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Chapter 13
Astein was visibly flustered. He hadn’t expected Eluciana to be this forward.
“Lucy. Let go of my leg.”
“I’ll let go once I’m done, so don’t waste your strength.”
Astein bit his lip, watching Eluciana desperately clinging to his leg.
“Stop it.”
“I said relax, will you?”
“Lucy.”
A single sock lying on the floor only added to Astein’s confusion.
‘No way… she doesn’t actually plan to touch my foot, does she?’
What was nothing to Eluciana was enough to send Astein into a panic.
To him, showing his feet—regardless of gender—was akin to baring his skin.
The problem was that Eluciana didn’t seem to care about that at all.
“This won’t do. If you’re going to be stubborn, then I have no choice.”
She let go of Astein’s leg and spoke.
“Stay exactly like that, got it? Don’t move an inch!”
Sitting right next to him, Eluciana opened the lid of a blue jar. With a triumphant smile, she scooped out a generous amount of ointment with the attached applicator.
Astein looked puzzled as she lowered her head.
And then—he felt it. A cold, sticky substance touched the top of his foot. There was no doubt it was a special ointment.
Astein’s whole body stiffened.
“…!”
“See? You said you were fine, but this side’s a mess. And you called this okay?”
“D-Don’t touch that, it’s gross.”
“Gross? It’s soft and squishy. Nothing gross about it.”
“…!”
Eluciana spread his toes and carefully applied the ointment between them. Then, without hesitation, she pulled off his remaining sock and applied more ointment.
“Hey, I told you not to move. If you move, I’ll climb on top of your legs.”
“…What?”
“So stay still. It’ll be over soon.”
Swipe, swipe, swish.
Despite saying it’d be quick, Eluciana took her time, thoroughly applying the ointment. She even scooped out more when the first batch wasn’t enough.
Each time the warm ointment spread across his feet, Astein flinched—but he didn’t move.
Because he feared she might really climb onto his legs.
“All done.”
Straightening up, Eluciana beamed.
“How is it? Feels better, right? You’ve used this before, so you know how well it works—it’s a special ointment from the temple. Pretty great, huh?”
Astein, face red and flustered, nodded silently. The dull pain had completely vanished, just as she’d said.
Almost as if his leg had been amputated.
‘Amputated…?’
Confusion flickered across his face. He had momentarily forgotten what this ointment was.
Then it hit him—a tingling sensation started spreading from his toes. The ointment worked incredibly fast, just as she’d claimed.
From his feet, to legs, thighs, then up to his waist… the effect climbed rapidly, reaching his fingers and even his heart.
His limbs had gone numb in an instant.
Thanks to his powerful regenerative ability, his heart wouldn’t stop. But he couldn’t stop the paralysis.
Oblivious, Eluciana casually closed the jar.
“You’re not really supposed to use this much, but I used a whole bunch just for today. So be grateful, okay?”
“…!”
“Now, get some sleep. You had a rough day because of me. You’ll feel much better after a nap.”
She got up from the bed. Astein still didn’t move at all.
After placing the ointment back in the nightstand drawer, Eluciana turned around to look at him.
Then tilted her head.
‘Hmm?’
Seeing Astein still as a statue, she finally started to worry.
‘Was I too forceful? Maybe he’s sulking…’
She had barged into his room, pulled out the ointment, and treated him—all without asking.
From his perspective, he had every right to be upset.
Eluciana hesitantly approached and called out softly.
“Hey… Aste? Was I too rude today?”
She lightly touched his shoulder.
“If I made you uncomfortable, I’m sorry. I was just really worried abou—huh?”
Her eyes widened as Astein suddenly slumped to the side.
He had fallen over, arms hugging his knees, completely motionless.
“…!”
She gulped, staring at him now curled up like a ball on the bed.
She didn’t know what happened, but she was sure it was her fault.
Those crimson eyes were glaring at her with intense resentment.
Gingerly, Eluciana helped sit him back up.
“I-I’m sorry. I must’ve done something wrong again. Was it too much ointment? Haha… What’s going on? Are you okay? N-no, wait. I’ll go get someone. Just hang on, okay?”
Panicking, she babbled as she bolted from the room.
***
‘Ugh…’
At some point, Astein had fallen asleep. He opened his eyes with a grimace at the unpleasant sensation.
He glanced down to see something dark moving near his legs.
‘What the…? No, more importantly—’
His brows twitched.
He remembered being paralyzed, sitting upright. But now he was lying in bed.
He slowly pushed himself up.
“Oh! Aste, you’re awake?”
Eluciana rushed over to check on him.
Apparently, that “dark thing” was just her moving around by his legs.
“How do you feel? Does anything hurt?”
Astein’s gaze narrowed. He noticed someone else was in the room too.
Eluciana, noticing his expression, quickly pulled Trisha closer to her side.
“The doctor said you were just asleep, but I couldn’t believe it. So I asked Trisha to stay with me. Are you really okay?”
“The doctor said… I was sleeping?”
“Yeah.”
‘There’s no way they didn’t recognize the paralysis symptoms. Why would they lie?’
With that much ointment, it wouldn’t be strange if his heart had stopped. Yet they said he was just asleep?
‘Suspicious.’
Frowning, Astein fell into thought. Trisha, annoyed by the silence, cut in with a huff.
“All this fuss over a few bruised toes. Why push yourself so hard in the first place? Do you know how worried our lady was because of you?”
“Hey! Trisha, you were even more worried than me just a bit ago.”
“W-When did I? I was just concerned that you might get hurt because of a guy with no manners!”
Astein set the mystery aside for now and slowly sat up, staring at Trisha.
His crimson eyes scanned her coldly, like they could see right through her.
“I know very well, Trisha.”
Trisha, who had been waving her hands to deny Eluciana’s claim, froze in surprise.
“Wow, listen to him. So you do know? Then you were faking being hurt?”
“You misunderstood. I meant I know how much Lucy cares about me.”
“…What?”
“Thank you for your concern, Trisha. But I’d like to rest now.”
His polite tone somehow felt icy. Trisha suppressed her rising irritation, rubbing her arms as goosebumps appeared. Then she turned to Eluciana and gently tugged her arm.
“My lady, let’s go. He said he needs rest.”
“O-oh. Aste? Then… rest well. I’ll head out.”
Eluciana reluctantly followed Trisha toward the door. But Astein called out.
“Are you really leaving?”
“…Huh?”
“Could you… stay with me until I fall asleep?”
Moisture welled beneath his downcast eyes, looking heartbreakingly vulnerable. Eluciana felt like if she left, he might cry alone.
So she nodded immediately.
“O-okay. If you’re comfortable with that—”
“My lady, no.”
“…Why?”
Trisha sighed, stepping in front of her.
“That kind of thing is my job. If you’re worried about him, I’ll stay. You go get some rest.”
She was trying to see Astein in a better light, but the grudge she held deep down hadn’t vanished.
‘Just the fact that he left a huge bruise on her face is unforgivable.’
And now he wanted her to personally watch over him while he slept?
‘Ha! Unbelievable, Astein.’
Trisha gently pulled Eluciana back and turned to him.
“I can stay, right? Astein?”
“…Will you be alright?”
Astein looked up at her with a cold smile. Just a faint curve of the lips—but it sent a chill down her spine.
