"Then?"
After a brief silence, Knox spoke, his tone almost provocative. The sound of his voice, somehow, made me feel nauseous.
Knox frowned slightly, as if tasting something unpleasant. Finally, he let out a light sigh and replied, "No. I didn't do it."
I stared at his face. He showed no sign of discomfort from the noose around his neck, his expression utterly nonchalant as he met my gaze.
It wasn't a lie. Knox was not behind Meinhardt's disappearance. If he had spoken falsely, the magical noose around his neck would not have remained still.
"You don't believe it."
"I do believe it." I glared at Knox. "Not you, exactly, but I believe in magic."
"It's no different. My skills are a part of me," Knox said with an arrogant smirk.
I slid off the bench where I had been sitting awkwardly. My stomach rumbled, and my vision seemed to spin in a dull haze. My shoulders trembled.
"But there's clearly a connection... Oh, did I ask the wrong question? Is this disappearance case related to... a mage?"
He cut off my rambling lightly. "Today's questions are over, kid. You have one question left."
"..."
I looked up at him with a clouded gaze, unable to say anything. All I could do was hesitate, keeping my feet together and maintaining eye contact, careful not to look away.
"The reason you've put all this effort into it is for the Grand Duke's sake. Unlike others who live in this realm, you neither hope for eternal life nor fear death."
Knox's eyes burned with a piercing blue light. For a moment, swallowing a certain curiosity, I thought he might be truly alive.
"Then, can you truly risk your life for the Grand Duke?"
It was a question that felt out of place in the tense atmosphere. I offered a slightly strained smile. "Where is such love? Of course not."
As soon as I finished speaking, the atmosphere in the laboratory shifted drastically. My body tilted forward, and I ended up tumbling to the floor.
Dozens of ice needles around the nape of my neck pierced my skin, sinking in, and the pain continued to throb deep inside. I reflexively swallowed and curled into myself.
It hurt. It wasn't a pain that threatened to kill me, but it was enough to completely overwhelm my senses.
As I gasped for breath, Knox knelt on one knee, grabbed my arm, and easily lifted my body, which felt weightless due to our size difference. He set me back down on the rough surface of the bench.
"Your real choice is different, kid."
I replied in a hoarse whisper, "...Don't tell His Highness Kyle."
"Why? He'd be thrilled to hear it's passionate love."
"What's passionate about it?" I laughed helplessly, rubbing the nape of my neck. Not a single drop of blood appeared. The noose had simply faded away quickly, inflicting only pain.
Perhaps it was because I hadn't deliberately tried to deceive him that he had treated me this way. Of course, even so, it was no trivial punishment. My back was soaked with cold sweat.
"He wouldn't be happy. It's too radical to risk one's life for love. Let's say this is how we survive... What's the difference between that and being left behind?"
"Hmm."
"There would be no point in living like that. At least, that's what His Highness thinks." I paused. "He's silent."
"That's amazing."
"It is amazing. He's not like you," I added bluntly. "I'm glad we're not with you. Anyway, I ask you once again, but don't tell His Highness. Don't do it."
"You care for your lover on a topic that surprises you a lot. It's a tearful love."
"You're lying. I don't want to tell you how much I love you."
"No way." He smiled quietly, arms crossed. "You have to deceive me, kid. If you're truly determined to lie, it won't end with just breaking out in a cold sweat."
"..."
"But, for sure... You don't look very good right now. Your face is also red. I wonder if I should finish early."
I didn't refuse. My eyes had begun to shake, and my whole body was trembling. Did I have a fever just then? In the morning, I'd only had a mild one.
Anyway, I had to go back. I wished I could call Kyle... but he must be busy at the tower now.
I waved my hand, as if to tell Knox to go away because his presence bothered me when he offered to take me there. Even if I had to crawl, I didn't want his help. I knew what kind of trick he would pull if I gave him an opening.
'Ugh, I'm going to die. It's been a long time since I've felt this sick.'
I stumbled out the door, leaning against the wall for support.
Then...
"Shh!"
A bewildered voice sounded from above me. It was Kyle.
"Your Highness."
"I was worried because you didn't look well... Step back. Why is your neck like this? Aren't you hot?"
Kyle held my shoulder with a puzzled expression and made me lean against him. The hand that touched me was cool and pleasant. Leaning on his shoulder, when I exhaled with a faint sigh, Kyle hugged me completely.
