Chapter 31: Why At A Time Like This?
Chapter 31: Why At A Time Like This?
Chapter 31 – Why At A Time Like This?
The festival was getting closer and closer, and Kiehl couldn't do what he wanted to practice properly, and he had to practice only with the kids.
It was supposed to be a match, so the children would easily get it wrong, and every time Zanbar asked them to do it again.
‘Ha… I didn’t know it would be harder than fighting Bella.’
In the sweltering heat, as he practiced with several children without a break, Kiehl became increasingly exhausted.
"The young master is going to faint. I'll play the role of the prince, so let's practice with me."
"Where is the weak guy who falls down like this?"
“Now, you kids take turns fighting each other, but the young master is dealing with everything.”
"You mean…”
Jenkins and Zanbar started an argument while trying to save Kiehl. Even so, it was time to take a break. Fortunately, Bella, who was in unbearable heat for everyone, tried to freeze the parlor with magic.
In particular, Pur and Zanbar cheered as they were hairy animals, and they were extremely hot.
‘It's too cold here.'
However, after a while, it became bitterly cold like the middle of winter.
"Cough—"
As Kiehl coughed shallowly during class with Jenkins, Jenkins asked with concern. "Young Master, are you okay?"
"Huh?"
"Aren't you catching a cold?"
"Do I?"
"Do you want some Sukrina herbs?"
Sukrina herb was a medicinal herb that was said to restore energy when used in small amounts. In addition, the festival was two days away. So, even if he was tired, he couldn't be tired.
"Then, please."
Nevertheless, even if he took the herbs, Kiehl couldn't help the feeling that his body was getting a little heavy.
‘Come to think of it, I think I was sick this summer before I came back.'
But, the situation was different now.
In the past, living without a home like a wanderer, there were many times when he had no choice but to eat spoiled food or sleep on the cold floor.
The day before the festival, Kiehl went to bed early, hiding the cough. However, in the morning, his body felt like it was on fire.
Today was the day of the festival, and the day they decided to put on a play.
‘Ha… Let's not make it as obvious as possible.’
Although his body was heavy, Kiehl acted and walked as if it were rather light.
"Young Master, are you ready?"
"Yes. Let's go."
Fortunately, even the keen Jenkins didn't seem to know.
Everyone started to gather in the hallway.
Bella said she was too bothered to change her clothes, and showed up from the mansion in advance dressed up as the princess. She used to enjoy wearing pants. And, even if it was a dress, it was a knee-length dress.
From her point of view, it was a ‘simple, modern' outfit, although most people used to laugh behind the scenes saying, ‘It doesn't look like someone living in a mansion.’
She wore a long dress laced with splendid lace, and her hair was in a half ponytail up with a floral pin.
"Clothes are wings."
"How do clothes have wings? Do they fly?"
"Miss! You look like a princess!"
Bella was puzzled by this sudden attention.
‘Hey, I'm originally your princess…’
Besides, she didn’t even wear clothes like this in the demon world. Still, Bella didn’t hate it, so she circled around the spot.
"How about it? Is it okay? Is it luxurious?"
"Other than that, it's fine."
"Kiehl, do I look like a princess?"
Saying so, Bella gave a toothy smile and asked Kiehl. He was looking at her with a red face without answering blankly.
“Kiehl, are you sick?”
As she approached him, Kiehl took a step back and answered.
"No. It's fine."
“Maybe, the Young Master was in love with the Young Lady?”
Meanwhile, when Iwer continued to speak, Jenkins pinched Iwer’s side and clenched his teeth.
“We were supposed to bet fair.”
"Tsk."
"Come on, let's go. Our turn is about lunchtime. Let’s go ahead and prepare."
Uttering that, Bella slowly walked over to Kiehl, and she grabbed his cheeks with her hands.
"Kiehl, why is your face so hot?"
"Oh, it's not hot."
She placed her hand on Kiehl's forehead this time. It was still hot.
"Bella, it feels that way because your hands are cold."
"Oh, really?"
Hearing that, she slowly placed her own forehead against Kiehl’s forehead.
"Is it hot?"
"Ah…"
The sudden approach made Kiehl's eyes stiff, and he had no choice but to close his eyes.
"It's cold."
As the clasped brow fell, this time, Bella’s cold hands patted the area around his neck.
"Look at this, you're sweating."
"That…"
Kiehl couldn't say anything. She wouldn’t come when he told her to, but why was she always so good at coming close without notice?
"Then, how about our play?"
The mansion family was more concerned about the festival today than the fact that Kiehl was ill.
Bella stared at them as if tired of the human, no, demonic nature of demons.
"What to do, Kiehl can't do it."
"Then. who is the prince?"
As soon as Kiehl heard that, he stopped feeling Bella's touch and shook his head.
"I, I can do it. I'm really fine."
At that, she narrowed her eyes and looked at Kiehl. Nonetheless, he smiled, though the body she was holding was as hot as a fireball.
