Chapter 95
A week had passed.
I was continuing my role as primary physician while staying at the palace.
Though I wondered if it wasn't too long to keep being absent from the academy.
I didn't need to worry about this part as I had asked Selena in advance.
After all, I had received the position of head assistant in preparation for times like this.
-You're saying you'll be away for a while?
-I don't intend to say no... but I'm worried as such things have become frequent recently.
-You shouldn't neglect your duties as a student.
-I won't particularly ask the reason for your absence. Our relationship was formed with such conditions from the start.
-I'll only add the advice to always take care of yourself.
I received permission without much difficulty.
Though she might have been curious about her disciple wandering around like this, our master didn't ask even a single question.
She simply left me to do as I pleased.
Indeed, choosing Selena as a backing could be called an excellent decision.
If it had been other professors at Gallimar, they would have been desperate to control my movements as they pleased.
I freshly chewed over my relief.
'Thanks to that, I'm at ease.'
Thanks to that, I could devote myself solely to matters here.
The time of the past week.
I worked on two major things.
The first was naturally treating the rose, and the second was gradually taming the little prince.
It was also a necessary process considering future episodes.
As both were tasks requiring patience, I approached them slowly with patience.
Of course, it was difficult to be satisfied from the first spoonful.
-I clearly told you to get out.
-I said I don't want to receive treatment, so don't touch my body.
-Just leave me alone to die.
This was especially true in Elise's case.
While the older sister was gradually opening her heart, the younger sister consistently maintained a cold attitude every time.
No... rather, it felt like she was becoming sharper as time went on.
Though her physical condition was clearly improving, as if unable to accept that fact, the girl didn't stop her rough resistance every time she received treatment.
Therefore, I had to deal with her for several hours each day.
-Ugh... you trash.
-Treating an Imperial Princess like this... hnn, you think you'll be safe...?
-I will definitely kill you.
When gentle hands touched her snow-white skin, hazy eyes were glaring this way.
Beyond her empty pupils, even killing intent shattered emptily.
When that sweet breath became disordered, her red hair was soaked with sweat, and sticky body scent dyed the surroundings, the girl lay in an exhausted state.
Resentment was always reflected in her shabby eyes.
-Just die.
Though I seemed to receive unintended hatred, nevertheless I had no intention of letting go easily.
The moment of giving up, not even a trace of salvation remains.
Because the rose's death leads directly to the little prince's tragedy.
Therefore, even while being pricked by sharp thorns, I gently stroked the red petals.
Always while holding a smile.
-You'll get used to it soon.
-I hope you would focus solely on recovery, without any thoughts, without giving up on life.
-I'll help by your side.
-Even if Your Highness doesn't wish it.
Taming is not completed in one night.
Only by watching over a long time and investing steady devotion can one make a single beautiful flower bloom.
It was at that stage now.
Rather than finding meaning in each other, it was the stage of planting meaning in each other.
Some patience was needed.
'Of course.'
That's not to say there was no progress.
Though the rose was raising her thorns, conversely, the little prince was steadily falling.
Charlotte conveyed her gratitude every day.
-The frequency of seizures has noticeably decreased.
-Her complexion seems to be getting better too.
-Yes... it's all thanks to you.
-Because you helped us. Because only you can save us.
The effects of repetitive learning seemed to be appearing gradually.
Every time after Elise fell asleep following treatment, we would have about 2 hours of private conversation in the next room.
Though nominally it was to report on progress.
In reality, it was closer to a process of giving trust to the girl by increasing time spent together.
I whispered whenever gaps arose.
-Your Highness need not worry about anything.
-You just need to wait quietly while entrusting everything to me.
-I'll resolve everything myself.
Words volunteering to be a place to rely on completely.
Though Charlotte seemed hesitant at first, now she nodded blankly.
Perhaps because it was the only hope visible.
Seeing her sister's complexion improving daily, the older sister had no choice but to follow the voice touching her ear.
She might not want to miss this opportunity.
