# Side Story 3
From the moment he opened his eyes, everything was strange. The ceiling was spinning dizzily, and his body was excessively limp. Ludin winced at his skin, which ached sensitively as if he had been beaten by someone. He tried to get up, applying some force, but before he could get far, the world spun around, and he collapsed back onto the bed. With his somewhat dazed mind from the rising fever, his thought was that he was doomed.
When it came to health, they had something like an unspoken rule. Not to suffer even the slightest pain. Not even cutting a hand on paper or scraping a knee from a fall. Although health wasn’t something one could control at will, there was a reason such a strict rule had been established for Ludin. It was because Kadilen and Wimu reacted so sensitively to each of his small pains. Seeing them, who were rational and even cold when looking after the country, flustered by his minor injuries, Ludin had vowed never to fall ill again. And that vow had been quite well-kept for a very long time.
The trouble had begun with running around the snowy palace last night. It was natural to catch a cold after running around in cold weather for a snowball fight. The problem was that even though this wasn’t a life-threatening illness, he could imagine the expressions of Kadilen and Wimu, who would embrace all sorts of worries and concerns. Looking at the spinning ceiling, Ludin thought he should stay quietly locked in his room for the day. The solution was to avoid meeting them as much as possible. Since a cold would get better in a few days anyway, there was no need to cause unnecessary worry.
‘Let me sleep for now…’
Ludin tossed and turned. When he turned to his right, his aching body protested violently. Feeling his stomach churning along, he sighed deeply. He had thought he was chilly, but a subtle heat was rising from within.
‘I’m dizzy.’
Eventually, Ludin curled up into a ball. His churning stomach despite having eaten nothing and his splitting head were tormenting him in a perfect combination. Thanks to Kadilen, who had obsessively provided healthy food and regular exercise for a long time, he hadn’t caught even a simple cold, but now he was unlucky. As he curled up, enduring the pain with practiced ease, someone’s voice was heard.
“Lord Ludin. Are you inside?”
Startled awake, Ludin sprang up but collapsed pathetically without taking even a few steps. Rio outside had a surprised look at the sound of his crashing. As Rio hurriedly opened the door to enter, Ludin called out urgently.
“I’ll come out! Go to the infirmary first.”
“…Yes. I came by just in case, since you were late.”
“Sorry. My preparation was delayed.”
“Take your time.”
As he turned away, Rio briefly paused at the faint groan coming from inside. But as if proving it was his imagination, Ludin’s room and the corridor became quiet again as if a mouse had died. Rio quickly shook off his suspicious feelings, thinking about last night when he had played excitedly with Ludin. It made sense that his voice was hoarse, probably from oversleeping. Still, Rio thought he should definitely check his temperature when he came to the infirmary later, and moved away from his room.
Ludin sat down in a predicament. First of all, he had completely forgotten that he needed to go to the infirmary today. He had been helping with some of the management work that Jiman usually did, and due to the recent shortage of hands, he had agreed to help Rio. For that, he needed to get up right now, prepare, move to the infirmary, and work diligently. However, his body, which staggered even with small steps, seemed to have difficulty just maintaining balance.
‘What should I do…’
In truth, telling Rio would have been the most correct thing. Honestly confessing that he seemed to have caught a cold, and apologizing, saying he would help more the next day. But then that fact would immediately be conveyed to Kadilen and Wimu, and they would set aside all their work and rush to him with expressions as if the world had collapsed, focusing only on nursing him. He didn’t want to cause such trouble for a mere cold.
In the end, Ludin forcibly put strength into his legs. Deliberately ignoring his trembling hand that was leaning against the wall, he carefully took steps. Having barely reached the bathroom, the first thing he did was expel clear gastric fluid. Though he was momentarily disoriented after throwing up, he soon shook his head and calmly began to prepare.
* * *
Arriving at the infirmary, things got a little better. He immediately took cold medicine, and his fever seemed to subside slightly. His vision, which had been distorting endlessly, gradually returned to normal. His stomach also felt somewhat better, perhaps thanks to emptying it, so he was able to swallow some simple food for lunch. Seeing his body improving smoothly, Ludin was secretly relieved. In the busy infirmary, running here and there, there seemed to be no luxury to feel sick. Ignoring his finely trembling hands as he organized necessary items, Ludin put all his effort into maintaining a clear mind.
“You look busy.”
Around sunset, Wimu came looking for him. He must have dropped by on his way to see his face, but Ludin didn’t even have time to talk with him. He only briefly met Wimu entering through the door as he ran to prepare medicinal herbs someone had asked for. Seeing Ludin smiling awkwardly while moving hurriedly, Wimu just gave a slight eye greeting and quietly took a seat against one wall. With not much time left until dinner, he intended to wait for Ludin to finish his work.
