MHHC Chapter 117

The Storm's Eve

She woke from deep sleep with hot breath spilling from her lips. Her head swam hazily, and the residual heat from her feverish body left her feeling faintly cold.

Adelheid pulled the blankets toward herself with swollen eyes barely cracked open, grabbing whatever her hands found first. Consciousness followed more slowly behind.

She blinked, taking in the moderately clean room that filled her barely-opened field of vision.

The furniture was shabby, but there was no dust or cobwebs.

Where in the world was this? Her last memory cut off while tangled breathlessly with Valentin inside the carriage.

After that... she seemed to have lost consciousness as if fainting, overwhelmed by heat that knew no limits.

"Adele."

At the sound of knocking, she jerked her head up with a start.

It was Valentin. He continued speaking in a tone oddly certain she was awake.

"I've brought food. May I come in?"

"Of course... I mean, you can come in."

Even after answering, Adelheid awkwardly touched the back of her neck.

There were still moments when speaking informally to him felt embarrassing and uncomfortable. She would probably never feel entirely at ease with it, even if she spent a lifetime trying to adjust.

At her permission, the door opened and Valentin entered the room carrying various things on a tray.

Today his usually disheveled bangs were neatly swept back, which somehow gave him an ascetic impression unlike his usual appearance.

Ascetic. Recalling what sort of things he'd done to her, no word could suit him less.

Seeing Adelheid's slightly flushed face, he raised the corners of his mouth as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

"This is serious, Adele. Your face is quite swollen."

"R-really? No wonder my eyes wouldn't open properly..."

"Hold still."

He set down the tray he'd brought on the side table and strode directly to the bed.

Cupping her chin with both hands, he lightly traced her swollen cheeks and eyes with a deliberately serious expression. Adelheid obediently closed her eyes and surrendered her face to him.

She expected Valentin to let his magic flow to soothe her flushed, mottled cheeks and eyes, but instead soft lips descended repeatedly upon her eyelids.

"There. All better now."

When she looked up at him with bewildered eyes, Valentin replied with perfect innocence.

Adelheid found herself inadvertently relieved by the color returned to his cheeks and the leisure she sensed in his manner.

There were no more signs of him groaning in pain, clutching her with desperate hands, or showing strain.

She hesitated slightly before asking.

"Valentin."

"Mm?"

"So then, you're not... in pain like yesterday anymore?"

She'd heard it yesterday inside the carriage, but it had been too dark to see his face and judge the truth.

She could have pretended not to notice, but Adelheid knew well that Valentin was still hiding many things from her.

She also knew that even when she asked, Valentin didn't always speak only the truth.

"Answer me honestly."

Her voice trembled faintly with earnestness. The picture-perfect smile on Valentin's face deepened slightly.

"Of course. As long as you share your magic with me at appropriate times like yesterday, there's no problem."

"...If that's true, then I'm relieved, but..."

"Eat first. I'd like to let you rest more, but we have a long way to go."

He pulled the tray from the side table and placed it on her lap.

On the tray's plate sat thin soup along with grapes, raspberries, plums and other fruits arranged by type.

This seemed to be a shabby inn, but where on earth had he obtained such precious fruits out of season...?

Her thoughts flowing like water, she suddenly realized something and asked.

"Come to think of it, I forgot to ask. Where are we?"

"An inn on the outskirts of Pragma. It's some distance from the palace. Margaret and Ansgar's knights will join us around evening, so don't worry."

"Around evening?"

"Yes. We left the palace as you were yesterday. I couldn't keep you in that horrific space any longer. We'll set out again once the knights arrive."

Horrific space. Adelheid nodded deeply as if profoundly agreeing with that term.

Now whenever she heard the word "palace," only negative emotions surged up. Small wonder—there wasn't a single good memory.

The voices murmuring behind her back when she turned away, the countless eyes she met walking toward the tribunal, the marble floor cold enough to chill her bones, the sharp surveillance that wouldn't let her move even a single breath freely, and the Emperor's absurd demands...

Of course, above all that, she was unutterably glad to have gotten even a little distance from Mikhail.

"Now, open up."

