Duke, Please Stop Because it Hurts
chapter-46

“Molitia.”

He gently touched her shoulder. He couldn’t just leave as he thought that she would feel saddened by it.

“Didn’t you want to see me off?”

Tap tap. He shook her a little harder. Nevertheless, Molitia was just as still. She wasn’t even showing a slight reaction to having a pleasant dream either.

“Molitia?”

It was definitely strange. Hence, making him grab her hastily by the shoulder.

Her limp body wasn’t moving at all under his firm grip. Even yesterday, it terrified him when he noticed that her mouth was sealed tight.

Her already pallid complexion seemed to get paler by the days. Raven immediately shook her even stronger.

“Molitia, open your eyes.”

“Ah…….”

Did that wake her up? Her firmly closed eyelids started trembling to reveal her hazy purple eyes. He gently embraced Molitia, who seemed to be rolling her eyes languidly while in a distrait.

“Do you have any energy? Do you feel any pain?”

“I…”

“No matter what I did, you weren’t waking at all. It’s just like…”

She was dead. Raven quickly stopped himself when he was just about to utter those words. Such frightening words were neither spoken nor did he want to enounce them out loud.

He might have been too agitated. She was just a very heavy sleeper, so he might have made too much of a fuss. He tried to calm himself despite his severe anxiety.

“You were sleeping so soundly that made me wonder if you were somehow sick.”

“Oh, no. It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt. I must have fallen asleep deeply. I didn’t even notice that you were waking me up.”

“Really?”

He placed his hand on her forehead with an obviously worried face that he couldn’t hide.

“…you seem to have a slight fever.”

“I’m telling you, I just woke up so my body must be quite warm.”

“Do you want me to call for a doctor?”

“No, no. It’s really okay, Raven. I was just too sleepy.”

“Are you sure?”

Despite his persistent questions, Molitia still cracked a quiet smile.

“Of course. But I’m not sure if I’m able to see you off…”

“You don’t have to do that.”

He sighed softly before carefully laying her back on bed. When her head had been placed assuredly on the soft pillow, Raven raised himself up.

“You should take a good rest. I’ll be back later.”

Raven immediately told Molitia to lie down just as she was about to get up. He pulled the quilt and covered her properly until he was satisfied.

“Goodbye.”

Raven gave her a smile while she could only greet him back with a peek from under her arms. It was only after Raven had planted a peck on Molitia’s forehead did he leave the bedroom.

Thud.

Molitia mechanically waved her tired arms until the door had been closed shut and no footsteps could be heard any longer.

Straight after the absence of his footsteps, she let her hand go. Then, she instantly placed her hand across her heart while catching her breath.

She truly hoped that it at least went fairly well.

She was very confident that it wasn’t obvious at all. Right?

Her trembling breath was simmering hot. It was due to the accumulation of her fatigue by the days, which had exceeded its limit. It was never easy for her to endure this far with her physical strength that was already weak enough.

Dizziness shot through her head all of a sudden. She lay straight on her back as she was unable to move steadily. Molitia then clenched her teeth to hold back her nausea.

“My Lady, I have already prepared the bath.”

Pillen greeted her as the door was carefully opened, which made Molitia pull her blanket hurriedly. She wasn’t confident in her act at the moment as compared to when she was with Raven.

“I’m sorry, can I do it a little later? I don’t really have the energy…”

“Are you alright, Madame?”

“It’s alright, Pillen. I think it’d be nice if you could give me a massage after my bath, just like yesterday. Do you mind if I ask for it?”

“Of course not. Just ask for me anytime.”

“Thank you.”

Molitia sighed softly. Thanks to the maids’ much consideration, they stationed themselves at a very comfortable distance away. They would be very surprised if they were to come closer and had a look on her pale face. It was good to see that it didn’t happen at all.