"Well, he did say it… that he’d make me happy."

The sudden bombshell left everyone speechless.

Elise clung to my arm, refusing to let go.

Through my fingertips, I could feel the warmth of her touch.

Though her words were brimming with the potential for misunderstanding, her expression remained utterly composed.

If anything, she blinked at me as if to ask, "What’s the problem?"

"Excuse me?"

As I stood there, flustered, her fingers intertwined with mine.

The distance between us grew narrower.

Holding that pose, Elise asked calmly.

"What’s wrong? Is there a problem?"

A nonchalant question.

It left me at a loss for words and forced me to think seriously.

"…"

Where was I supposed to start untangling this?

She wasn’t exactly lying.

Whenever she had questioned why I helped her, my answer had always been that it was for her happiness.

In its simplest sense, it was an unembellished truth.

But the issue was…

"Th-that’s not…"
"What?"

It was her tone that invited misunderstanding.

Standing in front of us, both the protagonist and the villainess stared at me in shock.

Their reactions came swiftly.

"Make her happy? Did the young lord really say something like that?"
"Your hand… it’s on Her Highness’s stomach…"

I couldn’t help but rub my temples.

This was deliberate mischief.

At first, I thought Elise might have spoken without realizing the implications, but her smirking eyes gave her away.

She was enjoying this.

Perhaps this was her way of getting back at me for the countless times I’d teased her.

"Of course."

The thorny rose.

Though she had softened in recent days, I had forgotten that her sharp and daring personality remained.

Her years of illness had left deep scars, and she seemed determined to exploit misunderstandings to throw me off balance.

With a strained smile, I voiced a polite complaint.

"Your Highness, this doesn’t seem like a particularly amusing joke. Such misunderstandings only harm those who know nothing of the truth."
"I only stated the facts."
"That may be true, but…"
"Or have you already forgotten?"

Elise’s gaze turned sharp.

For a moment, I nearly got swept up in her demeanor.

It was as though she’d perfected the art of evoking sympathy, her sad eyes a masterpiece of manipulation.

I looked down at her, exasperated.

"That expression suits you."

Elise chuckled softly.

Though her face was shrouded in gloom, a faint smile bloomed like a delicate petal.

It was a beautiful moment, like a gentle breeze carrying the scene.

"…"

I found myself staring at her.

The urge to scold her melted away.

Just days ago, this same girl had been consumed by despair, preparing for death.

Elise’s expression now was entirely different.

"This is…"

A good sign, perhaps.

It meant she was beginning to regain some emotional space.

My lips curved into a soft smile as I gently ruffled her red hair.

She seemed startled by the unexpected gesture.

"Well, let’s leave it at that."
"What are you doing?"
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"You're supposed to be more flustered."
"Why should I fear sincerity? My wish for your happiness is entirely genuine. There’s no falsehood in it."
"…"
"Your joy, Your Highness, is my blessing."
"…There you go again."

The sharp thorns seemed to dull, and Elise reverted to her gentler demeanor.

Her lips pouted in mild annoyance, while a faint blush spread across her pale cheeks.

She muttered quietly.

"Annoying…"

Well, she still had some way to go before her antics could truly fluster me.

"Even so, I would appreciate it if you could be more mindful in public. This directly impacts Your Highness’s reputation, after all."

As the Empire’s Second Star, Elise’s actions carried significant weight.

The implications of her mischief were far-reaching.

If this continued, it wouldn’t be long before rumors spread like wildfire.

I added a note of concern.

"And besides…"

Playing pranks like this was my specialty.

I silently hoped she wouldn’t rob me of one of the few joys in life.

"Heh."

Meanwhile, the two girls standing nearby were still lost in confusion.

Their trembling voices revealed their bewilderment.

"Y-you… is what Her Highness said true?"
"I had no idea…"
"I can’t believe this. First the head maid, and now the Empire’s hidden star…"
"And the ring you gave me… I’ve been treasuring it all this time…"

Emilia shot me a look filled with contempt, while Regia seemed on the verge of tears.