He scooped a large spoonful of soup and brought it before her lips, urging her on. Smelling the savory food, her stomach rumbled and churned.

Only then did Adelheid realize she'd been unconscious and then immediately attended the trial without eating proper food for weeks.

Becoming aware of this fact, extreme hunger that hadn't been felt at all until just moments ago came crashing down.

She had no time to think before or after, eagerly accepting and swallowing the soup as Valentin offered it.

The soup, apparently considering her stomach's condition, slipped down smoothly with almost nothing to chew.

Only after emptying an entire bowl did Adelheid realize what she'd done.

"Ah..."

"If you eat more than this, well... wouldn't it cause problems for your body? Probably."

He gazed at Adelheid with measuring eyes while muttering uncertainly. He seemed to think her sigh was simply disappointment that the soup had run out.

He picked up a raspberry from the plate and brought it to her lips again.

"Try satisfying your hunger a little with this. You like them."

"I'll... eat by myself."

"You don't have the strength to lift a single finger. Don't push yourself."

Valentin's words were true. She hadn't noticed when she first opened her eyes, but her body's condition was alarmingly limp and weakened.

Did "sharing magic" drain a person this thoroughly? Then again, she'd always only received it... so she had no way of knowing the details.

"Hurry."

Adelheid gave up and opened her mouth to receive the raspberry from his hand. Sweet, tangy juice spread throughout her mouth, seeming to breathe life into her exhausted body.

When she opened her eyes wide in surprise, Valentin brought more fruit to her lips again.

She swallowed hastily whatever he offered, while her eyes yearned for the next fruit. Then he would quickly notice and place the desired fruit in her mouth.

She filled her stomach with soft fruit until she was satisfyingly full. His delicate attention felt strangely comfortable while also giving her a pleasant sense of relief.

"You eat like a little bird. Cute, Adele."

Belatedly she worried whether this might upset her stomach, but seeing Valentin smile with satisfaction, it somehow seemed it would all be fine.

She tried to let the comment about being like a little bird go in one ear and out the other. Blushing bright red, she mumbled awkwardly.

"I'm full now."

"Are you?"

He obediently cleared away the tray, then tilted his head and immediately pressed his lips to hers.

Not deep, and light, yet somehow dizzying enough to make her chest tremble. Just before pulling away, Valentin gently licked her lips.

A sigh like a breath spilled over her trembling lips.

"You're always excessively sweet."

"...That's because, right after eating fruit, anyone would..."

"It's different. I nearly drained all the magic you had barely remaining when your energy hasn't even fully returned yet."

If that was the case, he could drain it all and she wouldn't mind. Perhaps she even hoped he would take it all. When she looked up at him consumed by longing, Valentin smiled with troubled eyes.

"You always put me to the test far too easily."

"..."

"But not for a while yet. Depleting your magic too frequently will strain your body. And you haven't even learned to handle your origin yet."

"Handle my origin?"

He lowered his eyes as if uncertain how to explain, falling into thought for a moment.

"Think of it as having become a vessel that fills with water even when left alone."

"A vessel."

"Think of gradually expanding that vessel's size. Since the most pure part of divine origin has taken root in you, you'll be able to use power closer to authority than I can now."

Adelheid fell silent, dismayed. What in the world was happening to her?

[That power will be a great help going forward, once you learn it.]

At the will that suddenly rushed in, she trembled slightly.

"Why so suddenly..."

[Try conveying words to me through will. Pour intense will into the other person.]

At the cryptic words, Adelheid furrowed her brow. Following his instruction, she imagined something intense burning inside her body and tried to transmit her thoughts to him.

'Is this... how to do it?'

[Not at all.]

Somehow a sigh seemed to seep through his will. Adelheid felt slightly awkward.

[Practice until you become proficient with will from now on. You can speak to me anytime, as often as you like. Additionally, I'll teach you how to handle authority every evening.]

'Not how to handle magic?'

[Magic and authority are similar yet different.]

He explained only that much, then looked toward the door without further elaboration. At first Adelheid tilted her head questioningly, but soon the sound of approaching presence reached her ears as well.

The presence stopped precisely in front of their door.

"Your Grace. Your Highness. Are you inside?"