For the One Who Hates Me - Chapter 60

It was past midnight. Ruan was staying by Aura’s side. Aura had been sick all day. She would sometimes mumble something to herself in a daze before falling back asleep.

It had only been about an hour since she had fallen into a deep sleep. The medicine seemed to be working, as her face, which had been in a constant frown, now looked peaceful.

“The hunting festival is in three weeks, Aura.” Ruan placed the back of his hand on Aura’s cheek. It was hot. “You have to get well and leave this place. Just to prove a point.”

Aura just took shallow breaths at Ruan’s words.

It’s true. Even when you were healthy, you would sometimes get very sick. You were especially vulnerable when it rained.

Every time that happened, Ruan would be summoned to the palace to keep Aura company.

When he was younger and less mature, Ruan used to wish that Aura would get sick. That way, he could stay with her until late at night.

In this Imperial family, Aura was a strong Empress. She was an object of admiration for the ladies and a figure of fear for the men. But the Aura Ruan knew was not like that. She was easily hurt without realizing it, and she cried a lot. She had courage and conviction, but she wasn’t a person who showed it openly.

She’s definitely overexerting herself. The poor thing.

Ruan gently brushed away the sweat-soaked hair from Aura’s forehead.

Just then.

Creak…

The door opened gently.

Karl entered, looking extremely tired. His usually neat clothes were disheveled.

“How is the Empress?”

“Ah, she’s been asleep for a while now.”

Karl nodded. “You can leave now.”

But Ruan couldn’t take his eyes off Aura. He was always the one by her side when she was sick.

Karl said to him, “Did you not understand what I said?”

“…I did.” Only then did Ruan quietly leave the room. The door closed with a click.

“Haa…” Karl sighed and sat down in the chair Ruan had been sitting in.

The issue with the monsters in the western region was resolved by sending troops and researchers right away. He had come here as soon as the meeting was over.

“…”

He just stared at Aura.

‘You’re always like this, Karl. You act like you want me so much… but in the most important moments for me, when I actually need you… you’re not there for me.’

“…I’m here, Aura.” Karl said as he brushed her hair away from her face. Even if I don’t know if you still need me.

“…arl.”

Aura struggled to open her eyes. Karl quickly leaned over her.

“Are you awake?”

“…Karl.”

“Water. Let’s get you some water first.” When someone had a fever, it was important to drink water. It was one of the many things Karl had learned on the battlefield.

Karl picked up the pitcher from the bedside table. Of all things, it was empty. He could have called a maid, but he didn’t want to make a loud noise.

“Wait a moment.” He was about to get up with the pitcher when, “!”

Karl froze. There was no way he could forget this feeling. This feeling that had started everything.

Aura was holding his sleeve.

He had pushed this hand away in fear the first time. He had felt like this girl would swallow his entire life whole. And thinking back on it now… it was a very obvious thing to have happened.

This time, Karl didn’t push her away. He held her hand and sat down beside her.

“Yes. I’m here, Aura.”

“…I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

As far as he knew, she had nothing to apologize to him for. He wondered if her fever was so high that she was hallucinating. The vacant look in her eyes and her flushed cheeks suggested so.

“Aura, does it hurt a lot?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry about?”

“You, Karl…” Aura’s voice sounded wet. “You are special… more than anyone else…”

Karl finally understood. This was what she had tried to say in front of the main palace.

Aura’s labored breaths sounded between her words, and her face looked like she was about to cry. Karl looked at her and thought that perhaps he was the one who was hallucinating. Because there was no way Aura would look like this and say something like that.

He hugged her tightly. The warmth of her body told him that this wasn’t a hallucination.

“It’s true… Please believe me.”

“Alright. I’ll believe you.” Karl kissed her neck briefly. She seemed to be relieved by his words, as her breathing slowly calmed down.

He laid her back down. She was so exhausted that she had already fallen asleep.

She probably won’t remember this tomorrow.

But he didn’t care. Not if this was her true feeling.

Karl lay down next to her. He might catch her illness, but he didn’t care about that, either.

Was it a coincidence? Her hand touched his sleeve. He held her hand tightly.

Early in the morning, Ryan left Ansena. The Vigilance Guard members and the Zenia people saw him off.

“I don’t know how to repay your kindness, Your Grace.” The Vigilance Guard leader said with genuine gratitude. The Zenia people behind him looked just as thankful.

“It’s nothing. Is the reservoir working again now?”

“Yes. The Imperial family sent people, and they finished cleaning it.”

