There is no flower with one leaf (13)
"Ha..."
They had only just crossed a mountain when the weather changed to early winter. In the distance, Ian could see the snow-covered peaks of the mountains.
It was a day when an ordinary person would have felt cold even wearing a thick coat, but Ian was sweating even though he was only wearing a shirt.
Ian moved his feet quickly, which felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
"Fucking body."
He's only been walking for a few hours carrying a handful of women, and he's already this tired.
He thought he hadn't been slacking off on his training, but was he mistaken?
Ian walked silently, thinking that he would have to increase the intensity of his training as soon as he returned.
His subordinates guessed that the reason he treated Millenia so respectfully was because she was his guardian, but in fact, the reason was not so grand.
Since Millenia became lovers with Oslo, her reputation has fallen into ruin.
Millenia's reputation, especially among the old-fashioned northerners, was so bad that some even said she was unfit to be a guardian.
Knowing that atmosphere, when he first entered the Astrod mansion, Ian gathered his subordinates and told them exactly what he had heard from the Marquis.
It was thanks to Millennia that they were able to secure Montpain.
And he showed his subordinates how to be polite to her.
To impress upon them the fact that she is the guardian and benefactor of Eldern.
Now that he's back, his men will spread the word about Millenia, and she'll soon become Eldern's benefactor.
Ian only wanted one thing.
To give her a solid foundation when she has no one to rely on other than her family.
Wasn't that why Ian agreed to accompany Millenia?
But that's all assuming Millenia arrives safely in Eldern.
'How dare you.'
Ian's eyes burned with anger as he thought of Oslo.
Should I just give up neutrality and support the First Prince?
As Ian was thinking about that, he finally saw the mountain lodge...
Did the men arrive first? White smoke was billowing out of the chimney.
Arriving at the mountain lodge wasn't the end.
To cure Millenia, he must hurry to Eldern Castle. The 'Savior' is there. There is no time to rest.
Ian wiped the sweat running down his nose. His feet, which had been dragging themselves toward the mountain lodge, suddenly stopped.
The surroundings were quiet. He couldn't even hear a word from his subordinates.
Then who is in the mountain lodge?
There was a blanket on the rocking chair in front of the lodge, indicating that someone had used it.
Ian wrapped Millenia in a blanket and carefully sat her down on the chair. With a swish, the longsword was quietly pulled from his waistband.
As Ian approached the window silently, he could see inside through the half-open curtains.
A glass of water on the table, a blanket carelessly thrown over the sofa, a roaring fireplace. It doesn't seem like there were many intruders.
Ian's eyes, holding the sword, held a cold aura.
Just as he was about to grab the front door handle, someone burst open the door and came out.
Shining black hair and purple eyes. Teardrops at the ends of long eyes.
"...!"
Ian's sword stopped abruptly just before the man's nape.
The man seemed completely unaware of the danger. He just stared blankly at Ian.
Soon, a blunt tone leaked out from his plump, red lips that looked like they had been made up.
"What are you doing?"
It was a husky voice that didn't match his appearance at all.
Ian let his sword fall and sighed. The man was the one who he needed more than anyone else right now.
"Why are you..."
He was about to ask, 'Are you here?'
There was no time for small talk or exchanges. Ian suddenly carried Millenia into the lodge.
"She was exposed to the rain for a long time. She fell into the water and almost drowned, but she was barely rescued. I think she threw up all the water, but her fever is bad."
Ian laid Millenia down on the sofa, explaining the situation. The man, who had been taking a step back as if he was not interested, asked rudely.
"But she survived? Her reputation is quite tenacious."
Cold, golden eyes turned to the man.
The man pouted and placed his hand on Millenia's forehead. Soon, his hand became engulfed in a white halo.
"When did she fall into the water?"
"About half a day ago."
"Hmm. Her fever is quite high. She also has pneumonia. Her body is weak to begin with. If we don't treat it properly, she could end up with a cough for the rest of her life."
He straightened his back, having read Millennia's condition just by touching her.
"Do you want to do it with medicine or with power?"
"With power."
"Do you know the value of power?"
"I'll give you whatever you ask for, so hurry."
"Really?"
