TWLW 53

chapter 53

For some reason, standing between Rudels, who looked strangely sullen, and Akin, who kept throwing us odd smiles, I couldn’t shake off an uncomfortable feeling.

Did I eat something bad at the tea party?

Rudels was walking while clutching his stomach as if he had a stomachache.

Should I offer him a digestive or something…?

I glanced at him worriedly — only to accidentally meet Akin’s eyes.
He smiled at me with his eyes, but for some reason, a chill ran down my spine.

Meanwhile, Kels, who had been acting cute earlier, was now yawning over and over, dozing off as if exhausted.

Hmm… what should I do?

Since I couldn’t hand him over to anyone else, I decided to just take him back to his room.

As I was walking briskly with Kels in my arms, I spotted Marquis Bollepino pacing back and forth ahead of us.

“Oh! Our healer has arrived!”
“Hello, my lord.”
“Haha, no need to be so stiff!”

He let out a hearty laugh, glancing at the two men beside me.

“Ah! You two are here as well! Good, good!”
“What’s the matter, Marquis?” Rudels asked.

The marquis chuckled cheerfully.
“Haha! It’s about tonight’s dinner!”

At his words, neither of the two men looked happy or sad — just indifferent.

Well, I probably won’t be there anyway, so I’ll be eating in my room.

I thought as I looked down at the sleeping Kels.

The Marquis, noticing his sleeping son, flinched in surprise and lowered his voice.

“His Majesty the King is attending this time, you see. So I’ve arranged for the dinner to be held at the finest spot in this villa.”
“So it won’t be in the usual dining room then?”

He nodded excitedly and continued.
“That’s right. It’s a bit away from the main villa. I put a lot of effort into making the place — you can see the stars at night! The ceiling is made of glass, so the view is wonderful.”
“I see. It sounds like it’ll be a meaningful dinner,” Rudels replied.
“Ah, and one more thing…”

The Marquis’ gaze shifted to me.

“The healer is also invited by royal order.”
“Pardon…?”
“What?!”

Rudels actually shouted louder than I did.

Startled, Kels — who had been fast asleep — jolted awake, ears shooting straight back.

“Kyah!”

He let out a small cry, glaring at Rudels, who gave me an apologetic look.

Although, when his eyes moved to Kels, his expression seemed slightly displeased.

“T-The King personally requested…? Why?”
“I-I’m not entirely sure myself. But could you attend? It was His Majesty’s suggestion.”

Since it was a royal invitation, I didn’t exactly have a choice.

I nodded and forced a smile.
“Then I’ll make preparations.”

The Marquis’ face brightened instantly.
“Oh! Splendid! I’ll send someone to assist you, then!”

He laughed heartily, then looked at Kels with a soft, almost sheepish smile.

“My apologies. Kels doesn’t take kindly to strangers, you see.”
“Kyung! Kyah!”

At that, Kels barked in protest, clearly trying to say something I couldn’t understand.
I just laughed awkwardly, thinking smiling was the easiest way to end this encounter.

The Marquis only grinned wider at his son’s cries.
“Haha, my dear Kels, why are you so temperamental?”
“Kiiing! Kyah!”

Kels turned his head away, clearly offended by his father’s teasing tone. His nose twitched — a sign he was getting agitated.

The Marquis scratched his head helplessly.
“Hmm… Healer, could you take Kels back to his room for me? He’s… not fond of being touched by others.”

He had nearly said “disgusted by,” but caught himself mid-sentence.

“I’d be truly grateful. I won’t forget the favor!”

His exaggerated pleading might have seemed comical, but given how often he’d mentioned Kels’ sensitivity, I could tell it was genuine.

“All right. I’ll take him,” I said with a small smile.

The Marquis looked as if he’d just been saved by a miracle — I almost expected a fox tail to pop out from behind him in joy.

“Ahem! My lord. Your tail…,” Rudels muttered, clearing his throat and gesturing.

The Marquis flinched and quickly tucked the tail back out of sight.
“Ah, ah! Thank you, Rudels.”

Maintaining his polite demeanor, Rudels added,
“Then I’ll accompany the healer. There’s something I need to discuss.”

“I’ll come as well—” Akin began, but Rudels cut him off firmly.
“It’s a family matter. Please understand.”

Then he stepped over to me, resting a hand gently on my shoulder and smiling politely at the others.
“Then we’ll take our leave.”

With that, Rudels and I headed toward Kels’ room.

Feeling uneasy, I glanced back — the Marquis was chuckling to himself, while Akin still wore that ever-present smile, watching us go.

The Marquis’ fondness for his son was obvious, so his friendliness toward me made sense.
But Akin… he was different. I couldn’t read him at all.

His smiling eyes somehow looked like those of someone who wasn’t smiling at all — cold, detached.
My instincts told me he was someone to stay away from.

A shiver crawled down my spine, and I rubbed my arm awkwardly as I adjusted my grip on Kels.

Then Rudels suddenly turned to the little fox in my arms.
“Where’s your room, kid?”

At the word “kid,” Kels’ ears drooped sideways, clearly offended. But instead of barking, he just stared daggers at Rudels.

I tilted my head, puzzled. Rudels didn’t seem to be teasing — his tone and expression were the same as usual.

Is he still wary?

I scratched my cheek awkwardly, watching the silent standoff.

Rudels met Kels’ glare calmly, arms crossed, waiting patiently.
Caught between them, I couldn’t do anything but stand there.

What is this, a staring contest? No way…

Rudels wouldn’t seriously be competing with a child, right? That’d be ridiculous.

I shook the thought off.

“Kiiing…”

Kels was the first to yield. He pointed with his long, fluffy fox tail — unusually large for someone his age.

Rudels smiled slightly and said kindly,
“Kels is showing us the way. Shall we go?”
“Ah… yes!”

Following Kels’ direction, we soon arrived at his room.

“Kiiing…”

He looked gloomy as he turned his eyes to me.

“Now, shouldn’t you get some rest, healer?” Rudels said.
“Ah, right. Rest is important for recovery.”
“Kiiing! Kiing!”

Kels flailed weakly, as if trying to protest, but when I reminded him not to reopen his wounds, he went still.

His ears and tail drooped low — he looked so pitiful that it made my chest ache.

“Kels, you need to rest inside your room now.”
“Kyah! Kyah!”
“You shouldn’t walk around too much today. You want to get better soon, right?”

Meeting his gaze gently, I coaxed him with a smile.
Kels let out a tiny sigh, his expression crumpling as he nodded reluctantly.

“Yes, yes. Get plenty of rest today.”

I chuckled softly and scratched the top of his head.
Kels made strange little noises, clearly pleased, his eyes curling into crescents.

When we entered the room, the maid who had guided me earlier at the tea party had already prepared his bedding.

“Hello, I’ve brought young master Kels.”
“Oh! The Marquis informed me. Please set him down here.”

The freckled maid smiled brightly, dimples showing.

I carefully laid Kels down and smiled.
“Rest well, okay? Don’t move too much until you’re healed.”

Kels turned his head away with a huff, ignoring me.

Did I… do something wrong?

But his drooping ears and tail made him look more tired than upset.

He just looks worn out…

“Tsk.”

Rudels frowned slightly and placed a hand on Kels’ head.

“Kyah! Hrk! Hak!”