Uriel Wayne Daina Alfred
“Mm……”
Finishing her lecture, Uriel had visited a physician upon sensing something off with her body, received some medicine, and collapsed into bed for a nap. Now, she struggled to rise, her headache subsided but a lingering lethargy weighing down her entire frame.
Already……
It was 4:40 p.m. She’d thought she’d only dozed briefly, yet six hours had slipped away.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes…… thank you.”
After thanking the concerned physician, Uriel descended from the sickbed and ascended to the academy’s main building, fourth floor—her office. Sinking into the sofa, she pressed a hand to her forehead and caught her breath.
Knock knock.
How much time had passed? At the sound of knocking, Uriel opened her eyes and turned her head.
Knock knock.
Who could be visiting her? Pondering briefly, a faint memory surfaced of her morning conversation with the son of Count Aslan. With that, Uriel rose and opened the door.
Click!
Sure enough, there stood Gerard in his neat attire, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Professor Uriel. Would you…… join me for dinner?”
“……”
Her ailing body—starving it would only worsen things.
“Sure…… let’s go.”
And so, without refusing his offer, Uriel assented.
Leaving the academy, they walked the rain-slicked streets of the capital. The low-pressure gloom seemed to lift slightly. Especially grateful was Gerard’s silence; she lacked the energy for idle chatter or questions.
“I’d like to treat you here, if that’s alright?”
They halted before a rather renowned restaurant. For the first time, Gerard gazed steadily at Uriel as he spoke.
“Fine by me. But fair warning…… I’ve no appetite, so I might pick at it enough to make the one paying feel guilty.”
“You’re ill. It can’t be helped.”
“……”
Had she ever mentioned being sick to him?
“You’re broadcasting it loud and clear. It’d be weirder if I didn’t notice.”
“Sharp eyes.”
……Unlike that man.
Unbidden, the comparison slipped into her mind as Uriel entered the restaurant. Seated, Gerard promptly slid a sheet of paper toward her.
“What’s this?”
“You remember me mentioning this morning that I own a fine mansion in the capital? This is its address. The bedroom’s stocked with clothes and money.”
“……”
Crumpling the paper briefly in her grip, Uriel eyed Gerard.
“If it seems like pity, I apologize—but even if it’s childish, I judged it the best way to win your favor given your circumstances.”
“Honesty’s a virtue……”
“Any issue?”
“No, it’s fine…… but I’ll only take the clothes and money from the bedroom. You’re not my fiancé or husband yet. I don’t want to fuel people’s gossip already. I’ll repay you later, so don’t worry.”
“My father wouldn’t refuse.”
“I know.”
“It’s just a matter of sooner or later, but is there someone else on your mind……”
“No.”
Uriel shook her head, gazing out at the rain trickling down the windowpane.
“Gerard.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t rush. Like you said, there are no variables. I’ll become your wife, bear the Aslan heir…… and even the heart you steal glances at now will be yours to fondle as much as you like when the time comes.”
“My apologies……”
“I like that you don’t blabber excuses. Anyway, this is the last time you’ll have me to yourself…… something like that.”
“I’ll respect your wishes, Professor.”
A faint smile curved Uriel’s lips at his reply as she cautiously sampled the arriving appetizer. The meal, spanning some forty minutes, concluded. Uriel and Gerard exited together, strolling toward his capital mansion.
“Planning to stay at an inn for now?”
“No…… I’ll stick to my office. Commuting from an inn would draw eyes. I’ve no desire to scrape my own pride. Someone’s probably already wondering why my carriage isn’t in the lot.”
“Even after marrying me…… stay on as professor as long as you like. I’ll support whatever you want to do, not oppose it.”
Tucking her hair behind her ear at his words, Uriel sighed. Hitherto, her desires had bent to her will alone—but after marriage, a husband’s permission would be required. Realizing this anew, she exhaled deeply.
“Sure…… music to my ears.”
They halted. Entering the arrived mansion, Uriel gathered the money and clothes prepared for her in the bedroom.
“Well…… I’ll be off, then. You heading back to the dorms?”
“No. With my outing pass revoked, I figured I’d stay here alone since I’m out.”
She caught the emphasis on alone.
“……”
The mansion gleamed impeccably, pristine despite no servants. Or rather, they’d been dismissed temporarily. With her keen eye, Uriel smiled softly.
