Lewd Courtship - Chapter 49

‘What is this, what’s wrong with my body?’

Standing stiffly, Rachel became all the more confused. That knight was fairly handsome, yes, but he was far from her taste. Even so, the brief gaze they had shared and the lingering sensation on her body kept circling in her mind.

“Princess, I asked if you are all right. Do you mean to stand there dazed forever?”

Through her muddled hearing, Killian’s low voice slipped in. It carried concern, yet faintly tinged with irritation at the situation.

Rachel slowly lifted her head to meet Killian’s gaze. His upright, well-defined features seized her eyes, and from those unwavering pupils fixed on her, she sensed a chill that was not unfamiliar.

That coldness, merging with the present moment, only fanned the heat already burning in her lower belly.

‘Am I… sick?’

Her body reacted even when receiving a cynical look from a foreign knight, or hearing the Emperor’s curt concern. Rachel thought she must be afflicted with some illness.

An illness that made her become aroused whenever she came into contact with a man. The crueler and colder they treated her, the more violently her heat surged. If not for that, there was no way to explain these symptoms.

“…I’m sorry. I’m not in my right mind right now.”
“Exactly, then why did you insist on a spar?”

Clicking his tongue, Killian took Rachel’s hand. Perhaps when the sword was knocked away, she had twisted it—her wrist seemed a little swollen. Just as he was about to examine the injury, Rachel flinched and pulled her hand back at the sudden, unannounced touch.

“Why so sudden…?”

“I wanted to check your wrist. I’ve already called for the imperial physician, but it’s best to handle basic care first. Give me your hand.”

Even as he spoke, Killian firmly drew her hand toward him. When he saw the swelling above her wrist, he paused briefly, a frown creasing his brow as if displeased, before he began wrapping the bandage.

His touch was authoritative yet gentle and deliberate. With each loop of the bandage, Rachel felt a tingling sensation travel up her arm.

This is… strange.

It was strange.

What should have been pain was somehow overshadowed by Killian’s touch—so much so that she could no longer register it as pain. It was difficult to pinpoint the exact sensation, but if she had to name it, it felt closer to pleasure, spreading through her in place of the ache.

Could it be that I…

Memories of the past few days flashed through Rachel’s mind. The clarity of those moments merged with what she was feeling now, causing her green eyes to tremble faintly.

That can’t be.

It was a possibility she had never once considered in her entire life. Lost in confusion, Rachel fidgeted with her fingers—only for Killian to tighten his grip, as if warning her to stay still.

That simple act filled her with yet another wave of strange satisfaction. A soft, involuntary sound rose from deep within her. She swallowed hard.

This was truly something unbelievable.

***

The next morning, Killian was seated across from the Imperial Palace Physician.

On the tea table, instead of Semensty, the black tea commonly served in the Empire had been prepared.

Pale steam rose above the teacup, filling the air with a delicate floral fragrance.

Killian drank the dark red tea, savoring its scent. Perhaps because the Semensty tea he’d had yesterday had been so sweet, this familiar black tea felt oddly bland in comparison. He smacked his lips lightly at the emptiness of the taste and set the cup down.

“Yesterday, there was no sudden excitement.”

The physician nodded knowingly.
“It seems the cause must have been the Semensty tea.”

“That’s the only conclusion.”

Killian gave a short agreement, lowering his gaze to the teacup.
The crimson color of the liquid reminded him of Rachel’s hair.

In that moment, the image of her sprawled over a knight’s body abruptly flashed in his mind. When he recalled the sight of her reddened, swollen wrist overlapping that memory, Killian’s brows furrowed faintly.

It wasn’t supposed to be a sparring match. He felt uneasy, as if he had been the one to injure her. Killian shifted his gaze back from the teacup toward the Imperial Palace.

His court physician was not particularly skilled in internal medicine, but when it came to surgery, he was one of the best.

Since he had treated Rachel’s injury yesterday, it would be best to have him continue monitoring her condition while she remained in the kingdom.

If he could apply ointment for her while visiting anyway, that would be all the better.

Without another thought, Killian rose from his seat.
“Let us go to the Princess’s Palace.”
“Do you mean right now, Your Majesty?”

The court physician quickly reviewed the Emperor’s schedule for the day. This afternoon, there was an appointment with a physician from Porhen, and the Emperor had planned to spend the earlier part of the day in solitude for reflection. With caution in his tone, the physician spoke.

“As I recall, Your Majesty has a consultation scheduled today with the physician from Porhen.”

“You may go examine the princess and return immediately. Her wrist was badly swollen, so her progress should be observed over the next few days.”
“Ah, so it is because of the princess’s wrist that Your Majesty wishes to go.”

“As if there could be any other reason.”

The court physician, who had only yesterday prepared the ointment at Killian’s command, was momentarily at a loss for words. Still, he dared not argue and meekly agreed.

“Understood.”

Before the words were even finished, Killian strode forward with long steps. The Imperial Physician quickly set down his cup and hurried after him.