Chapter 121
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Revelation
Sage opened the door and stepped inside. Karma made no move to stop him.
Hestia, who had been focusing all her senses on Aileen’s stability and hadn't noticed anything outside, spun around, her senses piqued by the intrusive presence of a stranger.
Her lips trembled when she saw who it was.
"I believe I asked that no one be let in."
"That's because the request from the Astrofel family physician was rather unreasonable."
"...The young lady needs absolute rest. I think it's perfectly reasonable to ask you to stay away until she has calmed down."
"Strange. I thought you'd want Aileen to wake up quickly too."
"Of course, I do."
"Then shouldn't you be welcoming this?"
Hestia fell silent. Seeing the flicker in her eyes, Sage was certain.
Aileen needed him.
A thrill shot through him, starting from his toes and engulfing his entire body. The corners of his lips curved into a deep arc.
"You need me."
"......."
"The fact you can't immediately deny it proves I'm right."
But the elation didn't last long. Aileen’s soft groan cut through the silence.
It was barely more than a faint breath, a sound that faded into the air, her voice too weak to even form properly.
Sage's expression hardened in an instant as he saw Aileen's pale face, her breaths coming in ragged gasps.
Her lifeless face looked as if it could fade away at any moment, and his heart seemed to freeze.
"Since when."
Sage spoke, his eyes fixed on Aileen. The moment he strode toward the bed, her feverish breath grew fainter.
Sage’s own breath caught.
"...Since when has her condition been this critical?"
"It worsened suddenly. The young lady's mental state has been unstable recently...!"
"For what reason?"
Sage cut her off, his voice sharp and menacing. His blue eyes were devoid of all emotion.
His subdued pheromones were so still it felt as though they could erupt at any moment.
It was as if he already knew something. Hestia feigned ignorance and answered calmly.
"It's only natural for her to be unstable after leaving her home."
"Is that the only reason?"
"Yes."
"Then if that turns out to be a lie, you'll have nothing to say when I take your head."
Hestia’s eyebrows furrowed asymmetrically.
"I trust you understand the meaning of what you've just said, Lord Sage Kiraas."
"I'm not in a very patient mood right now."
Sage brushed his hand across Aileen's forehead.
At that moment, instinctively sensing his presence, Aileen raised an arm and clutched his hand on her forehead, her grip desperate.
The faint pheromones that had been cowering in a corner of her body flickered, pleading with him.
Sage's hand went rigid.
With a look of disbelief, he slowly began to infuse his pheromones into Aileen's body.
"Ha."
How absurd.
You've been hiding this all this time?
He let out a breath that was both hollow and filled with joy.
Hestia's short cry of despair echoed in the room.
"No...!"
"To think you've been hiding a body like this for so long."
As if it had been waiting, Aileen's body began to accept Sage's pheromones and slowly started to stabilize.
"So this is why Aileen came to the North."
"......."
"I was always curious. There's no way the Astrofel family would have sent Aileen to the North so willingly."
Hestia’s lips trembled. She bit down on them hard, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth.
Even as the wound grew ragged, Hestia felt no pain. Her mind was in a state of panic.
She had created the worst possible situation yet again.
First, it was her lady Estella, and now, Aileen. She had committed an irreversible wrong against the family.
For Aileen's safety, and for the family's, this secret was never supposed to get out.
But due to her incompetence, Sage Kiraas had found out.
Aileen’s uneven breathing gradually became regular. Seeing this, Hestia's face turned deathly white.
Sage, letting out a sigh of relief, looked at the unusually quiet Hestia.
Hestia was staring blankly at Aileen.
"I think it would be best if you, the physician, stepped out as well."
"...I see. My presence here is of no help."
"That's not what I meant."
"It would be far more helpful for Lord Kiraas to be by the young lady's side than me."
Hestia's voice was flat. Sage sensed something was off, but he didn't voice his question.
"Then I will take my leave. Please let me know as soon as Lady Aileen wakes up."
"I will."
Sage gave a slight nod. His hand was still held by Aileen.
