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Chapter : 29
Suddenly, a conversation I had with Virt came to mind.
“—Are there any places where you feel dizzy or unwell? You haven’t drawn much blood, but even so, taking blood periodically without medical necessity isn’t good. Also, it seems like you’ve been too focused on practicing magic recently. If your mana gets exhausted, you could experience a serious fever.”
“Mm~. I’ll see you next time~.”
Right. I just brushed off what he said.
A fever from mana exhaustion.
Honestly, I had somewhat prepared myself for it.
I did push myself too hard while filling the magic circles with mana.
Even after that, I reduced my sleep to focus on work, and I didn’t give my mana enough time to recharge properly because I was practicing new magic.
So my body held on for as long as it could, but eventually, the battery ran out.
Well, it’s not a bad experience.
It’s good to know the limits of this body.
Since Virt knows my situation to some extent, he must have taken appropriate measures.
Having a doctor nearby is definitely convenient.
Though I might hear some scolding…
Since my mind had cleared somewhat, I slowly opened my eyes.
My eyes felt hot, as if burning, maybe because the fever hadn’t fully subsided yet.
Looking at myself lying on the bed, it seemed someone had carefully moved me from my desk to the bedroom.
I feel dizzy.
The room was dark except for a single table lamp on the nightstand.
Was it already night? How much time had passed?
As I tried to move my arms to sit up, a gentle force held me back.
“Stay lying down.”
When I lifted my head with blurry eyes, a handsome man with black hair and gray eyes was looking down at me, his face filled with concern.
I slowly blinked and opened my mouth.
“Anyway—”
“Mm, Aeni.”
He answered my attempt at conversation and wiped my face with a cool towel.
Only then did I realize my whole body was soaked with sweat.
My body’s worse off than I thought.
I thought I’d feel better after a bit of rest…
Mana exhaustion was far more frightening in its aftereffects than I had expected.
I’ll have to be careful from now on.
“If you’re tired, you can sleep longer.”
Harton whispered this while gently stroking my head.
The orange light cast shadows across his face.
I stared blankly at him and whispered softly,
“When did you get here?”
“Not long ago. I rushed here as soon as I got the notification from the ring, but it still took two days.”
Why didn’t the Tower mages make a teleportation circle for humans?
Harton muttered in a grim voice.
But since Harton himself is immune to magic, he wouldn’t have been able to use a teleportation circle for humans anyway.
Two days, you say?
“So it’s been two days since I collapsed?”
I had thought it had been only about a day.
There was still so much work to do; I couldn’t lie here.
As I tried to get up again, Harton immediately stopped me.
“You need to rest more.”
“But…”
“Aeni, don’t worry me any more.”
“Worry?”
I unconsciously repeated.
“You worried about me?”
“Of course. How could I stand by while you’re sick?”
I tried to think through my groggy mind.
Right, Harton Saind is completely powerless against Aeni Nasel.
So if I said I was sick, it made sense that he would rush over in one bound and take care of me with such devotion.
It was an entirely predictable scenario, yet it felt unfamiliar.
Nursing…
When I closed my mouth, Harton didn’t speak either.
Instead, he carefully wiped the sweat off my face.
I watched him and slowly closed my eyes again.
It’s the first time someone has taken care of me while I was sick.
In my previous life, I always had to endure alone.
Even after earning money, if I got sick, I’d go straight to a hospital—I could never just rest while being nursed by someone.
When I was very little… I think I used to envy seeing my older brothers being cared for by my stepmother.
But that kind of care had never been allowed for me, so I had given up long ago.
And now…
I get to experience it only after coming to a completely different world.
“Aeni, don’t worry about anything now. Just rest.”
Harton whispered kindly.
His caring voice felt strangely unfamiliar.
This isn’t something that suits me.
With that thought unconsciously in my mind, I fell into a deep sleep.
When I opened my eyes again, it was already daytime.
I sat up and stretched my upper body.
Hmm~ I slept well~
Just to be sure, I touched my forehead and felt a lukewarm temperature.
My body felt light too; the fever had completely subsided.
Huh?
Naturally, I looked to the side and saw Harton dozing off in a chair.
He was slouched at an angle, and his face looked rather haggard—he must have been worried a lot while I was sick.
He stayed by my side the whole time.
I reached out and brushed the dark circles under his eyes.
Harton stirred awake and quietly looked at me.
I smiled at him gently.
“Good morning.”
Harton blinked repeatedly and then slowly lifted the corners of his mouth.
“Good morning… wait!”
He jumped up from the chair and quickly checked on me.
“Are you in pain anywhere? Even if not exactly sick, any discomfort? Oh, your memory! Is it okay?!”
Watching him ask all these questions while placing his hand on my forehead made me laugh.
“I’m not in pain. My fever’s gone, nothing’s uncomfortable, and my memory…”
Harton paused and swallowed hard.
I looked into his anxious gray eyes and said cheerfully,
“I remember that the handsome man in front of me is my boyfriend~.”
“Haa, Aeni Nasel…”
Hearing me say it, he must have realized I was fully recovered.
He sighed deeply.
I quietly watched him, then shuffled closer and rested my head on his arm.
“Thank you, Harton. For staying by my side the whole time.”
Looking up at him slightly, I spoke sincerely.
“I missed you so much.”
“!”
Harton’s cheeks flushed red.
He looked at me shyly, then very slowly reached out and stroked my cheek.
“I was so worried about you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You really aren’t sick anymore, right?”
“Yes, I’m completely fine.”
He raised a small smile at my answer.
The mood was softening, but then—
Huh?
Harton held my cheek gently and moved it to the side.
Then, with a face full of things he wanted to say, he spoke.
“Now, let’s have a proper conversation about what happened.”
“Hahaha.”
As expected, you can’t get your way with just charm.
I laughed and pulled back from leaning on him.
Harton flinched but quickly steadied himself.
Right, I needed to meet Harton and persuade him at some point anyway.
So now was a good timing.
Just as I was about to organize my thoughts and speak—
Rumble—
An unexpected sound echoed in the bedroom.
From my stomach.
“Oh my.”
I must be hungry.
I hadn’t eaten anything while I was sick…
I probably haven’t eaten in over two days.
As I mindlessly looked at my stomach,
Jingle jingle jingle—!
Harton roughly shook the call rope next to the bed to summon the maids.
“Did you call?”
Elin, Belin, and Selin rushed into the bedroom with tense faces.
Harton commanded solemnly:
“Prepare a meal immediately. Since it’s for a patient, take special care, ensure it’s delicious, and get it out as fast as possible!”
“Yes!”
The sisters responded energetically.
They immediately disappeared as if lightning had struck, their expressions just as serious.
“The easiest-to-digest foods!”
“It must taste good!”
“What can be ready the fastest?!”
Thump thump thump—!
Harton muttered behind them.
“A satisfactory answer. But… were they always this loyal?”
Of course not.
It’s all thanks to my diligent training.
And Harton, you’ll soon be like that too~.
