Chapter 135
At Calix’s question, Rose bowed her head and answered.
“It’s a symptom I often saw in my younger sister, so I know it well. Her Ladyship also showed these symptoms once a few days ago.”
“So, this isn’t the first time.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
His mind became tangled with thoughts.
“All right. Just in case, bring the palace physician.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After Rose left, Calix sat down on the bed and watched Lea.
It seemed she was gradually coming back to her senses. Her eyelids blinked slowly, and she turned her gaze to him. Her hazy eyes still didn’t look fully lucid.
“…Cal.”
“Hah.”
He ran both hands down his face and let out a hollow laugh. She only ever called him by that nickname at times like this. He found it rather vexing, but he couldn’t get angry.
The look in Lea’s eyes as she called him by this familiar name was just too sorrowful. She really was a woman who knew all too well how to make him weak.
As Lea gradually regained focus, she blinked a couple of times and tried to sit up.
“Don’t get up yet.”
He gently pushed her back down as he spoke.
“Your Highness…”
“Looks like you’re back to your senses.”
He didn’t exactly like having that confirmed by her use of the title, but seeing her come around was a relief.
“I’m sorry.”
“I told you not to apologize.”
“…But that’s all I can say.”
“I haven’t forgiven you yet. And after today, you have one more thing you need forgiveness for.”
At his tone, which had softened compared to before, Lea felt even more sorry. So she cautiously revealed her feelings.
“I was scared.”
“Why? Did I look like the kind of man who wouldn’t take responsibility for his own child?”
“That’s not it…”
Lea hesitated, opening and closing her mouth several times before finally forcing the words out.
“What if I end up raising a child just like myself?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve never been loved by my parents… How could I possibly give love to a child? There’s no guarantee I wouldn’t end up like my mother…”
Lea’s halting words and desperate expression finally made him realize a little of her true state.
Maybe, in order to fill him, she had always been empty inside herself.
He’d lived not knowing loneliness thanks to her, but maybe she had always been lonely.
What kind of things had he been saying to a woman like that?
“…I was too harsh earlier.”
His voice, tinged with gloom, made Lea stare into the air before turning her gaze back to him.
“I was just… disappointed.”
“…Your Highness.”
“I thought you didn’t trust me. That you wanted to meet a male fox werebeast instead of me.”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Then tell me properly from the start. You always meddle in my business however you like, so why is it I have to be left in the dark about yours?”
At Calix’s firm words, Lea closed her mouth. He wasn’t wrong.
“And I’m not over it yet, so once you recover, be ready.”
Despite his curt words, he gently stroked her cheek with a tenderness that belied them. Just moments ago she’d felt like she was dying, but his touch let her finally breathe a sigh of relief.
And suddenly, drowsiness swept over her. As she struggled to keep her eyes open, Calix let out a sigh and whispered,
“I won’t scold you for falling asleep all of a sudden, so if you’re tired, just sleep.”
“…Please, don’t go.”
Suddenly feeling lonely, she grabbed the cuff of his sleeve and spoke. Calix realized it was the first time she’d ever reached for him first.
Except when she was in fox form.
Just that small gesture softened his anger, which had burned so hot before. She really was a fox of a woman.
While he was thinking this, Lea fell completely asleep. Calix took out the packet of pills he’d found earlier and stared at it with a bitter expression.
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