"Knox, that child can't..." Kyle's voice was filled with anger.
It wasn't like that. This time, Knox hadn't done anything wrong. It was just too cold in that strange place, and I hadn't been feeling well... I had been startled, and my throat hurt. I hadn't even realized my fever was rising, probably because I'd been so nervous the whole time.
"Your Highness." I grabbed the hem of his clothes to stop him. As expected, Kyle paused just as he was about to enter the lab.
"It's cold." It wasn't a lie. My body was shaking uncontrollably.
I was exhausted from dealing with Knox. When he asked how this had happened, I hated the thought of him writing nonsense even more.
"Let's go back."
Kyle didn't hesitate for long. He carefully hugged me and gently pressed a kiss to my forehead. I wondered if my body heat had transferred to him, and through my blurred vision, I could see his brow furrowed with worry.
"Yes, let's go."
I guess it was because I was relieved by that. I leaned on him and lost consciousness.
The fever did not go down easily. I woke up several times, drifting in and out of sleep. I was in a haze.
Fearing that Kyle would go to Knox and question him, I pulled him closer, even as he sat beside me, and spoke. Each time, he would bow his head and kiss the back of my hand, replying that he understood.
"Your Highness."
"Yes."
"...Your Highness."
"Yes. I'm here. Do you need anything?"
Originally, I didn't get sick much in my own world. Perhaps I was too busy, or I didn't even realize I was ill.
So, this situation felt very strange: someone clinging to me, diligently covering my face with a lukewarm wet towel, cleaning it, and worrying.
"Whatever you want, I will do it. As always."
Can you be a goblin bat? Normally, I would have said something like that. But my reason was clouded, and I was melting into mush because of the heat, so the thought didn't even cross my mind. The words simply tumbled out.
"Then, me... Please don't think I'm strange."
Kyle lowered his head closely, perhaps a little surprised. "Why would you be strange?"
"Just..." I couldn't be honest.
If I love you enough to risk my life for you, please don't think it's an unrealistic and persistent love. How could I say that? I was ashamed that I didn't have the confidence to explain it properly. I quickly blurted out the words.
"I, well, in many ways... I'm unusual. I also behave strangely."
"I don't know what you're worried about," he whispered, rubbing the cold sweat that had dripped down my forehead with the back of his hand. "Whatever you choose, I am not afraid or dislike you."
"..."
"Whatever decision you make, I respect you. That's how I love you."
"...It sounds like you love me tremendously."
"Did you think I didn't?" Kyle laughed softly. "That's the story. Is there any way to reduce the fever? We're not in the territory, so there's no medicine, and I'm worried. It doesn't seem to be going down easily."
Kyle hesitated and then added, "There was a superstition in the world that you could catch a cold with a kiss... It's a pity it's just a superstition. I wish I could take it."
"That's a silly sound."
A blurry system window appeared in front of my smiling vision.
[Nut Shop!][ヽ(*. >Д<)o ゚)))) Dog! And! Ryu! Shop!]
'Nut store?'
What I needed now was an antipyretic, but perhaps the shop could help... It could be.
[Almond Fever Relief Taffy | Miracle value consumption 2% | Will completely reduce the fever!]
'Okay, I'm sorry. I forgot because I was out of my mind.'
How could I forget this? I casually appeased the system that was "beating around," then bought a piece of Taffy Candy and handed it to Kyle.
Even moving my arm a little was difficult. It seemed I was truly ill.
"...It's like a magic item. It has an antipyretic effect."
"Can you eat it?"
Not syrup, not pills. It was a hard candy. If I gulped it down unluckily and it got caught in my throat, it would be another headache.
I shook my head honestly. I didn't have the confidence to eat it.
"Yes."
Kyle took the taffy candy from my hand. Then he supported my back and gently raised me a little. My whole body felt as heavy as water-soaked cotton, and I leaned weakly against him, my eyes half-closed.
Rustle. I heard the sound of the candy wrapper being opened.
"Excuse me."
Then, our lips touched.
His cold lips enveloped mine. Warm, humid breath filled my mouth, seeping in as if trying to somehow swallow the heat. The sweetness spread throughout my mouth and then slowly crossed my throat.
The candy was as sweet as his kindness. My tongue felt like it was going to fall off. I squinted my eyes and clung to him.
'I thought I shouldn't show others how weak I was...'
It didn't help us live in a cramped world. However, by his side, I thought it would be okay to stay like this for just one day.