My Mom Got A Contract Marriage

“Fjord, no, Young Duke Barat is a high-ranking person, isn’t he?”

“That’s right.”

“T—then, who could hurt him like that…… Oh, could it be signs from sparring?”

When she recalled what Fjord had said before and asked if that could be the case, Lauv shook his head. Those were wounds that were inflicted unilaterally on a restrained opponent. 

“I see. I see. In that case, in that case.”

Lilica bit her lip.

“I won’t ask you for details. Fjord wouldn’t want me to know either. He kept saying that he’s fine. It’s better if I don’t look at the wounds.”

“I also think so,” replied Lauv relievedly. 

Lilica said.

“Is cleaning the wound all that’s required right now? I’m sorry, but can I leave it to Lauv?”

“Of course.”

The both of them boiled a lot of water and soaked towels in them while waiting for Brynn’s return. 

It was hot because it was summer, but she had to endure this much.

Lauv went in with a bunch of damp towels and came out.

Blood stained the towels that were used to clean up the wound, but Lilica didn’t bat an eye at that.

Meanwhile, Brynn returned with bandages and disinfectants.

Lilica handed all the yellow ointment that was on the shelves to Lauv.

While Lauv was bandaging him, Brynn went out again and returned with a large pack of ice this time.

“Because it wouldn’t be good if he has a fever with such a large wound.”

“Mm.”

Just then, Lauv came out from the room and said.

“The wounds have been tended to.”

“Can I go inside and look at him now?”

“Yes.”

After saying that, Lauv stared at Lilica dazedly for a while. 

He also knew that the yellow ointment was made by her.

Apparently, it’s an ointment made of dandelions, but he only realised after applying it a while ago.

‘The wound healed too quickly.’

He’d wondered if it was due to the natural healing ability that bluebloods naturally possessed, but that wasn’t the case.

Before he applied the ointment, blood was still flowing from the cleaned wound. He clearly saw the open wound on Fjord’s body. 

‘But when I began applying the ointment, the blood stopped immediately.’

After some time passed, even the small puncture wounds were already healed. 

‘If this is the power of the ointment…’

He didn’t know what to say.

Lilica ran past him into the bedroom and came out right away. 

Lauv asked in astonishment.

“Is there something wrong?” 

“Thank you, Lauv.”

Immediately after saying that, Lilica hugged him. Lauv became rooted to the spot. 

“Brynn too, thank you! Lauv, Brynn brought ice, so drink some chilled tea while waiting.”

Afterwards, Lauv’s stiffened shoulders dropped when he watched the princess rushing into the room again.

Brynn asked.

“Is it alright if she goes in without you? Is it safe?”

“I think it’ll be okay.”

Brynn hmphed at the remark, narrowed her eyes and nodded.

Chilled tea was instantly made when freshly brewed tea was poured onto the ice, which was split into smaller pieces with an ice pick. 

“Here you go. The chilled tea that the princess has bestowed upon you.”

Brynn spoke while holding out the tray, and Lauv politely accepted the tea.

Brynn glanced at the half-opened bedroom door. 

“To reduce his temperature, I’d better make some ice water first.”

Lauv stared at Brynn openly. When Brynn met his gaze, he asked.

“Did the princess make that yellow ointment herself?”

“Yes, she did.”

Brynn replied with a defiant expression, like she was asking, “And so? What about that?” 

Lauv drank the tea he was holding calmly and said. 

“I think it’ll be better to hide where it’s produced from now on.”

“Saying that it’s an ointment made with the Imperial family’s secret recipe will do.”

Brynn also answered nonchalantly. Lauv snorted at that remark.

“Why are you laughing?”

Lauv cleared his throat and replied to Brynn.

“I feel like I’ve joined a circle.”

If Brynn had defined Lauv as an outsider, she would have denied that the princess made that ointment personally.

Or she would have said that it’s a secret recipe belonging to the Takar Imperial Family. She would have dodged the question like that. 

But Brynn told him the truth frankly.

This meant that she recognizes him as someone on Princess Lilica’s side.

That made him feel good for no reason in particular.

Brynn snorted, “Hmph.” and waved the ice pick.

“It’s not out of my own will. It’s because the princess trusts you.”

Lauv came over and said.

“That’s right. Then I’ll make the ice water instead.”

Brynn hid the ice awl and said. 

“I’ll do this. You can go and fill up the water vat.”

