Emperor's Alternate - Chapter 51
She was reported to be a nocturnal creature, but Leyesha was managing to sleep soundly. She sat with her knees drawn together and her head leaning against the cave wall, murmuring complaints about her beauty sleep and being overly cautious of Lecan. It seemed an uncomfortable position for a good night’s sleep. Through her disheveled hair, he could see her face was pale.
Suddenly, Leyesha seemed to lose her balance and fall to the side. Lecan reflexively reached over and placed his palm against her face to steady her. Careful not to wake her, he laid her down on the cave floor—still in a somewhat awkward position, but it was better than before.
“…”
Lecan’s gaze suddenly fell on Leyesha’s wounds. The maid’s clothes she bathed in earlier hadn’t completely dried yet, so they clung to her skin looking somewhat translucent. Her arms were dotted with scratches from the tree branches, and the calves exposed beneath her skirt were covered in faint bloodstains.
Lecan delicately placed his hand on Leyesha’s arm and channeled mana. As a Sword Master in his prime, he could easily heal simple wounds. It was similar in principle to a healer’s rejuvenating magic. He couldn’t do much for a broken ankle, but scratches on the skin were manageable.
It was a strange feeling, though, mixing his own energy into someone else’s body. The moment he released his mana, he immediately sensed that her mana gate had never been breached.
‘Has she never received mana from another person?’
It was like a pristine path untouched by anyone, covered in freshly fallen snow. Lecan hesitated for a moment, adjusting his energy subtly before cautiously pushing it in. It might have been a bit painful if it were her first time. Instead of tampering with the mana gate, Lecan only temporarily healed her wounds.
The scratches slowly disappeared.
“Ah… Hm…”
Leyesha’s slight moan was fleeting and quickly faded as she fell back to sleep.
“…You look like a delicately raised young lady.”
“…”
“You don’t want to get a scar.”
Lecan murmured softly as he removed his hand. Each time he touched her, Leyesha felt excessively warm. It was like the warmth of a white cat sitting in front of a blazing hearth for hours, seemingly sun-drenched. Soft yet radiating a comforting heat.
Lecan plucked some leaves, poured water, and let it trickle onto Leyesha’s lips. However, seeing that her fever didn’t subside, he took out a handkerchief from his b****t pocket. It was the handkerchief given by the princess, and right now, it was the only clean cloth of the appropriate size. He carefully wiped Leyesha’s forehead where the cold sweat was forming.
“Earlier, I lied about you being dirty.”
“…”
“I thought I should tell you.”
Whenever he got closer, there was a scent of nobility. Leyesha’s unique scent, whether from the bath essence she used or the water from the untreated stream, seemed to be the same. Even when she was merely breathing, Leyesha’s face was excessively beautiful.
Words praising her beauty could fall out of his mouth, and it would feel as natural to him as a statement of fact.
Then, Leyesha’s lips moved.
“Your Excellency.”
Was she talking in her sleep or…?
“…I can hear you.”
…Or not.
Leyesha spoke, making Lecan realize she wasn’t asleep. However, her eyelids remained peacefully closed, and the rhythm of her breathing stayed steady. It was a half-asleep, slow, and languid voice.
“…Someday, I’ll learn the sword… and pierce it into Your Excellency’s heart without fail…”
Lecan couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh at what she had just said. He listened for a long time, wondering what she was going to say, but what came out was sheer absurdity. The gentle and lovely voice delivering such murderous intent was ironic.
“No matter how many times I save you, you still say mean things.”
“So… please don’t be good to me.”
Her voice contained a twinge of laughter, and somehow, it seemed like there might be a hint of tears.
She claimed to be active mostly at night, and it seemed to be true. When they met in the forest earlier, she said she had come in because she was sleepy. Now, as the moonlit night became brighter, it seemed like she was regaining her senses, confirming that the night was indeed her active time.
Lecan looked down at Leyesha as her eyelids slowly opened. Her eyes were the blue of precious jewels. She didn’t look at him, just stared breathlessly into the void in front of her.
“Your Excellency, you already have enough people at your side… why do you need me, an attendant to the Emperor, to help you?”
“…”
“Is it for your future ascension to the throne?”
She asked in a slow tone, a question that many had always been curious about regarding Lecan. Every time, Lecan had consistently responded with nonchalance.
“You’re still doing work for your Lord even in your wounded state? I can see you’re seeking to exploit me for your own political purposes by trying to understand me, but you just rest easy. The empire won’t collapse just because you take a few hours off from your duties.”
“…I am… afraid.”
Lecan was silenced by her quietly uttered confession.
