BOMW 49

Feeling somewhat strange, Perwin stood still on the spot. He had already reached the front of the small building where the imperial physician resided, after turning corner after corner. It would take quite a while to walk back to where Irwen was. Her shining blue eyes flickered before his eyes.

‘Surely, nothing happened, right?’

Just before he left her side, he had noticed the Second Princess, Celia, fidgeting and hiding near the bushes by the pond. He had considered calling the princess out from the bushes but then decided against it. Since she was still a young princess of only five years old, he didn’t think anything would happen if he left Irwen alone with her. Moreover, he thought it would be good if the innocent princess and Irwen became friends through this opportunity. Of course, he only realized later that this was his mistake, having completely failed to consider Celia’s stubbornness and jealousy.

　 *** When Perwin opened the heavy wooden door and entered, the pungent smell of medicinal herbs struck his nose. A young nobleman, rising from a bed on one side, was rubbing his pale, agonized face. His body heaved with heavy sobs, almost like he was throwing a tantrum.

“Can’t I go back and have just ten more drinks? If it’s not alcohol, I can’t possibly endure this suffering.”

“Not even ten cups, Viana Viscount. You must abstain from alcohol today. Otherwise, your stomach will churn and you might even start bleeding.”

“Please, Sir Accuret, allow me just one drink. I can’t bear to see her next to another man without drinking…”

“Didn’t you collapse from drinking too much? Well, if you truly wish to experience collapsing again, I won’t stop you. There is a famous saying that experience is the best teacher, after all.”

The doctor, who indifferently organized the medicinal herbs with his back turned, didn’t look a day over thirty. His name was Emil Accuret. Pushing up his gold-rimmed glasses perched on his straight nose bridge, he had been recognized for his skill despite his young age and received a title just two years after starting work as an imperial physician. Perwin glanced at Viana Viscount and asked.

“Is the examination not finished yet?”
“It’s finished now. Viscount, you may leave now.”
“Understood. Your Grace, I shall take my leave first.”

Where had the bravado he showed earlier in front of Emil gone? Viana Viscount politely bid farewell to Perwin and left. As the door closed, Perwin shrugged his shoulders.

“Why was he acting like that? He’s usually quiet. He must have drunk quite a bit.”
“It seems he’s having quite a headache over a woman. By the way, what brings Your Grace here?”

Emil observed Perwin’s body here and there.
“You don’t seem to be hurt anywhere.”
“It’s not me, it’s my wife who is unwell.”
“The Duchess?”
Emil tilted his head and asked.
“To my knowledge, she doesn’t have any major ailments.”
“She said she felt nauseous.”
“Nauseous?”

A brief silence fell. Perwin met Emil’s amber eyes. Those large, cat-like eyes hidden behind his glasses seemed to see right through him.

“You need to explain the circumstances, Your Grace. Did she feel nauseous after eating something, or was her stomach already upset from home, or perhaps she felt nauseous after smelling a flower scent?”

Perwin pondered whether he needed to explain everything to Emil. He tried to kiss her, but she refused him, saying she felt nauseous. Did he have to say all that? His pride was hurt, but for Irwen’s health… He moved his lips slightly.

“I tried to kiss Irwen, and she said she felt nauseous.”

The words came out in less than two seconds. Emil seemed to understand instantly and nodded immediately.
“Ah, so just before physical contact with you, Your Grace, she said she felt nauseous and pushed you away.”

As if his shame had been exposed, Perwin’s face instantly turned bright red.
“Were there any such signs before?”
“…None at all.”
“But it was specifically today, right before a kiss? This is…”
Without a single hesitation, Emil declared.
“They say that’s just a woman’s caprice. The Lady did not wish to receive Your Grace’s kiss.”
“Irwen dislikes me?”
“Or perhaps it’s a period of boredom.”

Perwin plopped down onto a nearby chair. His pale face was now completely devoid of color. His eyes, the only part red on his stark white face, were moist, as if they might shed tears at any moment. Seeing Perwin, who had never shown any expression even when seriously injured on numerous battlefields, like this made Emil flustered for the first time in his life.

