HSDOE 37

37. The Cold

 Bang! Bang!

The bathroom door shook as if the thought that had just occurred was about to be shattered.

“Your Majesty the Empress! His Majesty has eaten!”

A flustered court lady’s voice called from outside the bathroom.

“Oh! His Majesty is here! Should I open the door, Your Majesty?”

Yvette rose to her feet. Rasilia hastily stopped her.

Being in the middle of a bath was one thing, but she especially didn’t want to face the emperor while plotting her escape.

“No. Tell him it’s inconvenient as I’m bathing.”

“But still… Understood.”

Yvette went outside. There seemed to be a lengthy conversation, as she didn’t return for some time.

Rasilia frowned and continued staring at the ceiling.

She wanted to continue her train of thought, but it wasn’t just the emperor who interrupted her.

“Piiiiiiiiit!”

This time, Pipi flew in through the window. The little bird pecked insistently at the glass with its beak—clearly unwilling to back down until it was let inside.

“What is it?”

Rasilia stood up in the tub and opened the window.

“Piiiit!”

Pipi darted inside and circled her, chirping furiously.

“Huh…? Where did you hear that?”

“Pii! Piii!”

Pipi was enraged after hearing what had happened in the garden. Once again, Pipi had been out hunting with Duke Shuraiden, but flew back in a fury upon hearing what had befallen Rasilia.

“Wow… You flew all that distance? You can fly on your own now?”

“Pii!”

Don’t change the subject. Just tell me how you’re going to deal with that insolent human.

“He said it was a mistake. He was flustered too.”

“Piii!”

Mistake or not, that was his problem—Pipi couldn’t forgive him.

“It’s fine. My clothes just got wet. I didn’t fall into the water completely like last time… Come to think of it, water accidents have been happening a lot since I came here.”

“Pii? Pii!”

“No, really. It was an accident that time too.”

“Pii! Piiit!”

“I’m serious. So please don’t do anything. He’s a sorcerer. What if you get hurt?”

“Piiiiiiiiit!”

Pipi fluttered its wings as if to say, As if I’d ever get hurt! Then, announcing it would take care of things itself, it shot off through the window.

“Wow. You really fly well now. And you’re still so small.”

Tiny as Pipi still was, it had already vanished from sight.

“Wait… I shouldn’t be impressed. What if Pipi gets hurt?”

She had no choice. She’d have to ask the emperor for a favor.

Rasilia wrapped a wet towel around herself and opened the bathroom door—intending to have Yvette relay a message to the emperor.

“Ah…”

“……”

What she didn’t expect—swear to the heavens—was that the emperor would still be there.

Their eyes met. And in that moment, both froze.

“Y-Your Majesty the Empress! Why didn’t you call for me instead…?”

Yvette, equally stunned, stammered behind them.

“Well… I didn’t realize His Majesty was still here. Since I’m not dressed properly, I’ll close the door now.”

Regaining her composure, Rasilia turned and shut the door with a snap.

“Wait.”

Thud!

The emperor held the door from the other side. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw his fingers caught in the doorframe. It might hurt.

“Just hear me out. I won’t ask you to open the door.”

“First, remove your hand. You might get hurt.”

“I will, if you promise to listen.”

“Fine. Now let go.”

His hand slowly disappeared. Rasilia opened the door just a crack.

The emperor began to speak slowly.

“It’s just that… I didn’t realize that was how Deckan would do it. I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

He was apologizing for what had happened in the garden.

“Please believe me. I truly didn’t intend it…”

“You already said it was a mistake. I’m treating it as such.”

“Mistake or not, it shouldn’t have happened.”

“What’s done is done. And it was nothing serious. I just got wet.”

“No, it was serious. How could it not be? It was my fault. I shouldn’t have let that happen.”

Thunk.

A soft thud came from the door. Somehow, it felt like he was resting his forehead against it.

“What should I do? To earn your forgiveness?”

She hadn’t even said she was angry.

“You don’t have to do anything. I’m not angry.”

“That can’t be. You’re avoiding me.”

She was avoiding him, but for a different reason.

“…Yes. As I said, I’m not properly dressed.”

“That’s why I was waiting for you to finish your bath… Will you stop avoiding me once you’re dressed?”

She would still avoid him—especially if he kept looking at her like she was his destined partner.

Maybe pretending to be mad for a while wouldn’t be so bad.

Rasilia bit her lip.

The emperor, the situation, even her own heart—it was all too uncomfortable.

“I guess… I didn’t know my own heart. I am angry. I’d rather we not see each other for a while.”

She could feel his confusion even through the crack in the door.

“…What do you mean…?”

“Oh, and if anything happens to Pipi, I’ll be even more upset. Please keep your knights in check. Then…”

Thunk!

She shut the door.

The warmth she’d soaked up from the bath was fading fast under the wet towel.

“So cold…”

Rasilia wrapped her arms around her shoulders and stepped back into the tub.

But the water no longer felt warm.

Cough!

In the end, she caught a cold.

