Chapter 32: Under Strict Bed Rest

From that point on, everything went back to normal. The next day, Elias suggested that they head back to Nocturne Territory soon, since he felt bad about overstaying at the Aurelle residence.

But Evelyn and Elysia flatly rejected the suggestion. Their reasons were:

"Your body is still weak. So no, it’s better to rest a few more days."

"Besides, you’re our Caretaker. What if bandits or wild beasts ambush us? We might be able to handle them, but with your status as a Caretaker, you should understand, right?"

And just like that, Elias spent three days at the Aurelle residence doing nothing at all, just lying in bed, eating, and sleeping until he was bored out of his mind.

"They won’t even let me walk around outside. I’m not even allowed to stand up."

Elias could only let out a resigned sigh at his situation. Three days of lying in bed with nothing to do, though he did get some company every now and then, like when Evelyn and Elysia came by at mealtimes or to wipe down his body.

"But that’s embarrassing! Why do they insist on washing my body?!"

*Knock knock

Suddenly, someone knocked on Elias’s door.

"Come in."

When the door opened, the one who’d knocked turned out to be Seraphina. She came in and sat down on the chair beside Elias’s bed.

"How are you holding up?"

"I’m about to die of boredom."

"Huh? Why? Isn’t it nice to lounge around every day without doing anything? I’m honestly jealous that you get to relax like this."

"Well, that’s true... But still. Not being allowed to move and being told to rest are two different things. And seriously, why are those two going this far?

Besides, whenever I try to move even a little, their expressions suddenly change like they want to kill me."

Yesterday, Elias had been having lunch while Elysia fed him, with Evelyn in the room as well. Honestly, his throat had been feeling a little dry.

Since he felt bad about asking either of them to fetch him a drink, he ended up trying to grab one himself. It was right there anyway! On the table beside his bed, and besides, his body didn’t hurt that much anymore when he moved.

*Clatter!

But just as Elias shifted slightly to reach for the glass on the nightstand, the bowl in Elysia’s hand suddenly slipped and crashed onto the floor.

Elias snapped his head around. Elysia was still staring at him, her hands slowly curling into fists, while Evelyn had already risen from her chair and was walking toward him.

Without saying a word, Evelyn picked up the glass and placed it right in Elias’s hand. After that, she set his hand back on top of the blanket, then gently stroked his head.

*Gulp.

Elias froze, then swallowed hard, trying to put on an awkward smile as Evelyn’s fingers combed through his hair. But the hand holding the glass began to tremble, and he didn’t dare utter a single word.

Elysia moved closer too. She sat at the edge of the bed, took Elias’s hand in both of hers, and rested her cheek against it. When Elias tried to pull his hand away, Elysia only held on tighter.

Elias’s gaze shifted from Evelyn to Elysia. He wanted to say something, but his lips only parted slightly before closing again. In the end, he chose to stay quiet and let the two girls do whatever they wanted.

Evelyn kept stroking his head with a faint smile, while Elysia lifted her face and smiled again as if nothing had happened. The two of them stayed at the bedside, flanking Elias, who by now didn’t even dare to glance at the glass on the nightstand anymore.

"I even had a nightmare last night because of that..."

Seraphina then handed back the book she’d borrowed from Elias earlier, commenting on the story as she did.

"Honestly, I feel like there’s something a little off about them."

Elias took the book Seraphina had borrowed and put it into his storage pouch.

"Off how, exactly?"

"Well... You know I’m childhood friends with those two girls, right?"

"Yup. I only just found that out."

"...Anyway, I’ve known them since we were kids. And in all seventeen years, this is the first time I’ve ever seen them act like this."

"Act like what, exactly?"

"I mean, they’re actually taking care of you themselves. Just think about it, what noble would personally look after their servant?! Knowing Evelyn and Elysia’s personalities, that should be impossible.

That alone is already weird! And then there’s what you told me about how they acted yesterday."

"Eh? They’ve never done that before?"

"Never! I’ve never seen them go this far for anyone! When I got sick, they didn’t take care of me at all. They just lectured me with stuff like, ’This is what you get for eating so much candy,’ or, ’I told you not to bathe in the rain.’ I already had a pounding head from the fever, and that made it even worse!"

*Sniffle...

Seraphina then buried her face in Elias’s bedding and started crying.

"Those were the hardest days of my life... Ever since then, I’ve never told them when I’m sick."

*Pat, Pat...

Elias patted her back, trying not to laugh because he could picture exactly how Seraphina must have gotten lectured by the two of them.

"You’ve worked hard."

Elias then handed Seraphina a handkerchief to wipe away her tears and snot.

"Thanks. I’ll give it back."

"Ah... You can keep it. It’s covered in your snot anyway."

’No way I’m taking that back!’

After tucking the handkerchief into her pocket, Seraphina asked Elias another question.

"Next year, those two and I will be entering the academy. What about you? Will you still be their Caretaker even when they’re at the academy? Or will you enroll as a student too, on top of being their Caretaker?"

"Eh? I..."

Elias had almost forgotten. Once they turned eighteen, they would enter the academy and become students. And that was when the story of the latest patch would begin.

If Elias wanted to enter the academy, he should’ve enrolled a few months ago. But considering he was just a commoner, of course it wasn’t easy.

"Hmm... Dunno. I really don’t know."

"What? You haven’t thought that far ahead?"

"Because it’d be tough, obviously. Besides, I’m just a commoner. Sure, I could get in through the talent track, but I don’t even have any talent... I think."

Seraphina could only stare at Elias with a deadpan look upon hearing his last words.

"Are you serious right now?"

Seraphina, who had watched Elias fight Elysia earlier, clearly wasn’t happy to hear what he’d just said.

*SIGH~

She could only let out a sigh while pressing a hand to her forehead.

Elias was baffled at the sight of Seraphina sighing with a hand on her forehead. He looked at her with a bead of sweat on his cheek, scratching his head.

"I’m right, aren’t I?"

* * *