“I’m glad you ate well.”
Khalid took the empty bowl with a bright smile. From what he had been observing up until now, Renato had very little appetite. He preferred vegetables and fruits to meat or flour.
Still, he ate and drank very little by Khalid’s standards. When advised to eat more, Renato would reply that he had no appetite or that he was full.
Renato’s eating habits were close to a culture shock to Khalid, who ate three or four servings per meal. He also once wondered if Renato’s body was weak because he ate so little. Maybe because Renato looked like a white rabbit, he ate just like one.
“It’s because the person who made it is good at cooking.”
“I will make it for you again next time.”
Khalid seriously wondered if he should mince some meat next time. In his eyes, Renato was so small and thin that the wind could also blow him away, and so pitiful that he might break if held in one’s hand.
Besides, he was frail enough to have fainted several times in the last few months. He needed to gain some weight to be healthier than now. His growth period wasn’t over yet, so it would be nice if he could become taller too.
To do so, he had to eat well and sleep well. Khalid finished his cleaning up, thinking about how to make Renato healthy.
“The water must have been warmed up by now. There is hot water in the barracks opposite, so please wash up.”
“Now?”
“Yes, you sweated a lot, so just going to sleep like this will make you feel uncomfortable. Although I did wipe you with a wet towel before…… Ah, should I call Sir Louis if you need help?”
“No, please don’t call him. I will just wash alone…… Agh.”
Renato dissuaded Khalid from calling Louis and raised his heavy body. After his regression, he never asked for help during baths to hide the scar on his waist. Renato, who was in a hurry to get out of bed, momentarily lost his balance and stumbled.
“Be careful.”
Khalid quickly held Renato by the waist and helped him stand up. Then, he looked at Renato with worried eyes.
“Are you perhaps feeling dizzy?”
“I’m not dizzy, I just lost strength in my body for a bit……”
“It’s probably because of the sedative. It has the effect of releasing tension in the body and relaxing the muscles. I’ll carry you in case you fall.”
“Pardon? No, I’m o……”
Before he could answer that he was okay, his body was lifted. Trapped in Khalid’s arms without being able to do anything, Renato grabbed the man’s shoulders in bewilderment. Khalid casually supported Renato’s back with one arm and put the other arm under the back of his knees.
“Please put your arms around my neck.”
Finishing his words, Khalid strode forward with Renato in his arms. When they stepped out of the barracks, the cool night air clung to their skin as if having waited. Renato’s body inadvertently trembled, feeling the chilly air penetrate his shirt. Because of that, Khalid’s steps became a little faster.
“So, I…… Eh? Commander-nim?”
“What, did someone come, gasp.”
The knights, who were giggling among themselves during their night watch, saw the two and quickly stood up. Someone hiccuped in surprise when he saw Renato in Khalid’s arms. Another knight let out a fake cough and looked away, pretending he hadn’t seen anything.
Feeling the glances at him in Khalid’s arms, Renato lowered his head. Being moved in this way as a fully grown-up man made him feel an indescribable embarrassment.
“I’ll be waiting outside, so please take your time to wash up.”
Khalid brought Renato to the front of the bathtub, put down the sleeping gown he was holding in his other hand, then went outside. Left alone, Renato slowly undressed, rubbing his burning cheeks with his hands. Then, he immersed himself in the bathtub filled with hot steam.
“……Uhm.”
About 30 minutes later, having finished washing his body and changed into his sleeping gown, Renato ran into a new challenge. He had no shoes because he was carried in Khalid’s arms. At that moment, Khalid’s voice rang from outside in a timely manner.
“Did you finish washing? May I go inside?”
“Ah, yes!”
As soon as Renato replied, Khalid entered. Only then did Renato remember the man said he would be waiting outside.
“Your hair isn’t dry yet.”
Khalid looked up and down at Renato who had changed into the sleeping gown, then took a dry towel next to the bathtub and wiped his still-wet hair.
“When camping, you need to dry your hair carefully. Especially on cold days like today, your hair can freeze. And you can catch a cold too.”
“I don’t think it’s that cold…… Hamm.”
Renato quietly yawned, feeling the hand drying his hair. He couldn’t figure out why he was so sleepy when he just woke up a little while ago. Khalid noticed Renato’s state like a ghost and slightly tilted his head.
“Are you feeling sleepy?”