“Hmm, I see. Well, I’ll be going now. Take care.”

“Safe travels, Your Grace.”

“Safe travels!”

“Thank you so much!” The Zenia people said, vying to thank him. An old man even had tears in his eyes. Ryan waved to them and got into his carriage with the snowflake emblem on it. The carriage soon departed.

A man wearing a robe was waiting in the carriage.

“How did it go?”

“It was over faster than I thought.”

“How… disappointing.”

“Indeed.”

“I thought the damage would have been a little greater.”

Not even a quarter of the estimated people died. It was because the Emperor and the Empress had sent people as soon as the incident occurred.

“I should have released a more potent strain of bacteria.” The man in the robe said, sounding apologetic. Ryan answered, as if it was no big deal.

“It’s fine. It’s not a complete loss.” He glanced out the window. The Zenia people were still waving at Ryan’s carriage. Ryan let out a small laugh.

“Keep an eye on Ansena. Got it? Give them help when they need it, and when they don’t…”

“…”

“Make them need it.”

An hour later, as the sunlight tickled his eyelids, Karl opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Aura, lying across from him.

“Good morning, Aura.”

She didn’t answer. She just stared at him with her eyes as wide as they could possibly be.

For a moment, their breaths mingled. Karl observed her expression. Her slightly swollen eyes, the mixture of bewilderment and confusion in her gaze, and her renewed vitality.

“Wha- what’s wrong with you?” Aura stammered in surprise.

He placed a hand on Aura’s forehead. Her fever had gone down considerably. “You seem to be mostly recovered.”

Aura quickly sat up and scrambled away. Karl also sat up and said, “You don’t seem to remember what happened last night.”

“La- last night?” Aura first looked at her clothes. They were, of course, perfectly in place. Karl was at a loss for words.

“What do you take me for? I wouldn’t do something like that to a sick person…”

“You’re the one who said something weird. Why are you sleeping here?”

“Ha.” Karl let out a hollow laugh. I knew she wouldn’t remember, but I didn’t expect her to turn the tables on me.

He suddenly felt a bit petty. When he reached out his hand, Aura tensed up. He lightly grabbed her sleeve with his thumb and forefinger.

“Why, you ask? Because you held onto me. Like this.”

Aura’s face showed no sign that she remembered anything. She then lightly pushed his hand away. “Stop messing with me. And stop saying weird things.”

“Messing with you? Saying weird things?”

Karl was genuinely curious. Why did she have to provoke him when he would have left quietly on his own? It made him not want to leave.

He slowly walked toward her. While Aura was still saying “uh-oh,” Karl placed his hand on the headboard and trapped her between his arms. Her face, now pale, was cast in a shadow.

“Then I’ll just have to make it not ‘weird’ right now. It seems you’re all better, seeing how you’re so irritated.” He took a handful of her hair and senselessly twirled it. Just as he was about to lean in and kiss her, “Stop it, Karl. I’m being serious.” Aura finally said.

“I’m serious, too.” Karl didn’t back down.

He moved closer and noticed the heat rash on her neck. Karl brushed his thumb against it. Her body temperature was still high.

Aura was completely frozen. She was clearly too overwhelmed to think clearly, having woken up to this. The look on her face amused Karl, and he smiled.

“You’re lucky, Aura.”

“…Huh?”

“Get well soon. Your uninvited guest is leaving now.” He got out of bed and straightened his disheveled clothes. “Take good care of yourself for the hunting festival.”

She didn’t say goodbye. Instead, just before he closed the door, he heard Aura muttering, “Why is he in such a good mood this morning?”

Karl found it amusing.

How did she even notice I’m in a good mood?

Aura probably didn’t realize how clumsy she had been since yesterday. How she had unconsciously shown her concern for Karl. And how much that had reassured him.

Karl suddenly looked out the hallway window. He hadn’t noticed it because he was so exhausted this morning, but the rain had stopped completely.

Perhaps it was because he had had a good night’s sleep. As he was walking to his room with a lighter body, Josh appeared in front of him.

“Your Majesty.” He looked around as if he had something confidential to say.

“What’s wrong?”

“Please come here for a moment.”

The two of them changed directions and went behind a pillar.

“What is it?”

“A suspicious letter was delivered to the Empress’s lady-in-waiting.”

“A suspicious letter…” There was a high chance that it was information about Finn.

“Did you get it?”

“Yes, I did. Would you like me to give it to you?”

“Now.”

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