* * *
“Are you alright?!”
“Please, this way—lie down here!”
The attendants, who had been anxiously waiting by the door, rushed us inside.
The reason for their panic was obvious.
From the stables to here, Klen had carried me like a patient the entire way.
I told him I was fine, that I could walk, but his logic was that recovering so quickly would be more suspicious.
Especially for someone as ‘frail’ as I was supposed to be.
He’d promised to help me with my act, but I didn’t expect him to dive in this fast.
The attendants seemed like they’d been waiting forever for me to return.
They quickly straightened the sheets and fluffed the pillows before helping me lie down.
The soft, fresh bedding wrapped around me, and my tension slowly melted away.
“Then, get some rest.”
“…Huh? What about you, Klen?”
After settling me onto the bed, Klen stood as if ready to leave.
The sun was already setting, and this wasn’t my private room—it was our room.
Where was he suddenly planning to go?
Without thinking, I grabbed the hem of his clothes.
“I left my work unfinished to come here… As much as I hate to, I’ll have to head back before Fabian chews me out.”
He added, flashing a bright, teasing smile:
“Though honestly… I’d rather stay here and have fun.”
The word ‘fun’ was emphasized so deliberately, it made my stomach twist.
The attendants behind him looked like they were ready to brandish daggers with how sharp their glares turned.
No, knowing Klen, he was fully aware—and enjoying it.
Probably even provoking them on purpose.
“I’m starving… I haven’t eaten anything all day. Could you bring me some food?”
“…What?”
“Wait… You haven’t eaten anything this whole time?!”
“What were you thinking, Klen?!”
“Don’t tell me you were so busy ‘having fun’ you forgot?!”
It was true I was hungry, but mostly, I just wanted to keep talking to him, so I used the excuse to send the attendants away.
Only when their accusations flew like arrows did I realize my mistake.
“I’ll look after Adrian. You can all go.”
In any other noble household, such insolence might have earned a drawn sword on the spot, yet Klen simply smiled and ushered them out.
I heard faint voices through the closing door.
I couldn’t make out the words, but judging by the heated tone, the maid was fiercely protesting.
Once the chatter outside ceased, Klen returned to my side.
I immediately sat up and looked at him.
“Is that really okay?”
“Hmm?”
“Your attendants… Won’t they be punished if the Count finds out? Isn’t that dangerous?”
It had been bothering me for a while.
Klen might be playing his role, but the servants didn’t have that luxury.
They could lose their heads for lesser offenses.
“It’s fine. They’ve been with me since childhood… They know when to act properly. Besides, as long as I’m not offended, I let certain things slide.”
“That’s… a relief.”
No wonder the attendants spoke so freely, and Klen brushed off their behavior without a second thought. It was all familiar territory to them.
“So? What did you want to talk about, now that we’re alone?”
Klen, already sensing my intentions, sat casually on the bed beside me.
The chair sat unused in the corner—likely because he couldn’t be bothered to fetch it.
He knew perfectly well I wasn’t truly a patient, so there was no need for pretense.
His expression, colder now than moments before, confirmed it.
“Is the investigation into the hunting tournament finished?”
“No. Last I heard, it’s still ongoing.”
Hearing Fabian’s name earlier had triggered a thought.
Now that my true nature had been exposed, maybe I could gain more useful information.
“In that case… Could you investigate a bit more thoroughly?”
“Regarding the spell?”
“Yes. I have a feeling there might be magic in that forest we haven’t discovered yet.”
I couldn’t investigate it.
Partly because I couldn’t go to the forest often, but more importantly, I simply didn’t have the ability to uncover a concealed magic ritual.
However, magicians who specialized in such investigations might be able to find some clues.
“I understand.”
He didn’t ask why or what for.
He merely placed his hand lightly on my forehead.
“You don’t have a fever at all, but… before the attendants scold me further… please rest well.”
And then, he gently brushed my hair back.
His breath brushed past as it slid softly between my falling strands of hair.
“…!”
I froze at the hot yet ticklish sensation.
At some point, he had leaned in so close that his lips were pressed against my hair.
His lips moved slowly, softly, sending a shiver down the nape of my neck.
Before my dazed mind could fully come back to me, he pulled up the blanket and carefully covered me.
Then, giving the blanket a soft pat, he left the room.
“Lord Adrian, I apologize. I should have been the one attending to you…”
As soon as Klen left, the maid came in, as if she had been waiting outside.
She quickly noticed that I had already propped myself up and rushed over like the wind to support me.
Of course, I didn’t need her help at all, but before I could refuse, her hands were already there, steadying me.
She even quickly placed a pillow behind my back to make me more comfortable.
“Did you see the healer?”
The word “healer” was enough to make me freeze.
Surely, they weren’t planning to give me more medicine, were they?
I stared at her in silence, and she continued with a gentle smile.
“Your complexion has improved quite a bit.”
So, it’s visible?
Even when I touched my face, I couldn’t tell the difference myself—it was too subtle.
But my mood was definitely different, much lighter.
“I didn’t see the healer, but I do feel a lot better.”
“That’s a relief. I suppose that means Sir Klen’s efforts weren’t completely useless.”
“We’ve brought your meal.”
“…!”
Since they thought I was still unwell, I expected some kind of bland dish—a soup made of mashed beans or pumpkins, or maybe a light stew with barely any solid pieces.
But what came out of the attendant’s trolley was meat.
The bones had been removed, and the meat was cut into bite-sized pieces, seasoned with spices, and stir-fried with vegetables.
Just the sight of it made my mouth water, and I swallowed instinctively.
It was exactly what I craved after moving my body so intensely earlier.
However, it was still quite a heavy dish to serve to someone supposedly ill.
The maid seemed to notice the question in my eyes and turned to glance at the food.
“I was going to prepare bean soup so it wouldn’t burden your stomach, but…”
So I was right.
Then why the sudden menu change?
She frowned as if she still couldn’t believe it, then spoke.
“Sir Klen insisted on changing it to a meat dish.”
“Klen did?”
“I’m sorry. I told him I shouldn’t, but he said if I didn’t want to be punished, I had to do as he said. I had no choice.”
The way she said it, as if she were scolding a picky child, made me chuckle.
I was the one eating, but it was Klen who would get in trouble.
“A-ah, no, it’s fine. I like meat.”
The tray was placed in front of me, and I eagerly picked up a piece of meat with some vegetables, popping it into my mouth.
The juices burst out, and the texture was tender—it was simply delicious.
Even as I chewed with a naturally growing smile, the attendants still looked worried.
One of them even stood nearby holding a cup, ready in case I choked or something went wrong.
I gave them a reassuring smile and kept happily chewing.
Eating something this delicious was great, but… I wondered if Klen’s credibility among the attendants had just taken a sharp hit.
* * *