-I'll follow your words.
Unfocused blue eyes.
When the girl held shaking eyes, I stroked her head to mean she should be at ease.
The Imperial Princess did not brush away the mere snake's touch.
She only melted gradually into that coolness, accepting the narrowing distance.
I wore a satisfied smile.
'It's going smoothly.'
This too was considered later.
The more Charlotte's heart grew to rely on me, the easier it would be for me to use her.
High status is always useful.
As improvement showed in the disease, trust built up steadily.
'Charlotte... and Elise.'
Before I knew it.
I had become part of the two people's daily life.
***
Late evening.
A time when even the bright scenery outside was dyed with darkness.
I was tidying up the surroundings that had been messed up in between, after finishing the long-continuing examination.
The bed where the rose lay was a mess today too.
"Haa, haa..."
Breath exhaling hotly.
Her red hair wet with sweat was sprawled here and there.
Perhaps due to particularly rough resistance, her top that usually only became disheveled was stripped today revealing all her snow-white flesh.
As she wasn't even wearing underwear inside, it was practically a naked state.
Only the precariously covered blanket hid her body and concealed the protrusions at the ends of her soft flesh.
Perhaps due to the clearly revealed skin, a sticky body scent brushed my nose.
"Hauu... ugh."
"Good work."
I spoke to the exhausted girl.
Words announcing the end of the examination.
When I removed my hand that had been pressing her abdomen, a moan leaked between her rose-colored lips.
It was a pitiful echo she couldn't quite utter.
"Ugh."
Treatment that had continued for as much as 5 hours.
Perhaps because she had been pressed many times, clear hand marks remained on her stomach.
Elise lay twitching.
"......"
Her limbs bound by shadows didn't move.
She seemed to have no strength left.
Her bloodless lips were the same.
Only her green pupils were staring this way.
Though moisture gathered sparkling at her eyes, the feeling of glaring wasn't erased.
I responded with a fresh smile.
'How long will she show such reactions?'
It seems about time she should adapt.
I lightly snapped my fingers.
Snap-!
Right after a short bursting sound.
The messy scene was tidily organized.
The blanket that had been damp with sweat returned, and the girl's blatantly revealed contours were also covered.
I was quietly looking down at the bed.
"I'll check today too."
Then I reached out my hand.
The rose's arm was still bound.
As I rolled up the thinly covered sleeve, thickly applied bandages were visible beyond.
I removed that fabric with careful gestures.
Swish-.
The bandages coming undone powerlessly.
Only then were scars revealed on her wrist.
They were lines roughly drawn like cross-hatching.
Whether she had put a knife to it while I wasn't looking, new wounds that weren't there yesterday were now present.
I let out a sigh with an "as expected" feeling.
"Your Highness."
"What."
"Didn't I tell you? That it's not a very good habit."
"What's it to you?"
Deliberately creating wounds on her body.
Though it had the effect of temporarily easing pain by releasing backflowing mana, it was an act that was no help at all for treatment.
Though I had clearly cautioned her, she seemed unable to quit.
"...It hurt too much at dawn."
"Excuses won't work. If it hurt that much, you should have called me."
I took out ointment from the shelf.
As I applied medicine to her wrist where rain fell, the rose turned her head away with indifferent eyes.
An attitude as if wounds weren't even in her thoughts.
"It doesn't even sting."
No will to recover was visible.
I put bitter feelings behind me and threw out one question I had been holding.
"Do you truly not believe in hope, Your Highness?"
"I don't understand what you mean."
Based on what I had observed over the past week, she was like a single flower broken in the wind and rain.
Misfortune trampled to the point of being unable to rise again.
Elise was in a state of resignation about life.
Having continued battling illness for over 10 years in a dark room, irreparable despair must have already piled up in her heart.
The girl's haggardly faded eyes proved that time.
The rose seemed to no longer believe in hope.
"You seem to be misunderstanding something... Whether you can really treat this disease or not, that's none of my business."