Sezh’s face paled at the sight of Raytan’s bare stomach, the skin of which had turned… blue. No, even darker than that—the injury encompassing his entire abdomen was a deeper, hideous shade, almost black. She had never seen a bruise with such frightful coloration before. Bern must have truly kicked him with all his might yesterday.

“You should’ve called for the physicians if you were hurt to this degree…”

“I don’t need them.”

“Wha, what about your maids or servants? Did any of them say anything about this? If you don’t want to call a physician, then you should at least receive first aid from…”

“None.”

“What?”

“No one. No one will treat me.”

Sezh chewed her bottom lip, feeling guilty over having spoken carelessly just now. She should’ve noticed after witnessing Luna’s trepidatious attitude toward him. Luna was someone who was normally so kind and caring to all those around her almost to a fault, yet even she actively avoided Raytan’s presence. Despite her status as an outcast within the palace, Sezh was at least fortunate enough to have someone like Luna caring for her well-being. Raytan, on the other hand, had no one. Not a single soul within the entirety of the Imperial Palace wanted to attend to any of his needs let alone even treat his wounds.

I can’t believe you came all the way to the West Library while you were this injured. And you’re even giving me a proper lesson instead of resting and healing yourself…

Her guilt soon turned into gratitude, and then her gratitude shifted toward pity. Sezh rose from her seat and started sifting through the contents of the bag that Luna had prepared for her.

Raytan glanced at her, curious as to what she was planning. Sezh hardly noticed his gaze on her as she was busily rummaging through her bag with a purpose. Luna had been exceptionally meticulous and not only packed her cotton balls but also other basic medicinal supplies she might be in need of. Her bag contained various ointments, bandages, and more cotton than usual to change out the ones in her nose as needed. The extra supplies weren’t included out of consideration for Raytan or anything of the sort; rather, Luna’s young princess was simply prone to always getting hurt here and there.

Sezh picked out a roll of bandages and some ointment and turned to stand in front of Raytan.

“Big brother,” she beckoned, “please come here. Sit at the desk and not on the windowsill.”

“Why should I?” he replied skeptically.

“I’ll give you some treatment.”

“I don’t need any.”

“It’s something I want to do for you.”

Raytan turned silent. He stared at Sezh with an indescribable expression that made it impossible to guess what kind of thoughts were going through his mind at the moment. After a brief pause, he descended from his seat on the window and went to sit down at Sezh’s desk as she had asked.

“I’ll apply some medication first.”

Sezh dabbed some ointment onto her finger and began to gently apply it to his bruised abdomen. To her surprise, Raytan didn’t recoil or move away from her touch even though Sezh was spreading it all over his body.

“…”

In the process of administering the ointment, Sezh noticed that his body was rife with wounds—some new and old—beyond the bruise he had sustained from his fight with Bern yesterday. There were many unknown scars, and among them was a long, tear-like scar near his ribs that was particularly noticeable.

Oh, I think I’ve heard about this injury before. Bern was practicing his archery and had shot Raytan with his arrows… Maybe this is the wound from that incident. That bastard.

While mentally cursing Bern for his cruelty, Sezh started to wrap a bandage over Raytan’s stomach to seal the ointment and protect his abdomen from further damage.

But, am I supposed to wrap a bruise like this, though?

Sezh hesitated for a moment but then decided to carry on anyway before Raytan caught a cold from being so exposed. At the very least, he wouldn’t have to worry about the sticky ointment smearing everywhere.

“I’m done. How is it? Are you uncomfortable with the wrapping?”

She waited for Raytan’s answer, but he offered her no reply and looked down at his clumsily wrapped stomach with bewilderment.

“Gosh,” his tone was incredulous, “you are not even the slightest bit good at it. What kind of treatment did you just give me?”

Well, frankly speaking, he was right. Yesterday, she had turned his hand into a mummy, and now this.

I did everything that I couldn’t yesterday, and I’m sure I did it right today.