“A little bit, why am I like this……”
Renato answered in a sleepy voice and rubbed his eyes with his hand. Let’s go back, Khalid said, putting down the towel and holding Renato up in his arms again. He quickly returned to the barracks and placed Renato on the camp bed.
“I added firewood earlier, but just in case…… I will check the heater one more time, so please lie down first.”
“Excuse me, your highness.”
Renato raised his hand and grabbed the hem of Khalid’s sleeve when the man walked towards the heater.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, today I……”
Renato was about to ask Khalid something, but then closed his mouth again. While washing up, he traced back his memories during the treatment. But he couldn’t think of anything. There were occasionally scenes that came to his mind, but he couldn’t tell what was real and what was not.
However, when Renato recalled his memory of the last day in his previous life, the firm body hugging him and the voice endlessly whispering words of comfort whenever he struggled in pain and sobbed in fear were clear.
‘I’m back, to keep my promise.’
‘Was I too late?’
‘Shh, don’t cry. Because we have met again now, hmm?’
Was the voice comforting him real, or was it a consolation that Khalid made up after hearing his story?
What Renato wanted to ask the most were the words he heard before falling asleep. Did the man remember anything, or did he feel something after hearing his story?
If Khalid had recollections of the previous life…… Just thinking about it made his heart fiercely pound. Renato wanted Khalid to remember the past life, but didn’t want to at the same time. Because the gentle him would definitely feel sorry for Renato if he recalled the past life.
Still, Renato wanted Khalid to remember the time that had disappeared. The stories they shared while meeting late at night to avoid people’s eyes, the small promise they made at that time, and the oath the man made to live as Renato’s knight before leaving.
This greed wouldn’t have arisen if Khalid hadn’t been as gentle as in his previous life. However, the man was warm and gentle enough to bring tears to his eyes even when remembering nothing, as if saying he was essentially the same person. So Renato kept having this foolish greed. At the same time, he was worried and anxious.
He would think it’s weird, right?
Renato glanced at Khalid, wiggling his hand on the man’s sleeve. Although he was relieved that Khalid’s attitude toward him had not changed, inexplicable anxiety still rushed over him. Because Renato hardly remembered how far or how much he talked about the past.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Did you do something wrong to me?”
“Pardon? No, it’s not like that…… I was just worried that I might have said something strange during treatment.”
Khalid’s expression which was feigning composure momentarily shook. But then, a smile quickly appeared on his lips as he gently stroked Renato’s hair.
“I already promised before the treatment, right? I will not ask you anything, Your Imperial Highness.”
Khalid tried to hide his true feelings and said in a voice as soft as possible. Truthfully, there were so many things he wanted to ask. While Renato was asleep, he kept thinking and thinking about them. However, no matter how many times he pondered, no clear answer appeared. Rather, the more he thought about it, the more messed up his mind became.
Why did you wait for me? What did I promise you?
Khalid managed to suppress the question that surged up to his throat. There were a lot of things he wanted to ask Renato, but now was not the time. He shouldn’t harass someone having a hard time. With that in mind, Khalid smiled so that Renato wouldn’t be scared and could rest assured.
“Are you not curious? You wanted to know what my secret was before.”
“I did, but…… I’m very patient. I’m also good at waiting. So please tell me if you can trust me more later. Meanwhile, I will do my best to earn your trust, Your Imperial Highness.”
Khalid looked at the pale purple eyes violently shaking because of his words, then moved his hand stroking Renato’s hair to touch the reddish eye corner. He already knew Renato had a secret that he couldn’t tell. Khalid had decided to wait for Renato, so all he needed to do was to wait.
“I don’t think we need to particularly pay attention to the heater. We have to leave early tomorrow morning, so let’s go to sleep.”
Please come here, Khalid came up to the bed and pulled Renato into his arms. He supported the round head with his left arm and gently patted the thin back with his right hand.
Hugged in the man’s warm arms, Renato slowly blinked his eyes. He had a lot to say to Khalid, but he just wanted to feel this warmth for now. So he chose to dig into Khalid’s chest. With that, as if complimenting him for having done well, the firm arms tightly embraced his body.
“May you have a good dream.”
Renato closed his eyes, feeling a warmth touching his forehead together with a gentle whisper. He fell asleep without any nightmares for the first time in a very long while. It was a cozy and warm night.