“My, I can’t even joke with you. Please get up immediately. If people found out I made the Empire’s hero, Sir Kalail, faint, imagine the beating I’d get.”
“You were joking? About the boredom?”
“Boredom, what nonsense. Who would believe it’s a period of boredom seeing you two, passionate like a pair of wolves?”
“Then what does it mean that Irwen refused my kiss?”
“I am not here for relationship counseling, Your Grace, but to provide medical opinions.”

Finally, Perwin wiped his moist eyes and stood up. He seemed not to have fully recovered from the shock, but he managed to pull himself together and spoke coldly.
“If you don’t give me an accurate diagnosis soon, I don’t know what I’ll do to you right here. If you want to make up for that joke, hurry up and give me a proper diagnosis.”
“Yes, how could I refuse? I am also curious about the Lady’s condition.”

Emil took out numerous books from the shelves and began flipping through them. For a while, only the sound of turning pages could be heard. Perwin headed towards the window leading to the corridor. His face was flushed to the roots of his hair, and he fanned himself meaninglessly. His heated face wouldn’t cool down easily. The emotions he felt when rejected for a kiss for the first time came back to life. His insides were burning. No matter how unwell she felt, this feeling of being rejected by her was truly… the worst. Emil’s dry voice saved him, who was lost in his thoughts.

“Don’t jump to strange conclusions on your own, come here, Your Grace.”

As Perwin went to his side, Emil spoke to him with a serious expression.
“First, it would be best to bring the Duchess here. I will see her myself and prescribe medicine.”
“Is it that serious?”

Perwin’s face instantly darkened. Until he saw Emil’s eyes glinting behind his glasses.
“No, on the contrary, it might be a joyous occasion. If perhaps the Lady is pregnant, it could be seen as a sign of morning sickness.”
“Pregnancy?”
“Yes. Originally, feeling nauseous is a representative symptom of morning sickness.”

　 *** Perwin quickened his pace. He needed to bring Irwen to Emil quickly. Once he brought her, Emil would diagnose the pregnancy using the accurate methods he had established based on data from examining numerous women. Emil was a doctor of a different caliber than Teacher Dülfarî, so if he examined her, the accuracy could be guaranteed. His heart raced, wanting to know the results already.

“I hope it’s really pregnancy.”

Clenching his fists, he moved his steps. Could it be that the dream he had that time with Sir Doveray was a prophetic dream? Does that mean she’ll give birth to twin sons? What if the twins take all of Irwen’s love, surpassing me? Do I need to show my secret weapon of affection? Perwin was already jealous of the unborn twins, but his sunken heart instantly bounced back. He was filled with anxiety and anticipation, hoping Irwen would be happy to hear this news. Then. He ran into the Emperor, walking without attendants.

“Your Majesty.”
“Perwin? What are you doing here?”
“My wife said she wasn’t feeling well, so I was just getting some medicine for her.”

The Emperor swept back his hair tiredly.
“I’ve told the other lords that I’ve given you full authority. You take responsibility and conclude the ball neatly. Even if Sivelombe tries to extend the time, don’t allow it.”
“It’s a place to enjoy, why don’t you enjoy yourself a bit more, Your Majesty?”
“Didn’t the Empress leave the ball early because she was unwell? How could I possibly stay here and enjoy myself then?”
“Didn’t you say it was just a seasonal cold?”

They had announced that at the meeting held this week. At Perwin’s question, the Emperor’s face darkened sharply.
“It’s not an ordinary cold. Of course, we need to observe her condition a bit more.”

The Empress, the eldest daughter of Count Onorin, had been famous for her weak health since her maiden days. After giving birth, her physical weakness had progressively worsened. Perwin silently bowed his head.
“She will recover. Please don’t worry.”
“Right. You should go now.”

The Emperor quickly passed by Perwin. Perwin failed to notice that the Emperor was heading to the imperial physician’s office. He hurried his steps and stopped by the ballroom for a moment. Marquis Celestin, who had been standing near the head table looking anxious, greeted him happily upon seeing him.

“His Majesty has delegated authority to you.”
“I know. But first, I need to take Irwen to Sir Accuret.”
“Is something hurting?”
“No, it’s not that… She needs to be examined for something. Please handle things until then.”

