Vol 2 Chapter 13 (1/2)

The Hero and the Golden Age (part 4)

When I woke up, I was lying in a luxurious sickbed. Everywhere I looked I saw sympathy gifts from well-wishers. There were also a lot of people sitting around.

“Ohoho, Leon daren, you’ve finally woken up.”

A lively elderly person who looked like an attendant was there, carrying a towel in the crook of his arm.

All of the military instructors were sitting at the front of the bed. They looked at me with complicated expressions.

“I’m really sorry, Leon. I shouldn’t have made you have additional practice till midnight.”

“No no no.”

I furiously shook my head.

I didn’t know why the att.i.tudes of the people surrounding me had changed this quickly.

“Please forgive me. Making you take risks so late at night……”

“It’s fine, actually it was me……”

Just as I felt suspicious, Shen Zhen knocked on the door and entered.

Wearing a pitch-black cloak and unruly hair, Shen Zhen was one year older than me, and his strength far surpa.s.sed mine. He had even been exempted from the reserve army night practice. Among the newbies he was a loner, but he would occasionally hang out with me.

“Leon, the princess wants to see you.”

“Princess……?”

“What are you saying? The person you saved is Ailee Parkdovich.”

“Shen Zhen, you’re not allowed to directly say Her Highness, the Princess’s, name!”

The military instructor scolded severely.

“So annoying. Don’t bother me about my business.”

As Shen Zhen said this, the door suddenly swung open and a shout came from the outside.

“Princess, you should go back. Leon is still delirious.”

“If Leon is awake, I want to be by him.”

“That would be too much of a bother. Leon would be annoyed by this. Princess, do you want to be hated by him?”

“It doesn’t matter, let me go in!”

“No way.”

……

A violent disturbance was going on outside. The instructor’s expression was tinged with green, and the elderly butler on the side forced a smile.

“But it’s good that you’ve woken up, Leon daren.”

The elderly person paused and then said quietly:

“Princess Ailee’s temperament is quite irascible. She often will run off in secret. Since you saved her three days ago, she would be worried about your sickness every day. If you hadn’t recovered, I’m afraid–”

“Leon!!”

With a bang, the door was kicked open.

Before me stood that girl I had rescued three days prior. Her wounds had almost fully recovered. Several places were wrapped with white bandages. Right now, she was wearing plain clothing and a large straw hat. Her two eyes glimmered.

“Your Highness…….”

I called out weakly.

“Huu. No need to call me Your Highness. Just call me Ailee. Are you feeling alright?”

“Just about……”

I tempted to sit up, but I was wracked by intense pain, so I lifelessly flopped down.

“No, don’t force yourself.”

Ailee headed for me, gripping my hand in her two hands.

This was the first time my hand had been held by a girl.

Ailee’s tiny palms were moist but also extremely warm. Her skin was exquisite, and didn’t have calluses like mine.

Ailee brought her face near mine and stared into my eyes.

Because she was too close, my breathing sped up and my face flushed bright red.

Wu……

I unnaturally s.h.i.+fted my gaze.

“As expected, you haven’t completely recovered!”