“Alright.”

Lauv followed her instructions obediently.

While he was filling the water vat, Brynn went inside with a brass basin full of ice water.

* * *

Lilica was sitting at the bedside with a serious expression.

When Brynn took a furtive glance at the patient’s condition, it was just as Lauv had mentioned, Young Duke Barat seemed safe. 

‘Even if he wakes up in this condition, it would be hard for him to attack the princess.’

“I brought over some ice water, princess. Since he has a fever, putting this on his forehead will be cooling for him.” 

“Thank you, Brynn.”

Lilica quickly wet the towel and put it on Fjord’s forehead. She asked solemnly.

“Brynn, can I sleep here tonight?”

“Well, would the Empress or Crown Prince be rather surprised if they found out about it?”

“I guess so.”

Lilica’s eyes searched around the room diligently, exclaiming, “Ah!”

“Then what if I went back and bid them a good evening, pretended to sleep, and then came back here?”

Brynn asked softly.

“Are you that worried? I can stay.”

“Yes, but……”

Lilica remembered the time she had a stomachache. It was so comforting when her mother rubbed her stomach all night long.

She wanted to stay by Fjord’s side, and not anyone else.

Wouldn’t it be better if it’s someone that he was on good terms with?

As Lilica hesitated, Brynn smiled and said. 

“Understood. Let’s come up with a way together.”

“Brynn!”

Turning emotional, Lilica hugged her tightly. Brynn gave a faint smile.

Truthfully, she didn’t like getting involved with Barat.

However. 

Barat’s greatest masterpiece. 

Fjord Barat.

No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like the princess was so obsessed with him that she couldn’t see anything else. 

Internal traitors are always welcomed. 

‘Of course, I’ll always keep my eyes wide open.’ 

Barats are the ones that could use such a wound to spin lies in order to entice people.

Therefore, she would always have doubts whenever and wherever it happens, but there’s no need to stop the princess.

“In that case, let’s make a decision after watching the situation.” 

“Yes, I’m being unreasonable, but thank you for listening to my request. I’m sorry, Brynn. I’ve been acting like a spoiled child lately.”

Brynn smiled and patted the princess’s back lightly. Strands of dark purple hair fluttered from her bob smoothly. 

“It’s my pleasure to accept your spoiled behaviour. And this level isn’t even considered childish.” 

“But I’ve only been making troublesome requests.” 

“Oh, it’s not the least bit troublesome for me.” 

When Lilica lifted her head up from her embrace, Brynn smiled. 

“I’m just agreeing to the princess’s request.” 

Lilica’s eyes widened those words and made a determined expression.

“Yes, I’ll take responsibility for everything.”

If Atil gets angry again, he might hit Fjord again.

If Atil hits her like how he hits Fjord, she might fall to the ground. 

Lilica clenched her fist tightly.

“I’ll protect you, so don’t worry, Brynn.”

“Yes, my princess.”

Brynn smiled.

* * *

Fjord felt a cool breeze.

It also felt nice when the skin that’s sticky with sweat was wiped with a warm towel. 

“Should we switch shifts?”

“No, it’s alright.”

“Aren’t you tired?”

“I’ve been sitting all this while.”

He opened his eyes inadvertently at the soft murmuring. 

He could spot something going back and forth before his blurry vision.

Fjord only knew that it was a round fan when his eyes managed to focus clearly. 

“Ah, Fjord, you’re awake?”

When the fan stopped and a round face appeared, Fjord looked blankly at the other person and asked.

“Is this a dream?”

“No, unfortunately? Or not? Hm, it isn’t a dream regardless.”

After speaking, she continued fanning again.

After mulling over her response while feeling the breeze, Fjord rose sharply. 

His vision swirled as he supported himself on the bed.

Startled, Lilica got down from the high chair and quickly grabbed his shoulders.

“Are you alright? Your fever has gone down, but you can’t move around like that yet.”

“Where, how long, exactly—”

His words came out intermittently. Lilica explained. 

“This is a cabin in one corner of the garden, and we met this morning. It’s currently dawn, the next day. It’s still in the middle of the night.”

Soon after, Lilica held out a cup, saying, “You’re thirsty, aren’t you?” 

Fjord carefully accepted the cup.

After finishing the sweet honey water that had a little salt added, Lilica helped him back down.

“Sleep a little more. Your fever has just broken.”

