Chapter 42

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 42

Chapter Title: Don't Drink the Water

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Knock knock.

"Who's there?"

"It's Beni, the inn staff. I brought some water in case you wanted it while you were sleeping."

"Oh, thank you."

I'd just bathed in hot water, so a cool glass was exactly what I needed.

"Could you leave it by the door?"

"Yes, of course."

After a short while, once I was sure no one was around, I grabbed the tray with the pitcher and cup and brought it inside.

"Hmm... looks fine."

I checked the cup and pitcher for any debris or stains. Satisfied, I started pouring cool water into the glass—and froze.

Truth be told, I desperately wanted to chug that clear, cool water right then and there.

Plus, I rarely got stomachaches anyway, so I figured I could handle a little water just fine.

But even so, I summoned superhuman willpower and managed to stop myself.

"Right... got to follow the guidelines."

What if I ended up getting an earful from the duke with those laser-beam eyes again?

I set the cup on the bedside table, double-checked that the door was locked, and finally slipped into the cozy bed.

"Mmm."

Already feeling sleepy.

"There's something..."

Something I was supposed to do? Or maybe not. Whatever.

My body, weighed down by days of accumulated fatigue, sank into the soft mattress and plunged into dreamland in an instant.

.

.

.

"Cough, cough!"

A persistent hacking cough kept bubbling up.

My throat itched, my mind was foggy.

Even with my eyes open, I couldn't tell if this space was real or a dream.

...It felt just like after that sleep endoscopy. Wait, what was a sleep endoscopy again?

Where am I? Who am I?

"Bonita...?"

It was like a pebble was lodged in my throat—I could barely breathe.

I instinctively called for Bonita first, but she didn't seem to be here.

Everything was too dark to make out a thing.

Stumbling around the room, I somehow reached a window in one of the walls.

"Oh, right..."

I'd been so tired I'd just passed out without airing out the room.

'But even if I forgot to ventilate, could the air really be this bad...?'

My hazy vision wouldn't clear no matter how much I blinked.

Should I complain again? Wait, what was "complain"?

As every possible gestalt collapsed around me, I reached out with my weakening arms and barely managed to open the window. Then I slid powerlessly down against the wall.

Even my clear memories were starting to blur one by one.

Who told me to open the window and sleep?

Who was Bonita? Why was I here...?

"Dizzy..."

I wanted to open the door and get out, but something told me I absolutely shouldn't open that firmly shut door.

It felt like someone I was truly terrified of had earnestly warned me against it.

After breathing in some fresh air from the open window, my stuffy breathing eased a bit, but my head still felt choked with thick fog.

And then, someone knocked on the door.

Knock.

Knock knock!

I had no strength to move, so I just stared. Soon after, a thin, wail-like sound came through.

"H-Help... please."

It was a young boy's voice.

"Huh...?"

"My grandma's really sick. Please help...!"

Of course I should help. It was a child asking for aid, and I was the adult.

But for some reason, my body wouldn't move.

Stagger...

I somehow managed to stand, but it felt like someone was yanking at my ankles.

'Don't open that door.'

Why?

The desperate knocking and pleading grew more frantic, but I couldn't take a single step from my spot.

"S-Sorry."

"Help! Please help!"

"Sorry... I can't open the door..."

The pleas, full of desperation, didn't stop. Listening to them made me anxious.

Still, even so... it was a poor child's request. Maybe just this once?

Maybe it would be fine to open the door and just check quickly?

"My grandma's gonna die soon! Please, help us!"

"N-No... don't..."

"Please!"

As two impulses battled in my head, a fierce gust blew from behind.

Whoooosh!

"Huh?"

Bang!

Startled, I turned to see a massive crashing sound as one side of the window was torn clean off and flew away.

"Eek!"

I flinched in shock, then mustered courage to open my eyes again. Against the inky black sky loomed a huge, crouched shadow.

No, not a shadow... a man?

"You wouldn't listen back at the restaurant at all."

The man hopped down from the window frame and strode toward me with long legs.

He was so tall I had to crane my neck to look up at him.

"But at least here, you weren't completely ignoring instructions. Princess."

As the clouds parted, revealing the moonlight, the man's face came into sharp focus. I gaped, speechless.

'Whoa. He's gorgeous.'

Not just handsome—stunning.

His features were sharply sculpted, like a god's careful handiwork.

Yet not feminine; thick brows and a strong jaw gave him a powerfully striking presence.

And those green eyes. Deeply saturated, utterly captivating. A true divine masterpiece.

No, the pinnacle of creation.

"...Princess, what are you doing?"

"Ahh!"

His dubious tone snapped me back. Realizing what I'd been doing, I let out a short scream and stumbled back.

Oh god. Without realizing it, I'd reached out and touched his face!

"S-Sorry."

But recalling the smooth feel of his cheek under my fingertips made my face—and even ears—burn hot.

I steadied my slurring speech and desperately tried to explain.

"You're so handsome I lost my mind for a second..."

"What?"

"I don't see faces this gorgeous often. I-I mean... you're my type."

The man's lips pressed into a thin line.

In the brief silence, I mustered courage and spoke again.

"Um."

"What now?"

"...Staring like that makes my heart race too much? Could you look... somewhere else...?"

Ha.

The man let out a soft chuckle, raking a hand through his hair.

I didn't know what his smile meant, but damn, even that was photoshoot-worthy.

"Wow."

Clap clap clap!

As I applauded in awe, he asked with a hint of amusement.

"Did you inhale some hallucinogenic incense? The window was open, after all..."

"Oh, that! I just opened it."

"...Ha. Thought you were actually following orders for once. Should've assigned a maid."

"Pardon?"

No sooner had he spoken than my view shot upward.

Realizing too late, he'd scooped me up princess-style.

"Kyaa!"

So high!

And handsome!

Too handsome—it's overwhelming...!

Holding me firmly, he placed one foot on the window sill and whispered softly.

"Hold on tight. I can't catch you if you fall on your own."

"Whaaat?"

Fall? Where? Before I could finish the thought, the vast sky filled my vision.

Glancing back on instinct, I saw the distressed little boy standing inside the window.

Wait, is that a knife in his hand?

"Huh? Huh? Kyaaaa!"

And then we plummeted.

Too late, I realized my room was on the second floor—a bit higher than average—but it was already happening.

Eyes wide, I saw the ground below where people were tangled in a fierce brawl.

Familiar faces were among them, but no matter how I racked my brain, their names wouldn't come.

'Why are they fighting?'

Why's it so chaotic around here?

"Ugh... dizzy..."

I didn't even notice landing. One blink, and my feet were on solid earth.

Amid the shouts of fighters and clashing weapons, the man who'd brought me ordered someone.

"Take the princess to a physician first. Her condition's off."

"Understood. Shall I escort her?"

The man paused, gazing down at me intently, then shook his head.

"No, I'll take the princess myself."

Led by his hand, I couldn't stop the laughter bubbling out. And then...

'I don't know who she is, but this princess must've saved her country in a past life.'

With that final thought, my vision went completely black.