He quite liked it, so he didn't pull away despite the uncomfortable position.
Hestia took one last look at the scene before leaving the room.
***
My body felt refreshed. The throbbing in my head from the fever was gone. A pleasant coolness lingered gently around me.
I shifted, snuggling closer to the source of the stronger energy.
The subtle cracks that even the necklace couldn't completely mend had vanished as if they had never been there.
Just as I settled in to fall back asleep, I heard a voice tinged with perplexity.
"While it's nice to be held, this is a bit problematic, Aileen."
"Mmm...?"
"Especially you."
...Hmm?
I felt a sense of bewilderment at the voice I was hearing, one that should absolutely not be here.
Strange. Why is Sage's voice in my room?
And on my bed, no less?
...Am I still not fully conscious?
Maybe I'm still hovering between life and death, and this is just a dream.
As I was deep in serious contemplation, I felt a hand gently smoothing my furrowed brow.
"What's the meaning of this, pretending not to hear me when you're awake?"
"...Is this not a dream?"
"Ah, so you have dreams about me from time to time?"
"...No, that's not it. So this isn't a dream."
I cautiously opened my eyes. My blurry vision cleared, and a sharply defined jawline came into focus before me.
Is this real?
In disbelief, I reached out and grabbed his face, feeling the body I was pressed against flinch.
Slowly, I raised my gaze and met Sage's eyes, which were wide with surprise.
Huh...?
Why can I feel this?
"It's not... a dream?"
"...Your body seems to be fine, at least."
"Then you're saying this is real?!"
No way! Why are Sage and I lying in bed together?!
I shot up and scrambled backward. And then I saw it. The hem of my skirt, bunched up high above my knees.
"Wh-wh-what is this."
"That's what I'd like to ask, Aileen."
Sage sat up. I flinched, hugging a pillow defensively.
"What are you doing with that?"
"It's, uh, a sort of psychological defense mechanism."
"Doesn't seem very useful. But fine."
Sage looked a little weary.
I studied him closely. His physique was more defined than before. I thought he was already well-built, but now there was something more.
Something more eye-catching. Should I say he seemed more mature?
Almost as if he had become an adult...
"Sage. I think you've become an adult."
Forgetting I was even holding the pillow, I moved closer to get a better look. He let out a hollow, incredulous laugh.
"Don't you remember anything?"
"...Why, why? What? Is there something I should remember?"
"There is indeed something you should remember."
"...What is it?"
What am I supposed to remember?
I don't think anything happened between us.
As I anxiously averted my gaze, Sage gently turned my head back toward him.
The hand on my cheek felt much larger than before. I was momentarily surprised, but then I found myself face-to-face with Sage.
His gaze, tired as it was, intensified as it met mine. It seemed something had happened, though I wasn't sure what. The problem was, I had no memory of it.
"I had a hard time because you tried to take all of my pheromones."
"I did...?"
"Thanks to you, I now know exactly what it feels like to be devoured."
Sage smiled sweetly.
I flinched. I tried to devour him? Sage?
My thoughts were grinding to a halt amidst the whirlwind of events and conversation that had hit me the moment I opened my eyes. I shook my head in denial, and Sage sighed before elaborating.
"You tried to take all my pheromones, and because of that, I became an adult."
"...What do you mean?"
"And then you seemed to want me even more, so..."
"When did I ever!"
I had no memory of this. I finally threw the pillow at Sage.
What kind of nonsense are you spouting!
It was a statement ripe with potential for misunderstanding. Not knowing what else might come out of that mouth, I quickly clamped my hand over it.
His blue eyes widened.
Leaning against a corner of the bed, Sage's eyes blinked slowly as he stared at me.
What's this? Why is he suddenly so docile...? It was only then that I realized the position we were in.
Sage, pinned to one side of the bed with his mouth covered, and me, on top of him...
Belatedly grasping the situation, I awkwardly tried to pull back.
Not missing the opportunity, Sage swiftly snatched my wrist.
"Ah, haha. Sage. Where were we in our conversation...?"