I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 57
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Yeshion stared at Eldis with a stiff expression.
Eldis casually entered the room, closed the door behind him, and placed the soup he brought on the table.
Smiling gently, he asked:
“Did you sleep well?”
As soon as Eldis spoke, Yeshion bolted for the door. However, Eldis, as if expecting it, calmly reached out and grabbed Yeshion by the nape of his neck.
“The Saintess made some soup for you.”
“……”
“Please, have some before you go.”
Despite the kind words, the grip was far from gentle.
Eldis forcibly dragged Yeshion back to the table and sat him down, taking a seat across from him as if it were the most natural thing to do.
“……”
Yeshion couldn’t lift his head, staring at the table in front of him. He didn’t know how to face Eldis or what to say.
Perhaps sensing Yeshion’s turmoil, Eldis spoke first.
“Are you embarrassed?”
The question was blunt.
Yeshion gasped, inhaling sharply, and Eldis chuckled.
“Everyone who experiences this treatment for the first time reacts similarly. It’s embarrassing, humiliating, and you don’t know how to look at the one who treated you.”
“……”
“Don’t worry. To me, it was nothing more than a medical procedure.”
Eldis’s tone was decisive, leaving no room for doubt.
It was as if he were telling Yeshion not to entertain unnecessary thoughts, that there was no ulterior motive, and that nothing inappropriate had occurred.
Strangely enough, those words brought Yeshion some comfort.
Slowly, he raised his head, only for Eldis to reach out and place a hand on his forehead.
“Your fever has gone down quite a bit. It seems the remaining poison has mostly been purged.”
“Yes….”
“Still, the poison hasn’t been fully eliminated. Take care of your body, and if your fever spikes to the point where you lose consciousness again, we’ll need to repeat the same treatment as yesterday.”
At those words, Yeshion vigorously nodded.
It was a relief that his health had improved, but he didn’t want to go through that kind of treatment again.
No matter how much Eldis framed it as a purely medical act, who in their right mind would enjoy panting with their g******s exposed in front of someone else?
After hesitating for a while, Yeshion finally lowered his head again.
Setting aside his embarrassment, Yeshion realized he owed Eldis.
He had inconvenienced someone who didn’t even like physical contact. Even though yesterday’s events defied all his common sense, Eldis had shown Yeshion kindness. It was only right to express gratitude for that.
“Th-thank you… I feel much better because of you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Eldis’s response was brief and polite, without any teasing or further comment to make Yeshion feel uneasy.
His calm demeanor allowed Yeshion’s embarrassment and awkwardness to gradually fade away.
Yet, not all of Yeshion’s questions were answered.
‘Why did he treat me?’
Yes, he had been ill, but it hadn’t been an emergency like the time at the imperial palace. He would have suffered for a while, but medicine might have been enough to get him back on his feet.
In short, Eldis didn’t have to go out of his way to treat him.
While lost in thought, Yeshion heard Eldis speak.
“Are you troubled by something?”
“W-what?”
“You looked deep in thought.”
Yeshion bit his lip.
‘Should I ask?’
He knew it would be better to ask the question outright than to keep pondering alone. Unlike Yeshion, who often avoided answering questions, Eldis always gave him a straightforward response.
“You dislike me, don’t you?”
“……”
“Then why did you treat me? I heard you don’t even like treating people…”
Finally, Yeshion decided to ask. It was better to hear the answer from Eldis than to keep guessing.
“That’s a strange question.”
“…. W-what?”
“You’re assuming I dislike you as if it’s a fact.”
Yeshion’s eyes widened in surprise.
Until recently, Eldis had explicitly said he disliked Yeshion. Even though he added that it didn’t seem as clear lately, it was still true that he had once expressed his dislike.
