Then, Dockter spoke.
“How is the bruise on your neck?”
The blackened bruise that remained on Yelena’s neck was her only external injury, but its color had faded significantly and was now blue.
“It’s fine. It doesn’t really hurt when I touch it now.”
“You recovered quickly. That’s a relief. It seems the ointment I prescribed worked well,” Dockter said, and then made a gesture with his hand.
At the gesture, the maid in attendance who was standing at a distance approached them carrying a tray with a bowl on top.
At the same time, Yelena’s complexion suddenly worsened.
“This is today’s medicine.”
‘Yuck.’
That was the first reason Yelena could not like Dockter no matter how hard she tried.
Yelena, whose face went stiff as she swallowed a scream, forced her mouth open.
“…Dockter. I’ll allow anything else, but I really don’t think I can take that.”
“It helps with mental and physical stability and boosts your energy.”
“I’m already very much mentally and physically stable and overflowing with energy.”
“Please take it,” was Dockter’s resolute reply, with a face so firm that not even a needle would be able to pierce it.
Eventually, Yelena squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them, she forced herself to take the medicine.
‘Urk.’
It tasted horrible.
‘I know that bitter things are supposed to be good for you, but…’
Yelena was positive that whoever prepared this medicine either had a broken tongue or was a lunatic.
With a pale face, Yelena was just barely able to finish the medicine.
After confirming that the bowl was empty, Dockter got up, as if his business was done.
“Well then, don’t overwork yourself today and get some rest. I will return tomorrow at this time.”
‘Please don’t.’
Yelena wished she could lock the door so that he wouldn’t be able to enter.
Dockter left, taking Yelena’s desperate wish that would not come true with him.
And right after that, someone else came in.
Yelena’s face lit up.
“Kaywhin.”
It was like long-awaited rain after a drought.
Kaywhin carried a tray holding a fruit, plate, knife, and such. He effortlessly sat down on the chair by Yelena’s bedside.
‘It looks like he’s going to cut a peach for me today.’
There was one, single good thing about the hellish medicine Dockter gave Yelena, which rather than improving her health, just made her hate Dockter more.
It was that after consuming the medicine, her husband would always come into her room to feed her fruit, to kill the medicine’s aftertaste.
Today, the fruit that appetizingly sat on the tray was a peach.
Yelena stared blankly at the peach. Kaywhin, who was holding the knife, hesitated.
“I heard that you liked this fruit… Was that false?”
“No, it’s true. I love peaches.” Yelena smiled happily.
As if relieved, Kaywhin started peeling the peach skin. His hands moved skillfully.
Yelena had recently learned that her husband was good at cutting fruit.
‘Is it because he is good with swords?’
Technically, a fruit knife was also a blade, so perhaps it was similar to swords.
‘Wait a second. Then that means that a knight is basically an occupation that is good at cutting fruit…’
…Was that so?
While Yelena was pondering that, Kaywhin set a beautifully cut peach on the plate in an instant.
“Will you be cutting fruit for me like this tomorrow as well?” Yelena asked as she received the plate and a fork.
“Yes.”
‘That means I’ll have to take that damn medicine tomorrow too…’
It couldn’t be helped.
Truly, Yelena was only tolerating it because of her husband.
Yelena poked a peach slice with her fork and brought it to her mouth. “What will you cut for me tomorrow?” she asked.
“I’m thinking about it. By any chance, is there some other fruit you would like to eat?”
“Hm, I’m not sure. I’ll just leave the choice to you.”
“Understood.”
Yelena caught a glimpse of her husband in deep thought.
She held back a laugh.
Why was it that she found it cute when her husband was contemplating such things.
‘I should stroke his head once my hand is free.’
Her husband definitely told her that she could touch him whenever she wanted.
With that thought, Yelena busily chomped down on the peach slices.
“Wait, Yelena.” Kaywhin got up and leaned against the bed.
A shadow appeared above Yelena’s face as his finger brushed the corner of her mouth.
“…There.”
Her husband’s scent, which suddenly came close, grew distant once again.
Frozen stiffly, Yelena blinked unnaturally.
Kaywhin showed her a tiny piece of fruit that had fallen on the fruit peel.
Ah.
“…I must have been eating with that stuck to my lips.”
“Peaches are originally a fruit that sticks easily to people’s lips.”
He said such an unseen and unheard of thing with much composure.
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