The man's once calm purple eyes sparkled. His captivating aura grew even stronger.
"Excellent choice, Sir."
He smiled broadly and took Millenia's hand. After a while, the light that started from his hand melted into her entire body.
The blush on Millenia's cheeks, which had been bright red, began to fade. The fever was slowly subsiding.
Only then did Ian let out a deep breath and slump down on the other side of the sofa.
All the muscles that had been tense and stiff all along relaxed at once. The fatigue that he had forgotten came rushing back
"What about the horse?"
"I lost it when I jumped into the water."
"Then how did you bring that woman here?"
"..."
"You came here on foot? Carrying that woman on your back?"
"..."
"Wow, that bastard is poisonous."
Carrying a person on your back on a mountain path that is difficult to walk alone.
It's impossible without monstrous stamina and fierce perseverance. The man shook his head.
"So, who are you?"
Ian leaned his head back against the sofa, his skull bones sticking out like they had been carved out of rock.
"Your colleague."
"That's funny. I don't raise things like that. Humans are meant to live alone and go alone."
Ian chuckled at the man's cynical answer.
He was a peculiar man from the moment he first saw him.
Although he looked like he would seduce anyone regardless of age or gender, he was actually so ascetic that he wouldn't unbutton his shirt even in the middle of summer.
Moreover, he showed off his money like a crazy person. He even put a price tag on every treatment.
So is he so poor that he's broke?
That's ridiculous. How could his adoptive father, the Pope of the Holy Nation of Shancrecia, be poor?
Ian had never seen anyone so incoherent and difficult to understand.
So at first, he thought the man was a scammer.
That's understandable, because nowhere in that alluring appearance did he show any sign of being a 'savior'.
Moreover, he is a guardian who only heals you if you give him money.
There were times when Ian wondered if it was a mistake on God's part that this man was chosen as the 'Savior'.
"I really wonder. Who is this woman that our stone-faced Little Duke is spending so much money to keep her alive?"
"She's the 'savior'... that's it."
"Is she your lover?"
"A guardian like you, Rahon. The one who walks first."
The expression on the man's face disappeared for a moment. His eyes, strangely upturned, turned to Millenia.
"Yeah, I remember now. She's grown so much."
Rahon, who had been mumbling something incomprehensible, pointed to the kitchen with his chin.
"Would you like a cup of tea?"
"How much is it?"
"This mountain lodge is your house. I'll give it to you for free."
Rahon headed to the kitchen. Soon, the savory smell of tea spread throughout the lodge.
Meanwhile, Ian moved Millenia to the bedroom, gave her a quick wash, and then came out to the living room.
Rahon handed him a teacup as he lightly turned his stiff arm.
"Why are you alone? Where did you leave your subordinates?"
"I got cut off in the middle because of something. It should arrive today."
"What about Montpain?"
"Secured."
"Really? Wow, that's great!"
Ian drank his tea while looking at Rahon, who looked genuinely happy.
People always say that Rahon lives alone, but he still tries to cure sick people in some way.
This is why he says that even though he knows, he still doesn't know.
"I was worried because you said it was a forbidden herb, but how did you get it? Do you have enough?"
"The prophet has taken action."
"...Yes?"
Rahon glanced at the bedroom where Millenia was sleeping with a surprised expression.
"I thought she was a great witch because of the great rumors about her. Maybe her personality is better than I thought?"
"She broke up with the Third Prince. Don't be rude."
"That doesn't mean the past is erased."
"You get paid for your treatment, too."
"I'm okay with that."
"Why?"
"My adoptive father is the Pope. One prayer is all it takes."
Ian's brow furrowed.
How can you blaspheme so easily when you have the Pope as your father?
Even though they're been together for half a year and they speak informally to each other, Ian still doesn't know what kind of person Rahon is.
"You..."
As he thought about that, he tried to speak, but his tongue wouldn't turn properly. Ian glared at Rahon.
"What did you do to the tea...?"
No matter how much Ian chewed the tip of his tongue and shook his head, he couldn't shake off the sleep.
After a while, he collapsed on the sofa.
Rahon lifted the teacup dangling from Ian's hand and placed it on the table.
"Good night, Little Duke."
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment