An awkward silence followed his question. Raynon was the only one who maintained a calm expression.
“What did you just say?”
I wasn’t the only one questioning my hearing. Amelia was the one who voiced what I wanted to ask.
Carlson, standing beside her, nodded in agreement and focused on Raynan.
“I asked how to take care of someone,” Raynan repeated.
So I hadn’t misheard. It seemed everyone else had the same thought.
Surprise, shock, and curiosity flitted across their faces, though only for a moment.
Drawing on their experience, they quickly composed themselves and put on neutral expressions.
“You’re going to take care of her yourself?”
“Yes.”
Raynan answered Amelia’s question confidently, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
“As I said, Edwin will be with Amelia and Chase.”
“Understood. We’ll make sure he’s well entertained so he won’t have time to worry,” Amelia replied cheerfully.
Without thinking, I raised a hand toward her, as if to stop her from leaving.
“Is something wrong?”
Raynan, noticing my action without even looking, turned around to examine me as soon as I lifted my hand.
“No, it’s not that… I just don’t think you need to personally take care of me.”
“Yes, just a day of rest should be enough,” Carlson agreed, much to my relief.
Feeling supported, I nodded firmly.
“Yes. Honestly, I don’t even think I need a full day to recover.”
“I see. But if you’re leaving early tomorrow morning, it’s better to rest thoroughly today.”
Raynan’s understanding words brought a brief smile to my face—until he added,
“So having someone take care of you will ensure a full recovery.”
“It’s really not necessary! Right, Mr. Carlson?”
“If you insist…” Carlson began, but to my dismay, he continued, “Keep an eye on her temperature, and since she has a slight fever…”
“Mr. Carlson!”
My desperate plea only earned a small cough from him. He seemed to be avoiding my gaze, focusing instead on Raynan.
Apparently, I had no allies in this room.
“If she sweats, you can wipe her down…”
“Wipe her down? And then?”
Raynan glanced at me briefly before urging Carlson to continue. At that moment, Carlson’s eyes briefly met mine.
Wipe me down? Just how uncomfortable was he planning to make me?!
Perhaps Carlson caught the silent protest in my eyes.
“Not her whole body, just her face, hands, or the back of her neck should suffice. If her fever worsens, a cold compress on her forehead would help.”
“Understood.”
Couldn’t he have skipped the wiping part entirely? I slumped my shoulders in resignation. Seeing this, Carlson clicked his tongue softly before adding,
“But in her current state, simply letting her rest should be enough.”
“Exactly. That should be plenty. Let’s leave it at that,” I added quickly.
Amelia, however, nudged Carlson toward the door. Carlson, as if he had been waiting for this, walked out without hesitation.
“Don’t worry about anything else. You two enjoy your time together,” Amelia said before closing the door.
Her words didn’t suit the situation, but Raynan didn’t seem to mind at all.
It was clear she was finding great amusement in all this.
I suddenly remembered Raynan’s comment about her troublesome personality. Maybe I was just being overly sensitive.
“You should lie down properly,” Raynan said.
“Your Grace.”
“Yes?”
“I’m really fine. Just a bit of rest, and I’ll be good as new. Wouldn’t it be better if you spent time with the others or took a break yourself?”
“I’m the one who’s not fine.”
“Pardon?”
Raynan sat in a chair beside the bed, looking down at me.
“I kept you outside for too long yesterday. It’s partially my fault you’re unwell.”
He sounded genuinely apologetic, leaving me with no choice but to nod.
But soon after, regret washed over me for agreeing so easily.
“Do you need anything?”
“No.”
“Alright.”
Every time I shifted even slightly, Raynan immediately stood to check on me.
It was impossible to stay completely still, but even my most cautious movements were detected, as if he had a sixth sense for my presence.
“Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”
As I finally gave in and stood up, Raynan leaned forward again, watching me closely.
Uncomfortable? That was an understatement.
Just moments ago, Raynan had been meticulously wiping my face. His careful and delicate touch was the problem—it never left me.
No, the bigger issue was that the need for such wiping had arisen in the first place.
“Can we put this away now?”
I held up the damp cloth that had been resting on my forehead moments earlier.
“Carlson said it would help. Even if it’s a bit annoying, you should endure it a little longer.”
“He said to use it if the fever went up. Besides, keeping it on like this might actually make it worse.”
“How can you say that when you’re sweating this much?”
“Your Grace, that’s not sweat—it’s water.”
The cloth was dripping wet because it hadn’t been wrung out properly. Naturally, water kept streaming down my face.
“That’s not sweat? Strange. I can’t tell.”
Does he not sweat even during training? If anyone should be confused, it’s me.
“Look at this,” I said, twisting the cloth lightly. Water streamed out in a steady flow. Raynan took the cloth from my hands.
He fumbled with it for a moment, as if deciding what to do, before simply tossing it into the bowl of water.
