The sight of Calix approaching the end of the hallway where the three people were standing overlapped with the soldiers' stern atmosphere, adding a strange sense of intimidation.
Damian asked with a slightly bewildered expression as Calix walked past the hallway and straight down to the first floor as if nothing had happened.
"...Surely you didn’t stay up all night, Your Majesty?"
Calix walked on without replying. As he naturally took a seat at a table in the inn's dining room, the eyes watching him from the end of the hallway followed him down.
Calix picked up the menu, casually flipped through a few pages, and then neatly folded it and set it down.
"I'll order coffee and breakfast."
Then, he immediately turned his gaze toward the three people standing at the end of the hallway.
"Why don't you guys have breakfast too?"
Before he could even answer, Calix called the innkeeper again.
"Three cups of coffee and a glass of milk. That makes four breakfasts."
At a single short remark, the innkeeper bowed at the waist as if he were about to spring up.
"Yes, yes! It is an honor! I will prepare it immediately, Your Majesty!"
With his fingertips trembling in confusion, the owner rushed to the kitchen without even being able to properly clear the menu.
The three people who had come to see Odelia eventually had no choice but to leave the hallway and walk down quietly. However, even as they came down, the atmosphere was strangely awkward.
"As expected, you secured the spot first." A subtle look of defeat crossed Damian's face. Philip coughed unnecessarily and averted his gaze, while young Herse cautiously pressed himself close to his father. All three had rushed over, wanting to protect Odelia, but it appeared the Emperor had already claimed the seat.
Reluctantly, he came down and sat at the table Calix had occupied, but even the Emperor who had offered him the seat said nothing. The atmosphere grew increasingly awkward.
Philip sat up straight and muttered to himself. To think I’d share a meal with the Emperor... I don’t know if I should call this an honor or sit on a bed of thorns.
It was Damian who broke the silence. He crossed his arms, glanced to the side, and spoke.
"Is the condition critical?"
“That’s not it.”
Damian gave a bitter smile as he watched Calix nonchalantly lift his coffee cup and answer. It wasn't even that serious... Then why on earth had he come all the way here?
A moment of silence followed, then young Herse tilted his head, looked at the Emperor, and asked brightly.
"Your Majesty, did you take care of my aunt?"
Calix turned his gaze away for a moment and answered calmly.
"Yes."
"I heard Auntie has a fever, so did you put a wet towel on her forehead?"
"...Yes."
“Can you give her some medicine?”
Calix paused unnoticed. However, he soon nodded with an indifferent expression.
"...Yes."
Immediately after that answer, a short sneeze burst from his mouth.
“Your Majesty!”
The innkeeper carrying the food instantly turned pale.
"I filled the fireplace in the room with firewood... Were you cold? I should get you some more blankets right away."
Calix put down his coffee cup and shook his head briefly.
"It’s not because it’s cold.”
At that one word, the air on the table rippled strangely.
Only Calix sat there nonchalantly. It didn't matter who came. Having already secured his seat, he sat with a relaxed air, as if confident in himself.
***
As soon as Odelia opened her eyes, she stretched out her stiff body. In that short time, she felt as though her body had been washed clean. The energy that had been draining away from the fever had completely vanished, leaving her filled only with hunger.
Just then, somehow knowing, the innkeeper made a sound from beyond the door, saying he had brought a meal.
The owner came inside carrying a large tray, and in his hands was a lavish breakfast spread.
When warm soup, freshly baked bread, and even fruit were neatly arranged on the table, Odelia was a little surprised and opened her eyes wide.
To think they serve meals like this at an inn... this place is much better than she expected.
Odelia did not know that this sumptuous feast was actually not on the menu, but had been prepared by the Emperor through his own instructions.
After finishing a delicious meal, she soaked in the hot water she had filled the bathtub with. She felt refreshed, as if even her old fatigue was being washed away.