"Iwer will do it! Why can't a woman be a prince! It's prejudice!"
“Jenkins, do it. You watched the fight anyway, so you know it well.”
Again, Kiehl repeated with a smile.
"I can do it."
"What are you talking about. You have a fever like this."
"But…”
Then, Iwer added a word.
"By the way, if Jen is a prince, who is the witch?"
"Um… Zanbar…?"
"Though the witch has a lot of dialogue, so I don't think Sir Zanbar can't do it."
Zanbar said it was ridiculous and fired at Iwer.
"I can memorize that much."
However, she was sure that no one but Zanbar could memorize it. Eventually, Kiehl grabbed Bella and said, "Well, then can't Bella be the witch?"
"Huh…?”
"The Princess role only has a few lines."
If Kiehl couldn't do the play, Bella shouldn't have had to play the Princess.
"Well. If the Miss is the witch, she'll look good. In the first place, she's more like that than the Princess."
"Jenkins, do you want to die?"
Kiehl caught Bella as if it were his last leg.
"Well, I'll be the Princess… All I have to do is lie down."
However, contrary to his promise, as soon as he took one step, Kiehl leaned against his leg and collapsed.
"Zanbar, lay Kiehl in the room for now."
While the tall Zanbar lifted Kiehl and carried him back to his room, he wept and barely reached out his hand.
Seeing so, Bella sighed as she stared at the cold parlor.
‘I should have told him to be careful…’
She forgot to talk about the air-conditioning disease, a disease of modern people. In and out of the cold parlor, he could easily catch a cold due to the sudden temperature change.
"It's all because of Sir Zanbar."
"What’s wrong with Zanbar…?”
Jenkins took advantage of Zanbar's absence and let out the anger he had accumulated.
"He didn't even listen to me. Because I knew he was going to collapse."
Iwer sighed with a very disappointed expression.
“I thought it was something like that, so I made rice with some herbs this morning.”
At that, Jenkins' face hardened.
"What herb?"
"Sukrina."
"Ah… Why didn't you say something like that?"
"Why, if you add a little, there's no problem! Everyone's okay now, right?"
Obviously, Bella was fine. Of course, even if she were ill, she would be well soon.
"Yes, a small amount is fine."
When used in small amounts, this herb restores energy and speeds up blood circulation. Although if used in large quantities, the body would heat up.
“I’ve been giving it to him, too.”
These were the things that drove Kiehl to his sickness without them even realizing it…
***
Lying on the bed motionless, Kiehl closed his eyes as if choking on a hot breath. Why did he catch a cold at a time like this?
He heard the sound of everyone leaving the house, and Pur leaned in front of the door, dipped the handkerchief in water, and placed it on his forehead. Even that handkerchief was Juan Cruell's handkerchief.
It felt like a huge wall of fate. Sad tears flowed down with sweat. When Kiehl regained consciousness, even his own breath felt hot.
It was what he had been waiting for…
He sighed as something warm and fluffy moved over his body.
“…Pur, it's heavy."
"The Young Lady told me to keep you warm, Young Master!"
“….”
"The Young Master is awake, so I'll bring a towel!"
As Pur went out, Kiehl lay down and moaned as he looked up at the ceiling.
‘Is Jenkins really kissing Bella? Jenkins…’
Thinking so, he was about to cry again.
‘I was hoping for something so big…’
It was just a play, so he thought it would be okay if he were a little greedy. It was as if the heavens had given him a sickness as if sneering at his dark heart.
That was then…
"Are you in a lot of pain?"
Out of nowhere, Bella popped up beside him and looked at him with sleepy eyes.
"…Bella?"
Perhaps sitting next to him and falling asleep, she stopped her yawn with her hand and handed Kiehl a cup of water.
"…The play?"
While Kiehl drank water, Bella answered bluntly.
"Yes. Zanbar decided to be a princess."
"*Choke.*"
It was totally unexpected, so Kiehl choked while drinking water. Seeing that, Bella patted him on the back slowly, waiting for him to calm down.
"Bella didn’t go?"
“How can I go when you are so sick?”
She then laid Kiehl on the bed and sat across the bed, cooling his cheeks with her cold hands.
"If you're sick, you have to tell me you're sick."
"Sorry…"
"Don't you know that your body is a national treasure?"
There was so much nagging, though when she touched it, he was as hot as smoke.
"So, you should cherish it the most, okay?"
Kiehl liked to hear Bella's voice. Even though she was angry, that tone and eyes contained warm affection no matter who heard it.
Is it just because of the heat? Or, was it because it was embarrassing…?
"Hold…my hands."
She seemed to move away when he tries to catch her, so Kiehl reached out and turned to Bella.
"You’re sick, so you’re such a baby."
He clasped her hand and gently stroked Bella's index finger with his thumb.
"Bella…”
"Huh?"
As she lowered her gaze to look at his tickling fingertips, Kiehl said in a low voice, expecting it to reach her with sincerity.
"I like Bella."
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