Chapter 6: I Just Wanted to Write This Situation
By the time the discussion with Prince Lucas reached an end, the setting sun was visible outside the window. We returned to the original room, just as Prime Marquis, the Chancellor, appeared.
According to Prime Marquis, His Majesty the King had recovered as if he had never been ill. However, since he had been bedridden for many days, he would need to spend some time recovering.
Prime Marquis bowed his head to Lecty, saying he wished to express their gratitude again at a later date.
"No, there is no need for thanks! I just offered a little help...!"
"The Saintess mentioned that without Lady Lecty, they would not have been able to save His Majesty the King. There is no need for humility. You are a hero of this nation's salvation."
"Eh, a hero...?"
Lecty's eyes widened in disbelief, completely dumbfounded by the incredible title Prime Marquis had bestowed upon her.
Well, it is true that if the King had died at that moment, the country was highly likely to have plunged into civil war. In that case, the Reese Kingdom itself might have ceased to exist.
Prime Marquis likely understood this, which is why he called Lecty a hero of this nation's salvation.
"Chancer, can we talk about what happens next?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
"Thank you. Alright, Alyssa. I'll leave the rest to you. Roan and Lucretia, will you come with me?"
Prince Lucas took Roan-san and Lucretia (or rather, Merry, the fake) with him, leaving the room with Prime Marquis. The rest of us decided to return to the Academy.
"Are you okay, Lugue...?"
"Yeah. I still feel a little faint, but I'm fine."
Lugue, who had been lying on the sofa, sat up and nodded. Her face was still flushed, but she seemed a little better than before.
Lecty must have used 〈Heal〉 a few times while Lugue was asleep. That might have contributed positively to her condition.
Lecty's 〈Heal〉 works not just for wounds but also for relieving fatigue. I've personally experienced its effectiveness, as she uses it on me every morning.
I carried Lugue on my back (she flat-out refused when I tried to use the bridal carry again) to the carriage, beginning our journey back to the Royal Academy.
I braced myself, constantly looking out the carriage window at the Royal Capital's streets, expecting something to happen, but we reached the Royal Academy without incident.
Prince Lucas himself said that nothing would happen immediately, so perhaps I shouldn't worry too much.
We parted ways with Alyssa-san at the school gate and headed toward the dorm. Lily and Lecty, worried about Lugue, accompanied us right up to the front of the boys' dorm.
"Are you feeling alright, Lugue-san...?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Lecty."
Lugue, who was leaning against my back listlessly, answered Lecty in a tired tone.
"Hugh, if anything happens with Lugue, contact me immediately. I will inform the dorm manager, so just come down to the entrance, and it will be fine."
"That helps. And you, too, please let me know if anything happens, though I think you'll be fine."
Prince Lucas mentioned he would send a few Knight reinforcements. Alyssa-san is also here, so the Academy should be safe for now.
However, I'm frustrated by the lack of an emergency communication method. I wish there were some magic tool similar to a cell phone... Well, I doubt there is one. I feel like I could create one using the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill, but should I even attempt that...?
I'll put off any plans for making a magic tool for a while. Lily and Lecty and I parted ways at the boys' dorm.
After returning to the room and gently easing Lugue off my back, she headed unsteadily toward the dressing room.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"I want to shower because I feel sweaty."
"No, I don't think you should right now..."
I know she feels gross with sweat, but walking so unsteadily and showering is dangerous. If she fell, it would be a disaster. Her fever might also go up, so it's better to wait until she recovers.
"Muuu—"
Lugue puffed up her cheeks in displeasure. She's cute, but what's not allowed is not allowed.
But, I understand she's bothered by the sweat...
"How about wiping yourself down with a wet towel instead?"
"... Mhm. I'll do that."
Lugue seemed to accept my alternative suggestion, nodding slightly. I told Lugue to rest in bed first while I prepared the water and went to the dressing room. I prepared a basin of hot water and a towel and entered the room.
—Lugue was waiting on the bed with her porcelain-white skin exposed, her back toward me.
Hold on a minute!
I tried desperately to suppress the urge to scream, hugging the basin tightly with both hands as I nearly dropped it. A-Alright, I need to calm down first, yes! First, assess the situation.
Lugue's uniform was thrown on the sofa. She wasn't wearing anything on her upper body and was sitting on my bed, her back toward me, using the blanket to cover her front. Her cheeks were flushed from the fever, and her eyes were hazy.
"Hugh, be gentle, okay...?"
She means for me to wipe her back, right!?
I couldn't help but swallow hard, looking at the perfectly unblemished, beautiful porcelain-white skin she exposed. N-No, that's wrong. I'm not aroused or anything; I'm tense! It's not strange to be tense when seeing the bare skin of a girl you like, yes!
A-Alright, I put the basin down on the desk beside the bed, wet the towel with hot water, and wrung it out. Should I just let her wipe herself down instead, even now? No, no! Lugue is still naked as I debate. If I make her wait too long, she might catch a cold!
So, yes, I definitely don't have any ulterior motives. Definitely not!
"H-Here I come...?"
"Yes, please come..."
My brain felt like it was going to explode from Lugue's soft, inviting voice. I desperately suppressed the urge to hug her and gently wiped her back with the towel.
"Hwaah..."
A sweet sigh escaped her lips involuntarily.
My brain completely froze, and I don't remember much of what happened next. Wiping Lugue's back with a blank mind, I quickly handed her the towel and immediately retreated from the room.
I paced frantically in the corridor between the entrance and the room for a while. Just as I started to calm down,
"Hugh, I'm done now,"
—I was called from inside the room. I nervously looked inside. Lugue seemed to have finished changing and was lying in my bed.
Hey, she's in my bed! ... No, it's essentially Lugue's bed now, so it's fine. I carefully corrected her haphazard sleeping position and tucked the blanket over her.
I looked at the clock. It was time for dinner.
"Lugue, are you hungry? If you want anything, I can go to the cafeteria and ask for some bread porridge or something."
"No, I'm fine... Hugh."
"What is it?"
"I want you to hold my hand tightly."
The fever must have broken her emotional limiter; Lugue reached out her left hand from under the blanket.
Her voice was sweet, melting like honey. Her flushed cheeks and wet, navy eyes accentuated her childlike features, stirring a strong sense of protective desire.
... Gasp! Dangerous, dangerous. My mind nearly blanked again from the cuteness.
I knelt beside the bed and wrapped both my hands around Lugue's left hand.
"Eheheh. Your hand is so warm, Hugh."
"I-Is that so...?"
... Ah, I love her. I desperately suppressed the overflowing emotion.
"Thank you, Hugh. For bringing me to the castle. You pushed me to go, saying I would regret it, so I could see my father... If he had died right then, I would have regretted it until the day I died, so..."
"It's okay. I understand. It's good that your father recovered, Lucretia."
"Mhm..."
That was all she wanted to convey, I suppose. Lucretia slowly closed her eyes with a relieved expression. After a moment, I could hear her peaceful breathing.
The roleplay of pretending we don't know might be at its limit. I know Lugue is Lucretia, and Lucretia knows I know she is Lucretia.
The reason we pretended not to know was because we were both afraid to take the next step. We feared that if we did, we would run out of control.
Pretending ignorance was the best way to suppress the feelings, the heart, and the impulses.
However,
"I love you, Lucretia."
I brought my hands, which were cupping her hand, to my forehead and murmured the words.
It seems it will be difficult to keep a lid on these emotions that simply overflow from my heart, without logic or reason.
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