ITYVA 40🔐

Chapter 40

The thought crossed my mind instinctively.

Just then, a knock sounded, followed by a low but clear voice from outside the door.

“Einra, may I come in?”

“Ah, yeah. Come in.”

Startled back to my senses, I turned toward the door and answered.

Without delay, the door opened and Aches stepped inside.

He wore a simple shirt, his hair tied up high, looking as though he had just finished work. Spotting me standing in front of the cabinet, he gave a light smile.

“Einra, do you like alcohol?”

He only took a few long strides before he was already right in front of me.

“If you want, you can drink it. But I won’t be able to drink with you.”

Because I don’t want to be rude to you, Einra.

Aches added casually as he opened the glass door of the cabinet.

The way he looked as though he might pull out a bottle any moment made me frantically wave both hands.

“No, I don’t like alcohol! I was just curious. You can’t drink, so I was just wondering why this is here…”

“…Ah.”

For some reason, my words cast a faint shadow over his beautiful face.

Biting his lip briefly, he slowly opened his mouth.

“That was back when I thought… Einra might hate me.”

“……”

“And tell me, how could I possibly endure that sober?”

His red eyes lowered, his expression like a sorrowful puppy.

Flustered, I reached out and cupped his cheeks with both hands.

“Aches…”

When I called to him hesitantly, he froze for a moment, then slowly lifted his gaze to meet mine.

He smiled faintly, his voice soft.

“But the past doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is that you’re here with me now, Einra.”

He lifted his hand, sliding his fingers into my hair, slowly combing through the strands.

Shrrk. The faint scent of soap wafted up from the still-damp locks.

It felt like an eternity was flowing by.

My body went rigid, unable to move an inch.

When my stomach clenched tight and I flinched involuntarily, Aches let go of my hair, as if nothing had happened, and pulled his hand back.

He turned away and began walking toward the other side of the room.

The warmth of his cheek slipped from my fingertips.

Only then did the breath I hadn’t dared to take finally escape me.

While I tried to calm the frantic pounding of my heart, his voice reached me again, now from farther away.

“Anything in this room is yours to use as you wish. If you pull the bell cord, a servant will come. All doors except the one leading to the hallway are connected to this mansion, so you can explore them if you like. If you need or want anything else, just let me know.”

“O-okay.”

“As for going outside, you can use the window like before, but…”

Trailing off, he stopped and turned back, smiling with his eyes.

“…if you plan to go out, I’d prefer it if you told me first.”

That request was spoken as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

With my heart still hammering in my ears, I nodded awkwardly.

“Y-yeah, I’ll do that…”

“Thank you, Einra.”

His satisfied smile melted across his face.

I stared blankly, entranced by it, until he took hold of the bell cord and spoke again.

“Aren’t you hungry? If there’s something you’d like to eat, tell me.”

“I-I’m fine with anything. Whatever you’d like is fine with me.”

Truthfully, I wasn’t hungry at all.

But since Aches hadn’t eaten anything besides breakfast, it seemed better to bring food he would enjoy.

“Then I’ll do that.”

He pulled the bell cord without protest.

Soon, Madam Semelda entered, bowing respectfully.

“You called, Your Highness.”

“I’d like some food brought here.”

Striding toward the doorway, Aches gave her instructions.

Madam Semelda listened quietly, then bowed again. “Understood, Your Highness.” She turned and left.

The food arrived not long after.

“Wow…”

My eyes widened at the feast laid out before me.

A fresh salad drizzled with lemon dressing, buttery brioche à tête with blueberry compote on the side.

Garlic-scented roast chicken, salmon steak drizzled with chili sauce, and veal as the main dish.

I hadn’t felt hungry a moment ago, but the glossy sheen of the dishes made my mouth water.

The fact that they were all exactly to my taste only added to it.

A noble meal like this… it’s been such a long time.

Seeing me unable to look away from the spread, Aches smiled in satisfaction.

“Once you’re done, I’ll bring out chocolate from Le Moiré Café for dessert.”

“Le Moiré Café?!”

I clapped a hand over my mouth.

Le Moiré Café was the most famous dessert shop in the capital, notorious for being nearly impossible to get into without spending a fortune.

The waiting lines were so long that nobles even hired servants just to stand in them.

That was before I’d gone down to the Count of Haila’s estate, of course.

How do I know all this?

Because I used to be a regular there!

Thanks to my “cheat code” as a Spiritist, I’d show off Quiel’s tricks to the shop owner, Sister Delina, in exchange for the privilege of ordering anything at any time—with plenty of extra service thrown in.

I’d missed that place so much…

And now I’d get to taste it again!

“This is amazing!”

I laughed, covering my mouth with my hand. Across the table, Aches chuckled quietly.

“I feel the same.”

He leaned lazily on the armrest, chin propped in his hand, and murmured.

“…seeing you smiling in front of me like this.”

“Hm?”

I’d been too focused on cutting a large piece of meat to catch it.

Tilting my head, I saw him shake his head with a faint smile.

“It’s nothing.”

“What, that’s boring.”

Giggling, I popped the meat into my mouth.

The rich juices burst across my tongue, happiness flooding me.

By then, the sky outside had darkened, stars beginning to glitter one by one.

The half-open window let in a refreshing night breeze.

When I glanced up from my meal and caught Aches’ eyes, he gave me a bright smile.

My heart lurched violently, and I quickly dropped my gaze.

Heat spread across my ears.

…Everything just felt so right.

Ch. 7. Realization

On the second day of finally achieving my dream of coming to the capital,

As fell ill with a fever.

Of course, I had known vaguely that since he’d used the nullification spell yesterday, side effects might show up today.

But that didn’t mean I could accept the situation calmly.

Especially since last time, there hadn’t been any noticeable symptoms.

“Ah, how is As, Doctor?”

The ducal physician, Camilla, removed her stethoscope, and I hurriedly asked.

I didn’t even realize I had just called him “As.”

Camilla gave me a reassuring smile.

“You needn’t worry, young lady. His Highness is simply suffering from a light fever. He should fully recover within a day or two.”

“But… he looks like he’s suffering so much…”

“The symptoms are not severe, and there will be no threat to his life or bodily functions, so please rest assured.”

No matter how many times I asked, the answers were the same—ones you could almost imagine an AI machine reciting.

In the end, I fell silent, my expression sullen, as I brushed back As’s sweat-soaked black hair.

A faint blush tinged his small cheeks, making my heart ache.

Camilla prescribed him a simple fever reducer and painkiller, then ended the examination with her professional detachment before leaving the room.

Even Madam Semelda and the head butler, who had rushed in when I rang the bell cord frantically in the middle of the night, were the same.

They checked his condition with the utmost politeness and formality, then withdrew.

Not a single trace of sorrow or regret crossed their faces.

“As… everyone keeps saying it’s nothing serious.”

Sitting on the chair by the bed, I gently stroked his flushed white cheek.

“But your face is so red… And still, they say you’ll get better soon, so I shouldn’t worry.”

“……”

As, fast asleep from the medicine, gave no reply.

…Was this how Aches had lived all along?

The thought struck me.

Always being told he was fine, unless it was a fatal illness or a crippling disability.

Surrounded by attendants who treated him only as a figure of duty, never with true care.

And so…

…maybe that’s why he learned to say he was fine even when he wasn’t.