Chapter 16 - Recovery and Rumors
Heat pulsed through my body. My breath came in shallow, ragged gasps, and my eyelids weighed heavy like lead. I craved something cold. Anything cold.
Suddenly, a gentle warmth brushed against my forehead, followed immediately by a soothing chill. "That feels... so good..." I murmured. The suffocating pressure in my chest vanished as if it had all been a lie, and my breathing grew easy. Then, a sudden, heavy drowsiness washed over me.
"Sleep well, Rachel."
Had someone called my name in that tender voice? It sounded so familiar, so comforting. I felt a hand stroking my hair with such overflowing kindness, as if I were something precious beyond measure. But who was it? I tried to force my eyes open, but they refused to obey. Before I could see, I drifted back into the depths of sleep.
♢
"Ojou-sama, your fever has broken, and your cough is finally gone. What a relief."
"Thank you, Sarah."
"Ever since that fever hit, you developed such a nasty cough. You've been confined to your bed for a whole week."
Indeed, a week had passed since that initial fever. Combined with a cold, my temperature had fluctuated wildly, rising and falling in waves. Finally, things had settled down. It seemed this body took a turn for the worse at the slightest hint of illness. I would have to be truly careful, or things might become dangerous. The thought brought a wry smile to my lips.
"By the way, did anyone visit while I was asleep?"
"Yes, His Highness came by. I'll arrange the flowers he sent today in this vase for you."
"His Highness... So Louis came to see me."
"He did. He rushed here the moment your fever spiked and stayed by your side until you fell asleep."
"I see. I must thank him later."
Sarah suddenly looked up, as if a memory had just struck her. "Oh, that reminds me. A mage accompanied His Highness as well."
"A mage?"
"Yes. A beautiful man with long silver hair. At first glance, one might even mistake him for a woman."
A beautiful, androgynous man with silver hair and magical talent. One name immediately came to mind.
Theodore Camus.
Twenty-two years old and the heir to the House of Marquis Camus. Though destined to become the next Marquis, he currently went by the title of Viscount Frion. His father was the former commander of the Order of Mages, and Theodore himself possessed immense magical power. Rumor had it his talent would eventually surpass even his father’s, who was hailed as the greatest in the kingdom. Despite being a newcomer, he was already making a name for himself within the Order.
He and His Highness were childhood friends despite their age gap, so I had exchanged greetings with him before. Even at our first meeting, he had been remarkably casual, easily giving me permission to use his name since I was the Crown Prince's fiancée. However, we were quite far apart in age, and I hadn't had much to do with him in my previous life. Why was he here at my home? And why had he accompanied Louis on a visit?
"Ah, and His Highness looked quite exhausted," Sarah added, carefully arranging the flowers in the vase.
"Oh?"
"He had slight dark circles under his eyes."
"He did mention he wouldn't be able to visit for a while. Perhaps he's been busy. I feel terrible that he came to see me despite that."
"Not at all! It only shows how much he was worrying about you, Ojou-sama. After all, His Highness arrived looking quite pale with worry. He had even misaligned the buttons on his shirt."
Sarah whispered this last part as if sharing a deep secret, her hand over her mouth. I blinked in surprise as I tried to imagine the scene.
"His Highness? I can't even picture it."
"I know! I had to double-check several times to make sure I wasn't seeing things."
The ever-perfect Crown Prince had mismatched his buttons. The thought was, in a way, rather adorable. I tried to suppress the laughter bubbling up inside me, but a small giggle escaped. "Fufu... To think His Highness would..."
Sarah and I caught each other's eyes, and soon both our shoulders were shaking with suppressed mirth.
After we finished our laugh, a knock sounded at the door.
"Yes?"
"Pardon me."
My father entered as soon as I answered. His eyes softened with relief the moment he saw my face.
"Father, even if this is your daughter's room, I think you should wait a moment after I answer before opening the door."
"Haha, my apologies. Paul told me your condition had improved, Rachel. I simply had to see your face immediately."
"My! Well, I suppose I can't help it then."
With his dark brown hair and gentle, deep-green eyes that slanted slightly downward, my father possessed a youthful face that made him look ten years younger than his forty years. If I had inherited his looks instead of my mother's, perhaps I would look a bit kinder as well. My cousin Ernest, the son of my father's younger brother, resembled him far more than I did. Still, I loved my gentle mother dearly. Even during this bout of illness, she had stayed by my side to nurse me despite her own lack of sleep.
That reminded me. If I asked Father, he might know the answer.
"Father, I heard His Highness came to visit, and Theodore-sama accompanied him. Do you know anything about that?"
"Hmm. Paul did report that Viscount Frion had arrived as well." Father placed a hand on his chin, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. Since he had little facial hair and shaved meticulously every day, rubbing his chin was a habit he fell into whenever he was deep in thought. "It seems His Highness has been spending a lot of time with him lately. Theodore is as talented as the rumors say, so he is likely assisting His Highness with his research."
"Research?"
"Yes. I cannot say much more, as His Majesty has forbidden discussion of it."
Forbidden by His Majesty? Were they working on some confidential matter together? "By the way, I believe he brought Viscount Frion along because the man is also quite knowledgeable in the medical field."
"He truly is talented. I must write a thank-you letter to Theodore-sama as well."
"Indeed. ...Rachel, it pains me, but I must return to the castle now."
"I understand. Please take care of yourself, Father."
"I will. I'm relieved to see your color returning. But you are still recovering, so do not push yourself."
Father lowered his brows with a touch of regret, but his expression remained soft with affection as he gently stroked my hair.
"Yes, I plan to rest a bit longer today. Thank you for worrying about me, Father."
With a gentle nod, he left the room, looking as though he were loath to depart. After another short nap, I asked Sarah to bring my writing materials from the desk to my bed. I needed to write thank-you notes to His Highness, Theodore-sama, and Ernest, who had also come to visit.
A few days after I sent the letters, a surprise arrived. I received a message from Theodore Camus himself, the contents of which could be summarized in one sentence: he wished to pay me a visit.