* * *
…How long had Caleus been standing so close?
When I glanced at Ateol, he shook his head slightly—just enough for only me to notice—then gave a quick wink.
It seemed like he had just arrived.
Either way, I didn’t want to stay here any longer.
Now that the lanterns illuminated the surroundings, the cobwebs, rotting wood, mold, and dust became all too visible.
The cough I had briefly forgotten threatened to rise again.
“There’s no corpse since it was a specter-type monster. But it’s been dealt with, so nothing more will happen.”
As I spoke, I deliberately looked at Ateol.
Caleus made an exaggeratedly surprised expression.
“Ateol handled it? Ateol, you keep surprising this brother of yours.”
“I was just lucky. And the Tower Master was with me.”
Ateol replied nonchalantly.
Caleus still looked somewhat doubtful, but since both Ateol and I said the same thing, he didn’t press further.
As we stepped out of the abandoned ward and into the passage leading to Ward 3, the director and staff were pacing nervously like lost ants.
“A-Are you unharmed?”
The director asked in a hushed yet urgent voice the moment he saw our faces.
I left the explanation to Ateol.
It had been a specter-type monster (again, it was a monster, a monster), and it wouldn’t be appearing again.
With that, Caleus promptly granted permission for the ward’s reconstruction, and the situation was resolved without much trouble.
Just like when we came, Ateol, Caleus, and I rode together in a single carriage to keep things discreet.
The black carriage, drawn by two horses, cut through the dark night. It was Caleus who spoke first.
“My little brother, Ateol. It feels like just yesterday you were a mischievous brat, and now you’ve grown so much.”
His voice was full of feigned sentiment.
What an actor.
Well, he had to be at least this good to survive as the Crown Prince.
“I’m just happy to be able to assist you, Brother.”
Ateol responded smoothly.
He was quite skilled too.
But… six years—no, ever since childhood—he had constantly played the role of the insignificant, ill-reputed prince.
In that regard, he was leagues ahead.
The two brothers exchanged pleasantries, laughing all the way until we reached the palace.
Of course, Ateol never once said, “Today’s success was thanks to you, Brother.”
Even though it was obvious Caleus was subtly hoping he would.
At the palace gates, we each switched to our respective carriages.
Just as I was about to close the door, Caleus smiled and said:
“You should put some medicine on your lips.”
“……”
Only then did I feel the sting on my lips.
For a moment, my gaze almost darted toward Ateol, but I barely held it back.
“I bit myself out of surprise. I scare easily.”
“You’ve always been uneasy about ghosts.”
Caleus chuckled.
Another thing we had in common.
I didn’t respond further and simply climbed into the carriage.
The entire ride back, though no one was watching, I kept my hand over my lips—eventually pulling up my robe’s collar to hide my face completely.
Cloden looked momentarily baffled when he saw me like that.
“I’ve prepared a bath, Tower Master.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Shall I bring something to eat?”
At his words, I instinctively checked my status window.
My stamina was at 6.
No wonder I felt so drained.
I asked him to prepare some food and was about to enter the tower when a guard came rushing toward me.
“What is it?”
“His Highness, the Fourth Prince, has come to visit.”
“At this hour? I thought he returned to the palace.”
Cloden frowned, then turned to me.
“What would you like to do, Tower Master?”
My lips, still sore from where Ateol’s teeth had grazed them, throbbed slightly.
I hesitated for a moment before answering in a low murmur.
“…Let him in.”
A little while later, Ateol appeared at the entrance of the tower.
He was dressed exactly as before, except he wasn’t carrying his sword.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Can we talk here?”
“……No.”
That sly smile of his—it was obvious this wasn’t a conversation to have in the open.
I led Ateol up to my room.
The familiar, comforting atmosphere of the space made my body instantly relax.
My legs moved on their own toward a chair, almost as if bewitched.
As I sat down, I clumsily shrugged off my robe and draped it over the chair, my body melting into the seat.
Suddenly, I wondered—what was Ateol’s stamina at?
Wouldn’t it be nice if I could see other people’s status windows too?
Surely his max stamina wasn’t 999, right?
…Right?
99 would be reasonable.
Even 12 out of 99 was garbage.
But if it were 12 out of 999… that wasn’t human.
That was a housefly.
A single clap from a human, and he’d drop dead.
“Why are you here?”
“Why do you think?”
Ateol’s gaze lingered on my lips, his smile deepening.
The air shifted in an instant.
If I did anything in this state, with my stamina at 6, what would happen to me?
I had never dropped to 0 before, but if I did, I’d probably pass out.
I wouldn’t actually die… right?
That would be too much like a survival game.
If you fail to clear an event, you die. If your gauge empties, you die.
If your health runs out, you die.
Damn it…
“I’m hungry.”
“Oh dear.”
“Cloden will be bringing food… and I need to wash up…”
I was starving, my stamina had already dropped to 5 (it decreased again), and I still felt like the stench of the abandoned ward clung to me.
I needed food and a bath.
Ateol, still smiling, spoke softly.
“Then eat, wash up… and after that?”
“……”
“What shall we do after that?”
My face felt like it was about to burst into flames.
I had no idea how to respond, my mouth opening and closing uselessly.
Just then, Cloden knocked on the door—perfect timing.
He entered with a spread of rich, fragrant dishes: hazelnut soup drizzled with cream, mashed chickpeas sprinkled with pepper, small rolls of bread, flower-shaped meringues, fruit jellies, puddings, and an assortment of cakes.
After he finished setting the table and turned to leave, I called out.
“Cloden.”
“Yes, Tower Master?”
“Don’t come in until I call you.”
I caught a glimpse of Ateol lowering his head slightly, a smirk on his lips.
Ridiculously, at that exact moment, a ‘plink’ sound indicated that his affection points had gone up.
After Cloden left, I ate in silence and soaked in warm water until my stamina recovered to 12.
Ateol, saying he needed to wash too, entered the bathroom.
Suddenly, I felt restless, pacing near the bed.
Half of me wished he’d hurry up, the other half wished he’d take his time.
I recalled our earlier kiss.
And then… his hands touching me.
I chewed my nails as I waited.
The sound of footsteps approached.
I kept my back turned until I felt a hand rest gently on my shoulder.
As I turned, I let out an involuntary gasp.
“Ahk!”
“Did you see a ghost or something?”
“You’re naked!”
“I am wearing something.”
You’re only wearing something down there!
* * *
