Her rabbit-like eyes went wide at my question.
"It's delicious..."
"Right? Worlds away from that sweet-salty hell porridge, huh?"
I teased, and she pouted her lips.
"Th-That was... I asked you to forget... I just added extra honey to help you recover."
"Okay, okay, joking. Eat more."
I kept feeding her. Normally she'd snatch the spoon with a "I can eat myself!" but whether from weakness or liking my touch, she obediently accepted it like a baby bird. Her cheeks bulging cutely as she chewed made me grin uncontrollably.
Soon she'd polished off the bowl and let out a sleepy sigh. Full belly bringing on drowsiness, probably.
"You took your medicine, so sleep it off. Sweat it out, and you'll be fine by tomorrow."
I gathered the empty bowl and stood to leave.
Tug.
But Seria gently grabbed my clothes.
"...Huh?"
I turned, and she peeked out just her eyes from under the blanket, gazing up at me. Her moist red eyes trembled pitifully.
"Young Master..."
"What? Still hurting somewhere?"
"Not that..."
She gripped my clothes a bit tighter.
"Don't go..."
"......"
"Stay... by my side?"
Thump! This girl, so sly at times like this!
"......Haa."
I sighed in defeat and plopped back into the chair.
"Fine. I won't go. I'll stick right here till you fall asleep, even if you snore."
"I don't snore..."
"Yeah, yeah. Close your eyes."
I gripped her hand firmly in return, and with my other, gently swept her forehead. Reassured by my touch, a faint smile curved her lips.
"Mmm... Young Master..."
Her murmuring voice lingered in the room as she drifted off. Soon, steady breathing filled the air.
I gazed quietly at her sleeping face. That flutter from yesterday under the eaves, shoulders touching, welled up softly in my chest again.
"Seria, get better soon, okay?"
I whispered softly, tucking her hand under the blanket.
"The castle's too quiet without your nagging. It's boring."
Outside the window, the rain had stopped, and clear sunlight streamed in.