IATAOTHKG | CHAPTER 80

[CHAPTER 80]

The lights were out in the second-floor bedroom.

Meyna, lying sideways on the edge of the bed, drew fragile breaths.

Her lower abdomen twisted with intense pain, making even breathing difficult.

It felt as if she were submerged in hot water.

Axelt, silently watching Meyna gasp and moan, finally spoke.

“Princess. Can you get up?”

“…….”

“I’ve heated the bath water.”

Meyna struggled to lift her eyelids and checked the wall clock.

It was nearly midnight.

An hour ago, she had asked for just a moment’s rest when Axelt insisted she wash off her rain-soaked body first.

“I’m not sure.”

Meyna answered weakly.

I just want to rest a little…

She had stalled Magia, who was pressing her to go to the hospital, claiming she’d feel better after a short sleep.

She couldn’t tell anyone about her awakening pains, not even Biterion.

For a moment, Axelt placed his large hand on Meyna’s forehead.

“Your fever isn’t going down easily.”

Meyna blinked her fevered eyes and stared blankly at Axelt’s blurred face.

Axelt brushed her sweat-damp hair behind her ear, then held her shoulders as if to support her.

“I’ll help you to the bathroom. Please get up.”

With a groan, Meyna nodded.

Leaning on Axelt, she managed to lower herself off the bed and leave the room.

The dark hallway felt eerie.

Rain pounded on the roof and windows, and on the first floor, Magia and Bablad were busy moving around, the clatter of dishes reaching her ears.

The faint, bitter, and unique smell of boiling herbs drifted through the air.

“Here it is.”

Axelt pointed to the largest bathroom at the end of the second-floor hallway.

Steam escaped through the slightly open door.

“Yes.”

Meyna nodded, and with Axelt’s support, she moved forward.

Then they heard Magia’s voice.

“Lord Lenox and the Prince still seem to be in the annex.”

Magia whispered cautiously, and Bablad replied.

“It seems their conversation is taking a while.”

“And they haven’t even turned on the lights.”

“I worry about Lord Lenox.”

“As do I.”

“Even though he’s severely injured, he refuses treatment. Tsk…”

Bablad clicked his tongue.

Meyna’s pace slowed as she listened to their conversation, and thankfully Axelt waited quietly.

“Exactly.”

“He not only refuses to go to the hospital, he also commands that no doctor be called. It’s terrifying. My body shakes just thinking about it…!”

“He even forbids you from leaving the house. It’s frustrating not knowing why.”

“That’s not all. He said until he gives permission, I cannot leave the house. Guard me.”

Guard?… That’s basically a house arrest order.

The three-word shock echoed in her ears.

Why would the Caliph…?

Axelt, silently observing Meyna’s pale profile, gently nudged her back.

“The bathwater is cooling.”

Meyna nodded obediently.

Axelt pushed open the bathroom door.

Since moving to Kyrib’s mansion, Meyna had been using the small bathroom attached to her bedroom, so this was her first time bathing in the massive bathroom at the end of the hallway.

It was as large as a typical living room.

Six columns supported the walls, and a large screen blocked the view to the bathtub.

Clearly designed to prevent anyone from accidentally seeing another person naked.

Rolling up her shirt sleeves, Axelt asked.

“Shall I help you take off your dress?”

Meyna hesitated.

Even back at Lord Lenox’s castle, she had bathed alone without any help from servants.

Exposing her body and being touched by someone else always felt awkward.

“Yes. Please.”

But now she had no choice.

Her body was too weak to insist on doing it herself.

Her glasses had been lost in the carriage accident, and her fever made her vision swim.

The pain made standing difficult.

If she tried to remove the soaked, heavy dress by herself, she might faint and collapse. It would make perfect sense.

“Lean against the wall.”

Meyna nodded and steadied herself with her hands on the screen.

Axelt approached and deftly loosened the dress’s waist tie.

Then, starting just above the hips, she quickly unbuttoned all the buttons up to the back and grabbed the shoulder straps.

* * *

At the same time.

Biterion and the Caliph left the annex together.

They entered the main building, opening the front door and stepping into the reception room, where Magia and Bablad came running from the kitchen.

“Lord Lenox!”

Magia cried, her face full of worry, but the Caliph passed silently toward the stairs.

“I’ll explain later. Tonight, both of you should go to bed early.”

Biterion reassured Magia and Bablad in the Caliph’s stead.

Though hesitant, the two agreed.

“I know it’s worrying, but tonight your duty is to pretend you don’t know anything.”

Biterion, born of royal blood, spoke politely even to his subordinates.

His manner was courteous as always, but his body radiated undeniable tension.

Bablad bowed.

“Understood, Your Highness. We’ll tidy up quickly and go to bed.”

“Tonight, we’ll both stay in the annex.”

Biterion smiled faintly and nodded toward Magia, then followed the Caliph upstairs.

At the far end of the dark, long hallway, the Caliph leaned against the railing, slouched, head down, eyes closed.

Biterion noticed light spilling from the slightly open bathroom door.

Muffled conversation could also be heard.

“I’ll help you remove your dress, Princess.”

Axelt… yes, that was her name.

Biterion never forgot a name he heard once, yet he couldn’t recall the surname of Meyna’s secretary and bodyguard.

Why not?

Suppressing his uneasy thoughts, Biterion leaned on the railing to the left of the Caliph.

“Wearing this soaked dress to bed prevents your fever from going down.”

Her tone was sharp and almost strict, but filled with concern.

“I’m sorry. But earlier, I was too weak to bathe immediately.”

Her voice, apologizing like a child being scolded, made a faint smile appear on Biterion’s lips.

The Caliph, however, looked slightly strained.

His lowered lashes trembled, veins stood out on his fists, as if suppressing something with all his might.

Biterion immediately lost his smile.

“Raise your arms for a moment. I’ll help remove your undergarments.”

Slowly, the Caliph’s eyelids lifted.

His blue eyes, tired and weary, shone like sapphires as he peeked through the open bathroom door.

“Soak in the bathtub. I’ll take the wet clothes to the laundry and return.”

“Ah… wait, Axelt.”

Meyna’s voice trembled anxiously.

“Why, Princess?”

“I suddenly… can’t breathe well since a few moments ago…”

The Caliph slowly rose.

“Tell me how I can help. As you heard, no doctor can be called, Princess.”

“Is someone in the house… Prince Biterion, is he here?”

“I’ll bring him.”

Panting, Meyna muttered the name.

The Caliph’s eyes opened fully, as if falling off an endless cliff.