“Looks like you’ve entertained women more than your appearance suggests.”
“……”
“Don’t play the pitiful card to build rapport. Maternal instinct doesn’t scale with bust size. Even so, I’m not sleeping over tonight.”
With a wry smirk, Uriel strode from the bedroom. Gerard watched her go, tempted to wrap an arm around that waist and halt her…… but cleanly abandoned the notion. No need to press when his intentions were already seen through.
“Good night. Get well soon.”
“Thanks.”
Uriel departed. The faint trace of her body’s scent lingered in the room…… still as intoxicating as ever.
* * * * *
Gulp……!
Returning to her fourth-floor office in the main building, Uriel sank onto the sofa, draped a blanket over herself, and swallowed the medicine prescribed by the physician. Outside, the cool, rain-laden breeze had chilled her unnoticed—but in the comparatively warm interior, fever bloomed.
Was my body always this frail……
Sighing, Uriel reclined comfortably and closed her eyes. It was barely 7 p.m., but her sickened form yearned for swift slumber to hoard strength.
Thus, eyes shut, she soon plunged into deep sleep. When she awoke again, the clock read 1:22 a.m.
“Ugh, ah……”
With faint groans of distress, her blanket—and even her clothes—were soaked through with cold sweat, chills wracking her. Barely propping herself up, her whole body burned like a furnace.
Why did rest only worsen her state?
“Ah, ugh……”
The slightest head movement furrowed her brow with throbbing pain. The damp fabric pricked her skin like needles with every touch. Nausea roiled her gut, vomit threatening as she clutched her hair and heaved irregular breaths.
She had to admit it—this wasn’t something she could tough out alone; it wouldn’t heal naturally.
Thus, Uriel summoned a brilliant blaze to flood the room.
Whoosh!
Soon, some patrolling imperial knight or mage corps member would notice and investigate. She had her excuse ready: prepping for finals, dozed off, ended up like this…… They’d have little to say.
“Ha……”
The flames swelled further. Her shivering body welcomed the warmth, yet the soaring fever made it stifling. Craving coolness and heat alike—her flesh’s contradictory whims unfulfilled—she writhed in agony.
Click.
Someone grasped the doorknob to her office.
Bang!
The door flew open. Through blurred vision, Uriel peered at the man beyond.
“Finals are close, so I was working and dozed off…… but my condition’s off. Sorry, could you take me to a physician?”
“……”
Sweat streaming, she managed the words—but no response. Was he just admiring her wretched state? Irritation sharpening her tone, Uriel snapped at the man standing silently in the doorway.
“What……! Don’t just stand there……!”
Each word pounded her skull.
“Uriel.”
She flinched. That voice—so achingly familiar—brushed her ear. Narrowing fever-glazed eyes to focus…… only then did she recognize the man before her as Ferzen.
“Why……”
Are you here before me now?
“You look a fright.”
“Get out……”
Of all people, the one she least wanted to see her like this.
“Count yourself lucky it was me who found you. The knights and mages love gossip. They’d have chattered endlessly about your state.”
“You being here in front of me! Is the worst……!”
Throb!
Raising her voice spiked the pain; Uriel clutched her forehead.
“Is that any way to speak, knowing your state? Uriel.”
Frowning, Ferzen’s gaze dropped to her legs.
……What about my state.
A hollow laugh escaped as she followed his eyes downward……
“Ah……”
Menstrual blood.
“D-don’t look……”
Sudden spotting—Uriel clamped her thighs, hastily yanking the blanket to cover her lower body.
“Get out, get out……!”
Tears seeped into her voice. Everything…… why must it torment her so relentlessly?
“Don’t touch. Don’t lay a hand on my body……”
Her frantic pleas continued, but Ferzen ignored them, approaching to press a large hand to her forehead.
Temperature far beyond normal.
“Don’t touch……”
Why were his hands so needlessly cool? The chill tempted her to rub her cheek against them, but she resisted.
“Foolish.”
“Bastard.”
“……”
“You shitty bastard……”
“……”
“It’s all because of you…… everything’s your fault……”
The bleeding was heavier than usual. Anemia, perhaps? Dizziness swirled; the world spun.
Slumping weakly, she thumped Ferzen’s firm chest in futile vent.
“J-just…… get lost……”
Thus, pallid-faced, Uriel lost consciousness. Scooping her up in his arms, Ferzen fell silent for a long moment.