Episode 14
“Yes? Of course.”
Yurián was clearly in a lot of pain. Otherwise, why would he want the medicine fed to him directly? Oh, come to think of it, he did say something about taking medicine somewhere else when it comes to boils. With that thought in mind, my ears perked up for a moment, and I shifted my gaze downwards, probably imagining something inappropriate for the male protagonist.
“Are you embarrassed, Yvonne?”
“…”
Looking at him, feeling like he caught my thoughts, he seemed to be amused. He looked unhappy earlier, but now he appeared cheerful again. The fever reducer probably contained some other medicine.
It was a good thing I also brought a detoxifier.
“First, let’s drink some water. You might get dehydrated.”
“Even water has to be taken orally… Understood. Let’s follow the basics for now.”
Yurián sighed and drank the water in the cup. As he was gulping down the water, the movement of his Adam’s apple looked like a piece of art, reinforcing the notion that he indeed resembled a novel protagonist.
“All done.”
So, I refilled the cup. He looked at me with a subtle expression, and I handed him two pills. Instead of taking them, he held them in his mouth.
“What are you doing? Hurry and eat them.”
Since he seemed unwilling to take them, I pushed the pills into his mouth. Then, he abruptly changed his expression to a cold one and spat out what he had been holding onto his lips.
“What are you doing?”
“Feed me with your hand.”
“I already fed you!”
While Yurián was looking at me straight in the eyes, there was no sign of anything going down his throat. It didn’t seem like an urgent situation, but perhaps the medicine he took had confused his mind.
Guess there’s no choice.
Still, if I wanted to build trust, I had to help him get better.
“All right, once more.”
I handed him two pills again. This time, he held them between his lips. While doing so, he stared at me with eyes that revealed no hint of what he wanted.
I couldn’t force him to spit it out again. So, I used my hand to keep his mouth shut.
I really didn’t want to resort to this method.
“Ugh!”
Thump, thump, thump.
His Adam’s apple was pounded by my fist. I deliberately struck him very hard just above his heart, as a gentle punch wouldn’t cut it. Surprisingly, it seemed to work, and he swallowed the medicine with a grimace.
“What… what is this…!”
“You’ve taken the medicine, so I’ll be on my way!”
As he clutched his throat and beat his chest, I made a quick exit, feeling like I had just experienced ten years’ worth of tension.
But then, I realized if I didn’t properly confront him about this incident, there might be repercussions. So, before opening the door, I turned around and said:
“I’ve helped you get better!”
“Ugh, Yvonne! Ugh…!”
Seeing his critical condition, I rushed up the stairs the moment I opened the door.
* * *
When I returned to the room, Hill was nowhere to be found. I had initially thought of him as a loyal wolf.
“Hill?”
The wolf seemed to be absent from the room.
My room was enormous, and it had various connections like a bathroom, a makeshift wardrobe, and a utility room. With the wolf’s sense of smell, I thought it might be roaming around, sniffing and exploring. So, I sat down on the bed.
“I forgot to give this.”
Come to think of it, I intended to give Yurián a map of the palace. He probably knew the layout well. However, the place where he could inform me was this secret passage. Originally meant for Yurián and Hill to secretly meet after connecting, in reality, it was a loophole. It seems the novel had Yurián aware of this passageway. However, I couldn’t reveal that I knew about it, and he definitely couldn’t dare to leave due to the guards in front of the door. Even if he managed to leave, he would undoubtedly lose against Hill if he was in the palace.
I just hoped they would end up fighting each other and both disappear…
“Kng.”
While contemplating various things, the balcony door suddenly opened, and Hill’s head popped in through the gap.
Could this be it?
“Come here, Hill.”
Upon my words, Hill opened the balcony door and approached. The curtains fluttered around him as he moved, as if gauging my reaction, looking at me strangely.
Is it really a wolf?
Or perhaps, is it a person?
“Where did you go?”
Given the way he nodded before or playfully nuzzled his head against my leg as I sat on the bed, it almost seemed like he understood my words. I recalled that he was a male when I petted him last time.
“I miss Dad.”
