By Zephyria There had never been a time when climbing stairs was this painful. Even though I could endure pain very well, with every step I took, my body felt like it would collapse like a slime, so I climbed, gripping the railing tightly.
But the hospital room I reached after all that trouble was empty.
I wrinkled my nose. It was a room that smelled of Hugh’s scent. It seemed he had been here just a moment ago, but where on earth had he gone? Sweat beaded on my forehead, making my back damp. I couldn’t stand any longer, so I found the bed and lay down.
Now I understood why my share of the blanket felt so light. Covering myself with a blanket of normal thickness pressed down on my chest, causing pain. I slowly got up again and lay down without covering myself, just resting quietly. As I lay there blankly, my eyes scanned my surroundings, and I noticed the curtain fluttering in the breeze.
…Was the window open?
Did he go out… the window? Why?
He had said he was halfway back. My head hurt, so maybe he went out for some fresh air.
It was nice that the outside breeze gently flowed in through the open window. It was a little cold, though… but not unpleasantly so. In fact, the scent of spring mixed with Hugh’s scent made me feel as if I were hugging him tightly.
If I stayed here, Hugh would return.
Thinking that, my heart felt at ease. As I relaxed my body, the pain lessened compared to before. Lying there, I drifted off to sleep.
…I opened my eyes at the sound of footsteps. It wasn’t Hugh, but Samantha.
“Why… are you sleeping here? How did you even get here?”
“…Hugh…”
“Uh-huh, I know. You came to see Hugh… That’s not what I was asking, but, well…”
Samantha usually narrowed her eyes into sharp triangles whenever she saw me. But today, her eyes drooped at the corners as if she were looking at something pitiful. She stood askew beside the bed and scanned my reclining form with her eyes.
“Aren’t you cold?”
“…A little?”
“Should I bring you a blanket?”
“…Where is Hugh?”
“He… He’ll return when it’s time.”
“Why?”
“…”
“Did you only see me?”
“…”
I hadn’t seen him, so why did Samantha get to see him? I felt a little hurt.
Samantha’s fist rose above my head, then slowly lowered. Grinding her teeth, she said,
“I’m tolerating this because you’re a patient. Do you understand?”
I had no idea. Why was she angry… Well, Samantha was always easily angered. I just stayed quiet.
I slept in Hugh’s hospital room that day.
The next day. As soon as the sun rose, I left the room. Despite waking and sleeping intermittently all night, Hugh hadn’t visited the room even once. He had said he was at the capital’s Temple, so if he needed healing, he wouldn’t have gone far. Where on earth could he be now?
Drawn by the fresh scent of grass, I headed to the lawn in front of the Temple. But what I encountered was an unexpected sight.
Several familiar knights stood at intervals on one side of the wide lawn, and in the center, I saw familiar faces.
It was Blue Star and the Emperor.
They had spread out a wide, light yellow mat and placed two layers of cozy-looking blankets on top. Between them lay an egg, adorned with a pretty fur scarf. How had it grown so much? The egg, the color of oyster shells and about the size of a child’s head, was glossy and smooth, brimming with Divine Power and purified Mana.
In front of it, they had set out all sorts of colorful food. Sandwiches, muffins, ham, cheese, salad, fruit…
This time, I was truly hungry. I approached, thinking I might get something to eat. The knights who tried to stop me, upon seeing my face, immediately stepped aside, clearing a path for me to approach them.
Michael, who had been tickling the tip of the egg, its crown, or rather, its apex, with his finger, looked over with a bright smile.
“Seonbae! Are you feeling any better?”
“Yes. I can walk.”
“As expected, your recovery is fast. We were very worried. Still, thanks to you, things worked out well. Would you like to see the little dragon for a moment? It seems to be in a better mood than usual after smelling the flowers.”
“…”
I couldn’t see his nostrils.
But the sandwich was too tempting, so I nodded obediently.
Blue Star made space for me to sit, and the Emperor took the egg from his hand. Seeing him cradle it gently on his lower abdomen, holding it with both hands, felt a bit… strange. The gentle smile on the Emperor’s lips, and Blue Star’s radiant smile.
The Second Prince I knew was always someone who sighed irritably. Whenever Blue Star’s gaze shifted away from him, he would clutch and tear at his own collar and clothes as if he couldn’t bear it. But now, even though Blue Star’s gaze was fixed on me, he looked utterly happy, cradling the egg.
Can a person change this much?
Blue Star chattered energetically.