Perwin patted Marquis Celestin’s back and left. He hurriedly exited the ballroom door and ran towards the pond. He wanted to share the overwhelming anticipation filling his chest with Irwen.

“Irwen!”

But the scene before his eyes was shocking. His outer garment discarded haphazardly around the pond, the First Princess, Alex, in a panic not knowing what to do at the edge of the pond, the Second Princess, Celia, flailing in the middle of the pond. And Irwen, holding her and pushing her towards the shore. Irwen pushed Celia towards the land with all her might, and as she tried to climb out herself, she sank back into the water again. The heavy dress, soaked with water, pulled her down even deeper. Alex hugged Celia and burst into apologetic tears.

“I’m sorry, Sir Kalail. I failed to look after my immature younger sister, and things have gotten this bad.”

The Second Princess, with her bluish lips trembling, tried to break free from her sister’s embrace.
“It happened because of me, so I’ll save her! I’ll take responsibility!”
“Don’t say such childish things when you don’t even have the strength to save anyone!”
“But……”

Perwin shot a fierce glare at Celia.
“I will take responsibility for my wife. Do not interfere.”

It was unlike him to speak rashly to a young princess, but he had no time to consider his surroundings. The moment Celia met Perwin’s gaze, she began to tremble violently.
“Sc… scary……”

Perwin jumped into the water without even taking off his shirt. From his tensed arms to the back of his hands, he too was trembling with anxiety and fear. His sharp eyes were now stained with moist worry, emotions seeming ready to burst at any moment. The moment he pulled Irwen into his embrace with his strong arms, Perwin finally shed hot tears.

*** A few minutes after Perwin left, Emil stepped out of his office, as the Duchess had not been brought back. Walking along the long corridor, he paused curiously upon seeing a crowd gathered noisily outside the ballroom. And then, the scene before his eyes. How was he supposed to interpret this situation: Perwin, soaked to the bone, emerging from the pond carrying a limp Irwen? He pushed through the numerous people surrounding the pond and stepped forward, but Perwin had already hurried away with Irwen.

“What happened? Why is the Duke carrying the Duchess out of the pond?”

The noble ladies whispering nearby told Emil.
“It seems Princess Celia slipped and fell into the pond. The Duchess, who happened to be nearby, tried to save Her Highness and ended up like this.”

He hurriedly looked for the princesses, but the nanny, Rosamund, had quickly taken them back to the palace. Suspicious voices came from among the ladies; they were friends of Rosamund, who had been speaking ill of Irwen throughout the ball.

“Anyway, falling into the water at an imperial ball will become quite the topic. To think the Duke would jump in and save her himself…”
“Could she have fallen in on purpose? I heard the Lady has been receiving a lot of the Duke’s favor lately. She might have orchestrated this scheme to get even more attention.”

Emil flared up in anger.
“How can you say such things now!”
“Why are you so angry, Sir Accuret?”
“The Duchess might be pregnant!”

At Emil’s firm words, the mouths of all the chattering people snapped shut.

*** After hastily entrusting the overall management of the ball to his aide, Sir Doveray, Perwin quickly headed to the ducal residence with Irwen. The servants, who had been busily preparing for the night snack, gaped at Perwin, dripping wet as he ran in.

“Master, why are you all wet…?”

Their gazes soon turned to Irwen, limp in Perwin’s arms.
“What? How did the Mistress end up like this!”
“Quickly, call a doctor, and bring dry towels and warm water. Hurry!”

The servants busily called for a doctor, and Perwin, holding Irwen, rushed and slid into the bedroom. Having experienced all sorts of things on the battlefield, he knew what to do for someone shivering from hypothermia. He first struggled to remove the heavy dress clinging to Irwen’s body and threw the corset that had been tightening her body onto the floor. He wrung out her long, luxuriant hair, dripping with water, tapping the moisture onto the floor, leaving the floor in a complete mess. His face was tinged with self-reproach as he hugged the shivering Irwen tightly. He bent down and pressed his forehead against Irwen’s. Tears fell drop by drop onto her pale lips.

“Irwen, please, open your eyes.”