“I’m glad you ate well.”
Khalid took the empty bowl with a bright smile. From what he had been observing up until now, Renato had very little appetite. He preferred vegetables and fruits to meat or flour.
Still, he ate and drank very little by Khalid’s standards. When advised to eat more, Renato would reply that he had no appetite or that he was full.
Renato’s eating habits were close to a culture shock to Khalid, who ate three or four servings per meal. He also once wondered if Renato’s body was weak because he ate so little. Maybe because Renato looked like a white rabbit, he ate just like one.
“It’s because the person who made it is good at cooking.”
“I will make it for you again next time.”
Khalid seriously wondered if he should mince some meat next time. In his eyes, Renato was so small and thin that the wind could also blow him away, and so pitiful that he might break if held in one’s hand.
Besides, he was frail enough to have fainted several times in the last few months. He needed to gain some weight to be healthier than now. His growth period wasn’t over yet, so it would be nice if he could become taller too.
To do so, he had to eat well and sleep well. Khalid finished his cleaning up, thinking about how to make Renato healthy.
“The water must have been warmed up by now. There is hot water in the barracks opposite, so please wash up.”
“Now?”
“Yes, you sweated a lot, so just going to sleep like this will make you feel uncomfortable. Although I did wipe you with a wet towel before…… Ah, should I call Sir Louis if you need help?”
“No, please don’t call him. I will just wash alone…… Agh.”
Renato dissuaded Khalid from calling Louis and raised his heavy body. After his regression, he never asked for help during baths to hide the scar on his waist. Renato, who was in a hurry to get out of bed, momentarily lost his balance and stumbled.
“Be careful.”
Khalid quickly held Renato by the waist and helped him stand up. Then, he looked at Renato with worried eyes.
“Are you perhaps feeling dizzy?”
“I’m not dizzy, I just lost strength in my body for a bit……”
“It’s probably because of the sedative. It has the effect of releasing tension in the body and relaxing the muscles. I’ll carry you in case you fall.”
“Pardon? No, I’m o……”
Before he could answer that he was okay, his body was lifted. Trapped in Khalid’s arms without being able to do anything, Renato grabbed the man’s shoulders in bewilderment. Khalid casually supported Renato’s back with one arm and put the other arm under the back of his knees.
“Please put your arms around my neck.”
Finishing his words, Khalid strode forward with Renato in his arms. When they stepped out of the barracks, the cool night air clung to their skin as if having waited. Renato’s body inadvertently trembled, feeling the chilly air penetrate his shirt. Because of that, Khalid’s steps became a little faster.
“So, I…… Eh? Commander-nim?”
“What, did someone come, gasp.”
The knights, who were giggling among themselves during their night watch, saw the two and quickly stood up. Someone hiccuped in surprise when he saw Renato in Khalid’s arms. Another knight let out a fake cough and looked away, pretending he hadn’t seen anything.
Feeling the glances at him in Khalid’s arms, Renato lowered his head. Being moved in this way as a fully grown-up man made him feel an indescribable embarrassment.
“I’ll be waiting outside, so please take your time to wash up.”
Khalid brought Renato to the front of the bathtub, put down the sleeping gown he was holding in his other hand, then went outside. Left alone, Renato slowly undressed, rubbing his burning cheeks with his hands. Then, he immersed himself in the bathtub filled with hot steam.
“……Uhm.”
About 30 minutes later, having finished washing his body and changed into his sleeping gown, Renato ran into a new challenge. He had no shoes because he was carried in Khalid’s arms. At that moment, Khalid’s voice rang from outside in a timely manner.
“Did you finish washing? May I go inside?”
“Ah, yes!”
As soon as Renato replied, Khalid entered. Only then did Renato remember the man said he would be waiting outside.
“Your hair isn’t dry yet.”
Khalid looked up and down at Renato who had changed into the sleeping gown, then took a dry towel next to the bathtub and wiped his still-wet hair.
“When camping, you need to dry your hair carefully. Especially on cold days like today, your hair can freeze. And you can catch a cold too.”
“I don’t think it’s that cold…… Hamm.”
Renato quietly yawned, feeling the hand drying his hair. He couldn’t figure out why he was so sleepy when he just woke up a little while ago. Khalid noticed Renato’s state like a ghost and slightly tilted his head.
“Are you feeling sleepy?”
