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Chapter : 38
A Nerve-wracking Relationship (13)
‘Is it work-related?’
That wouldn’t do. After finally managing to drag him outside, it’d be a problem if he locked himself away again.
He had just started getting some sunlight…
I hurriedly opened my mouth to draw his attention back to me.
“Thank you so much for preparing such wonderful desserts, Your Highness.”
“……”
“Your Highness?”
Startled by my voice, Eclipse hurriedly stuffed the note into his coat.
“R-right. I’m glad you like them. Go on.”
“Yes!”
I wondered what on earth was written there to shock him like that,
but my curiosity evaporated at once with the sweet aroma of the Moon Wall pastries.
“They look delicious…”
My eyes sparkled as I picked one up and beamed at Eclipse.
“I’m not sure if Your Highness knew, but this is actually my favorite dessert.
I tried it once by chance and it was unbelievably good.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes. It was so good I even dreamed about it.”
Even as I chattered on happily, something tugged at my mind—
the fact that Eclipse had skipped breakfast.
‘No matter what, you need to eat before working.
We do all this to stay alive and fed, after all.’
I used magic to slide the dessert tray closer to him.
Seeing the tray inch toward him, Eclipse immediately glanced at me.
“Is it alright to use magic for something so trivial?”
“Yes. No problem. That’s what magic is for.”
Tiny spells like this didn’t even tickle my mana reserves.
Desserts were set, so next was tea.
I looked toward the maid standing by to serve—
and froze.
‘Huh? What’s this?’
The maid holding the teapot looked strangely unwell.
She chewed her lips nervously and sweat trickled down her temples.
Her hand gripping the pot was bone-white and trembling.
‘Why does she look like she’s suffering? Something’s off.’
Sensing danger, I snatched the teapot from her grasp with magic.
“Ah!”
The maid let out a cry before covering her mouth in fright.
‘Should’ve warned her first.’
I smiled brightly to reassure her.
“Oh, sorry! I only meant to move the tray, but my magic must’ve slipped.
Did I scare you?”
“N-no, I’m fine, Lady Bloomhire.”
“You don’t look fine. You screamed.”
The maid, looking pale, apologized repeatedly.
When she bowed, cold sweat dripped down her neck and hit the floor.
‘This won’t do. If she stays any longer, something bad will happen.’
But asking outright was tricky with all these eyes watching.
I was just trying to think of a way to send her off when—
‘Right. The spell Jade used.’
It came to me.
The one that blocked all sound from everyone except caster and target.
‘Good. Let’s do it.’
I focused and fixed my gaze on her.
Overwhelmed, her eyes darted before finally dropping.
‘Just a little more…’
My magic wrapped around the gazebo.
I covered my mouth and cleared my throat.
“Ahem, hum.”
The maid kept her head low.
Pretending not to notice her, I spoke.
“Um, are you feeling sick by any chance?”
“……!”
Her shoulders jerked at once.
I didn’t miss it.
“Don’t worry. No one else can hear us.”
“……”
“I mean it. I cast a spell. If you doubt me, look around.”
The maid cautiously lifted her head and scanned the surroundings—
and her face drained in shock.
“W-what? Where—where did everyone go?
His Grace was right there just now…!”
As she said, it was only her and me now.
The reason was simple—I had separated the space.
‘Thank goodness. It worked.’
Watching her face, I explained politely:
“Don’t panic. To everyone else, we still look like we’re all together.
They just can’t hear us talking.”
Despite my explanation, she was clearly rattled.
I ignored that and continued.
“I’ve been worried for a while now.
You didn’t look well, so I wanted to check.”
“Ah…”
“Could you tell me what’s wrong?”
She scanned the area nervously before finally meeting my eyes.
“Since this morning I’ve been feeling awful.
My head feels like it’s about to split, and earlier I even got dizzy…”
She winced and continued.
“I get headaches sometimes, so I brushed it off at first…
but it kept getting worse, and just before, everything went white.”
At that moment, she began to tremble.
A chill ran through me.
‘If this keeps up, she’s going to collapse.’
I sensed the danger and spoke quickly.
“I’ll pour the tea. You need to go to the doctor. Now.”
“…What?”
She looked utterly lost.
I blurted, barely remembering to breathe:
“Your face is white as paper.
If you keep pushing through it, something terrible will happen.
So go. Hurry.”
Her eyes flicked to where Eclipse had been sitting.
I caught the meaning and cut her off:
“I’ll speak to His Grace myself.”
“But…”
“His Highness isn’t the sort to punish a sick servant.”
“……”
For someone like her, a little force was needed.
So I gave the final warning.
“When I cough three times, the spell ends.
You know what that means, right?”
“W-wait, I—!”
“Ahem!”
I cleared my throat hard.
There was no doubt—this maid feared something.
She’d rather collapse than report her condition to her employer.
“Ahem! Hrrm!”
On the third cough, my magic scattered.
The maid clamped her mouth shut and bowed again.
‘Looks like she’s set on staying anyway.’
Then I had only one option—intervene myself.
I grabbed my waist and screwed up my face.
“Ow—owwww!”
And slammed my head on the table.
Eclipse shot up in alarm.
“Bloomhire!”
“Ahh—my back—
I think it’s from when I fell earlier—!”
“Silvern! Fetch a doctor, now!”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
I groaned like I was dying.
“Ughhh—my baaack…”
“Lady Bloomhire, the butler is bringing the doctor—just hang on!”
“Please—help—
It hurts so much…”
“You’ll be okay. Just hold on a little longer, yes?”
“Ughh…”
“Oh no—Lady Bloomhire…”
Penny was practically crying—
which stung my conscience a little.
‘Thanks for falling for it, everyone!’
Anyway, mission accomplished.
Soon, the personal physician—who had examined me earlier—rushed in.
“Blaze.”
“Y-yes!”
Eclipse’s voice was ice cold.
“You said there was nothing serious.”
“I—yes, that’s correct, but—”
“Correct?
When Bloomhire is suffering because of your empty assurance?”
“M-my deepest apologies, Your Grace!”
Face pale as his coat, the physician dropped flat to the floor.
Eclipse towered over him, looking terrifying.
‘…Uh-oh.
Maybe I acted too convincingly.’