“But……”

He was quite muddleheaded.

He couldn’t recall exactly. Can he really stay here?

“I’ll remain by your side.”

Unexpectedly, those words were enough to melt his tenseness. 

After she took a seat back on the high chair, Lilica began fanning again.

Flick, flick. 

His hair fluttered slightly.

The sound of insects audible through the window. The sweet scent of jasmine wafted in along with the night air through the window.

The newly built cabin smelled of freshly cut wood.

The bed sheet was made of cotton, not silk, and it felt rather crisp as it was dried in the sun. 

“……”

Above all, if he turned his gaze over, he’d spot a robin sitting on a high chair.

The red ribbon worn in her brown hair was rather vivid.

Although it was at night, her eyes were still a beautiful turquoise that shone iridescently. 

When their eyes met, she said, “Oh, my,” and began fanning a little faster.

“Go to sleep.”

“I’m scared that if I avert my eyes, it’ll end up as a dream.”

If this was a dream, he wanted to stay a little longer. 

Lilica tucked the fan under her chin and got down from the chair.

She climbed onto the bed like her mother did.

“!!”

Lilica pulled the astonished Fjord’s head carefully to lean against her shoulder and said.

“This is okay, right?”

“……Yes……”

He looked away hurriedly because he couldn’t tell if what he spewed out was alright or not. 

Then, he spotted a crow of the imperial family standing at one side.

‘A wolf as well.’

Not bad. 

After making that judgement, he closed his eyes. 

The princess was safe even though it was a dream, so he could close his eyes in that case. 

No one would hurt him, 

And he wouldn’t hurt anyone either.

It was that kind of safe place.

He felt warmth while leaning against that small and round shoulder. 

He fell back asleep instantly. 

It was a deep and comfortable slumber.

It was to the point where he didn’t even notice a teardrop sliding down his cheek.

Lilica reached a hand out to wipe away his tears but dropped her hand instead. 

She didn’t want to disturb his sleep for nothing. 

‘I thought I was all grown up at my age.’ 

When the boys and girls of the slums reached a taller height than her, they began acting as adults. 

As such, when Lilica looked at those older brothers and sisters, she also wanted to grow up sooner. 

‘Maybe not.’

The real adults probably are people like Tan, Lat and His Majesty.

Lilica picked up the fan and moved it side to side again. Watching his thin silvery hair flutter gently at the fan’s breeze was quite fun. 

‘I’m sleepy…’ 

His fever shot up so high during the night that she didn’t know what to do, but it started to recede like a miracle. 

Then everything became fine in an instant. 

Lauv reassured Lilica, saying, “He’s probably in recovery.”

She was up all night long.

She felt relieved when she saw Fjord wake up, and soon began to feel sleepy.

As Lilica leaned backwards, she began to doze off and soon fell asleep.

Brynn nimbly caught the fan before it slipped out of her little hand and fell to the ground.

She placed the princess’s hand on the bed and covered her with the blanket she brought over.

‘Although spending a night outside is nerve wracking.’

Brynn bit her lip.

‘Let’s return just before dawn.’

* * *

Before dawn, Fjord opened his eyes according to his usual sleep cycle. 

After he grasped the situation while lying down, he slowly turned around and looked at Lilica. 

The sight of her sound asleep gave him an indescribable feeling. 

He wanted to continue lying down like this forever.

But that was impossible.

He got up slowly. It felt surprisingly refreshing.

After moving his limbs and confirming that there wasn’t any pain, he slipped out of bed. 

Fjord sensed a sign of movement from outside, so he looked for something that could serve as a weapon reflexively. 

The one that opened the door calmly and came in was the imperial family’s crow. 

She glanced at him before completely ignoring him. She approached the bed feather-footedly and began waking Lilica up.

“Please wake up, princess. It’s time to return back to White Dragon Chamber.”

“Unngh……”

“Princess.”

Fjord stood at a distance blankly, completely ignored.

After a while, Lilica, who woke up after rubbing her eyes, yawned quietly and was surprised to see him up on his feet.

“Fjord! Are you okay now?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Lilica smiled broadly.

“That’s a relief.”

He couldn’t help but return her smile. 

Although he wanted to hear the situation in detail, it didn’t seem like a good time.

At that moment.

“What’s this? You made all this and kept it under wraps—”

Atil, who opened the door with a joyous expression, was rooted to that spot.

Fjord held his breath.