“A little bit, why am I like this……”
Renato answered in a sleepy voice and rubbed his eyes with his hand. Let’s go back, Khalid said, putting down the towel and holding Renato up in his arms again. He quickly returned to the barracks and placed Renato on the camp bed.
“I added firewood earlier, but just in case…… I will check the heater one more time, so please lie down first.”
“Excuse me, your highness.”
Renato raised his hand and grabbed the hem of Khalid’s sleeve when the man walked towards the heater.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, today I……”
Renato was about to ask Khalid something, but then closed his mouth again. While washing up, he traced back his memories during the treatment. But he couldn’t think of anything. There were occasionally scenes that came to his mind, but he couldn’t tell what was real and what was not.
However, when Renato recalled his memory of the last day in his previous life, the firm body hugging him and the voice endlessly whispering words of comfort whenever he struggled in pain and sobbed in fear were clear.
‘I’m back, to keep my promise.’
‘Was I too late?’
‘Shh, don’t cry. Because we have met again now, hmm?’
Was the voice comforting him real, or was it a consolation that Khalid made up after hearing his story?
What Renato wanted to ask the most were the words he heard before falling asleep. Did the man remember anything, or did he feel something after hearing his story?
If Khalid had recollections of the previous life…… Just thinking about it made his heart fiercely pound. Renato wanted Khalid to remember the past life, but didn’t want to at the same time. Because the gentle him would definitely feel sorry for Renato if he recalled the past life.
Still, Renato wanted Khalid to remember the time that had disappeared. The stories they shared while meeting late at night to avoid people’s eyes, the small promise they made at that time, and the oath the man made to live as Renato’s knight before leaving.
This greed wouldn’t have arisen if Khalid hadn’t been as gentle as in his previous life. However, the man was warm and gentle enough to bring tears to his eyes even when remembering nothing, as if saying he was essentially the same person. So Renato kept having this foolish greed. At the same time, he was worried and anxious.
He would think it’s weird, right?
Renato glanced at Khalid, wiggling his hand on the man’s sleeve. Although he was relieved that Khalid’s attitude toward him had not changed, inexplicable anxiety still rushed over him. Because Renato hardly remembered how far or how much he talked about the past.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Did you do something wrong to me?”
“Pardon? No, it’s not like that…… I was just worried that I might have said something strange during treatment.”
Khalid’s expression which was feigning composure momentarily shook. But then, a smile quickly appeared on his lips as he gently stroked Renato’s hair.
“I already promised before the treatment, right? I will not ask you anything, Your Imperial Highness.”
Khalid tried to hide his true feelings and said in a voice as soft as possible. Truthfully, there were so many things he wanted to ask. While Renato was asleep, he kept thinking and thinking about them. However, no matter how many times he pondered, no clear answer appeared. Rather, the more he thought about it, the more messed up his mind became.
Why did you wait for me? What did I promise you?
Khalid managed to suppress the question that surged up to his throat. There were a lot of things he wanted to ask Renato, but now was not the time. He shouldn’t harass someone having a hard time. With that in mind, Khalid smiled so that Renato wouldn’t be scared and could rest assured.
“Are you not curious? You wanted to know what my secret was before.”
“I did, but…… I’m very patient. I’m also good at waiting. So please tell me if you can trust me more later. Meanwhile, I will do my best to earn your trust, Your Imperial Highness.”
Khalid looked at the pale purple eyes violently shaking because of his words, then moved his hand stroking Renato’s hair to touch the reddish eye corner. He already knew Renato had a secret that he couldn’t tell. Khalid had decided to wait for Renato, so all he needed to do was to wait.
“I don’t think we need to particularly pay attention to the heater. We have to leave early tomorrow morning, so let’s go to sleep.”
Please come here, Khalid came up to the bed and pulled Renato into his arms. He supported the round head with his left arm and gently patted the thin back with his right hand.
Hugged in the man’s warm arms, Renato slowly blinked his eyes. He had a lot to say to Khalid, but he just wanted to feel this warmth for now. So he chose to dig into Khalid’s chest. With that, as if complimenting him for having done well, the firm arms tightly embraced his body.
“May you have a good dream.”
Renato closed his eyes, feeling a warmth touching his forehead together with a gentle whisper. He fell asleep without any nightmares for the first time in a very long while. It was a cozy and warm night.