“Peter said that from now on, it will be able to think and move, albeit clumsily. He said it can flail its limbs as if swimming inside the egg. Isn’t it truly amazing? This small.”
“Yes.”
“That’s why it reacts when you talk to it. Right, little dragon?”
“…”
The egg… is an egg. It didn’t move. I knew something was alive inside, but I couldn’t understand what it was saying at all. Does Shinui see something different? As Blue Star looked back at me with eyes full of anticipation, as if saying ‘See? See?’, I just nodded.
In high spirits, Blue Star pushed the lunchbox towards me.
“Ah, Seonbae, since you’re here, please try some of this. When I said we were coming for a picnic, my mother-in-law packed this much for us.”
“…”
“There’s no way the two of us can eat all of this, so you don’t have to refuse. Please, have some.”
“…Thank you.”
I refused once out of politeness, and accepted a sandwich on the second offer. I learned this kind of humble refusal from Hugh too.
The sandwich was incredibly delicious. Layered with apples and jam, it was sweet, crisp, and comforting. It was a taste Hugh would like too. Should I ask him to pack some later?
Taking a large bite, I chewed and swallowed, then asked what I was curious about.
“By any chance, have you seen Hugh?”
“Hugh Seonbae? He was here briefly earlier, but I don’t know where he is now. Should I have the servants look for him?”
“…No, not to that extent. Um, Owner. Did you handle that well?”
At that, the Emperor covered the sides of the egg with both hands… That would be understandable if it were a person’s head, as if he were covering their ears, but what he was holding was an egg. It had no eyes, nose, mouth, or ears.
As the Emperor subtly glanced at me, Blue Star lowered his voice and whispered,
“I’m sorry. I’m focusing on prenatal care right now, so it’s a bit difficult to say harsh words in front of the child…”
“…Yes… May I take a few sandwiches?”
“Of course. We’ve eaten our fill. You can take the whole box if you like.”
“Thank you.”
Idiots.
This won’t do. I need to ask for help.
For a full week, I hadn’t even seen the back of Hugh Benson’s head. Every morning, I knocked on every hospital room I could find, and whenever I had free time, I wandered the corridors. I even sat in the vast garden all day and searched the prayer room, but to no avail.
With each ray of sunlight that tickled my cheek through the window, I grew more disheartened. I didn’t understand why Hugh was avoiding me this much. The only thing that came to mind was when I asked him on the way up the Yuil Mountains if that was why he wouldn’t marry me, and he had gotten furious. Yet, he seemed to converse face-to-face with Samantha, which made me even more resentful.
I thought we had reconciled, though. I thought we could spend the nights together from now on…
He was definitely staying somewhere in this Temple, but I had no way to find him, with his excellent Stealth technique. And, as Blue Star suggested, having people search for him felt like a terrible thing to do. I didn’t want to forcibly drag him before me, and besides, how could mere servants possibly catch Hugh?
What’s more, Blue Star didn’t even know Hugh was avoiding me. He just laughed it off, saying our paths must have just crossed. So, he’s successfully gotten married, is that it? Can a person be this insensitive? Or is it because he’s a god, not a person?
So, I decided to seek the help of the most successful person in this Empire.
The help of Sierren’s Emperor, Rubel Anti Sieron.
I figured he wouldn’t help if I just asked, so I got a little help from Blue Star. “Seonbae Elwin mentioned he had something he wanted to ask Ruben, could you spare a moment?” At his words, the Emperor readily nodded, and now, the two of us sat facing each other in a reception room attached to a corner of the Temple.
The reception room, prepared for those who regularly donated to the Temple, was quite luxurious.
Light fractured through stained glass of all colors dappled the floor, and bas-reliefs carved in high relief on the walls depicted scenes from myths. Between two sofas, each large enough for three or four people, sat a square stone table.
And the Emperor, sitting opposite me, was as cold as ever, without Blue Star by his side.
“If you needed something, you should have told a servant. They would have helped you sufficiently.”
“I wish to seek advice.”
“Advice?”
The Emperor’s eyebrow twitched slightly. If I didn’t get to the point quickly, he would probably just get up and leave. In the first place, long explanations don’t suit me.
Leaning forward, I asked with the most serious expression and tone I could muster,
“What exactly is the difference between marriage and living together forever?”
“…What?”
“Why doesn’t Hugh want to marry me?”
“…You’re seeking relationship advice… from me?”
“Because Your Majesty is the person I know who has most actively pursued marriage.”
“…”
Now, the Emperor’s expression also turned serious.