“Luckily, the blankets didn’t get wet,” he said, taking a dry handkerchief and gently wiping my hands.
“So, does that mean no more damp cloths?”
“Yes. I see now—I should have wrung it out properly. I’ll remember that.”
He muttered this to himself, staring at the bowl of water with a seriousness that didn’t quite fit the situation.
I couldn’t imagine him ever needing to nurse someone again, and I sincerely hoped it wouldn’t be me if he did.
While Raynan reflected on his mistake, I lay back down, only to sit up again almost immediately.
As soon as I moved, Raynan was at my side, supporting me as he asked, “What’s bothering you now?”
“Nothing… I can manage this on my own.”
When I gently declined his help, he looked visibly disappointed.
“I’m just not used to this. I tend to learn quickly, so I’ll get better soon.”
That didn’t sound like him at all. Someone like him shouldn’t need to bother with things like nursing in the first place.
His words almost sounded like he was asking me to give him more time to practice. There was something oddly pitiful about it.
Still, if Raynan did master nursing by the end of the day, I feared I might develop a new illness from the stress.
“Yes, but I’m not seriously ill, so you don’t have to overdo it,” I relented, my resolve softening. It felt wrong to turn down someone showing such genuine concern.
“Alright. I’ll take it easy,” he said, seeming to understand.
Relieved by his answer, I smiled briefly before he asked again, “So, what’s uncomfortable?”
“Oh, I was just going to change my pillow.”
I reached for the pillow I’d been using, intending to swap it with a nearby one, when Raynan spoke in a serious tone.
“Do you prefer something softer? Firmer? Is the height not right? Just say the word, and I’ll have it replaced immediately.”
Didn’t he say he’d take it easy? Come to think of it, this reminded me of a similar experience during horse riding lessons.
“We’ll keep it light today,” he had said, only to take me through rougher terrain at a faster pace than usual.
When we finished far earlier than expected, he casually remarked, “We wrapped up quicker than I thought.”
Then he’d asked if I wanted to take another lap, leaving me frantically shaking my hands in refusal. That day, I began to question his definition of “light.”
Remembering that, I handed him the damp pillow with a wry smile.
“I see.”
The pillow wasn’t the only thing soaked by the dripping cloth. It felt unpleasantly damp even just to touch.
As Raynan examined the pillow, he seemed to understand what I meant.
I quickly lay down with the dry pillow I’d grabbed and closed my eyes.
Maybe sleeping would be the best option. That way, Raynan could stop worrying and rest a bit too.
Even with my eyes closed, I could feel Raynan’s gaze on me. Normally, I’d fall asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, but tonight, his watchful presence made it harder than usual.
What if I couldn’t fall asleep? Would I have to endure his nursing all night while awake?
Worries circled endlessly in my mind.
Thankfully, my fears didn’t come true.
At some point, I drifted off, and when I woke up, it was late afternoon. The gentle sunlight streaming in through the window made me feel at ease.
Despite my earlier concerns, I had slept deeply, and my body felt noticeably lighter.
But something was strange. Even though I was awake, I couldn’t feel Raynan’s usual hovering presence. Considering how attentive he’d been, his absence was surprising.
Curious, I looked around and spotted him sitting in the chair by the bed. His arms were crossed, and his head was tilted forward in sleep.
He looked uncomfortable, but I couldn’t bring myself to wake him. He seemed to be in a deep slumber.
Even from this angle, he looked remarkably handsome.
I suddenly remembered our first meeting. I’d thought he was handsome even then, but fear had overshadowed that impression.
Why had I been so scared of him? Sure, his tone and demeanor could be intimidating, but now I knew he was surprisingly kind.
Maybe that’s why I didn’t feel the same fear anymore. Instead, there was a different kind of tension between us.
He really is good-looking.
Just as I marveled at his features, Raynan’s eyes snapped open.
Had I said that out loud?
Startled, I instinctively covered my mouth with my hands.
Seeing me awake, Raynan leaned forward slowly, reaching out to place his hand on my forehead.
“It seems your fever has gone down.”
“Yes. I feel much better after sleeping,” I replied.
“That’s a relief.”
His hand lingered near my face, brushing away a strand of hair that had stuck to my cheek.
Then, as if tidying my disheveled hair wasn’t enough, his fingers slid down to my neck, brushing against my skin as they adjusted stray hairs clinging there.
His touch sent a shiver through me, though he continued with a serious expression. Finally, he withdrew his hand.
I felt a mix of relief and disappointment as I let out a quiet sigh.
But then, Raynan leaned in even closer.
How far was he planning to go?
I was too flustered to stop him, my mind blank with confusion.
His face drew nearer, and I could see my reflection in his eyes.
At last, I closed my eyes, feeling his breath inch closer.
The space between us seemed to vanish completely.
