Chapter 6 Injury and Care
I didn't expect the Seventh Prince to visit the Cold Palace the next day.
He brought wound medicine.
"Sorry, my younger brother is mischievous and unruly. Please don't hold it against him."
His words didn't match his appearance.
Just him? The male lead?
After he left, I wanted to throw the medicine away in anger, hesitated, and couldn't part with it.
The imperial physician avoided the Cold Palace. Medicine was scarce. If wasted...
Xie Fei noticed my struggle and said, "Apply the medicine."
I walked over, annoyed. "You were treated like this. Aren't you angry?"
Always so calm.
I wanted to lift his pant leg to apply it, but he gently stopped me. "It's for you."
After a moment, I remembered I was injured too.
But the wound had healed under the System's repair.
Unable to make up an excuse, I said, "This slave has thick skin. The injury isn't bad. Applying medicine to you is more important."
Ignoring his objection, I rolled up his pant leg and applied the medicine quickly.
Xie Fei trembled slightly but didn't dodge.
When almost done, his voice grew hoarse. "It doesn't matter how others treat me. As long as you're by my side, it's fine."
I was stunned, realizing he answered my earlier question.
Why no anger? Because they're outsiders, it doesn't matter.
He'd never received kindness, so he didn't expect it from others.
This answer was because I'd stayed with him, showing a chick-like clinginess.
Even so, I was his only support.
I sighed and traded points with the System.
Using two-thirds of my points, I exchanged knowledge and supplies.
I gave him everything.
I didn't mind showing some mysteries to him. He wisely didn't probe.
Occasionally, he would question.
In a rare undisturbed afternoon, the sun was warm. Xie Fei lifted his clear eyes toward me.
"Why are you so good to me?"
I made something up. "Because... one day a master, lifelong friend."
"I teach you knowledge, so I am your Master. A Master treating a disciple well is only right."
Xie Fei nodded softly. "Master."
I trembled.
I hadn't expected him to call me that so seriously.
Xie Fei rested his chin on his hand. "You don't need to call me Your Highness. Too distant. Just call me by name."
"Xie Fei?"
He stared at me without speaking.
A lightbulb flashed in my mind. I recalled the original story and tried, "A-Fei?"
"Yeah."
That was a response.
...So it was the clinginess after all.