Feeling a sense of luxury in the warm water, with her cheeks flushed red, she changed her clothes and opened the door.
"...?"
Imperial soldiers were strictly guarding the hallway.
Is she hallucinating because her fever hasn't gone down yet? Odelia stood there blankly for a moment, staring at them, then rubbed her eyes. The imperial soldiers were still in their places.
As she slowly moved her feet toward the end of the hallway, feeling a bit nervous, an even stranger sight came into view.
In the middle of an unfamiliar inn, four familiar yet puzzled faces were gathered around a long table.
Calix, Damian, Philip, and Herse—four men in total—were sitting around a table, eating. The sight was utterly incongruous, as if colors of vastly different brightness and saturation had been gathered in one place.
The moment Odelia stepped onto the stairs, the first to notice was Calix. He raised his head, and his gaze immediately caught Odelia.
And then, young Herse sprang up from his seat, shouted "Auntie!", ran over, and tightly hugged Odelia around the waist.
Odelia slowly patted the back of Herse, who was wrapped around her waist. The child's body heat was warm, but her gaze was actually fixed on Calix, who was sitting at the edge of the table at the bottom of the stairs.
The Emperor's gaze was already fixed on her.
"Are you feeling a bit better?"
A calm yet strangely close voice flowed out, cutting through the silence of the inn.
"...Yes?"
Odelia opened her eyes wide in surprise and wore a bewildered expression.
And at a memory that surfaced, her mind went blank for a moment. Forgetting even the sense of relief she had felt just moments ago, she froze.
Odelia patted Herse's back to regain her composure and looked at the Emperor for a moment, but eventually her lips met.
"No, surely not... Why are you here?"
"Just because. I happened to spot the carriage you were in while on an inspection tour."
Calix raised his coffee cup and answered calmly, but Odelia was dumbfounded. An inspection right at the start of the New Year? There hadn't been a single word about it during the holiday season.
Just then, Herse chimed in brightly.
"I heard that His Majesty nursed my aunt back to health because she was sick!"
Odelia's face turned pale in an instant, and her eyes wandered aimlessly.
Wait a minute. Then... that, that, surely not...
Did her shocked thoughts show on her face? Calix put down his cup and let out a chuckle, as if he had heard her innermost thoughts. Then, without adding a word, he simply finished his coffee.
Realizing the reality, Odelia's legs gave way, and she slumped straight onto a chair.
"Lady Odelia! Are you feeling dizzy?"
Philip hurriedly stood up and supported her, and Herse also fidgeted, calling out, "Aunt!"
However, Odelia's true feelings were different. She would rather just faint right then and there.
No way, it can't be, it shouldn't be... But no matter how much I think about it, this...
Watching his cup in his fingertips, Calix slowly opened his mouth.
"I'm telling you, Odelia catches colds surprisingly easily."
It was a voice that sounded like teasing, yet simultaneously carried a hint of worry.
***
A short while later, Calix got up. It was remarkable that he had spent the night here, considering his busy schedule as the Emperor.
Outside, it was the realm of biting winter winds. He walked along indifferently, then soon let out a short cough.
"...Cough."
At that sound, Odelia’s footsteps also stopped. Worry, guilt, and an inexplicable anxiety flooded in all at once.
She hurriedly approached, took off the scarf around her neck, and wrapped it around Calix's shoulders.
"Aren't you sure... you have a cold?"
Calix looked down at her for a moment, then let out a chuckle.
"They say it gets better if you move it. Since you got better, it's fine."
It was a playful yet warm tone. Odelia's heart pounded even more unsteadily.
Then, does that mean what happened last night wasn't a dream after all? A certainty flashed through her mind like lightning. A mix of emotions—whether shame or relief—she couldn't tell, and her face flushed hot.
As her face flushed and her breathing quickened, she could not even lift her head. She could only fumble with her fingertips, fiddling with her scarf.
"Aren't you going to tie Odelia's scarf?"
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