* * *
But the fact that it didn’t sound like a joke at all to me—that was the terrifying part.
He always played dumb, going so far as to fake clumsiness to lower people’s guard.
Adding a ruthless tyrant image on top of that was the last thing he needed.
I reached out to stop him.
“…?”
And when my hand grasped the hem of his sleeve, I realized something surprising—my body wasn’t as bad as I thought.
I’d felt like I might collapse just from sitting up, but now… I actually felt okay.
Good enough that I wondered why I hadn’t tried moving sooner.
“What’s wrong, Adrian?”
As our eyes met—his bright face looking down at me—my lips moved before I could stop them.
“…I can go.”
“What?! No, wait! You too, Lord Adrian—”
“It’s dangerous!”
“If you’re doing this for our sake… please, think of your health first! We’re fine!”
Despite their desperate protests, I smiled faintly and leaned against Klen.
The coolness radiating from him somehow made my body and mind feel lighter.
“No, really, I think I can manage.”
“B-but…”
Unable to support me otherwise, he shifted his body and turned around.
The meaning behind the gesture was obvious.
Using the little strength I had, I grabbed his shoulder and let my body fall against his back.
“Lord Adrian…!”
“It’s fine. Just for a bit—just to get some fresh air.”
The attendants’ anxious gazes lingered on me like they were trying to pin me down.
They wanted to stop us, but with both of us so determined, they couldn’t do anything except watch helplessly.
“Wouldn’t it be good to run into a healer along the way?”
Klen’s voice remained cheerful as he hoisted me onto his back and stood.
‘We’re not really going to the healer, are we?’
Even in this state, I didn’t want to drink even a drop of that woman’s medicine.
If my eldest brother had been here, he’d probably say, “Guess you’re not sick enough yet,” and drag me off to training.
Honestly, that didn’t sound so bad either.
My feverish head weirdly welcomed the thought.
“If you say so, but…”
“Please don’t overdo it—come back quickly.”
“Lord Klen, you must not, absolutely must not drop him. Do you understand?”
In the end, the attendants stepped aside.
Klen carried me through the gap they created and they quickly wrapped my cloak around me.
As we left the room and walked down the corridor, I clung to him and wrapped my arms around his neck.
Unlike usual, his steps were steady, without a hint of wobble, which kept my head from pounding, and gradually, my aching body started to relax.
But the real reason I clung to him like this, with my head down…
“Gasp!”
“Lord Klen… where are you going?”
“Shall we assist you?”
…was because every guard we passed visibly gasped.
Come to think of it, it wasn’t exactly common for a noble to carry someone like this.
Unless it was a major emergency, it just wasn’t done.
And especially not where others could see.
“It’s alright. I’ll manage—don’t worry.”
Just from the sound of his voice in my ear, I could clearly picture his innocent, smiling face.
At this rate, his reputation as an un-noble-like noble was only going to grow worse.
“Isn’t this tiring?”
“…I’m fine.”
Though honestly, that was what I wanted to ask him.
No matter how well-trained he was, he was carrying an adult man through the halls, down the stairs, quite a distance…
Yet his breathing didn’t falter once.
‘I never heard that he trained that hard…’
Wasn’t he the one rumored to skip sword practice whenever he felt lazy?
His stamina didn’t match his reputation at all.
Still, if he wasn’t struggling, I saw no reason to hold back.
I completely relaxed my body, draping myself over his back like dead weight.
His oddly cool body temperature felt strangely pleasant.
‘Are we just wandering around the area like this? Heading to the east tower where the healer is?’
If it was her medicine, I knew it would be so bitter I wouldn’t even get a drop down.
Just thinking about the taste made me frown, even as my eyelids grew heavier.
And then—
“Lord Klen! And—no way, Lord Adrian?! What are you doing here? Wait, more importantly…”
A familiar, though not immediately identifiable, voice called out.
“Are you alright? Why are you here? The east tower is nowhere near this area…”
Seems we weren’t near the east tower after all.
The voice carried clear concern, and a hint of suspicion that Klen had somehow gotten lost on his own estate.
The scent of grass mixed with an unusual, faint aroma had me thinking we were nearby, but… apparently not.
So then—where were we?
The questions swirled in my head, but I couldn’t even be bothered to lift my head, let alone open my eyes.
—Neigh!
“…?!”
Suddenly, the sound of a horse’s whinny reached my ears.
Despite how heavy and sluggish my head had been, it lifted on its own, and my eyes snapped open.
The scene before me both answered my questions… and raised new ones.
“…The stables?”
Of all places, Klen had brought my feverish, aching body to the stables.
My mind immediately jumped to the promise he made yesterday— ‘If you like horses, we should look around here together sometime,’ he’d said.
‘He wouldn’t… Is he seriously trying to keep that promise now?’
‘When I’m sick like this?’
Is this guy out of his mind?
Suspicion flared inside me.
No, I already thought it was weird when he suggested a walk with someone this sick.
But this?
He’s planning to ride horses now?
With me, like this?
“Just thought I’d show him around a little.”
“Uh… well, we have horses, of course, but… are you sure you’re up for riding?”
The stable master gave me a quick glance, his voice laced with worry.
Even with that brief look, it was obvious I wasn’t in any condition to be on a horse.
“I’ll ride with him—don’t worry.”
“…Are you really sure?”
The question wasn’t for Klen—it was for me.
I wanted to say no.
To tell him I wasn’t fine at all, to stop this lunatic immediately.
But against that instinct… I was curious.
Klen often played the fool on purpose—pretending to be clumsy or dimwitted.
It was a strategy to avoid responsibility, especially with our eldest brother Fabian still in line for inheritance.
But even so, Klen wasn’t the type to gamble with someone’s life or health just for a joke.
‘So does that mean… there’s a reason behind this?’
Without a word, I nodded.
“Hm… well, if you insist…”
He frowned.
Scratching his head with an uncertain look, he walked away.
While the stable hand went to fetch the saddle, Klen stood in front of one of the horses.
Among the many horses, he picked one with sleek black mane and a striking white diamond-shaped mark on its forehead.
It was known for its speed, though it had a reputation for being difficult to handle.
He certainly had a good eye for horses.
Whether he could actually manage this troublesome one, however, was a different matter.
“Ah! Young Master, don’t tell me you’re planning to ride that horse?”
“I’ll take this one.”
At that, the stable hand glanced around nervously, then leaned in to whisper to him.
“…You mustn’t fall off like last time. You have company now, after all.”
But I wasn’t far away—I was literally being carried on his back.
No matter how softly he whispered, there was no way I couldn’t hear.
Klen chuckled softly.
“As if I’d embarrass myself in front of my wife.”
“You really intend to ride this one? …Luck that saves you from injury only comes once, you know.”
Yet, he didn’t back down one bit.
* * *
