I Refuse This Life, Your Highness! - Chapter 82

Hot water flowed down my neck and over my shoulders, followed by the touch of warm, softened oil mixed with herbs for treating bruises. The mixture, crafted into a soap-like consistency, was softer than soap and carried a pleasant fragrance.

When I undressed in the bathroom, I was shocked to see my body covered in bruises. They had formed during the long, grueling horseback ride from the capital. With a frown on his face, the Duke worked on easing the tension from my muscles. Sitting on his lap, my back to him, I leaned slightly forward as he kneaded the oil into my bruised skin.

My hair spilled forward into the water, rippling with my movements. I caught a glimpse of my own dazed face reflected in the surface. It was absurd to be attended to by the Duke like this, yet the soothing warmth of the oil melting into my skin and the gentle pressure of his hands were too comforting to resist.

His hands moved slowly down my spine, gliding effortlessly over my oil-slick skin.

“You don’t have much muscle,” he remarked.

“I haven’t done anything to build it…”

As a Lamia, my physique was unique. My parents had always drilled into me that Lamias were neither male nor female. They insisted I remain soft and supple, reinforcing their beliefs throughout my upbringing. Until I was old enough to think for myself, I had accepted it as truth.

After massaging my back, the Duke lifted me and set me on the edge of the tub. Only my lower legs were submerged in the water, leaving the rest of my body exposed. Embarrassed, I instinctively curled up, but the Duke placed his hands on my hips and gently but firmly straightened me. With just his hands supporting my waist, my posture effortlessly aligned.

“Your Majesty…”

“You’ve seen me naked plenty of times. Why so shy now? I’m just as bare as you are.”

“B-but you’re under the water…”

“Does being in the water make me any less naked?”

“…”

There’s a big difference between what’s visible and what’s not! My face heated, but the Duke didn’t stop there. His large hands moved to my thighs, parting them.

“Your Majesty!”

“I’m only massaging the insides of your thighs. After all, your legs and back must be in the most pain.”

It was true. Hours of riding at a gallop had left my thighs and lower back so sore that I almost wished I could discard them. Still, having my inner thighs exposed like this was mortifying. I wanted to escape but couldn’t.

“It’s fine. It’ll heal on its own.”

“On its own, but slowly.”

“Then… someone else could—”

“You’re willing to let someone else see this part of you?”

As he spoke, his hand glided over the sensitive skin of my inner thigh. The sensation startled me so much that I nearly jumped. Desperately, I offered another suggestion.

“Then… I’ll do it myself.”

“Ah, so you prefer doing things yourself.”

“…”

His words took a moment to register. When they did, I gaped at him before shouting, “Your Majesty!” I couldn’t believe he’d said something so indecent. I had always thought of him as stoic, reserved—even his jokes had been dry. I’d never imagined him capable of this. Then again, I kept forgetting he’d lived through war.

The semi-melted oil slid smoothly over my thighs, its herbal aroma spreading throughout the room, soothing even my mind. Resigned, I braced myself on the edge of the tub, closing my eyes. The sensation of his hands working the oil into my skin was strangely pleasant, as was the gentle pressure on my aching muscles.

Once he finished my thighs, he lifted my legs out of the water to massage my calves and feet. His hands moved with meticulous care, kneading the arches, the balls of my feet, and even each toe.

After nearly two hours of thorough massage, the Duke carried me back into the water. My body, now completely relaxed, felt like it was melting into the warm bath.

“Feeling better?” he asked.

I nodded honestly. The Duke retrieved a cup he had set aside earlier and held it to my lips. The cool, refreshing taste of herbal tea filled my mouth. Too relaxed to move, I let him tilt the cup for me as I sipped.

“You’ve worked hard, Yuraine.”

“…I just wanted to come back quickly…”

Half-asleep, I murmured my reply. The Duke pressed a soft kiss to my temple, and I leaned into him, drifting off.

I didn’t even remember how I’d fallen asleep. My last memory was the taste of the tea. When I woke, the Duke’s side of the bed was empty. His pillow still bore a slight indent, and when I reached out, I could feel lingering warmth.

The sky outside suggested it was too early for dawn. For the Duke to leave even earlier than usual—and in such a rush that the covers were slightly askew—meant something must have happened.

“Is anyone there?”

“It’s Bohem, Your Grace.”

