Chapter 28
(28) I Will Protect Your Majesty (20)
Even though Heraith didn’t hide his annoyance when he spoke, Eleanor calmly responded.
“I came because I was worried you might be hurt.”
“You know what kind of power I have.”
“I do. But even if you have power, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt when you’re injured.”
Only then did Heraith lift his gaze and stare at Eleanor, then pointed with his chin to the sofa opposite him. Eleanor sat down and quietly observed Heraith before asking,
“The smell of blood is stronger. You haven’t treated it yet?”
“Unfortunately, my power isn’t very useful for healing myself. I can take care of scratches, but wounds from monsters are too difficult.”
“Oh.”
That answer seemed unexpected—Eleanor’s lips parted slightly in surprise. Heraith found her unguarded reaction amusing, and decided to prolong the meeting despite his fatigue.
“Looks like there’s something even you didn’t know.”
“Yes, I didn’t expect that. I just assumed Your Majesty could heal yourself. Then… you treat the knights but fight while injured yourself?”
Heraith gave a light nod.
A long time ago, so long that almost no records remained, God bestowed blessings upon four people who fought in His name:
The warrior Pellua, the mage Thissen, the paladin Yujenda, and the healer Delgado.
Time passed, their kingdoms rose and fell, like sandcastles washing away. But only the Delgado line endured.
Unlike the others, who were warriors or mages, Delgado had been an ordinary man. Yet, by God’s blessing, he alone was granted healing powers unknown to this world.
The only family of healers.
Though the divine blood in Delgado’s lineage had thinned over time, for some reason, Heraith had been born with powerful healing abilities.
“Would it be alright if I took a look at Your Majesty’s wounds?” Eleanor asked. Heraith chuckled.
“I didn’t think you’d studied medicine too. Is there anything you can’t do?”
“It’s not medicine, really. My family has a salve that works well on wounds caused by dark energy.”
As she spoke, Eleanor lifted the small bag she’d brought and then set it down again. So that’s what she packed.
Heraith hesitated briefly, then nodded. As soon as she had his permission, Eleanor picked up the bag and moved beside him.
“Where are you hurt?”
“Here first.”
Heraith bowed his head and tapped the back of his neck.
Eleanor tried to peer through the collar of his clothes to see the wound. When that didn’t work, she got up on the sofa on her knees to get a better look.
“I can’t see it well.”
“Should I take it off?”
He said it to tease her.
“Yes, it’d be best if you did,” she answered without hesitation.
Her calm response, again unlike any other noble lady, amused Heraith in spite of his exhaustion.
It wasn’t easy taking off clothes soaked in blood, so he had to tear the shirt off. His broad shoulders, firm chest, and bloodstained skin were exposed, but Eleanor’s expression remained composed.
She examined his body and said,
“The wound on your side is deep too. We should wipe off the blood first.”
“There’s bathwater prepared.”
“Then please wait a moment.”
Even before Heraith could reply, Eleanor climbed down from the sofa and quickly went to the bathroom.
Soon she returned, carrying a large basin of water and several towels draped over her arm.
“I’ll start cleaning.”
Again, Eleanor didn’t wait for permission. She dipped a towel in water, wrung it out, and began to gently wipe around the wounds with practiced hands.
She cleaned Heraith’s upper body thoroughly—swiftly, precisely, and gently.
Though he was used to treatment like this from battlefields, this time it felt different. Each touch sent heat prickling through him.
He shifted slightly.
“Please hold still.”
She gave a firm command. To the emperor.
Unbelievable—but he had no comeback ready, so he stayed still for now.
After wiping around the wound once, Eleanor wet a fresh towel and repeated the process.
Because it wasn’t just Heraith’s blood but also monster blood, she had to change towels several times.
“Just one more time and I’ll be done. You’ve done well, Your Majesty.”
The child-soothing tone made Heraith let out a brief, involuntary laugh.
“Please hold still.”
“You’re strict. I barely moved.”
“I’ll be wiping the wound now. If you move, it’ll hurt more.”
‘Does she think I was moving because of pain?’
He wanted to protest, he wasn’t that weak.
But seeing her serious, focused expression as she treated the wound, he decided to stay quiet.
“The wound is quite deep. It must hurt a lot.”
It did.
Getting injured by monsters hurt in a way that was different from a sword wound. Without his healing power, the wound would already be oozing pus and swarming with maggots.
He wondered, if she saw that, how would she react?
He already knew.
Eleanor wouldn’t scream or recoil like other noblewomen. She’d probably remove each maggot one by one, barehanded, with that same detached expression.
“Good thing the bleeding has stopped. I’m going to apply the ointment now. It’ll sting at first.”
“Are you worried I’ll scream?”
“I’ll pretend not to notice even if you jump up.”
Eleanor pulled out a silver ointment jar engraved with the Snow family’s crest, a bird with wings spread.
She scooped a generous amount and applied it to the wound on his neck.
It didn’t just sting—it was agonizing enough that a normal person might have fainted.
“You’ve lowered your guard.”
Eleanor said as she spread the ointment.
“What if this were poison instead of medicine?”
Heraith chuckled.
“Oh no, am I dying now?”
“You’ll die someday anyway. I’ll try to adjust the dose so that you live another hundred years.”
“I don’t want to live that long.”
“But Your Majesty must. The people of Tevent need peace. Live a long, long life, Your Majesty.”
“The burden is too heavy.”
“I’ll help carry it. Isn’t that what a wife is for?”
Her voice was still flat, yet it pierced Heraith’s chest. He slowly turned to look at her.
“My wives usually die early.”
“I’m just a bit slower than them.”
Her lavender eyes shifted from the wound to Heraith.
“I’ll go slowly, Your Majesty. And thank you—for today.”
Today.
He wasn’t sure what she was thankful for.
A tightness in his throat, an odd rhythm in his heartbeat, a tingling on the back of his hand, it was all unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
“I didn’t expect Your Majesty to declare me the future Empress so soon.”
Ah. Right. That happened.
“It’s nothing to be thankful for. Even with my warning, they won’t stop targeting you. They’ll probably move more secretly and more violently.”
“That’s what I want.”
Even while talking, Eleanor didn’t stop her hands.
She finished applying ointment to his neck and waist, then carefully wrapped the wounds in white bandages.
“No matter how secretive they are, they’ll be easier to deal with than those who hide impure intentions. That’s why I like things that move busily. Birds, cats, puppies.”
“To you, the ones hiding daggers look like birds, cats, and puppies?”
“Aren’t they kind of cute? Running at me without knowing their place.”
It didn’t seem like empty bravado.
“Then who is it that truly scares you?”
“What scares me is…”
