The Emperor put down the tray containing the medicine and sat down next to me.
The situation where Nike and the Emperor ended up sitting opposite each other, with me lying down between them.
'Oh!'
I glanced back at Nike because I had something on my mind.
Sure enough, he sprang up.
In an awkward, slightly foolish posture.
The Emperor looked up at Nike.
“Sit down. I only came to check on Young Lady for a moment. I’ll be out soon.”
"No."
Nike's voice sounded a bit cold.
Actually, it's probably just that he was flustered.
“...Please stay.”
Having said that, Nike walked out of the small room as nonchalantly as possible.
I could see everything, even the way he was limping with a bent back.
'Don't laugh!'
I quickly covered my mouth with both hands, afraid the corners of my mouth would show.
At the sound of a fluttering, fortunately, the Emperor took his eyes off Nike and looked at me worriedly.
“Why is there a rat?"
The situation where Nike and the Emperor ended up sitting opposite each other, with me lying down between them.
'Oh!'
I glanced back at Nike because I had something on my mind.
Sure enough, he sprang up.
In an awkward, slightly foolish posture.
The Emperor looked up at Nike.
“Sit down. I only came to check on Young Lady for a moment. I’ll be out soon.”
"No."
Nike's voice sounded a bit cold.
Actually, it's probably just that he was flustered.
“...Please stay.”
Having said that, Nike walked out of the small room as nonchalantly as possible.
I could see everything, even the way he was limping with a bent back.
'Don't laugh!'
I quickly covered my mouth with both hands, afraid the corners of my mouth would show.
At the sound of a fluttering, fortunately, the Emperor took his eyes off Nike and looked at me worriedly.
“Why is there a rat?"
"No...."
I'm holding back my laughter.
The Emperor glanced back at Nike after he had left, sighed, and spoke.
"He's acting like that because he doesn't like seeing me right now."
"That's not it."
I could not bring myself to say that your son ran away because of a physical reaction that was too healthy to hide.
I went to the trouble of rewinding time to escape an embarrassing situation, so I can't get caught.
Instead, I told him.
“No, Your Majesty. The Prince is very worried about you. In fact, as soon as you came to me, His Highness asked where and how you were hurting.”
“...”
"I heard that he asked Your Majesty, but you didn't give him a proper answer."
The Emperor paused.
“I heard it from Mr. Lemon, and since the Prince was curious, I told him. I apologize for speaking on my own.”
“...No, it’s fine.”
“Thank you for understanding. And, to hear that you heard the fact that I have supernatural abilities...”
"Ah, really."
The Emperor spoke in embarrassment.
“But don’t worry. Just as I have guarded Nike’s secrets with my life, your situation will never leak out, Young Lady.”
“I’m not worried. I didn’t ask because I was worried. Now, Your Majesty and I...”
Feeling a little embarrassed, I pulled the blanket all the way up to my chin and timidly asked.
“...Aren’t we family?”
The Emperor blinked his eyes.
“Ahem. Anyway, I don’t mind. Besides, Your Majesty needs to know so that if you fall ill in the future, I can cure you.”
“...”
The Emperor, who had been looking at me for a moment, sighed, turned his gaze away, and spoke.
“Thank you for worrying about me. But it wasn’t an illness serious enough to worry about.”
"There is no illness that isn't serious. I heard you had been unwell for quite some time. Now, please eat comfortably and sleep without worry. I am so glad I could be of help."
“...”
The Emperor looked back and forth as if he did not know how to respond to my words.
I was fascinated by the sight.
'They look alike.'
As expected, it seems they're father and son for nothing.
I laughed because the facial expression and behavior that come out when embarrassed are exactly the same as Nike's.
It feels like such a waste that they spent their entire lives in a lord-vassal relationship rather than father and son, despite being so alike.
"Stay healthy, Father."
I quietly reached out from under the blanket and took the Emperor's hand.
“Even now, you should do the things you couldn’t do with the Prince. Like a father and son.”
This time, he looked straight at me. And he smiled softly.
“...Thank you.”
"It's nothing. Please let me know if you have any other health issues. You have to live a long, long time. You need to take care of your grandchildren, after all~."
“...?”
The Emperor flinched.
What?
Weren't middle-aged men supposed to like it when you talked about their grandchildren?
I guess I went too far. Cancel, cancel.
But this time, there was no Nike to let me go back.
“Haha, did you misunderstand? I was referring to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Since there has been no news from him yet. I pray every day that the next heir to the throne will be born so that the Imperial Family can find stability...”
