You Are Not A Burden. You Are Not A Failure.

“Nn… nnh… ngh…”

As he turned over in his sleep, Jonah slowly opened his eyes.

Half a day had already passed since he lost consciousness, and a candle flame flickered in the dark room.

Then.

“Oh, you’re finally awake.”

“Wah!?”

Carlo’s face had suddenly appeared right in front of him.

Jonah couldn’t help letting out a startled cry.

“Wh-why…?”

“You don’t remember? Right after the audience with my old man ended and you returned to your room, you collapsed.”

“Ah…”

Thanks to Carlo’s words, Jonah finally grasped the situation and clutched his head.

Jonah hadn’t wanted Carlo and the others to know about his condition.

He feared that if they found out, he would be treated coldly and called a failure, just like in the Langheim house.

Even though he knew Carlo was different from Duke Langheim.

Still, Jonah was terrified.

He had learned he had only one year left to live and resolved to live fully until the very end, but if he had to go through that pain again, he surely wouldn’t be able to bear it.

That was why.

“U-um… I’ll be going now.”

Mumbling while looking down, Jonah hurriedly tried to get out of bed.

If he left before Carlo abandoned him, he wouldn’t have to hear those words he dreaded.

However.

“…!?”

“No you don’t. Aurora, Priscilla.”

“Yes.”
“Yes.”

Carlo grabbed Jonah’s shoulder to stop him, and the two maids swiftly forced him back into bed.

Aurora and Priscilla especially made it clear they weren’t letting him go anywhere.

“Listen, Jonah. Your body is so wrecked you could drop dead any moment. Stay here and get proper treatment until you’re completely healed.”

“His Highness is absolutely right. Taking care of Master Jonah will be done by me, Aurora, and—”

“—Priscilla, with utmost devotion.”

All three spoke with unshakable resolve.

Overwhelmed by a flood of emotions, Jonah pulled the sheet over his head.

“U-um… I’m sick, so I’m just a useless failure… Please let me leave before I become a burden.”

His voice trembling, Jonah confessed.

By saying it himself first, he tried to protect his heart from hearing it from them.

But deep down, what Jonah truly wanted was for someone to tell him he was neither useless nor a failure.

He wanted someone to tell even a child like him, “It’s okay for you to stay here.”

Then—

“What the hell are you talking about? How could Jonah ever be a burden?”

“Exactly. There is no way Master Jonah could ever be a bother.”

“And above all, the words ‘useless failure’… I cannot forgive them, even if they come from Master Jonah himself.”

“Ah…”

Carlo, Aurora, and Priscilla gently whispered exactly the words Jonah had longed to hear.

That it was okay for him to stay… that he was not a useless failure.

“E-ehehe… I see…”

“That’s right. So just focus on getting better. To cheer you up, I’ll go beat the crap out of that guardian deity for you.”

“Wah!?”

Carlo roughly ruffled the bit of Jonah’s hair peeking out from under the sheet.

Seeing that, Aurora and Priscilla seized the chance and also stroked Jonah’s head.

“Geez…”

Under the sheet, Jonah pouted.

But from his onyx eyes, tears of joy streamed without end.

“Master Jonah, how about this strawberry cake? I’m sure it will suit your palate perfectly.”

“No, Master Jonah. I am confident that my pudding is the one that will truly satisfy you.”

“Uh, umm…”

The morning after Jonah collapsed.

Still confined to bed, Jonah was sandwiched on both sides while Aurora and Priscilla enthusiastically insisted their own dessert was supreme.

After what happened yesterday, the two had immediately started fussing over him with great devotion.

Though it was obvious a good portion of this was simply pushing their own preferences.

“…Sister, weren’t you summoned by Sir Federico just now?”

“Then that matter is already settled. More importantly, Priscilla, you still haven’t finished today’s cleaning, have you?”

With Jonah between them, the two exchanged completely expressionless glances.

To Jonah, it looked like actual sparks were flying where their gazes clashed.

Then.

“Yo, Jonah! How’s the body feeling?”

Carlo burst through the door with great energy.

“Your Highness Carlo. Master Jonah is resting, so please be a little quieter.”
“Your Highness Carlo. Master Jonah is resting, so please be a little quieter.”

“Ehh—…I’m technically the crown prince, you know.”

The two women, who had been on the verge of war just moments ago, perfectly synchronized to scold Carlo.

Even Carlo could only let out a pathetic whine.

“G-good morning, Carlo-san.”

Jonah gave a shy little bow, slightly embarrassed.

When it was the two maids, they came on so strong there hadn’t even been room to feel shy.

“Yeah, morning.”

“So, what brings you here?”

“What? Can’t I come check if Jonah’s doing a bit better?”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant at all!”

Carlo openly frowned in displeasure, and Jonah hurriedly tried to explain himself.

“Pfft… hahahahaha! Just a joke… hey, don’t glare at me like that!?”

He had only teased a little, but when Aurora and Priscilla both directed killing intent at him, the laughing Carlo instantly turned pale and protested.

“Haa… whatever. Anyway, Jonah.”

“…? Yes…?”

Carlo let out a sigh, then suddenly fixed him with a serious eyes, and Jonah answered with a puzzled look.

“The day we set out to subjugate the Guardian Deity of the Central Sea has been set—three days from now.”

Saying that, Carlo flashed a fearless grin.