Marian and other maids, their faces pale, entered through the slightly open door. The basket Marian carried contained dry towels and water. She was startled upon seeing Perwin. His eyes were filled with redness; it was clear he was struggling to hold back tears. He quickly took the dry towels and began rapidly drying Irwen’s body, cold and full of moisture. Teacher Dülfarî hurriedly opened the door and entered. Seeing the tight garments discarded on the floor, he quickly sat by the bed and began his examination.

“What happened? To fall into the water in this physical state, oh my.”

Perwin’s eyes, which had been tightly gripping Irwen’s hand, flashed momentarily.
“Tell me properly about Irwen’s condition. Her life isn’t in danger, is it?”

Seeing Perwin’s fierce appearance due to worry for Irwen, the words swirling in Teacher Dülfarî’s head vanished. In an atmosphere where he felt he might be devoured at any moment, he quickly finished his diagnosis.
“Her body temperature is relatively low, but you administered first aid well, Your Grace, and she is recovering to a normal temperature.”
“But she’s still so cold. Her face is too pale.”
“Her current state isn’t too bad, but I will give her medicine to help restore her body temperature. You can administer it as soon as she regains consciousness. I will visit again at the first light of dawn tomorrow morning.”
“But I’m still worried.”

Perwin gently stroked Irwen’s face. Teacher Dülfarî advised him, looking concerned.
“Your Grace, you are also soaked through. Wouldn’t it be better to take a warm bath and then come here? Leave this place to the maids.”

As if not hearing his words, Perwin couldn’t take his eyes off Irwen’s face. The soaked white shirt clung tightly to his body, clearly revealing his frame. The unbuttoned shirt exposed his deeply carved chest muscles, and his soaked platinum-blond hair clung to his forehead, making onlookers swallow hard. Marian, standing nearby, unconsciously blushed at his致命적인 appearance, and Teacher Dülfarî made a strange ‘gulp’ sound, but Perwin, as if seeing nothing, repeated.

“I can’t lose you again.”

He fiddled with Irwen’s slightly parted, bloodless lips with his thumb, then asked Teacher Dülfarî with a helpless expression. The area under his eyes was red, making him look pleading.
“Is there nothing I can do? I can’t just stand here helplessly like this.”

Teacher Dülfarî pondered for a moment, then carefully examined Perwin’s sturdy body and replied.
“Actually, there is the best treatment method that only you, Your Grace, can perform.”
“What do I need to do?”
“Ultimately, warming someone with the body heat of a naked person is best. Given your excellent physique and stamina, Your Grace, and being the person who provides the Lady with psychological stability, you would be the best. The problem is the potential discomfort of having to do it all night long…”

Perwin began taking off his clothes without hesitation. As his sturdy shoulders, muscular chest, and moisture-glistening abs were revealed in the air, the maids, without a word, began covering their eyes and exiting. Marian, covering her eyes, pulled Teacher Dülfarî out, saying,
“We will be waiting outside. If you need anything, please ring the bell.”
“Understood.”

Giving a short answer, Perwin continued removing his clothes. Naked, he used a towel to wipe away the remaining moisture on his body. The wet towel landed on the floor with a soft ‘thud’. In the dark room, the heat emanating from his completely unclothed body seemed to blaze. Getting into the bed, he held Irwen tightly in his embrace. His warm, almost hot, bare skin pressed firmly against Irwen’s bare skin. He buried his face in Irwen’s neck. His lips, burning hot, warmed Irwen’s cold skin intensely.

“Irwen, please, wake up.”

Whispering hundreds of times into Irwen’s ear, Perwin pulled her close and held her tight. His broad chest, throbbing hotly as if his heart would burst, was pressed firmly against her chest. He massaged her cold skin with his fingers, showered her ear with countless kisses, and pressed his body close. As if his insides were burning, Perwin desperately captured her lips with his dried lips. The lack of any response made his chest churn.

“How am I supposed to live without you?”

Perwin buried his flushed red face in Irwen’s embrace. Trembling with tension and anxiety, his feverish lips assaulted hers again and again.
“You are my entire world.”

The man’s body, hardened through years of training, gently enveloped her countless times. He left traces all over her body with his hot lips, caressed her soft skin with his elegant fingers, and swallowed her cold body with his overwhelming breath. Perwin was desperate, as if he couldn’t feel her presence without doing this.