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I clearly said not to tell anyone outside until I gave permission. Who on earth…?

I rolled my eyes over Ren’s shoulder and found someone avoiding my accusing stare.

‘Nicola, you…!’

When Nicola whispered to Prince Raven, the prince nodded and spoke.

“Well, the Chancellor needs to rest, so let’s go out too.”

Their gazes were full of questions, but no one dared disobey royalty, so one by one they left.

‘Nicola… we’ll settle this later!’

“Duke… stop by and see me when you’re done. And wrap the cloth we left by the bedside around yourself so you don’t get infected.”

Prince Raven left his instructions and led Aidan and Nicola out.

I patted Ren’s back, but he still wouldn’t let go; his broad shoulders trembled.

“It’s okay now—a cure has been developed. Calm down.”

They couldn’t see from their angle, but I could tell his back was damp; only then did he release me slowly.

“Is that really…?”

He examined me; the welts covering my body were unmistakable.

“They’re unsightly, I know, but they’re healing little by little.”

I felt embarrassed by my bedraggled appearance, but he gently brushed my sweat-damp hair back.

“Pretty. The same. No matter how you change, you’re still cute and lovely to me.”

I should have been used to him by now, but even seeing the welts I hadn’t expected this reaction.

“Don’t touch me. Wrap the cloth around your face—this is contagious.”

“You said a cure was developed. If I get it, I can just take it too.”

“Absolutely not.”

When I glared, he reluctantly wiped his hands and wrapped the cloth around his face. Even half-covered, he still looked striking.

“How did you even get here? What about the capital?”

“Is that really the issue? You nearly died. The thought of you working unaware of this is terrifying.”

All I could manage was sorry. As a patient, I wanted to delay facing grieving loved ones, but to them it must have been shattering. Still, looking at him, I felt relief.

“I’m sorry. Truly… it’s natural to be angry. You can hate me.”

Ren sighed and gripped my hand with his gloved one.

“Do I look like someone who hates sick people? I was frustrated—angry at myself for sending you alone when I was worried.”

Why does he keep blaming himself, I wondered.

“It was my choice. Even if you had opposed it, I would have come. So if you care about me, don’t blame yourself. Okay?”

….

He was stubborn; after glaring at me for a long time he finally nodded.

“Anyway, I’m healing, so don’t worry.”

“Really… that’s such a relief.”

His tense shoulders sagged. He covered his eyes and fell silent. I wanted to wipe his tears but couldn’t risk touching him, so I changed the subject to stop myself from crying.

“Nicola contacted you, right?”

He nodded, face still covered.

“The people in the capital still don’t know, right?”

“Most of them don’t. But the Crown Prince knows. He cares about you and Prince Raven and suppressed the aid requests the prince kept sending. It took some time to keep it discreet.”

My suspicions were right—given how Prince Raven treated the patients, he wouldn’t have let requests languish. Fortunately, our food shortage would soon be relieved.

“That’s a relief. I kept worrying—thank you.”

“I couldn’t even stay by your side, so I can’t fail at even one thing like this.”

The mood warmed, but one thing had been nagging me.

“Um… what are you going to tell the prince?”

He tilted his head; his eyes reddened.

“Everyone saw. Will that be all right?”

“It’s for the best. Honestly, I’ve wanted this for some time; I only hid it because you wanted me to.”

Sigh. If I went to the capital, more trouble would follow.

“I won’t let anyone make things hard for you. I’ll talk to the prince properly.”

I hastily pulled away his hand as he gently stroked my eye.

“Ew, you’ll catch it. Isn’t it gross?”

“Gross, it is. Your words are harsh.”

Ren shrugged off his gloves and tossed them into the trash, showing his bare hands.

“Now okay?”

“…Yes.”

“Lia, rest now. I’ll go see the prince and come back.”

He pulled his robe up over his head and rose, his large frame moving out the door.

Ha.

What had just happened felt like a dream. I felt drained—though I’d scolded him for coming, I was grateful he had rushed here. I wanted to hug him and cry; my feelings for him were growing.

