11.

The class was moved to the nearest room, and more lawmakers were added. All the members of the Imperial Palace were gathered in this room.

“Can you guess what kind of poison it is?”

The lawmakers shook their heads in response to Adelhardt’s question.

“It appears to be a rare poison. “I plan to try taking an antidote to a poison that shows similar symptoms, but I don’t know how it will work out.”

“Save me.”

Richt ordered them in a weak voice.

“If half of you die, you will be buried with them.”

The sharp voice made the shoulders of the congressman standing next to him shrink.

“Choi, I will do my best.”

I didn’t mean to say this. Richt ran his hands through his hair. This kind of thing is not his personality, but it came out of his mouth naturally. I felt like I had become more sensitive.

“Ain.”

Ain, who appeared late at Richt’s call, bowed his head.

“Follow me.”

As he stood up, Adelhard also tried to follow. In this situation, he seemed to think he had to move to protect Richt.

“You stay here.”

“yes?”

Adelhard’s eyes widened at the unexpected words. But Richt had no intention of giving him any excuses. What are you going to do to make him understand?

Richt left Adelhardt alone and went outside with Ain. He also knew who sent the assassin.

Raccoon of the Southern Aristocracy. Count Mantel.

There must have been a spy brought in by that raccoon in the crown prince’s palace. Was it bothersome that she left the crown prince alone? They probably sent an assassin to test how Richt would come out.

In the past, Richt would not have tried to catch the raccoon when Van was injured, but it was different now.

“Letter from Count Mantell.”

“What should I send?”

“Don’t make nonsense and wait patiently. “If you play tricks one more time, I’ll send a shadow from here too.”

“I’ll remember it.”

Richt looked displeased. He seemed really offended to the point of mobilizing his shadow. Ain thought that and stepped back. Now the raccoon was going to be restless after receiving Richt’s letter.

He is just that kind of human.

While Richt was out of the room for a moment, a member of the council who had been summoned from the headquarters arrived. He was said to be a man who knew a lot about poison. He said.

“Tonight is the critical moment.”

I knew Ban wasn’t the one to die here, but I was anxious. Richt dragged a chair and sat down next to the bed where Ban was lying. There was a basin filled with water and a towel on the nightstand.

After hesitating for a moment, Richt wet a towel with water and wrung it out. Then he wiped Van’s sweaty forehead with it. At the touch of her hand, Ban slowly opened her eyes. Dreamy eyes looked at him.

‘It’s awkward.’

Richt threw the towel into the basin with an embarrassed expression. Ban opened his dry lips and comforted them. She listened to see what she was saying, but couldn’t hear it. It looked like she needed to get closer.

“… … master.”

The moment I heard those short words, my heart ached. But she tried to hide it and speak calmly.

“Call my name.”

“How dare I?”

Yes, the old Licht was a bit harsh. He was often whipped for mentioning noble names on the subject of slavery. So even if you ask me to call you by name, you won’t believe me. Even though I knew that, my stomach still felt twisted.

Liht dog bastard.

Because I treated such a devoted person so carelessly, I’ll end up in the back of my head later. Ban’s body trembles as he lets out a small sigh.

“From now on, call me by your name instead of ‘master.’”

“That can’t be possible.”

His feverish voice was rougher than usual.

“That can’t be possible.”

“Do as I say.”

In any case, there wasn’t long left before Ban could call his name. Almost all of his assets were liquidated, and he had someone buy a title in Asrahan in advance. Unlike now that he is a duke, he was a shabby baron without any land, but it didn’t matter. He said he had been a noble since when.

Baron Wie was merely purchasing it for the sake of minimal security.

“… … .”

Ban hesitated several times. Then he cautiously called Richt’s name.

“… … Mr. Licht.”

“okay.”

“Mr. Licht.”

The class that called out their names for as long as they hesitated seemed to be very tired. Still, he didn’t close his eyes. I continued to look at Richt with bleary eyes.

“Are you still going to stay here?”

“then?”

“I am fine.”

And then he laughs loudly. The always stiff face softens and a smile appears, and it matches so well that I can’t look away.

