Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Theodor couldn’t believe the sight before him. Aiden, with his lips pressed against Rosalyn’s pale, slender nape. And Rosalyn, her face slightly twisted in pain, letting out a soft moan.
“…Your Highness?”
Rosalyn looked up, startled, at Theodor’s thunderous expression standing at the entrance of the infirmary. Aiden also quickly lifted his lips from her neck and turned to greet Theodor with perfect decorum.
“Your Highness, you’ve arrived.”
But Theodor’s gaze remained fixed on Rosalyn’s exposed neck. A red mark was clearly visible where Aiden’s lips had just been. Rosalyn’s moan from moments earlier echoed once more in his mind, and his heart began to pound violently.
He glared at Aiden, who had the audacity to greet him as if nothing had happened, then stormed forward and grabbed him by the collar, roaring again.
“I asked you what in the hell you were doing!”
Aiden allowed himself to be seized without resistance. Yet his sturdy frame remained unshaken, solid as a deeply rooted tree.
Just then, Rosalyn cried out urgently.
“Your Majesty, please stop!”
“What?”
“Sir Aiden was treating me! He was extracting the poison from the wound!”
“What are you talking about?”
“A monster appeared near the training grounds and attacked me and that kitty! If it weren’t for Sir Aiden, we both could’ve died!”
She motioned with her eyes toward the brown cat lying on the infirmary bed, wrapped in bandages. But Theodor, still gripping Aiden by the collar, turned to her with a trembling voice.
“A monster, you say?”
“Yes! So please let go of him now!”
Her commanding shout loosened the strength in his hand. Even so, Theodor continued to glare daggers at Aiden. But Aiden didn’t even flinch. He simply returned Theodor’s stare silently, without a hint of discomfort or displeasure.
Theodor turned toward Rosalyn, marched over, and pulled her roughly into his arms in full view of Aiden. His voice, though quieter, trembled as he muttered,
“… I’m just glad you’re safe.”
Even as he embraced her tightly, his heterochromatic eyes never left Aiden, gleaming with silent threat. Rosalyn, crushed in his arms, found it hard to breathe.
‘Why is he holding me so tightly?’
After clinging to her for a long moment, Theodor finally released her and slumped into the chair beside the bed as if all strength had left him. The aches from his intense muscle soreness returned, jabbing at him from all directions.
He clenched his teeth to endure the pain and stared quietly at the side of Rosalyn’s neck.
The white skin bore deep, crimson bite marks.
Aiden pulled out a jar of ointment from the medical kit.
“The venom’s been fully extracted, but we need to apply ointment now.”
“I’ll do it.”
Theodor’s voice was cold as he snatched the ointment from Aiden’s hand and gently applied it to Rosalyn’s neck.
‘He’s being so meticulous.’
It was just ointment, yet he applied it with the concentration of a jeweler crafting a masterpiece. And his gaze as he looked at her neck was unusually soft.
“What do you mean a monster appeared?” he asked.
“There was a gremlin in the brush near the training grounds. Isn’t that right, Sir Aiden?”
Aiden responded calmly from the side.
“… I can’t say exactly what the creature was, but it certainly wasn’t any ordinary beast.”
“I didn’t ask you.”
Theodor’s sharp retort startled Rosalyn.
“Then how did a monster make it into the imperial palace?”
When he turned back to her, she answered cautiously.
“I think it flew in.”
“Flew?”
“Yes. When Sir Aiden attacked it with his sword, it blocked its wings and eventually flew off to escape.”
At the mention of Aiden’s name, Theodor instinctively frowned. Then Aiden spoke up.
“Your Highness.”
“What now?”
Theodor responded begrudgingly, and Aiden continued, his tone grave.
“I intend to report this incident to His Majesty. We can’t let this go unaddressed…”
“Do as you please. But I doubt my father or the ministers will believe a word you say.”
Theodor recalled what had happened during Aiden’s recent briefing to the council. Aiden didn’t bother arguing this time and fell silent.
“I’ll be leaving now. Rosalyn, you’re coming with– ugh…”
Theodor tried to rise from his seat but could barely finish his sentence before a groan escaped him. The pain was excruciating.
Aiden stepped forward with concern.
“Are you all right, Your Majesty? Are you feeling unwell?”
Instead of answering, Theodor stared silently at Aiden. His mismatched eyes dropped to Aiden’s flawless, V-shaped upper body. Even after doing a hundred push-ups, Aiden didn’t wheeze, cough, or spit blood. He had probably repelled the monster with flawless swordsmanship and rescued Rosalyn with ease.
A shameful memory surfaced of himself toppling over in sword training from the weight of a wooden blade.