The response came immediately. I pulled back the curtains and asked, “Did His Majesty leave urgently? What’s going on?”

“Sir Riseon has just arrived at the estate.”

“What…?”

I threw the curtains aside and leapt out of bed, rushing to the door. Bohem, who had hurried over, caught me just in time.

“Your Grace, please, calm yourself! You’re still in your nightclothes.”

“Oh.”

I glanced down at my thin nightgown and bare feet, finally realizing my state. I’d have frozen to death if I’d run out like this. Bohem handed me a set of comfortable clothes, which I hastily put on. I layered a thick overcoat before leaving the room.

Riseon was in a guest room in the east wing, not far from mine. It wasn’t hard to locate; a pair of guards stood outside the door. I hurried in to find a physician, the Duke, two familiar knights, and Riseon lying on the bed.

The Duke spoke as I approached in concern.

“He’s collapsed from exhaustion and hypothermia, but he’ll recover.”

“Ah…”

As I approached, I caught sight of Riseon’s battered body. The physician was still tending to his injuries, and the sight was heartbreaking. His body was covered in wounds, as if he’d wandered weaponless through endless dangers. There wasn’t a single unscathed area. The physician was currently treating a deep, long gash on one leg.

Though the wound had been cleaned, it was clear it had festered and worsened.

“That wound…”

The Duke sighed softly after dismissing the two knights from the room. That sigh made my chest tighten. There was no way it signaled good news. I looked at him anxiously, and the words that followed confirmed my fears.

“He might lose the use of that leg.”

“W-what…?”

My face went pale. Riseon, a knight, might lose his ability to use his leg? What would become of him?

“Is that certain?” I asked the physician.

“For now, I cannot say for sure, Your Grace. My apologies.”

The physician bowed his head. Such a statement meant Riseon’s condition was truly dire. I stared blankly at his injured leg for a while before turning to the Duke.

“Your Majesty, should we… tell Riseon about this?”

“I already know.”

The voice startled me, and I whipped around to see Riseon’s eyes open, staring at me. Gone was his usual mischievous expression. In its place was a calm, weathered look, as if he’d aged ten years overnight. He looked like someone utterly drained, his breathing labored under the weight of exhaustion.

He shut his eyes tightly, then opened them with a faint smile. That smile told me everything—he had probably known, perhaps even while wandering the mountains, what the fate of his leg might be. After all, he was knowledgeable about medicine.

“Your Majesty.”

I turned back to the Duke.

“I’d like to speak with Riseon alone for a while.”

“…All right. Do as you wish.”

The physician finished what he could of the treatment, left behind the remaining medications, and departed with the Duke. Though I knew they wouldn’t be far, likely standing right outside the door, I appreciated the moment of privacy. I handed the painkillers to Riseon.

“No candy?”

“Just take it.”

Grumbling, he downed the bitter medicine in one gulp, grimacing as he swallowed.

“Being from Airdren doesn’t mean they made this extra bitter on purpose, right?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

With a groan, Riseon leaned back down, closing his eyes. “Why are you so worried? I’m fine.”

“Fine? How can you say that, idiot?”

“Idiot? Is that any way to talk to your brother?”

“And is this really the time to joke around?!”

I snapped, shouting at him. Tears welled up as I yelled, and I quickly turned my head to wipe them away with my sleeve. Riseon watched me and smiled faintly.

“Well, if not now, when?”

“…”

“Yuraine, I think… this is my punishment.”

“Punishment? For what?”

“For everything I kept to myself. Things that should’ve been shared between the three of us, I let only two of us enjoy. I liked it, too. I didn’t step up and say it was unfair.”

Since childhood, Airdren’s heirs had effectively been only two: Riseon and Revien. I was the third, overlooked and denied the privileges they enjoyed. They’d taken my share, living as though it was their right.

“But if this is the price for that, I don’t want it.”

“Yuraine, everyone bears the weight of their sins eventually. Me, Revien… even our parents.”

Our parents.

In my first life, my parents and brothers had all died. The Duke had told me once that I had almost been sent to the Emperor as a concubine. Perhaps my parents had been betrayed and killed by the Emperor because they’d outlived their usefulness. No, I was certain of it.

Before I could dwell further on those dark thoughts, Riseon reached out and cupped my cheek.

“Yuraine.”

“…Yes?”

“For once, I’m glad I was able to protect you.”

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