It was clear that I needed to clear up this misunderstanding quickly.

"Ahem… Allow me to clarify. This is all a misunderstanding."

I calmly explained the situation, condensing the details for simplicity.

As my explanation unfolded, the girls began to regain their composure, and I succeeded in clearing my name.

The protagonist and the villainess finally seemed to understand the situation.

"So, you’ve become Her Highness’s physician… that’s why you’ve been by her side?"
"I-I’m so sorry! I completely misunderstood…!"
"It’s fine, Lady Regia. Anyone would have misunderstood. If anything, you’re just an innocent victim of Her Highness’s playful mischief."
"…Was that aimed at me?"
"Of course not."

The atmosphere eased naturally.

I felt a sense of relief.

As for Elise’s illness, I avoided specifics, vaguely describing it as an incurable condition of unknown origin.

The idea of me being the one to handle such a case naturally raised questions.

Why me?

What connection did I have?

What ability allowed me to take on such a role?

But…

"Well… I suppose nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to you."

Emilia, already familiar with my abilities, seemed to accept it readily.

"That’s because the young lord is amazing…!"

Regia nodded enthusiastically.

Perhaps she regarded me so highly that even the unusual seemed plausible.

Thanks to their assumptions, I was spared the trouble of further explanations.

Standing side by side, the girls exchanged glances as I addressed them with a smile.

"That’s the story. Since we’ll all be spending time together from now on, I hope you can get along."

A simple request.

The girls each responded in their own way.

"Do you think I’m a child? I don’t need you to tell me that."
"W-well… if it’s okay for me to be here, I’ll try my best…"
"…I’m not comfortable around strangers."

The prideful one.
The dutiful one.
The thorny rose.

Though their words carried hints of complaint, none refused.

It was the beginning of their shared acquaintance, a moment they would all remember.

***

About 30 minutes later.

Elise and I finally arrived at her dormitory.

Her assigned dorm was conveniently close to mine, likely arranged to make my frequent visits for treatment easier.

This had Selena’s thoughtful influence written all over it.

"…I’m exhausted."

Elise looked utterly drained.

Her weakened state left her unable to move much, so I carried her from the wheelchair to the bed.

I gently laid her frail body onto the soft blankets.

She seemed slightly self-conscious, adding a quiet comment.

"Sorry."
"It’s nothing. You’ve had a long day."

We had been outside the entire day.

For Elise, it must have been overwhelming.

Having spent the last ten years confined to her "cage," every sight and sound outside was likely a new and intense stimulus.

Even though she had been in a wheelchair, it had undoubtedly been an exhausting day.

"What about Tanya and my sister…?"
"They’ll be here soon. Since the three of you will be staying in the same building, they mentioned moving their belongings from the dormitory they were originally assigned to."
"I see… From now on, I…"

Elise murmured softly, as if she still couldn’t believe what was happening.

Her eyes glimmered with a rare light, as though she were dreaming.

I smiled at the sight, careful not to disturb her thoughts.

Quietly, I turned to leave.

"I’ll take my leave now."

She needed rest.

Lingering would only disrupt her.

As I began to step away…

"…Are you leaving?"

A faint tug on my sleeve stopped me.

I turned back, following the slight pull, to see her green eyes gazing up at me.

Her expression was uncertain, her emotions wavering just beneath the surface.

"Your Highness?"

Did she have something she wanted to say?

I tilted my head curiously.

What came next was unexpected.

Elise bit her lip, hesitated, then asked in a quiet voice.

"Can you… stay with me?"

Her tone was soft, almost fragile.

Perhaps she was feeling uneasy.

It made sense.

After spending so many years in isolation, such a drastic change in environment could easily provoke fear.

I realized then that I had been thoughtless.

She wanted someone by her side.

If I were to leave now, she might feel as though she were truly alone in the world.

