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~Chapter 44~
In my hurry, I opened the door without even knocking.
The first thing I saw was bloodstains scattered on the white curtain.
I quickly looked around for the owner of the room, but whether it was lucky or unlucky, there were only signs of a fight—no one was there.
“…Where did they go?”
I hoped nothing bad had happened as I stepped out of the waiting room.
“This way!”
A member of the healing team, who had been following behind me, called out. He pointed to a room further inside.
I ran over and opened the door. There, half-lying on the sofa, was Abrelshud.
His upper body was wrapped tightly in bandages like a mummy, and I could see spots of blood had soaked through.
Compared to his serious injuries, he was smiling as he chatted with the healers who arrived before me. Seeing that, my knees almost gave out.
‘Honestly, when I saw the waiting room just now, I thought… maybe Abrelshud really died like in the original story.’
But seeing him alive, I let out a deep sigh of relief.
He didn’t act like a sick person, but if I looked closely, his face was pale and his eyes lifeless.
With emotions rising inside me, I called out to him.
“Your Eminence!”
Abrelshud turned his head quickly to where I stood.
When he saw me, he smiled brightly, lifted his arm, and waved hard like he was glad to see me.
I glared at him and walked closer.
“Can you really smile right now?”
“Is it not the right time to smile?”
“You’re injured!”
“Hm, my social image doesn’t allow me to cry over something like this.”
‘Social image?’ In that state?
His answer was so not objective that I let out a dry laugh.
I understood what he meant, though. As a cardinal, crying over being hurt would be a bit funny.
‘But I didn’t tell him to cry!’
There was so much I wanted to ask, but I didn’t know if Yushen told him everything or only part of it.
Abrelshud, who was staring up at me while I just stood there clenching my fists, let out a painful groan and sat up straighter.
“Enough worrying. Check my injuries. I can’t heal myself.”
“What?”
A cardinal should be able to heal himself, but Abrelshud’s body was still full of wounds and blood.
He explained that he had been stabbed in the stomach and thigh by something sharp, but no matter how much holy power he used, the wounds would only heal a little and then stop.
It was the first time I’d seen this, so I thought stopping the bleeding was most urgent. In the end, they used hemostatic agents and painkillers.
‘So that’s why they called the Luche healing team in a hurry.’
If even the healers couldn’t close his wounds, the royal doctor would have to stitch him up, so they needed to hurry.
Who hurt him, and with what weapon? He’s supposed to be strong!
‘…Still, I’m glad he’s alive.’
No innocent life was lost, and Yushen wouldn’t be falsely accused like in the original story.
The healers who came with me all placed their hands over his wounds and used holy power at the same time.
But something strange happened.
“Huh?”
Only the part where I put my holy power started to heal completely.
Everyone who saw it was surprised—including me.
“Why… why does only my holy power work?”
I asked the others, but everyone shook their heads. No one knew.
“Everyone except Letitia, please leave.”
“Huh? Why?!”
“You still don’t get it after seeing that?”
“….”
I closed my mouth and watched as everyone left the room.
Was this the special power I got instead of being able to read every language?
At least it was perfect for my job. It’s a relief I can’t read languages.
Once everyone left, only Abrelshud and I remained in the big room. His face showed real pain now.
He must have tried hard to hide it in front of others.
“Does it still hurt a lot, even after the painkiller?”
“It had no effect at all.”
“What? Did you pretend you were okay just to make everyone else feel better?”
“…That’s part of my job too.”
He really wasn’t what I expected. I thought he was just a troublemaker.
Feeling moved, I quickly put my hand on his stomach and poured out holy power.
His face slowly relaxed.
“Your Eminence, did you plan to see me again looking like this?”
“I didn’t expect this kind of meeting, but in the end, I was right.”
Abrelshud started smiling as usual.
“Are you feeling better now?”
“Yeah.”
He looked up at the ceiling, closed his eyes, and answered.
But his voice was full of playfulness.
It’s fine to go along with someone who just escaped death, even if it’s only once.
“Don’t forget you owe me your life, okay?”
“I won’t forget.”
“…Huh?”
His answer was so serious that I was surprised.
He should know I was joking, but he didn’t go along—he answered sincerely.
‘…Or is he just pretending to be serious to mess with me?’
With Abrelshud, it was hard to tell if he was joking or serious.
“…Are you really serious?”
“Of course. If you ever need my help, use it. I’ll keep helping until I feel I’ve repaid my debt.”
“….”
“Why? Do I sound like I’m joking?”
“…Honestly, I can’t say you don’t.”
Abrelshud laughed softly, maybe because he knew his reputation.
“Think about it. This isn’t an easy chance. You can use me whenever you want, until I think my debt is paid.”
Honestly, it was an amazing offer—especially coming from a famous cardinal, with no limit.
I quickly nodded, just in case he changed his mind.
“You’ll do anything I ask, right?”
“What are you planning to use me for?”
“I’ll think about it.”
But I already knew what I wanted to use him for.
‘If Conrad really starts blocking Yushen’s work, the cardinal’s help will make things much easier.’
“Your Eminence, can you explain what happened now?”
“I was going to anyway. Didn’t you notice I only kept you here?”
“Okay, go ahead.”
I interrupted because I thought he would start nagging me.
He was talking fine, and his wounds were almost healed, so he must be feeling better.
I reduced the holy power a bit and listened.
“If Yushen hadn’t warned me ahead of time, I would’ve died earlier.”
“What?”
Getting straight to the point—nice. But…
‘Yushen told him? He said he’d tell if necessary, so something must have happened.’
I thought Yushen would never tell him.
Abrelshud would need a reason to believe he might die, but I couldn’t tell him that reason.
And Abrelshud isn’t someone who trusts people easily.
“What did Yushen… I mean, the captain, say?”
“He said I would die by his hand today.”
Yushen was just as direct.
“So he said he wouldn’t come to see me, but couldn’t be sure I wouldn’t die anyway.”
“….”
“He suddenly came and said something ridiculous, don’t you think?”
It wasn’t ridiculous to me, but I didn’t say anything.
But why did Yushen suddenly decide to tell Abrelshud everything?
Maybe it was the right choice. If he couldn’t protect Abrelshud himself, letting him know to be careful was one way.
Still, my worry was whether Abrelshud would believe it or not.
I decided to listen more.
“So I asked him, how could he be so sure? But he said he couldn’t tell me—he said it was a secret.”
“….”
“If he didn’t tell me the most important reason, how could I believe such nonsense?”
…That’s true. If I were in his shoes, I would’ve reacted the same way.
Abrelshud laughed to himself, remembering the situation.
“But do you know what’s really funny?”
“What?”
“Before I knew it, I found myself believing the nonsense he said.”