The one who gave him to me was Hildebrandt. If he is a person, he might be a guard, right? Or could there be something else?
Is he here to monitor if Yurián is being well-educated?
Come to think of it, among the Espers, there was an ability to communicate with animals. Sharing visions or sharing such sensory experiences.
“What is Dad doing now, Hill?”
“Kng.”
“I miss Dad because you look like him.”
Since I just needed to endure this for a month, it was inevitable, albeit melancholic.
“It would be nice if you could have tea time with me every day. Don’t you think?”
I combed through his bushy mane and petted him, feeling like an allergy might develop due to his fur. Despite having an Esper with telepathic abilities attached, there was a way to sever the connection between them.
I pulled the bell rope. The door opened with a knock.
“You called, Your Highness.”
“Yeah. I want to rest now. Can you help me take off my clothes?”
“Yes.”
When Evony answered like that, the maids entered the room. stroking Hill’s head, he looked at me. If the communication is severed, surely the original wolfish nature would emerge.
It should be fine as long as Evony is here, even if it’s dangerous.
The maids approached, and they started to undress me. The outer garment I was wearing had many hooks, making it impossible for me to take it off alone. It felt relieving when the hook on my back was undone, allowing my breath to flow freely.
The maids also removed the gloves with their hands and loosened the clothes in various ways. Then, they took off the accessories on my head.
When I looked at the wolf with eyes that seemed to ask if it would continue communicating, the wolf, seemingly oblivious, sat nearby like a well-behaved puppy. Seeing its tail wagging, I wondered if I had misunderstood, tripping over my own feet.
Waiting for them to loosen the corset and release my back, the sensation of my body shaking uncomfortably made me impatient. The tightening and loosening of the corset were never pleasant. However, I couldn’t go without it and wear the dress.
“We have prepared the bathwater.”
“Oh? …Should Hill join me too?”
“He has already bathed, but if Your Highness wishes, he can join.”
Is this really a telepathic communication with an esper? Is it just a companion wolf?
“Shall we go, Hill?”
He followed as I called.
“Let’s go.”
Hill seemed to be just a wolf after all. Perhaps I was too wary. Is he trying to awaken it as a companion animal again, like last time?
Guiding Hill, we headed to the bathroom. The bathroom was a beautiful place with a pink marble floor and a glass ceiling. Steam was rising from the tub inside, and the maids were already in place, waiting.
“We will continue to undress you, Your Highness.”
“Okay.”
In a moment of doubt, a response came when they said they would undress completely. Hill turned his head and seemed reluctant to enter through the door.
Indeed, he wasn’t just a wolf. Maybe the one in telepathic communication was a female esper, not a male esper, judging by the current behavior. No, maybe this guy is an esper himself.
“Evony, stay close.”
“Yes.”
Evony is also an esper. So, she is my attendant maid. She may not be as advanced as YYurián, but she is an intermediate esper. Moreover, her ability seems to be enhancement of physical abilities.
However, unlike YYurián, Evony’s side effect is not a craving for blood. Her side effect is overeating.
After roughly taking off the negligee and leaving it on the chair, I walked towards the bath. The maids were waiting, towels in hand. Looking back, the wolf was crouched, covering his eyes with his tail.
“Let’s start.”
“Yes.”
It’s not just about taking a bath in the bathroom. Generally, I also receive massages and skin care. I was about to approach the provided comfortable chair.
Bang!
When I looked at Evony, she gestured to the maids behind me.
“Come here, Hill. Stay nearby.”
“Whimper…”
His massive body seemed to shudder somewhere, as if he was scared. It was amusing to see him trembling like that. In that respect, he indeed seemed more like a dog than a wolf.
“Your Highness!”
“Princess!”
The man’s voice sounded urgent, probably because of this wolf.
“Who is it?”
“The captain of the knights!”
“Come in.”
“Yes?”
Judging by how faint his voice was, he was undoubtedly standing in front of my door.
“I’m busy right now. If you have something to say, come to this side of the door.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As I sat in the comfortable chair, a maid started to trim her nails. Then, she poured massage oil on my back and began to knead it with her hands.
“It’s an urgent matter, Your Highness.”
“What is it?”
