Unforgivable.
That was the only thought running through Isaac Von Verne's mind.
The royal doctor sat alone in his dimly lit study, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows over the stacks of medical scrolls on his desk.
For months, he had worked tirelessly to save Princess Flora. Countless nights spent researching, testing new medicines, consulting the finest alchemists—all of it in vain.
And then, a stranger appeared.
A nameless boy, unknown to the court, with no medical training, no noble bloodline, nothing.
Yet somehow, he had succeeded where Isaac had failed.
The king and queen spoke highly of him, the royal servants whispered about his miracle.
"Who is he?"
Isaac gritted his teeth, his nails digging into the wooden surface of his desk.
They were hiding something.
"A boy who can cure an unknown disease? Impossible. There's something unnatural about him."
His fingers clenched around a quill, snapping it in half.
"I'll find out the truth. And when I do… I'll make sure he's exposed."
Yuuya never thought he'd find a friend in the royal palace.
Yet, over the past few weeks, his time with Princess Flora had changed that.
At first, their conversations were brief—simple exchanges before or after his weekly treatments. But over time, Flora opened up, and Yuuya found himself enjoying her company more than expected.
One afternoon, they sat in the royal garden, surrounded by vibrant flowers and towering hedges. The scent of blooming roses mixed with the crisp autumn air.
Flora gently traced a finger along the wooden table between them, her golden eyes thoughtful.
"You know," she murmured, "I never had many friends before."
Yuuya glanced at her. "Why not?"
Flora smiled softly. "I was always… different. I don't like large gatherings, and I get nervous around new people. It's hard to talk when everyone expects you to act a certain way."
(An introvert forced into high society…) Yuuya could understand that struggle.
Flora's gaze flickered toward him. "But you're different. You never treat me like I'm delicate or fragile."
"That's because you're not," Yuuya replied bluntly. "You just needed someone to talk to without all the formalities."
A small laugh escaped Flora's lips. "That's true."
A comfortable silence settled between them before Flora suddenly perked up.
"Oh! Speaking of friends, I should introduce you to someone."
Yuuya raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"A friend of mine from the Paldia Kingdom. His name is Chris von Paldia. He's a prince, but he doesn't act like one."
"Paldia…" Yuuya murmured. The Knight Kingdom.
"He's kind and strong," Flora continued. "And he's always protected me."
Just as Yuuya was about to reply—
A sharp voice interrupted them.
"So this is where you've been, Flora."
Both Yuuya and Flora turned toward the garden entrance.
Standing there was a boy with fiery red hair and piercing brown eyes, dressed in finely tailored noble attire. His posture was upright, radiating confidence and authority.
Chris von Paldia had arrived.
His gaze locked onto Yuuya immediately.
"Who is this?" he asked, voice calm but firm.
Flora smiled. "Chris! This is Yuuya."
Chris's expression didn't change. Instead, his eyes darkened slightly.
"And what, exactly, is his relationship with you?"
Flora blinked. "He's my friend."
Chris's fingers twitched slightly, his jaw tightening.
"You—you've never had a close friends before."
Flora nodded. "Well… I do now."
Chris's gaze snapped to Yuuya. There was no warmth in his expression—only sharp suspicion.
"A no-name boy suddenly appears and becomes close to Flora?" His voice was edged with irritation. "Who are you, really?"
Yuuya met his glare without flinching.
"I already told you. My name is Yuuya."
Chris scowled. "That's not what I meant."
"You should be more specific, then."
Chris gritted his teeth. "Tch."
Then, suddenly, he smirked.
"Alright. Let's settle this properly."
Yuuya raised an eyebrow. "Settle what?"
Chris pointed at him. "A duel."
Yuuya blinked. "A what?"
Chris crossed his arms. "I'm a prince of the Knight Kingdom. I was trained in swordsmanship since I could walk. If you want to be around Flora, you need to prove you're worthy."
Yuuya let out a slow sigh. (So that's how it is.)
"I don't see how fighting proves anything."
Chris narrowed his eyes. "It proves strength. If you're weak, then you have no right to be near her."
Yuuya smirked slightly. "So, if I win, you'll leave me alone?"
Chris scoffed. "If you win? Don't get ahead of yourself."
Flora, who had been watching silently, suddenly stepped between them.
"Enough," she said firmly. "There's no need to fight."
Chris's expression softened slightly. "Flora—"
"You're both my friends now," Flora continued, her blue eyes full of warmth. "So I want you two to get along."
Yuuya sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Fine."
Chris scowled but didn't argue.
But even as the tension settled, one thing was clear.
Neither of them trusted each other.
Weeks passed.
Yuuya continued absorbing mana from Flora, ensuring that her condition remained stable.
But the cost was growing.
The exhaustion came first.
At first, it was subtle—a heaviness in his limbs, a slight sluggishness in his movements. But over time, it became harder to ignore. His breathing felt heavier, his head pounded after every treatment, and his appetite began to fade.
Then came the dizziness.
Sometimes, when he stood up too quickly, the world would tilt slightly. His vision would blur for a second before steadying, but he pretended not to notice.
And the worst part—the blood.
Every time he coughed, he tasted it—a bitter, metallic reminder that his body was suffering.
Late one night, as he sat in his room, flipping through a book in the dim candlelight, the pain struck again—a sharp, searing sensation in his chest.
He barely had time to react before a violent cough tore through him—
Splatter.
Blood dripped onto the open pages of his book.
His vision blurred. His hands trembled as he tried to wipe it away, but the smudged red stain remained.
(…This is getting bad.)
A gasp came from the doorway.
"Yuuya-sama!"
Lena rushed into the room, panic filling her blue eyes.
"You—you're coughing up blood again!"
Yuuya sighed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "It's nothing."
"Nothing?!" Lena's voice cracked with frustration.
She had noticed it for weeks. The exhaustion in his face, the way his movements became slower, the way his shoulders trembled after every treatment.
And now, he was getting worse.
"You need to rest!" she pleaded. "You need to stop the treatment—just for a while!"
Yuuya shook his head. "I can't."
Lena gritted her teeth, anger mixing with worry.
"This isn't part of the deal, Yuuya-sama!" she snapped, her voice rising. "You already did enough—you saved the princess! You don't have to keep doing this!"
But Yuuya looked past her, his gaze calm but firm.
"It's not because of the deal."
Lena blinked.
Yuuya exhaled, leaning back against his chair.
"Flora is my friend."
His words were quiet but absolute.
Lena felt her chest tighten.
Even though he was in pain—even though his body was breaking—he wasn't doing this for a reward.
He was doing it because he cared.
Lena lowered her head, biting her lip.
She didn't know what to do.
Because if this continued…
How much longer could Yuuya endure it?