Ugh...
What the fuck?!
I can't open my eyes!
I felt cold all over, yet I was drenched in annoying, sticky sweat.
I wanted to wipe the sweat on my forehead but despite all my effort of trying to lift my hands, I couldn't.
After realizing I had no energy to open my eyes or twitch my fingers, I gave up. Perhaps I've gotten used to feeling as though my soul and Raina's body are not connected.
I decided to focus on my other senses.
There was no loud pitter-patter of rain anymore nor thunder, but there was still a light drizzle you could hear. From the soft streak of warmth on my cheeks, the sun had already risen.
It should be the next morning...
Fuck, I'm so dead.
Sorin should already be awake and throwing a fuss about my whereabouts.
I'm sure he's furious because I drugged him.
Haaah...
"Twit-"
Bella?
As if responding, Bella chirped once again. I could feel her small movements and her soft feathers as it brushes against my skin.
Creak
I became alert as the door opened and the footsteps drew near me, but it was not like I could move or see so what else could I do but listen?
The footstep stopped and a hand brushed back my hair.
This hand... is Len's.
I relaxed at the realization.
I then felt a soft fabric wiping my body.
Len! My savior!
That shit has been bothering me.
"Good job on watching over Sienna, little one."
Bella chirped proudly.
"Your- You- Uh-"
"Boss." Len said, still wiping my body.
"Yes... Why don't you use holy power to heal her, boss? Umm... I mean, I'm sorry."
What the fuck?!
Len came in with another person?!
But there was only one footstep...?
No...
More importantly... That voice belongs to...
Trixie!
What is she doing here? She's supposed to be in the next town over.
The landslide should take at least a day or two to be cleared up, so how could she travel here?
Unless... Don't tell me I've been unconscious for a few days already?!
"I already did. However, it has been unsuccessful. She's still unconscious." After wiping my body, Len sat down on the bed, I could sense his hand hovering over my forehead. "Have you finished the tasked I had given you?"
As he said those words, I felt the familiar sensation of holy power going in my body.
But whilst it is soothing, it made my ear buzz, and my originally black vision became glitchy.
"Y-es. I--- Ar--- en ---zzzz--- age-....."
Not again...
The sound became further and further until there was nothing.
...
"Ungh..." I slowly opened my eyes, the pleasant sunset glow peeking through the window, casting a beautiful orange light all over the room.
Sunset...
SUNSET!
In my panic. I miraculously gathered enough strength to sit up. Followed by an aggravating dizzy spell.
"Fucking hell." I murmured, holding my forehead.
"Be careful." Len said as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder for support.
"Twit!" Bella worriedly chirped, lightly pecking on my arm.
I slowly rubbed her head.
He poured holy power into me once again, clearing my vision.
I leaned on the bed's headboard.
"How many days has it been?"
Len gave me a smile, handing me a cup of warm tea, "A day. How are you feeling? You had such a high fever."
Oh, thank god, it's only been a day.
I took a sip before answering. "I'm all good now. Tired, but good."
I held my head down, staring at the cup of tea that held the reflection of Raina wearing a blonde wig, the persona of a maid named Sienna. In other words, a complete lie.
The shame and guilt from yesterday night's conversation came rushing back to me and I couldn't dare look Len in the eye.
"Len... I..." My grip on the teacup became tighter, "Uh... Thank you for everything."
"Sienna, why..." He paused, then continued with a different tone, from a worried one to something more understanding. "You must be hungry. I'll get you something to eat."
The door closed and I felt my tense shoulder relax a little.
What is wrong with me?
Was I the type to be so… damn infuriating?
I've always been straightforward and even shameless.
But why is it so hard for me to speak my mind when it comes to Len…?
This trip, theoretically should bring us closer, yet all it made is build a wall between us and the architect and engineer of that wall is no one else but myself.
"Haah…"
As I wallowed over my uncharacteristic actions, my eyes drifted to the window and was hit with another wave of regret.
"FUCK!"
I should be heading home!
Just as I was preparing to try and stand, Len came in carrying a tray with a bowl of steaming porridge, a plate of sliced Wusari fruit, and a glass of water.
He hurriedly placed the tray of food on the bedside table. "What's wrong?"
"I should be heading back to the duchy. I only asked for... a day... off..." My voice grew weaker with every word I spoke.
Here you are again.
Lying.
Len patted my head and sat down beside me, holding the bowl. "Eat first, alright?"
"But-" Before I could speak any further, Len had already brought a spoonful of porridge to my lips.
My brows furrowed before succumbing, opening my mouth to eat.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
I. WAS. FED. BY. LEN.
This is so fucking embarrassing?!?!
I'm not some sick child!
Damn, this fever is making my face red.
"I... I can manage..." I reached out to take the bowl and spoon.
Len, faster than the speed of light—not literally, obviously—moved his hand away, even slightly turning away.
"You're currently so weak you're having a hard time standing up. In addition to that, you're in a hurry, so it would only make sense that I feed you, no?"
That makes sense...?
Len's persuasion worked and after getting fed porridge and Wusari, he began to meticulously wrap me like a Christmas present.
I'm getting deja vu...
Len wore his cloak, and then he offered his hand to help me stand.
...
With hesitation, I took his hand and stood up, wobbling a bit.
"Careful." He tightened his grip on my hand.
A soft chuckle escaped his mouth.
???
Len bent his knees to match my eye level. He smiled and patted my head, "I think I can understand your brother's protectiveness now."
????????
What is that supposed to mean?!?!
Protectiveness?
That blondie just likes to mess around.
"Stay here. I'll get Jaya." Len gently helped me sit.
I tapped my foot on the wooden floor, petting Bella's head, whilst watching the children outside, heartily laughing and jumping on the muddy puddles.
"Huh?"
My peripheral vision somehow caught sight of a paper lying on the floor,
the headline is extremely concerning.
I took the paper and read it with a confused frown.
"Twit?"
Litia's Special.
Empress Candidate, Lady Ethel has vanished into thin air.
What the actual fuck?!
Lady Arabella den Ethel last made her appearance at Marchioness Oberon's birthday celebration on the sixth day of the fifth month.
That's a few days before I got here.
A week after the event, rumors had begun circulating that the noble lady was recovering from an illness after she did not attend the debutant ball of the Selis county's—a vassal of the Ethel marquisate—second daughter.
The hell? Why is she copying the female lead's excuse?
The rumors, however, were dispelled when Marquis Ethel posted a reward of a thousand gold for any information of the beloved lady's whereabouts and a hundred thousand gold for the person who would successfully bring his dear daughter back safely.
...
Is this some kind of fake news or what?????
But... Litia's Special... should be a reliable source.
Archen always reads newspapers from this publication every morning.
What the fuck happened to the original story of Arabella's persistent visit to the imperial palace that has been mentioned not once, not twice, not thrice, no, not even ten times but twenty-five times throughout the whole novel?!
How will she be annoyingly infuriating if she's missing?!
"AHHHHH!"
Bella jumped up in surprise.
"Tai! Run!"
"Let go of me!"
The cheerful laughter of the children quickly turned into screams of terror.
To be continued~