17 Confrontation (1)

"... The number on my wrist-- It's no longer '2', it turns into '3'."

I exclaimed.

I was confused about what caused the sudden change in the number that was on my wrist.

Azrael lured his hand to me as he gently took my hand towards him.

He took a look at my wrist as a sigh escaped from his mouth afterward.

"... It did turn into three."

He stated that I could hear the confusion in his tone.

'... Even Azrael is confused...'

I thought as I was quite stunned by that fact.

I slowly pulled back my wrist and rubbed it with my other hand in a circular motion as I was bewildered by it.

"... Azrael, is this really the sign of our birthmark?"

I looked back at Azrael in the hope that he would know something about these mysterious marks.

"... It is said that the people inside this kingdom will appear number on their wrist as a birthmark. Though most of the citizens will have zero one until the numbers on their wrist suddenly change."

Azrael explained in short detail.

My eyes became widened after hearing his words.

My memories suddenly flow back when I first reincarnated this world and have that conversation with one of the maids in the castle.

"That's what one of my maids said."

I interfere with his statement with my sudden memories.

Azrael sighed leisurely as he put his hands together, then rested his chin on them.

"... About this birthmark thing, I don't think it's true that the number on our wrist is our suppose-birthmark."

Azrael muttered out.

My eyes went wide in realization after a few moments of pacing through my thoughts.

"Then, you mean--"

"It's exactly what you thought. I already had this thought when this sign on my wrist suddenly popped out of nowhere right after the Directive Order appeared."

He started with a slight frown as he lifted his hand and showed his wrist to me.

'The number on his is still zero, though.'

Azrael noticed my stunned behavior as he continued his exclamation.

"But still, I couldn't understand the meaning of this. One thing for sure is that I know this is not a birthmark."

He explained it thoroughly.

I stayed silent as I listened to him.

For some strange circumstances, I could feel my sight getting a bit blurry as my head aches a bit.

Despite the sudden feeling, I decided to ignore it.

Until,

"Dorothy..."

"Yes?"

I answered him as I looked up tiredly to face him.

Azrael ignores my answer for a second.

He raises his hand as it makes contact with my forehead before he touches his forehead with his other hand.

"You're burning."

I raised my eyebrows in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

I asked, confused.

I didn't realize what he was talking about.

"I noticed that you've been pale the whole time. And my assumption is right."

He releases his hand from my forehead.

With his hand no longer touching my forehead, I raised my hand to touch my forehead.

'... It's hot.'

I thought as I was surprised by the high temperature I had.

"You have a fever. Stay here, I'm going to call someone to take care of you."

He reassured me while gently caressing my cheek as he slowly got up from the bed.

My eyes followed his movements as I noticed his posture and motion were all stiff.

"Azrael, you're sick. You also need to take care of yourself."

He turned his head towards me after hearing my remark.

Noticing my worried tone, he forms a playful smile.

".. A little walk could make me feel better."

He exclaimed in a reassuring tone.

At that moment, the crimson red eyes that were visible were replaced by the dead black color I know.

Even if my sight became more blurry later on, I could still tell his eyes changed color since the crimson red was like a bright light shining through the dark room.

'... His eyes are mystical indeed. It's kind of beautiful.'

I thought tiredly as I held up my head to prevent myself from falling.

I used the last remaining of my strength to maintain my sight of Azrael.

He walked slowly to a nearby desk.

He was ringing something that would probably bring the maids or butlers to this room.

He looked at me back and smiled tenderly at me.

"Get a good rest, Dorothy."

"... You too."

-

[19 February 774/Present Day]

'Ugh...'

I was laying down on my bed while facing the ceiling as I complained to myself.

It has been two days since I got that hazard fever.

'I never expected this to happen.'

My condition is a lot worse than before.

My body feels so much heavier to the point that I feel like I'm burning in hot water.

The maids and butlers have taken care of me well since then.

But I think it's going to take a while enough for me to recover.

'... Azrael... He's sick too.'

