I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 153
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Rosaline met Eldis’s gaze, tilting his head slightly as if to ask what he intended to do. But Eldis didn’t approach. He simply stepped back in silence, as if leaving this matter to him.
It was only once they reached the infirmary that Rosaline finally let go of Yeshion and picked up the medicine kit.
“Take off your clothes.”
“I-I could just lift them and apply the medicine that way…”
At Yeshion’s muttered excuse, Rosaline shot him a piercing look.
It was an expression Yeshion had never seen before. He quietly shut his mouth.
He probably meant everything off except underwear.
Yeshion hesitated, lips parting, but in the end he undressed, leaving only his underclothes.
Rosaline’s face twisted.
“You, this…”
“Please don’t tell the Archpriest. Or His Highness the Crown Prince, if possible…”
He knew exactly how those two would react if they found out. Rosaline bit his lip. The sympathy that washed over him made his lips tremble faintly.
He lowered his head and stepped around behind Yeshion.
“…Even if the Crown Prince doesn’t know, Eldis probably already does. He seemed to know exactly when you’d be back, even before you returned.”
How did he know that? Yeshion had questions, but he chose silence instead. Rosaline’s expression was too grim to interrupt.
When Yeshion said nothing, Rosaline spoke again with a sigh from behind him.
“So, you’re not going to tell me what happened?”
“……”
“Yeshion. I hate it when you shut me out like this.”
Because you’ll worry. No matter how much you ask, I never wanted to answer.
But the wavering voice at his back made Yeshion bite the inside of his cheek.
He could be firm with others, but why did he always go soft when it came to Rosaline?
“I really… I just wanted to find out who the real ‘Yeshion’ was involved with.”
He started hesitantly, then told the whole story of what had happened there.
He left out the beatings, but with the state his body was in, it was obvious anyway.
“A red-haired woman…?”
“Yes. There were others, but she seemed like the one in charge.”
“Red hair isn’t exactly common in the Empire.”
“She even knew about His Highness’s curse.”
Yeshion frowned as he mumbled.
Adelio had said that almost no one knew the truth about his curse. Only three people in the temple, and the Empress.
‘Then… could that woman have been the Empress?’
But would someone of the Empress’s status show up in person at a secret meeting like that?
That woman had even told Yeshion, directly, what he was supposed to do next.
If she really was the Empress, and even one person in that room turned traitor and exposed everything…
‘…No, even if they did, no one would believe them.’
Yeshion recalled the faces of those gathered.
Every one of them looked like common thugs. Some even looked like beggars, no one would take their word for anything.
If anyone’s word might hold weight, it was Yeshion’s. But even then, he was only marginally better than the rest. His character and reputation as a priest weren’t exactly stellar. Most people would probably dismiss him too.
“Yeshion.”
While he was still dwelling on the woman, Rosaline, who had just finished applying the ointment to his back, moved to face him.
When Yeshion looked up and met his gaze, Rosaline asked in a low voice,
“…Weren’t you scared?”
Those pale pink eyes quivered slightly.
Yeshion was the one who’d been beaten to a pulp, but Rosaline looked as if he’d gone through it himself.
“…I was scared.”
“Then why’d you go alone, you idiot…”
Rosaline lowered his head. His face pressed into Yeshion’s shoulder, and his trembling shoulders gave him away.
“…I’m sorry. I didn’t expect it to turn out like this.”
“…Useless fool.”
“……”
“Idiot. Dumbass. Mangy dog. Sea cucumber. Jellyfish…”
As if that was the worst he could come up with, Rosaline mumbled insult after insult. Yeshion let out a small laugh at how adorable it was. Rosaline looked up with a sulky expression.
