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Chapter 37
Halbern was thrown into chaos without warning.
First, the young lady who had gone out suddenly collapsed and didn’t return, and then, unexpectedly, the crown prince—who seemed unlikely to ever come again—showed up with her.
“We’ve contacted the temple, the Mage Tower, and the Medical Guild.”
“A priest has arrived!”
“A healer is here!”
“Doctors from the Medical Guild have arrived!”
Priests from the temple, healers from the Mage Tower, and doctors from the Medical Guild all gathered.
These specialists each examined Arellin using their own methods, and their final conclusion was unanimous.
“There are no signs of life-threatening issues. She’s simply asleep, Brother.”
“There’s no distortion, and her mana response is normal.”
“My diagnosis is the same. She’s merely asleep.”
Mehen, who had been beside himself with worry over what might be wrong, finally relaxed at their words.
“She’s just… sleeping?”
The three might have had different specialties, but each was a master in their field, especially regarding the human body. Their verdict could be trusted.
“Then can you tell us when the young lady will wake up?”
“Well, that’s… difficult to say…”
The three, who had been discussing the case together, exchanged troubled looks and shook their heads.
The Mage Tower’s healer spoke with an uneasy expression.
“Miss Arellin is very frail by nature, so it’s hard for us to make a guess.”
“Hah…”
Disdainful eyes seemed to ask how someone like that made it to the top of their field, but the healer merely flinched, unable to reply.
“I understand. You may go.”
Even though the professionals had concluded that Arellin was simply asleep, she didn’t wake easily.
The attending physician and the trio constantly checked her condition, running tests in case they missed anything. Despite their efforts, she remained unresponsive.
“Why can’t she wake up?”
“Are we all going to die here if this keeps up?”
“Stop whining and cast the vitality spell again, brother.”
“Then you better make sure your blessings work, priest.”
“I’ve been praying and blessing her every morning and night.”
“And I can’t even give her medicine unless she wakes up…”
Though caring for Arellin had originally been Uni’s job, for some reason Mehen had dropped everything and taken it upon himself.
But what truly made the trio tremble…
…was the presence of Crown Prince Pession.
“Why is the Crown Prince here?”
Hic!
Healer Mariel hiccupped in shock.
“You should refer to him as His Highness the Crown Prince, brother.”
“Whatever!”
Even for high-ranking mages who rarely left the Mage Tower, royalty was an intimidating presence.
“Rumor has it that His Highness and the young lady are very close.”
“That must be true. Otherwise, he wouldn’t stay by a sick friend’s side for days.”
Their expressions grew even darker.
“I’ll go cast the vitality spell again.”
“I’ll join you, brother. I need to offer another prayer.”
“Should I check on her again as well?”
The three could only hope Arellin would wake soon.
Pession did not leave Arellin’s side, not even for a moment.
“Your Highness, you must return now.”
It had been four days since Arellin failed to wake.
The young crown prince’s extended absence prompted the palace to send a chamberlain to retrieve him.
“I’m not leaving.”
But they failed—every time.
“Your Highness…”
“I’ll leave once Arellin wakes up.”
Pession’s resolve was unshakable.
“You could return to the palace and come back later—”
“What if she wakes up or gets worse while I’m gone?”
“……”
“So I’m staying.”
The chamberlains were flustered by the crown prince’s stubbornness.
If it had been Lord Silua, they might understand—but such behavior from Prince Pession was unprecedented. The royal court even convened an emergency meeting over it.
In the end, they couldn’t overrule him.
“Let His Highness do as he wishes.”
With Empress Azeny’s permission, Pession’s strange stay at Halbern began.
He refused to leave Arellin’s side.
“Your Highness, you must at least wash and eat.”
Chamberlain Griam tried, but Pession remained silent and unmoving by Arellin’s side. In the end, Mehen had to step in.
“I’ll stay with the young lady. Please go.”
“But…”
Pession looked reluctant, refusing to leave her side.
“When she wakes up, wouldn’t she be happier to see you well-rested and healthy?”
“…!”
Pession finally reacted.
“If she wakes to see you looking worn out, it might distress her.”
At Mehen’s words, Pession frowned, visibly conflicted. Then, finally, he stood up.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Your Highness…”
Griam, watching the prince heed Mehen’s words while ignoring his own, felt a wave of resignation—as if he were watching a son-in-law obedient to his mother-in-law.
‘Well, at least the goal’s achieved.’
Griam was an optimist.
A sleepless night for everyone.
Rustling noises came from outside the room.
Even though he had his own guest chamber, Pession often fell asleep beside Arellin.
“Arellin.”
He gazed at the sleeping girl.
Arellin still showed no signs of waking.
Sometimes, just watching her, he’d grow terrified that she had stopped breathing. He would place his finger under her nose just to be sure.
Once he felt her soft, steady breath, only then could he feel relieved.
‘So strange…’
A childhood friend he hadn’t even known existed just a few months ago now felt like such a huge presence.
How could that make any sense?
‘Strange…’
Since the day they met by chance behind the garden, all he’s wanted was to see her, be with her.
Had he really gone mad, like Silua said?
“Arellin, wake up.”
His voice cracked—a soft, uncharacteristic plea. Pession looked at the girl he loved so terribly, who still lay there with her eyes closed.
“Please wake up.”
He lacked nothing in life. In fact, he might have had more than most could ever dream of.
That’s what it meant to be a crown prince.
He remembered what Arellin once told him.
She was right. Wherever he went, he was welcomed and loved.
Everyone wanted him, worshipped him.
Rejection? Exclusion? Neglect? Alienation?
Such words simply didn’t apply to the crown prince.
And for someone like Pession—who had proved his worth through overwhelming talent and genius from such a young age—they were practically foreign concepts.
Perhaps that was why…
…he’d been so arrogantly sure that she would love him too.
No one had ever disliked or rejected his advances.
“Arellin…”
You were the first.
The first for all of this.
The first to make his perfect, fearless, abundant life falter—just by being you.
Only after meeting you did I begin to understand what it meant to lack something, to feel impatient thirst for something I couldn’t grasp.
Even fear—came only from you.
‘What if we never meet again?’
‘What if she doesn’t like me?’
‘What if she never wakes up?’
I’m scared.
And at the same time, I’m amazed by myself.
From morning to night, whether eating, training, studying, even while sleeping—and maybe even dreaming—
All I think about is you. I wonder how you are, I want to be with you, I miss you constantly.
Being this consumed by just one person… it’s so unfamiliar, so surprising—and yet now, I can’t even imagine a life without Arellin.
These unfamiliar emotions—I don’t know what to call them.
Maybe I’m too young, too inexperienced to understand what this feeling is.
I don’t even know why I like Arellin so much.
“But I still like you.”
Even saying I like you didn’t feel like enough. No matter how many times he said it, it wouldn’t be enough.
“Arellin…”
Still lying there like she were dead, Arellin showed no signs of stirring. Pession, watching her, began to learn helplessness.
Everything had always come so easily.
For the first time, he had met his limit.
“Arellin…”
Arellin, slipping beyond his reach. The one he lost. The one who disappeared.
Stupid me.
“This won’t happen again.”
As the dawn deepened and the moonlight bathed the room in silver, Pession made a vow.
“Next time, I’ll be the one to protect you.”
No matter what it takes.