She pouted as Raytan pointed out the mess she had made on his abdomen.

“What about any other places? Are you perhaps hurt anywhere else?”

He might think I’m becoming annoying by saying this, but it would be better for me to take a look at any other wounds that might need treatment while I already have all my supplies out. Besides, if I don’t take care of him now, then who else will?

Once she was done with the bruise on his stomach, Sezh checked Raytan’s body to see if there were any other injuries that had escaped her notice. As her eyes carefully scrutinized his body, she saw a white cloth wrapping the skin near the collar of his shirt.

“Oh…?”

This bandage looks to be wrapped around his left shoulder, but something seems wrong. Did he hurt his shoulder somehow?

“While we’re still here, let me take a look at your shoulder.”

Sezh’s nagging was interrupted as Raytan dismissed her concerns. She had reached for his left shoulder, but he brushed her hands aside before they could make contact.

“No need.”

“But…”

“Leave it.”

He says he doesn’t need it. Before this, he was like that too.

Eventually, Sezh gave up on trying to push the issue any further and obediently settled down beside him. However, she still continued to wonder why he had brushed her off when he just allowed her to treat his abdomen before.

You said so yourself that you don’t have anyone to treat you. If that’s the case, then who wrapped the bandage on your shoulder for you? Is he doing it by himself? Nah, if he was capable of wrapping some bandages on his left shoulder, then he should have been able to take care of the wound on his stomach too.

“What are you looking at?”

“Uhh, I was just worried…”

“You don’t have to worry about me. Just go back and sit down.”

“Alright, alright.”

Sezh hurriedly sat back down at her desk, still furtively throwing worried glances at Raytan. But he took no note of her concerned and quickly readjusted his clothes.

Once he was finished, they resumed the tutoring session. He assigned her a few more problems which she set about solving. Unlike her performance on the earlier questions, she had a bit more trouble with these and answered two or three questions incorrectly. Raytan pointed out the mistakes in her grammar. Contrary to how she had expected him to act, he actually took the time to properly explain her errors and teach her the correct grammatical rules this time. From how astutely he spoke about the many nuances in Kazaki, Sezh mused that Raytan was much more intelligent than he let on.

Just as the sun was beginning to set over the horizon, he unexpectedly turned toward her.

“Starting tomorrow, come to my mother’s palace.”

“What?”

Sezh raised her head in surprise at his remarks.

“We’re moving the location of your lessons.”

“…”

“If you don’t like it, then quit.”

“No! I don’t hate it!”

Sezh had inadvertently shouted at him in excitement. She had been meaning to bring up the topic, anyway—about wanting to ask Lady Lise if she could move their tutoring to another place where they could have more security and privacy. Luna had also voiced the same concerns yesterday, because she feared that the other princes and the princesses might soon return and cause more trouble for them.

Hearing Raytan broach the subject first brightened Sezh’s mood considerably. All last night and this morning, she was worrying herself sick over whether Raytan would bother to show up to their lessons anymore or if he found her too troublesome to deal with. Not only did he go through with the tutoring but he was also now suggesting they continue under even better circumstances. Sezh could not help but grin giddily.

“What are you laughing at?” Raytan frowned.

“Because… Big brother will teach me again tomorrow…”

“…”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, then, and I’ll learn how to wrap bandages properly from Luna!”

“I told you I don’t need it, you stupid bitch.”

“Ah, that’s right. I’ll bring some medicine that will be good for bruises too! When I fell down before, Luna put a special medication on my bruise. It was so effective, my bruise disappeared in two days. I’m sure if you put that stuff on, the bruise on your stomach will be healed in no time!”

Sezh continued with her enthusiastic suggestions that Raytan didn’t ask for. He looked annoyed, but at the same time, he wasn’t telling her to “Get out” or “Shut up” as he did the other day.

It seems to me that I’m getting the slightest bit closer to him. I’m so excited.

Little by little, Sezh was finally starting to achieve her goals.