“Ah, really. Thanks.”
The Emperor smiled awkwardly.
I was impressed by my quick reflexes.
At this point, I feel like I could survive just fine even without something like regression.
***
When Alphonse came out after finishing a rather long conversation.
"Father."
Nike, who was finishing fixing his broken cabin door, approached while taking off his work gloves.
"I'm sorry."
"...What?"
"I didn't know Father was ill. I was thoughtless."
"Haha."
Alphonse let out a hollow laugh.
“How would you know when I didn’t say anything? And I’m telling you, it wasn’t that serious.”
"Even so, I will pay attention from now on."
"Did Young Lady tell you to say it like this?"
“...”
Nike remained silent. It seemed to be true.
"But I mean it".
"Fine. I'm not a father with the decency to live off your worries."
Even as he said that, Alphonse was secretly happy.
It feels like the wall that has built up between them over a lifetime has crumbled a little.
"And please return to the palace when you wish, Father. I acted too hastily."
Alphonse stared intently at Nike's face.
The son made eye contact for a moment, then nodded obediently.
"It is true that Vania ordered it."
“...”
Of course.
"You said it might be uncomfortable to look at Sir Ryan's face."
Alphonse chuckled.
Wow, you're really sharp.
That was the very reason why, although he had decided to return to the palace, he was a little afraid.
If he goes back now, he'll probably have to see Ryan's face.
"We will return as soon as day breaks. Father, please come when it is convenient for you."
"Nike."
Alphonse grabbed his son as he was about to leave after finishing his words.
"Is it good?"
"...”
The son seemed to think for a moment about what was being asked, then soon understood and nodded.
"... Yes."
He lowered his gaze as if embarrassed and answered quietly, his ears and cheeks flushed.
Is this really the son I know?
Alphonse was fascinated and delighted by the sight of Nike, which he had never seen before.
“Which part??”
“...She is kind and pretty. Affectionate. Small and cute... and her way of speaking is gentle. Also...”
“...”
"Ah, I can't really put it into words."
...It was going so well?!
Alphonse was bewildered, yet deeply sympathized with Nike's feelings.
He was wondering what kind of woman could possibly change a son as stiff as a stone like this.
Because Alphonse understood perfectly after only half a day of meeting Vania and exchanging words.
His son couldn't help but fall deeply for that young lady.
"Yeah, it looks good."
For the first time in a long while, Alphonse affectionately placed his hand on his son's shoulder.
"Love and cherish her."
"Yes."
“Well, I’m sure you’ll manage on your own. But the look in your eyes... it looked like you’d sell out your own country for the young lady.”
“...”
Alphonse patted Nike's shoulder and left.
Then.
Nike's eyes, left behind, were shaking as if in an earthquake at the playful words his father had tossed out.
“...You’d sell your own country for the young lady.”
It was true to some extent, so he couldn't laugh...
***
Late at night.
Nike and I decided to return as soon as day broke. Thus, it was the first and last night we would spend here.
“If we go back just the two of us after only one day, Dad will feel guilty for no reason, won’t he?”
“...”
I thought of Ryan.
"That’s also the reason I said I would absolutely never come here with him..."
“...”
Ryan had said that the Emperor would surely be tormented by trauma if he saw his face.
After all, Ryan is the one who resembles his father the most among the brothers.
"I need to hurry back and cheer up the sulking lion."
“...”
But it feels like I'm the only one talking since earlier.
A small room lit by a few candles.
“...”
“...”
Nike is standing with his back to me, having opened the linen closet. His hair was wet, still damp after washing.
I lay down with my chin resting on my hand and leisurely gazed at his back.
My man, frozen for the past five minutes, staring into the empty linen closet.
“Would we have any blankets? There are only three rooms in total.”
“...”
There is no reply.
There are three rooms in this cramped cabin.
Unless we were going to sleep in the kitchen with the fireplace, since there were five of us, we had to sleep at least two people in each of the two rooms.
Normally, I would have had the room to myself, but after I had a nosebleed, I was ordered to remain in bed and receive close care.
There is no one to attend to you, so wouldn't it be a big problem if you fell ill all alone?
So, fortunately, the older men didn’t think much of the fact that her boyfriend, Nike, was staying by her side.
So, even after putting young men and women in the same room, it seemed they didn't even imagine that they would do anything wicked.
Ah. Of course, I'm not saying I'm doing anything wrong.
"Are you going to sleep standing up?"
“...”
Only then did Nike turn around. I threw off the blanket and patted the spot next to me.
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