I let my relationship with Ren remain unspoken, buried in the clinic’s chaos.

Ren said he had revealed our relationship to Prince Raven and asked for privacy; Raven summoned the camp and ordered silence. Some people didn’t know Ren’s rank and assumed he was just a lover, not the Duke—perhaps that was fortunate.

We couldn’t hide it forever, but we had bought some time.

“I think you can be considered almost fully cured now.”

The senior cleric delivered the good news with a broad smile.

“The welts on your body will slowly disappear with time. You needn’t worry.”

Until I received the all-clear, Ren didn’t leave my side or show himself to anyone but Raven, Aidan, and Nicola. While I was ill he handled all my duties—he’d taken to them from the handover notes without trouble and even scolded Prince Raven more effectively than I could.

“Chancellor, come back soon…”

Only after the cure diagnosis did he pack and prepare to leave.

“I want to go back with you, but it would be problematic if something happened in your position.”

He had taken five days off—the longest leave since joining the central office.

“I’ve made a few arrangements, but seeing it with my own eyes will put my mind at ease.”

He had been holding me and crying not long ago. Now he wore a composed expression and stroked my hair. Hearing I was cured, he didn’t hesitate to embrace me when we were alone.

“Travel safely. I’ll follow soon.”

He hesitated for a moment—uncharacteristic—then spoke.

“…Come back quickly.”

Then he gave a light kiss and, like before, mounted his horse and sped away.

Ren’s visit seemed a good omen; good news followed.

“The provisions have arrived!”

“Really?”

I slipped away from Aidan, who oversaw meals, and ran outside.

“Coco, come with me!”

Outside, a large cart loaded with grain and bearing the royal emblem stood there.

Prince Raven, who had arrived earlier, sounded shaken.

“His Majesty has…!”

“Ha… is this truly the only way?”

Raven accepted the request under the Chancellor’s grave gaze but remained anxious.

“Will His Majesty really grant my request? Will he think I’m lying? What if he refuses?”

Raven paced the camp interior anxiously, as if burdened with the heaviest load in the world.

“Then send another request.”

Nicola refilled a teacup on the desk.

“Send it again?”

Raven couldn’t conceive of trying again after a refusal. He hadn’t always been this way, but somewhere along the line he’d become so afraid of rejection—rejection wounds, and the fear of being denied again.

“Do not fear failure, Your Highness. If His Majesty does not grant it, there must be a reason. It isn’t out of hatred for you. Didn’t the Chancellor say the same?”

“But…”

I was terrified at being suddenly entrusted with such an important task after a life of doing nothing.

Nicola comforted Raven wholeheartedly.

“The Chancellor wouldn’t ask the impossible. Surely His Majesty granted it because he believed you could do it, Your Highness.”

Raven accepted that reasoning.

“The Chancellor is absolutely not the sort to do such a thing.”

Nicola’s image of Coco was of someone who never did foolish things—someone who wouldn’t waste effort on hopeless causes. Even if she failed, she wouldn’t add to a prince’s burden by bringing him into an epidemic zone while he was tending his own wounds, even if he couldn’t voice that burden.

“She is a close friend, but trust her as a person.”

Raven nodded. The Chancellor had been the first to reach out when he felt worthless; even close friends had supported him without reservation. Being with them felt comfortable in a way his brother never did.

Raven sat at the desk again, took up a fountain pen, and breathed deeply.

“Yes. I promised to move forward.”

“Father…”

The letter he wrote after a night of anguished thought was delivered to the Emperor. It wasn’t a single attempt but dozens. Ultimately it was answered, and it meant an enormous amount to Raven.

“Long live the prince!”

“Long live Prince Raven!”

“Hooray!”

Families caring for patients, the clinic staff, clerics, and soldiers rose and cheered for Prince Raven.

Tears welled in my eyes as I watched.

“His Highness the prince is now cured as well.”

It had been a long wait, but he had done it.