I thought worriedly while thinking about his condition.

I realized that thinking about it wouldn't help his condition nor mine as I decided to rest more.

When I was about to close my eyes, I was suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Pardon for the intrusion, Your Highness, but Young Master Oswald inquires for a visit to Your Highness's room."

When I listened to the voice behind the door, I was a bit taken back and surprise by the sudden visit.

'... Cristo is visiting me?'

I later snapped out from my thought as I reach the bell near my bed.

I ring it as an answer to 'Yes'.

Not long after I rang the bell, the door slowly opened.

A figure began walking towards my bed as a familiar face looked down on me.

"... Master, are you alright?"

Despite the lack of emotion in tone, I could tell he is rather concerned about me considering he bother himself to visit me this afternoon.

'... I told him to just call me simply with my name.'

I looked at him tiredly as I was exhausted enough from reminding him to not call me in formal-manner.

"... I feel like dying."

I slowly said while keeping my breath steady.

"... Why are you sick?"

I raised my eyebrow, confused by his statement.

"... You mean-- I'm not allowed to get sick?"

".. It's not that. I thought Master is a strong woman. This is a bit disappointing."

I lowly chuckled and slowly formed a small smile.

".. I apologize for disappointing you."

After that, silence filled the room with me smiling at him sadly and him looking at me expressionlessly.

".. Then--"

He spoke up as I keep my eyes on his emerald ones.

".. Is it alright if I take care of you?"

My eyes went wide as I hear the unusual statement from his mouth that actually moved my heart.

"... Do you want something?"

I asked as I blink my eyes at his statement.

"Huh?"

Cristo slightly tilted his head as I could also hear the tone of confusion in his word.

".. Because this is quite unusual. Do you want something from me?"

I asked once again for clarification on what he meant.

"..."

He didn't say anything afterward and seems to put my question in a lot of thought.

Probably making a pause before continuing his sentence as he merely nodded.

"... Just rest well. I will take care of you as your underling from now on."

My lips curved into a smile.

'... This is the first time Cristo shows a caring side of his.'

I mentally noted as I was delighted that he started feeling more emotion.

"I hope I can give you something in return from my reach."

He stayed silent once more after hearing my statement and once again, only nods.

'... Well, even as an underling, it's kind of forced. I don't think he will take care of me willingly. He must have something that he wants.'

"Please take care of me well."

After saying that, I never thought he would take care of me in a very good way.

He would feed me my soup and medicine, changing the cold fabric that is on my forehead, and stay with me until I fell asleep.

'.. Geez, does he really want something to this extent?'

-

[21 February 774/Present Day]

After another 2 days, I was finally able to recover from my troubling fever.

I deeply thanked Cristo for taking care of me despite having maids and butlers.

Once I regain my health, Cristo came to my room again and sit on the couch as I sit in front of him.

"... So, what do you want, Cristo?"

I asked with a gentle smile as I look at him.

Even though I'm quite nervous about his request, I will stay calm and confident that I can do something for him.

"... Meal.."

".. Pardon?"

He gazed downwards, finding the floor more interesting than meeting my eyes.

".. I'd like for us.. to have a meal together."

After he finished his sentence, silence filled the room leaving me dumbfounded.

".. Excuse you-- what?"

I asked once more in case I heard wrong.

".. I'd like for the two of us to have a meal together. Like.. dinner, breakfast, lunch.."

He muttered out quietly as he seems quite shy about his request.

I was quite taken aback by the unexpected request from him.

I mean-- he could literally ask for anything in this kingdom.

'.. It's like I'm having a little brother.'

With that childish thought, I chuckled.

I sighed deeply, grabbing his attention to me.

"Cristo, you could've just asked me. Of course, I would love to spend every meal with you."

I gently reasoned him with a warm smile.

Hearing my answer, his once dead emerald eyes sparkled with excitement.

"R-really!?"

He raised his voice a bit as I silently laugh.

"Yes, of course!"

However, back then I never thought that I will forget about having a meal with him because of my princess duty.

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