Lingering too long in the lukewarm bath had done it.

“What do we do, Your Majesty… This is all my fault!”

Just a few coughs, and Yvette burst into tears. Her guilt turned to a flood of self-blame, insisting she should’ve been the one soaked instead.

“Haa… I get it, you don’t believe me even if I say otherwise—but can you please just be quiet for a bit? My head hurts.”

“Gasp! Y-Yes! I won’t even breathe, Your Majesty!”

“Breathing’s fine…”

“Yes, yes! Just breathing then!”

It was a nasty cold.

Her throat burned with coughing, but the worst part was the fever. She felt dazed, like she was half-dreaming.

They said the royal physician had come by multiple times, but she didn’t even remember. Hopefully the medicine would kick in.

“Your Majesty, are you asleep?”

Through her hazy consciousness, Yvette’s voice reached her.

“Mm… No. But I think I will be soon.”

“Ah, I see. Sleep well. You’ll feel better after some rest.”

“Yeah…”

“Do you need anything before you fall asleep? Should I take you to the bathroom?”

“No, I’m… Oh, wait. Shouldn’t I have some ginger juice?”

“Huh? Ginger juice? Do you want some, Your Majesty?”

“No way. It’s probably the worst-tasting juice in the world. But didn’t you always insist I drink it when I was sick? Even when I didn’t want to, you’d always make it…”

“Wait, me?”

Yvette’s eyes widened.

“I’ve never even heard of ginger juice, Your Majesty.”

“Huh…? Wasn’t it always you, Flota…”

“Flota?”

“…Ah…”

It was the cold.

Rasilia had accidentally spoken from her past.

Her expression subtly paled.

Yvette, tilting her head, rushed over and started pacing in panic.

“Oh no. Your face looks even worse now, Your Majesty. But… who is Flota?”

“Flota… Hmm.”

Rasilia paused deliberately. There was only one plausible excuse in this situation.

“I don’t know. I thought I remembered something… but it’s gone again.”

“Oh no… Could she have been a maid from the ducal house? If she always made ginger juice for you… Oh! Right, the ginger juice! If you tell me how to make it, I’ll do my best!”

“It’s okay.”

Whether ginger juice actually helped with colds—she didn’t know anymore.

Flota probably never truly cared for her.

Maybe she just wanted to see her suffer through the bitter taste.

“I’ll just sleep… Oh, what about Pipi? Did he get hurt?”

“Lord Len hasn’t returned yet. I’ll ask Duke Shuraiden about his whereabouts.”

“Alright. Keep an eye out. Just in case.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please don’t worry and rest.”

“Mm.”

She thought she heard Yvette’s soft footsteps leave the room. Drifting in and out of consciousness, Rasilia coughed until she fell asleep.

And then—she dreamed.

Are humans always this weak?

It was a ridiculous question for someone who believed themselves young and healthy—but she nodded anyway.

She was sick, after all.

Still, they don’t die so easily, so I suppose… ah-choo! …don’t worry.

I don’t understand. How could you get sick just from falling into water?

That water had been freezing—beneath the icy surface of a lake deep in snow-covered mountains. But to a demon, water was just water.

Even so, don’t you think the fact that I only caught a cold proves I’m in excellent health?

He didn’t respond.

I wish I knew how to heal your body.

A red-tipped claw touched her forehead.

She didn’t know why a demon’s expression—usually unreadable—felt so tender and warm when directed at her.

But your body is different from mine. I don’t know how.

It’s okay. I’ll get better if I stay warm.

Then…

Fwoosh.

She heard fire ignite somewhere. But nothing was visible.

Did you light a fire?

Yes.

Where? I don’t see it.

Inside my body.

“Huh?”

He extended an arm covered in black scales.

Fire won’t last here. But within me, I can maintain it. Hold on to me.

“Ah…”

His black scales glowed faintly red.

She truly didn’t understand him.

How could he be so devoted? He was a demon. Not human. Why was he like this… to her?

Touch me. If it’s too hot, I’ll lower the flame.

She placed her hand on his arm.

Is it burning your skin?

“…No. It’s perfect.”

It was so warm. Comfortably warm.

She embraced not just his arm, but his body.

If I stay like this, I think I’ll recover quickly.

He seemed stiff at first, then slowly returned the hug.

I don’t understand human illnesses, but… I think I understand what it means when someone says they feel good.

A non-human voice whispered against her ear.

I like you.

His words made her body tremble.

I like you, too.

“…Like… you…”

Rasilia mumbled in her sleep.

She truly did like him. Her headache had vanished, and her whole body was warm. She was hugging something warm—firm, yet soft. Cozy and soothing. It smelled warm and clean.

“I like you too.”

A deep voice brushed against her ear.

That voice was what pulled her back from the dream.

Everything was the same as the dream… except that voice.

She recognized it.

“…Your Majesty?”

Rasilia raised her head in a daze.

The emperor’s golden eyes, dreamy and hazy like someone with a fever, were gazing softly down at her.