Embarrassment and anger bubbled up.
At last, Theodor muttered in a cold voice,
“There’s nothing wrong with me.”
He swallowed his agony and left the infirmary pretending to be fine. As they exited, Rosalyn asked cautiously,
“Your Highness, are you really all right? That muscle soreness today seemed…”
“I told you, it’s nothing!”
He snapped at her suddenly, making Rosalyn flinch.
‘Why is he like this?’
She couldn’t understand his recent erratic mood swings.
‘Nothing, he says. He couldn’t even show up to training today.’
Still, she kept quiet to avoid further upsetting him and followed silently behind, clutching the bandaged cat. Theodor walked ahead without a word.
When they were nearly back at the palace, he suddenly turned and addressed her.
“I have a favor to ask.”
His gaze was steady, as if what he was about to say was deeply important.
“What is it?”
“… I want to become stronger.”
“Sorry? What?”
Rosalyn blinked, stunned. “I don’t want to be feeble anymore. I want to wield a sword properly, strong enough to rival knights.”
She stared at him, shocked.
“Your Highness, are you serious?”
Knights were far more physically capable than ordinary people. To reach that level would require brutal, disciplined training. Frankly, Theodor didn’t need to go that far.
But he nodded firmly.
“I am.”
His heterochromatic eyes burned with resolve, more intense and serious than she had ever seen. It wasn’t just about wanting a fit body. Seeing that look, she couldn’t say no.
“… All right. But it might be grueling. Are you sure you can handle it?”
Looking into her deep brown eyes, Theodor answered without hesitation.
“I can.”
***
To Rosalyn’s surprise, Theodor kept up with the training remarkably well. Every day, they completed intense cardio and strength training sessions, each lasting an hour. Though he looked like death, Theodor never once complained. His eyes gleamed with fierce determination.
In time, his body began to take shape, and he could handle a wooden sword with ease.
Beyond their weekly martial arts lessons, Theodor also practiced swordsmanship on his own until he bled.
Aiden was genuinely impressed by how quickly he progressed.
“Your Highness, you are truly impressive.”
“Save your praise.”
Theodor didn’t enjoy his compliments. Every time he saw Aiden’s perfect form and graceful swordplay, he was struck with jealousy. Meanwhile, Rosalyn was swamped between Theodor’s training, yoga classes for palace staff and soldiers, and occasional massages. In return, grateful palace servants often gave her small gifts, though she tried to decline.
Today, one servant who had come for a neck massage handed her an exquisitely wrapped box of chocolates.
“These are the same chocolates ordered for Her Majesty the Empress’s tea parties. I had some extras delivered just for you. They’re from a famous pâtissier in the capital.”
“Oh my, thank you! Let’s share them during a walk!”
Rosalyn strolled toward the main gate with the servant, nibbling chocolate, when she noticed a parade of ornate noble carriages. Another of the Empress’s infamous tea parties was underway.
‘So flashy.’
Ladies in elegant dresses began stepping down one by one, assisted by attendants. Several servants followed, carrying enormous boxes.
All gifts for the Empress, no doubt.
‘Those houses are probably aligned with the Empress. No wonder they’re putting on a show.’
More than anything, she wondered, what kinds of schemes were being hatched at that tea party?
Rosalyn remembered what the Empress’s attendant Hans had said.
‘One of the guests at Her Majesty’s tea party gave her that drug!’
Just as she was about to turn away, she heard a strange sound.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
She turned to see a man, likely the head servant, viciously slapping a young woman with golden hair dressed in a maid’s uniform.
Harsh scolding rang out next.
“You useless wench! You dared touch Lady York’s dress with your filthy hands? I’ll cut them off if you don’t get out of my sight right now!”
The maid bowed her head, clutching her cheek. Strangely, the other servants nearby were stifling laughter despite the brutal scene.
‘What…?’
Next to Rosalyn, a palace servant clicked her tongue.
“Looks like a hazing ritual for the new maid.”
She shook her head disapprovingly.
“Lady York herself is quiet, but her servants are the real problem. Everyone in the capital knows it. That group’s notorious for bullying. Most new girls don’t even last a month.”
“Really?”
Rosalyn frowned as a bitter memory from her past life surfaced. She too had been mercilessly bullied at her first job at a gym by the veteran trainers.
“She’s a new recruit, I heard. But even if she’s being harassed like that, she can’t quit. Apparently she’s a refugee from the East with nowhere to return to…”
The servant nodded toward the maid, who still stood with her head bowed and cheek red.
A child from the East?
Sunlight glinted off the girl’s golden hair, making it sparkle like gold dust.
Rosalyn’s eyes widened instinctively at the sight.