It wasn’t the solitude she feared but the abandonment.

"Of course."

I didn’t leave.

Instead, I sat down on the edge of her bed.

"I’ll stay for a while."
"Really…?"
"I’ll remain by your side until you fall asleep… no, even after you’ve fallen asleep, I’ll stay right here. You can rest without worry."
"…Okay."
"This will also give me a chance to continue the treatment we couldn’t finish earlier."

Gently, I placed my hand on her stomach.

Her skin felt warm beneath my palm.

Though she let out a small, reflexive gasp at the touch, her breathing soon slowed, becoming steady and calm.

I softly massaged her, providing soothing warmth.

"Heh."

My movements were neither hurried nor invasive, only tender and comforting.

Like a lullaby being sung through touch.

"You’re… so weird."
"Am I?"
"Most of the time, you’re trash or a pervert… Why are you only kind in moments like this?"
"That’s part of my charm, isn’t it?"
"If only you didn’t talk, maybe you wouldn’t be so annoying."
"Do you hate me?"
"Yes."
"Truly?"
"…No."

Elise avoided my gaze, her cheeks tinted a soft pink.

I chuckled at her response, drawing circles on her abdomen with my fingertips as a light-hearted gesture of approval.

Her body twitched slightly at the ticklish sensation, and a faint whimper escaped her lips.

"Ugh…"

She glared at me, pouting, so I placed a finger over her lips, urging silence.

"Shh."

Her soft, warm lips pressed against my fingertip, leaving a subtle, damp sensation.

The texture was strikingly tender.

Moving with care, I traced the curve of her lips, feeling the heat that radiated just beneath them.

It was almost as if our lips were touching, though they weren’t.

A soft red blush spread across her parted lips.

My thumb lightly grazed her lower lip, momentarily slipping into her mouth.

Her stiffened tongue instinctively greeted the intrusion, warm saliva coating my fingertip.

Her mouth hesitantly accommodated the unfamiliar presence.

"Slurp…"

Her dazed eyes looked up at me.

I smiled back at her, gently withdrawing my finger.

As the warmth left her tongue, Elise blinked a few times as if coming back to her senses.

But I didn’t give her a chance to fully gather herself.

"It’s time to sleep."

I covered her eyes with my other hand.

Her eyelids closed naturally, and her body visibly relaxed.

The tension that had lingered in her features began to melt away, her breathing growing steadier.

The faint blush on her cheeks faded as well.

"It’s been a tiring day for you."
"…"

Her breathing softened, becoming even.

I stayed with her, patiently waiting as her uneasy rhythm transitioned into the steady cadence of deep sleep.

Through the quiet of the night, I continued to offer her warmth.

"Goodnight."

The words were a gentle whisper, accompanied by a fond smile.

***

The next day.

It had only been two days since I returned to the academy, yet I couldn’t resist stepping outside the grounds once again.

There was someone I had to personally pick up.

After several hours of rattling along in a carriage, I arrived at the "City That Does Not Weep."

*Rkieh.*

This was the city where Astro's headquarters were located.

It had been quite some time since I last returned to this place.

I made my way down a hidden stairwell to a concealed location. Descending further, I eventually reached a tightly sealed door.

As I stepped inside the headquarters—

*Thud—!*

A figure lunged at me as if they’d been waiting for this exact moment.

The force of their embrace knocked me backward, and I fell gently to the ground, still clutching onto the one who had collided with me.

"Goodness."

Even amidst the chaos, two small hands gripped my waist tightly, refusing to let go.

Flat on my back, I looked up to see a girl perched on top of me, her face buried in the crook of my neck.

There was no mistaking her distinctive appearance.

A swaying, crimson tail.

Perked ears twitching atop her head.

Calmly, I called out her name.

"Miss Irene."

A fox.

The girl, still nuzzled against me, took a few deep breaths before whispering softly into my ear.

"…I’ve been waiting for you."

Her words carried the weight of a long, patient longing.