It was a moment when Wimu’s eyes, quietly observing Ludin, narrowed. Every time Ludin hesitated strangely, every time his footsteps weakened, Wimu’s sharp gaze followed. Observing Ludin moving without rest, Wimu keenly noticed that his breathing was becoming excessively rapid. Striding through the focused people, Wimu grabbed Ludin’s arm in one swift motion.
“What?”
“Just a moment.”
His large hand rested on Ludin’s forehead. Instantly, a look of defeat appeared on Ludin’s face. As Ludin tried to escape by smiling more and twisting his body, Wimu forcibly held him.
“What’s wrong with you.”
“Stay still for a moment.”
Feeling that the coldly speaking voice might be a little angry, Ludin checked his expression and remained silent. Though he had only missed taking the medicine he had been diligently taking every hour just once due to being busy, his fever had quickly soared. Wimu, with his keen eyes, couldn’t have failed to notice his cheeks that had become too vividly red to be considered healthy color. Despite his careful effort all day to avoid Rio’s eyes, Wimu worried about him with a frighteningly stern face.
“You have a fever. Have you been working like this all day?”
“A fever? I don’t really feel it…”
“Don’t change the subject.”
Wimu turned Ludin around as he tried to feign ignorance. Even Ludin, who had been slyly trying to escape, was somewhat intimidated by his resolute gaze.
“…It just seems like a cold. It’s nothing.”
Wimu, who had been quietly staring at Ludin as he checked his reaction, sighed deeply. He had more or less understood the situation. Ludin must have been hiding it all day, fearing that people around him might make a fuss if they knew he had caught a cold. With a heart that was both angry and upset, Wimu gently guided Ludin. Being led by him without being able to argue, a faint heat could be felt from Ludin’s body.
“Could we walk a little slower?”
It seemed he had been walking too quickly, unable to suppress his emotions. Hearing Ludin’s breathless request, Wimu consciously slowed his steps, then stopped completely in place. Then he immediately placed Ludin’s arm around his neck and lifted him up in one swoop. Ludin, who had been trying to refuse while struggling, closed his mouth tightly when he saw Wimu’s face, who had lifted him without a word, coldly.
Arriving at Ludin’s room, Wimu gently laid him down on the bed. Having already arrived from the infirmary to his room bed while disoriented, Ludin was half-bewildered and half-fearful, waiting for Wimu’s scolding to begin. However, Wimu didn’t say anything more as he meticulously covered him with a blanket and adjusted the room temperature. Before leaving through the door, he only whispered in a calm tone as if announcing:
“Rest. I’ll bring medicine.”
After watching Wimu’s back disappear like that for a moment, Ludin soon lost consciousness. His body, which had been overexerted, became languid as it met the warm and soft blanket.
* * *
When he opened his eyes again, it was already dark night. His throbbing head was much lighter than before, and his heavy body had regained its lightness. As he shook his blurry vision, a large hand came into his sight. Come to think of it, something was clinging tightly to his side as well. When Ludin, who was in a daze, turned his head, he discovered Kadilen lying next to him.
Seeing his arm under his head, Ludin hastily tried to get up. But immediately, guided by Kadilen’s restraining hand, he naturally entered his embrace. Kadilen slowly patted Ludin’s chest like someone putting a child to sleep, trying to get him to fall back asleep. But Ludin just quietly met Kadilen’s gaze, who was looking down at him with bright, clear eyes.
“Sleep more.”
“I’m fully awake now.”
Even Ludin himself was surprised by his tone, which sounded like a child throwing a tantrum. Kadilen just smiled and brushed back his disheveled hair. With the fever having subsided and the cold sweat dried, his light brown hair had already slipped down under his forehead.
“I was very worried.”
“That’s why I couldn’t tell you.”
“I know.”
A calm, low voice wrapped around the two of them like moonlight. During the subtle gaze that continued steadily, Ludin felt not only his cold but all the pain permeated throughout his body disappearing. Kadilen whispered quietly in a deep voice.
“There were times when I was afraid of how weak my heart became when looking at you.”
“…”
“But now I know that’s love.”
The sentence, which began like a faint mist, gradually carried a passionate force filled with sincerity. Ludin looked into Kadilen’s eyes, which were endlessly generous only to him.
“The weakness caused by you is no longer frightening.”
“…”
“I’m only afraid of your pain.”
Loving someone was acknowledging that they could make you weak. Confessing that the other’s pain was more frightening, Kadilen moved even closer to Ludin. Realizing why he was approaching, Ludin deliberately shook his head firmly and showed his palm.
“No. You’ll catch my cold.”
“I don’t care.”
Faced with the stubbornly approaching Kadilen, Ludin pretended to give in and withdrew his hand. Soon, a kind but persistent kiss continued relentlessly. Only Kadilen knew the secret that he had already kissed Ludin several times while he was sleeping.
