Villain, Let Me Touch You! - Chapter 18
“I had a nightmare,” he said.
“What?”
“That’s why my head hurts.”
“Is that so?”
“Since I’m a patient, I can stay here, right?”
“But I’m the one who’s sick…”
“Are you saying that because you’re sick, I should ignore my own discomfort?”
“That’s not what I mean…”
“What’s there to say? Just heal me.”
It was absurd to ask an ill person to provide treatment, but given the nature of my healing, it wasn’t entirely impossible.
“Are you really in pain?”
“Examine me.”
I glared at Helios, who lay propped up on my pillow, occupying most of the space. He looked a little pale, but I couldn’t tell if it was the moonlight or if he was really sick.
I sighed heavily and put my hand on his head. The word “headache” appeared clearly above his head. The letters were big and dark.
I opened my eyes wide. It had been so long since he’d been sick, and he must have been in a lot of pain, that I was surprised he was changing my washcloth. How sick he must be, waking me up when he was in pain.
I worried about him, even in the moment of my own illness. I couldn’t help it. Over the past two years, even when I read novels on my own hospital bed before transmigrating, I worried about him if he was unwell. It’s an automatic reflex now.
“I’ll treat you.”
I gently stroked his head while keeping my eyes closed. The letters gradually faded, and his face relaxed. Strangely, my pain subsided too.
Maybe it’s just a mood thing.
I shrugged off my feelings and continued to stroke his head until the letter were completely erased and all his pain was gone.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s amazing. Why doesn’t it hurt when you touch me?”
“I told you it’s a form of touch therapy, Your Highness.”
I hadn’t disclosed my special ability to Helios. Frankly, it’s quite an unbelievable ability. They were hard to prove, especially since my ability was exclusive to Helios.
“Teach me that healing technique.”
Unfortunately, teaching it is difficult.
“You’re trying to become a doctor? You’re so greedy.”
“Doctor? I’m not interested. I’m only interested in one thing.”
“What is that?”
“To make you better.”
For a moment, I was at a loss for words. I could tell by the tone of his voice that he wasn’t joking.
When I stiffened, Helios smiled slightly. He reached out and gently ruffled my hair.
“You healed me, so I should return the favor.”
Gratitude. Those words struck a chord within me. Perhaps the saying that black-haired beasts don’t reap[1] were wrong.
Or not. He has blond hair, so maybe it’s okay.
What does hair color matter anyway? What matters is Helios’ concern for me.
“That’s comforting.”
Helios squinted his eyes. “I thought you were going to say no.”
“To what?”
“To me helping you.”
“Why?”
Helios scratched his forehead. He didn’t seem to understand me at all. Or perhaps he was just confused by the flow of this entire conversation? Was he just being polite when he said he wanted to return the favor?
This was really awkward. I narrowed my eyes and waited for his answer.
Helios shook his head, his fine golden hair tousling as he did so. He looked like a born hero, even with his massive headache.
Our gazes met. His ruby-like eyes seemed even deeper today.
“You were so eager to get out of the palace that you wrote your resignation, I figured you wouldn’t want my help.”
“That was when I was healthy. I’m terminally ill. I can’t leave. There’s no place on the continent with doctors as good as the ones here. I want to live.”
I want to live.
I don’t have to say it twice. I’ve always felt the same way, from my pre-transmigration days to now. I want to live, preferably in good health.
“So, Your Highness, you must save me. You understand, right?”
“And your retirement?”
“I’m canceling it. Are you sure…I can’t back out?”
Helios, who had been glaring at me, burst out laughing.
¹ From the Korean saying 역시 머리 검은 짐승은 거두는 게 아니야, denoting people who don’t feel obligated to repay favors no matter how much kindness you show them↩
