Chapter 77

“Are you really going to do this? You’ll regret this later, you know. Aren’t you scared of what I might do?”

I tried coaxing, threatening, even begging, but nothing worked.

The constellations’ demands remained unchanged.

I glared at the chat window filled with “lol yeah” before flopping onto my bed.

“Wow, this is driving me crazy.”

I had to keep my promise. That was the only way the constellations would grant my requests in the future.

“I’ll just close my eyes and get it over with. No one’s ever died of embarrassment, right?”

I’d just have to make the situation as natural as possible.

“…Maybe I should have a drink?”

Oh, that was a decent idea.

Just then, my bedroom door opened, and Zenia slipped in silently.

Thinking I was still asleep, she didn’t even glance toward the bed, tiptoeing carefully across the room.

“What are you doing?”

“Eek!”

Zenia jumped in fright and collapsed to the floor.

“P-Princess? When did you wake up?”

“Just now.”

“G-Goodness gracious!”

After staring at me blankly for a moment, Zenia shot to her feet and rushed over.

“What on earth happened! Do you have any idea how worried everyone was?”

“Why?”

“You attended the party perfectly fine and then came back unconscious. How could we not be worried?”

“Is that so?”

“And that’s not all! You were out for two whole days, Princess!”

“I was asleep for two days?”

“Yes! You didn’t even toss and turn! I bet even a hibernating bear moves more than you did! Do you know how anxious I was?”

Was I that tired? I scratched my cheek, feeling a little sheepish.

“But you’re the number one ranked Hunter, Princess. How could this happen to you?”

“I’m human, too. If I face a strong enemy, I can get hurt. In a worst-case scenario, I could even die.”

“…Really?”

Zenia looked utterly shocked. I didn’t understand her reaction to something so obvious.

“The Duke and the Young Duke were so incredibly worried. I’ve never seen them look like that before.”

“Zenia, you know I hate liars, right?”

“…W-Well, of course, they didn’t show it much on the outside, but that was the atmosphere. If they weren’t worried, why would they have stayed by your side for two whole days?”

They were by my side for two days? Then why didn’t I see hide nor hair of them?

I snorted.

“As if.”

“It’s true! They were right here until a moment ago, but they stepped out briefly for a visitor.”

“Alright, alright. Get me some water. I’m thirsty.”

“But it’s true… Please wait a moment.”

Zenia hurried out of the room.

A moment later, she returned with a pitcher and a cup.

“Here you are. Please drink slowly.”

I gulped down the water.

The cool liquid flowed down my parched throat.

It seemed I really had been asleep for two days. Even after downing a full cup, my thirst wasn’t quenched.

When I held out the empty glass, Zenia quickly refilled it.

“A visitor this early in the morning? Who is it?”

“Paladin Johan. He came yesterday and returned again today. He must be worried since you haven’t woken up for two days.”

“Really?”

Come to think of it, my body felt close to normal. Even my broken arm moved without any issue.

“I should go thank him.”

“The Master of the Magic Tower also visited yesterday. He left since you didn’t wake up.”

What business did that cold man have with me? Did he need something?

“Oh, I just informed the Duke that you’re awake.”

“You told him already?”

“Of course!”

“…You’re quick.”

“Oh, Princess, really. I was just doing what I was supposed to do.”

Zenia blushed and fidgeted shyly.

*That wasn’t a compliment.*

I rotated my wrist and then wiped under my nose.

Did I catch a summer cold? Why is my nose suddenly running…

“P-Princess, your nose! You have a nosebleed!”

“Huh? Is it bleeding?”

The moment I realized it, the metallic scent of blood hit me.

“What do we do! What do we do! You haven’t fully recovered! Right?! Right?!”

“Ah… you’re making my head spin.”

“Gasp! Really? Are you dizzy?”

Zenia clutched her skirt, stomping her feet in a panic, before frantically pulling off her apron and pressing it against my nose.

I nonchalantly pushed her away.

“I meant you’re making my head spin. Don’t make such a fuss over nothing.”

“Is this really the time to be so calm? Tilt your head back! Quickly!”

“You’re not supposed to tilt your head back for a nosebleed. Just get me something to wipe it with.”

Zenia bit her lip hard.

Her eyes welled up with tears, showing just how upset she was.

“You don’t have to act tough in front of me.”

