Chapter 19: Give Me an Explanation

“Deep breaths, deep breaths.”

“Once Sir Knight has recovered, I’ll apologize properly and ask for his forgiveness.”

Though Flaf had played a rather embarrassing “role-play” game with Alet for quite some time, it was all worth it in the end.

At the very least, Sir Knight was finally willing to take his medicine.

“Little Alet, don’t worry. I’ll go get your medicine right now. Wait for me, okay?”

“Wait…”

Just as Flaf was about to turn to fetch the medicine and water to help Alet take it, he spoke up again, stopping her.

Perhaps it was because of the emotional shock he’d just experienced, but Alet actually struggled to sit up from beneath the blanket.

Even such a simple action as “sitting up” caused waves of searing, tearing pain to ripple through his badly wounded body.

The piercing agony made Alet gasp for breath, his breathing turning heavier and more labored.

“Sir Kn… Little Alet! What’s wrong? Why did you suddenly…”

Flaf was clearly startled by Alet’s sudden movement, completely at a loss for what he wanted to do.

She almost blurted out “Sir Knight” from sheer panic.

“C-could you hold me? Just for a bit?”

“Huh?”

“Hold me, just once?”

Hearing his request, Flaf’s mind went utterly blank.

“Mm, just hold me. Just once.”

“After that, I’ll take the medicine, okay?”

At this moment, Alet’s blue eyes seemed shrouded in mist.

“Alright, I understand.”

Flaf’s throat bobbed as she swallowed.

“Sir Knight must… really miss his mother.”

Flaf didn’t know much about Alet.

She only knew that this Heavy Knight’s parents had both perished, and it was only after that that he began to serve Mello.

But even with just that knowledge, she could understand Alet’s motive at this moment.

She even felt a twinge of pity for him.

That Heavy Knight, who wouldn’t shed a tear no matter how badly wounded, was now showing a side of vulnerability before the mother in his hallucination—a side he’d never shown before.

“We’ve acted out the play this far already…”

A trace of wavering flickered in Flaf’s beautiful eyes.

“Might as well grant Sir Knight his wish.”

“It’s only this one time anyway, and maybe he’ll cooperate more afterward.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

“It’s just a single hug, it doesn’t matter.”

Thinking this, her snow-white cheeks flushed a little with red.

Then, she turned around and cleared her throat.

“Aiya, aiya, Little Alet is being so good this time, I’ll reward you with a hug.”

“But after the hug, you have to take your medicine right away.”

“Okay…”

Having agreed, Flaf walked slowly to the bedside.

She opened her arms and gently drew the sitting Alet into her embrace.

She had to admit, Alet was even more comfortable to hold than she’d imagined.

Broad shoulders, muscles not particularly developed but resilient.

Holding him felt as though she’d suddenly gained something to lean on.

Logically, Flaf only needed to give a light hug, coax Alet, and then fetch the medicine.

But in that moment, she suddenly felt as if bewitched, indulging in a warmth that was never meant to be hers, unwilling to let go.

“So warm…”

“Well, since I’ve already hugged him, hugging a bit longer shouldn’t hurt.”

“Maybe, once Sir Knight is healed, there won’t be a chance anymore…”

Thinking so, images of the old Alet rose unbidden in her mind.

That Alet whose eyes saw nothing but “Miss Mello.”

That Alet who’d risk his life just to avoid upsetting Miss Mello.

Suddenly, a surge of strong emotion welled up inside her.

Perhaps it was bitterness, perhaps sorrow, perhaps jealousy.

She didn’t know.

“Why does it have to be her…”

“Why does it have to be the one who cares the least about Sir Knight?”

“If it were me…”

“If it were me…”

But just as Flaf was lost in her fantasies—

A sudden, thunderous crash shattered all the harmony and peace in the room.

The door of the inn room was slammed open. A tall woman stood at the threshold, her terrifying blood-red eyes sweeping over the pair inside.

“You two…”

“What are you doing?”

Only then did Flaf remember.

Earlier, because Alet’s condition was so dire, she’d been so busy tending to him that she’d forgotten to lock the door.

And upon hearing the most terrifying voice in the world, Flaf began to tremble all over.

That’s right. The one standing at the door at this very moment was none other than Mello.

After locating their position via the blood clan mark on Alet, Mello had immediately come to the door of their room.

Since Flaf had forgotten to lock it, Mello hadn’t entered right away, but instead stood at the threshold for a while, secretly peering through the crack at the two inside.

Then, every word of flirtation and every intimate action between the two—she saw and heard it all, clearly and unmistakably.

At last, she couldn’t take it anymore, and with a shove, threw the door open and strode in.

At the moment Mello burst into the room, Flaf first froze, then her whole body started to shake uncontrollably.

In the next instant, she let go of Alet as fast as she could, standing aside like a child caught in the act.

Alet, too, at the sound of Mello’s voice, furrowed his brow tightly.

“That voice…”

“Miss…?”

It wasn’t until he heard Mello’s voice that Alet finally began to shake off the hallucination from his illness and regain his senses.

“That’s right, I… I came shopping here with Flaf.”

“And then…”

“Was I hallucinating just now?”

Just as he regained clarity, Mello’s icy voice sounded once more.

“Flaf, give me a proper explanation…”

“Why didn’t you finish the shopping on time? Instead, you’re here hugging and cuddling with my servant.”

“If you can’t give me a reason that satisfies me…”

“You can pack up and get out of my adventurer party.”

An overwhelming pressure radiated from Mello, making it hard for Flaf to even breathe.

She had a legitimate reason, but in that moment, not a word would come out.

“T-Team Leader…”

“I, I…”

“Miss, don’t blame her.”

Just as Flaf was on the verge of tears from fear, Alet unexpectedly spoke up from the side.

“This time, it’s all my fault. It has nothing to do with Flaf.”

“I’ll explain everything to you next.”