Chapter 63
By the time Jamie and Vincenzo got the medication ready, Benzâs spasm had somewhat subsided. The nightmare had been erased, leaving only a blurry trace of the words “burning pain.â
I tried to erase it entirely, but I paused as Benz regained consciousness.
Throughout the treatment, Helios’s piercing gaze, which seemed to bore into my back, was distracting and getting on my nerves a bit.
Just in time, Ebony arrived and began a rudimentary examination.
âHis skin is burning, so Iâll give him some soothing ointment to apply, but weâll need to start with an antipyretic first.â
She lowered her magical stethoscope. I offered the fever reducers that Jamie had brought to Benz.
âHereâs the antipyretic.â
Benzâs hands trembled as he tried to take the medicine.
âLet me feed it to you,â I offered sympathetically, seeing him in such a sorry state.
But Helios, swift as hawk, pushed me aside. âMove, Iâll do it.â
He snatched the medicine from Benzâs hand and shoved the bottleâs mouth against Benzâs lips
âOpen your mouth.â
He was anything but gentle.
But Helios was so nice when he was giving me medicine.
Well, to be fair, he was more persistent than kind.
âUgh, heuk, gulp.â
Helios craned Benzâs neck back, and the antipyretic quickly disappeared down his throat.
“Your Highness, heâs a patient.”
“Yes, a patient, but I’m a patient, too, Rienna.”
Tossing the empty antipyretic canister into the trash as if it were contaminated, Helios rubbed his forehead against my shoulder.
“And you’re my doctor, not his.”
His possessiveness wasnât anything new. Helios had always hated the idea of me treating anyone else. I suppose he is the one paying for my salary after all.
âWhere does it hurt?â
I asked him deliberately, even though I knew everything by touch. It was because this was just clearly him being petulant and faking being sick again.
Helios rested his head on my shoulder.
“I don’t think it’ll hurt if I stay like this for a while.”
“Whatever you say.”
I didn’t understand why he’d bothered to crumple up and lean against my shoulder. Still, if giving him a moment of shoulder support brought peace, it was my gain.
âYour Highness, Iâll take a look at it then.â
Feeling sorry for her apprentice, Ebony discretely approached.
âWhat is it, Ebony?â asked Helios.
“You see, I’m a doctor, too, and a great one at that.”
“But you couldn’t cure me.”
Ebony frowned. Not being able to cure Helios had hurt her deeply. As a chief physician, failing to identify the cause was a blow to her professional pride. Being a second-year fledgling doctor, I couldn’t fathom the depth of that wound.
And Helios just casually prodded that wound.
âYouâre right. I was lacking.â
Although, Helios probably heard something more like âRight, I was slacking.â[1]
Our mentor was angry.
âStill, I can handle basic medical care. Rienna needs to concentrate on Lord Benzâs treatment, so please..â
âAm I disturbing you, Rienna?â Helios asked, resting the tip of his chin on my shoulder.
I shook my head and looked up at Helios.
Even if I pushed my head as far back as I could, Heliosâs face was still in front of me. He opened his eyes wide, his ruby-like irises sparkling in the light. Seeing this big guy acting playfully like thisâŚ
So cute.
He gave off golden retriever vibes.
Iâm sorry, Master Ebony.
âHeâs not disturbing me, Master. Iâm fine. I just need to ask Mr. Benz a few questions.â
Ebony disapproved of my special weakness for Helios. Doctors werenât supposed to be showing favoritism towards their patients. No doubt she clicked her tongue and shook her head, but that didn’t deter me.
It’s about respecting me as Helios’s primary physician.
“Take care of yourself as well. I’ll be going now.”
After giving a slight bow, Ebony returned to the Health Ministry.
âNowâŚcan I attend to the patient?â
Come to think of it, it had been a while since Benz took the antipyretic. Given that it was mixed with a strong analgesic, most of the pain should have subsided.
Thereâs only a faint trace of it now.
š Ebony said âë§ěľëë¤. ě ę° ëśěĄąíěŁ .â [Majseubnida. Jega bujoghaessjyo]. Rienna jokes that Helios mishears it as âëŻěëë¤, ě§ę° ë¸ěŚíěŚ.â [Meusseubnida, Jiga beujeughaessjeu.] They both acknowledge that Helios is right, but the latter is more cheeky and can be interpreted as hostile.âŠ