“…I wasn’t acting tough?”

“You can say that, but I know everything.”

“You know? You don’t seem to know anything at all…”

“Stop talking and just hold this. I’ll go get a towel… Oh, I’m so worried.”

“Uh…”

I took the apron Zenia handed me and pressed it to my nose.

“Ah, wait a second!”

“Is there something else you need?”

“Your mouth.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t tell anyone about my nosebleed.”

“…”

“Aren’t you going to answer?”

“…I won’t.”

A moment after Zenia left, a loud clatter erupted from outside.

*Don’t tell me that little traitor…*

I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. Just then, the bedroom door flew open.

“Astell, are you awake? I heard you got another nosebleed.”

“Hey! Your nose… What the! It’s real?”

“Lady Astell! I heard you had a nosebleed. Are you all right?”

Duke Ruthius, Alex, and even Johan were there.

Worse, the servants were gathered outside the bedroom, staring at me. They looked at me as if I were the tragic heroine of a novel, suffering from an incurable disease.

*…So embarrassing.*

I squeezed my eyes shut, then forced them open.

Zenia, who was peeking from between the servants, met my gaze and grinned sheepishly.

“I just gave them a little hint… Hehe. My apologies, Princess. Please forgive me just this once.”

A little hint? Not shouted through a megaphone?

…I can’t just kill her, can I?

“Ugh, my head.”

“Of course your head hurts after sleeping for two days! How does it hurt? Is it throbbing? Pounding? A stabbing pain? Should I get you some medicine?”

“For a Hunter of the Ruthius family to be so frail… what a disgrace to our name. Alex, tell Frank to summon a healer. We need to find out what’s wrong with her.”

“I’ll go. It’ll be faster. Ugh, what a pain.”

I stopped Alex, who, despite his words, looked ready to sprint out the door.

“You said it’s a pain, Alex, so stop making a scene and stay put. And Duke, if I’m such a disgrace, shouldn’t you be hiding it instead of calling a healer?”

“…I mean to treat you before you disgrace us again.”

“It’s not because of you, okay? I just like calling for healers!”

“Does that even make sense?”

Johan, who had been looking back and forth between us, cautiously stepped forward.

“Um, you’re not fighting, are you?”

“We are not.”

“Nope.”

“No.”

Did it look like we were fighting? As I tilted my head, Johan extended a hand toward me.

“There is no need to call a healer. I will treat you.”

“Ah, thank you.”

A warm energy spread through my nose. At the same time, the bleeding stopped.

Johan withdrew his hand and smiled gently.

“It is done.”

“Stopping a nosebleed with divine power. What a luxury…”

It was then.

[Mission: Do the reaction NOW (1,000 points)]

[Accept] / [Decline]

*For a measly thousand points? No way. Decline.*

I’d have to get completely wasted first. Then I could pretend to be drunk, trip over my own feet, and pull them into a hug. After that, I’d just have to belt out a song.

Any song with the words “I love you” would do.

*Perfect.*

[Mission: Do the reaction NOW (Highest-grade Potion)]

[Accept] / [Decline]

*De…*

I stopped myself from declining and glanced at Duke Ruthius.

He stood there with a stern expression, holding a wand that looked like a cane.

Ever since that incident, the Duke had walked with a slight limp.

*I thought the High Priest’s divine power would have healed it completely…*

But because his spinal injury had been left untreated for a while, it had resulted in a lasting side effect.

*If only I’d had a single potion back then, I could have bought time until Johan arrived.*

If I had, Duke Ruthius wouldn’t be relying on that wand now.

*But to do something like that just for one potion is a bit…*

As I hesitated, another mission appeared.

[Mission: Double it (Highest-grade Potion)]

[Accept] / [Decline]

Two highest-grade potions?

*Oh, I can’t pass this up. Accept!*

I set down the blood-stained towel and calmly stood up.

“Duke. And Alex. Come closer.”

“Do you have something to say?”

“What? What nonsense are you going to spout now?”

I spread my arms wide and pulled both Duke Ruthius and Alex into a hug at the same time.

Both the Duke and Alex stopped talking abruptly. Not even the sound of their breathing could be heard.

“I love you.”

“…”

“…”

Alex, who had been standing stiff as a board, quickly covered his mouth.

“I-I think I’m gonna puke.”