It was a sight you wouldn’t normally see in your class. What kind of poison is it that makes it so cute? Richt, who had been thinking about that, touched his chin with his hand.

‘What were you thinking just now?’

It’s so cute to see a man with a head half as big as you. Richt was relatively short for a man. And half of the men are taller. As a result, there was quite a difference in size between the two.

It didn’t look like something you could call cute, even half-jokingly. She’s a big, black guy. But I don’t know why she keeps looking cute since last time.

“I hope you don’t go anywhere else.”

“Where else?”

In the meantime, Richt was faithfully answering the class’ questions.

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s room.”

How should I interpret this? Richt couldn’t answer quickly this time either. Van stayed quiet for a while and then opened her mouth again.

“Please punish me.”

Although the content is unusual.

“What punishment are you asking for?”

“I was being arrogant.”

Where did you get cocky? And I can only ask for this much punishment. Considering the punishment Licht usually gives Van, he shouldn’t have said this. Because I beat my back with a whip until it was tattered.

“This much is okay.”

Richt tried to be flexible, but Ban was stubborn.

“It’s not okay. “In the past, you punished even small things.”

Yes, I did. Liht dog bastard. He had a twisted personality, hated his class, and bullied them to the point of cruelty. But the Richt of today is not the same as he was in the past. He didn’t need to punish Van for no reason.

“Why do you want to be punished?”

When Richt asked, Van fell silent. There was silence for a long time. She kissed her lips several times, and after half a hesitation, she finally opened her mouth again.

“If you get hurt, they give you medicine.”

They give me medicine and treat me kindly. And give me sweet snacks. The class continued speaking gibberish. So the reason why Van admits her pain is because of the sweet results that will come later.

I just did what a human should naturally do, but it seemed to come across differently to Ban. Richt blinked blankly.

“So please punish me.”

“There will be no punishment now.”

“why?”

“Because there is no reason to be punished.”

“There are a lot.”

“Why are there so many? No, no. “Don’t answer.”

At first glance, it seems like a useless reason. Half of her mouth opened and she closed it again. She seemed to have a lot to say. I wouldn’t normally be like this, but I guess I’m afraid of poison.

‘I won’t die, though.’

Ban later becomes influenced by the protagonist and joins him. She also has a hand in killing Richt, her one-time master. So, I am not the one who will die today. Even though she knew that, seeing Van groaning and suffering made her anxious.

‘Wouldn’t it be better to die here?’

Because it is something that will become a danger to you later. Even though I knew that, I couldn’t easily leave the place. Richt wrung out the wet towel again and wiped the sweat from his classmate’s face. And as he was about to bite his hand, a large hand suddenly shot up and grabbed his wrist.

I looked down at Ban in surprise, but his eyes were still closed. It seemed like he did it unconsciously.

Richt waved his hand to try to get Van’s hand off, but it didn’t budge. Thanks to this, I was able to endure the awkward posture of leaning over the bed. I tolerated it fairly well at first, but as time went by, it became more uncomfortable.

‘Because this body’s stamina is at its lowest.’

Richt looked at Van, who was wheezing and letting out hot breath, and then sighed. There was no sign of letting go of his hand, and if I stayed up all night like this, I would end up suffering from his body aches. Since no one is watching him anyway, he should at least keep his posture comfortable. Richt lay down next to Van. So he felt much more comfortable.

“Ugh.”

Ban, who was moaning, turned towards Richt.

‘It’s really big.’

Ban let go of his feelings while looking at him like that. I was about to get up, wondering if I was finally free, when Richt suddenly hugged me tightly.

“half?”

I called his name to see if he was awake, but there was no response. He hugged Richt tightly like a doll and groaned again.

‘It’s difficult.’

I was hugged so tightly that I felt like I couldn’t escape. I tried to get away several times, but it stuck back like a leech. Once again, it was Licht who gave up first.

As I was being held in Ban’s arms, I could smell his body scent. It wasn’t a bad smell. The strangely cold yet fresh smell reminded me of a winter forest. However, my body was so hot that I felt sleepy as I was hugged.

You shouldn’t sleep while nursing. Even as I thought that, my eyelids closed. Licht simply closed her eyes.