I’m in Trouble Because The Emperor Thinks My Time is Limited - Chapter 40

Lindel finished the sparring match without changing her expression, but Cryan wasn’t foolish enough to not notice her condition.

“Recently, I heard she had gotten better!” Pahn frowned, clearly frustrated.

The coughing of blood, the fainting with no known cause—these things had supposedly stopped. The strange symptoms that had left everyone anxious had suddenly ceased. Even those who had been the most doubtful and concerned had begun to relax as they saw Lindel’s complexion improve each day. Pahn and Cryan, too, had begun to feel hopeful.

How foolish they had been.

“Today, she deflected most of the attacks, even the ones she’d usually block with force to show off,” Cryan said sharply, his gaze fixed on the wooden sword Lindel had wielded.

He easily pulled the sword from where it had been stuck in the ground and swung it through the air. The wooden sword was light, too light for someone of Lindel’s skill.

“The tip of the sword trembled—something that would never happen to her normally,” Cryan said quietly.

Though Lindel hadn’t shown any signs of being physically drained, her expression, which could be hidden with experience, wasn’t the true indicator—her sword was.

A knight reflects themselves in their sword.

‘She drew attention by making large movements, and while everyone’s focus was on her, she pressed her chest and took shallow breaths.’

During the sparring match, Lindel had deliberately swung her sword widely several times, and during those moments, while everyone’s eyes were on her, she had subtly pressed her chest and taken shallow breaths.

Cryan hadn’t missed the brief moments when her expression had twisted in pain. Pahn, who had also noticed Lindel’s subtle actions, was now deeply distressed.

“She wasn’t fine at all!” Pahn exclaimed, raising a hand to cover his face as his shoulders shook. He was holding back tears.

“Should we inform His Majesty?”

“He already knows. He’s sharper than we are.”

“But… should we really let her walk around like this? What if it gets worse?” Pahn asked anxiously, his face filled with concern.

But again, Cryan shook his head, his expression growing more serious.

“Human muscles deteriorate if they aren’t used. As long as she doesn’t overexert herself, this level of activity is good for her.”

Cryan thought back to the look Utilia had given him before taking Lindel away. Utilia had been smiling, trying to hide her concern, but her eyes had been hard, filled with worry.

The reason Utilia had stopped the sparring session and taken Lindel away was the same as theirs—she had noticed Lindel quietly enduring her pain.

“I’ve really been blind.”

Though he wasn’t as close to Lindel as Schrein was, Cryan had a special affection for her. After losing his daughter to an attacker in his youth, Lindel had been like a child to him.

“Sir, just because you act this way doesn’t mean your daughter will come back. If she saw you like this, she’d be furious.”

Those had been Lindel’s words when she had come to visit him with Schrein. It was thanks to the brash little girl that Cryan had been able to get back on his feet.

That was why she was so precious to him. He wanted her to be happy.

‘Why didn’t I notice? Why didn’t I see that you were getting worse?’

If Schrein weren’t already out searching for that black cleric or whatever he was, Cryan would have been the one scouring the country himself. As things stood, with no news after weeks of searching, Cryan wanted to rush out right now.

“I’ve really been blind.”

The memory of Lindel’s forced smile, her face contorted to hide her pain, remained fresh in his mind. That was why he felt so pathetic for pretending not to notice.

As the training ground buzzed with activity, only Cryan and Pahn stood quietly, staring at the place where Lindel had disappeared.

***

“Crazy!”

Utilia slammed her teacup down so hard I winced.

“You almost broke it.”

“How could I not be shocked?”

Utilia ruffled her red hair in frustration, trying to calm herself, but her next words left me flustered.

“So, did you do it?”

“Pfft!”

The tea I had just sipped sprayed from my mouth, earning me a disgusted glare from Utilia.

“What the hell are you talking about?!”

“Didn’t you say you kissed him?”

“Hey!”

I threw my napkin at her, which she easily caught and tossed aside with her annoyingly quick reflexes.

“No, nothing like that happened.”

“You’re kidding! After spending so much time together, nothing happened?”

Utilia looked at me incredulously, then began to scold me.

“Lindel, I didn’t raise you to be this weak. What happened to the bold Lindel who would flirt with His Majesty every chance she got? Don’t tell me my friend is all talk and no action.”

“I’d rather be that than a shameless flirt like you.”

“You have to date lots of people to find the one that’s truly right for you.”

Typical Utilia—she was notorious for being a flirt in the knights.

“I’ve only ever had one-sided crushes. This is my first real relationship.”

Utilia reached out and patted my shoulder, her expression full of exaggerated pity. I thought she was trying to comfort me, but when I looked up, her expression was anything but kind.

“You rookies are all the same.”

Just as I was about to retort, someone casually interrupted us.

“The pure heart hidden beneath your strong exterior is true beauty. That’s what I admire most about you.”

“Kyaa!”

“And yet, I wouldn’t mind seeing your Casanova side once in a while.”

It was Julia. She had appeared out of nowhere, without making a sound, startling Utilia so much that she screamed and jumped to her feet.

I chuckled softly at Utilia’s reaction.

“You’re here, Miss Julia.”

“Good afternoon, Miss Lindel.”

Julia glanced at Utilia, who was still half in shock, before gracefully sitting down next to me.

“Greetings, Lady Areta,” Utilia stammered, still flustered.

Being a commoner, Utilia paid her respects, and Julia nodded politely in return.

From my repeated meetings with Julia, I had learned that she disliked unnecessary formalities. Utilia, however, gave me a questioning look, as if asking why Julia was here. I could only respond with a smile.

I didn’t know why either.

Julia’s visits were always unannounced, and her reasons for coming varied.

“It seems I’ve interrupted your tea time,” Julia said as she lightly clapped her hands, summoning her attendant. I smiled at the familiar figure approaching.

It was Nelly, Julia’s attendant, who had once referred to me as “flour dough.” Over time, thanks to Julia’s frequent visits, I had become quite friendly with him.

Though we had never exchanged words due to his quiet nature, I still wondered why such a serious man had made that bizarre “flour dough” comment in the past.

“Today, I baked some cookies. They’re not much, but I hope you’ll enjoy them.”

Despite her modest words, Julia proudly presented her cookies.

“Wow! You’re amazing!”

I was genuinely impressed.

Every time Julia visited, she brought a gift, always something she had made herself. Without fail, everything she gave was crafted with incredible skill and care.

Whenever I showed my appreciation for her efforts, Julia would blush slightly and smile that beautiful smile of hers. It was that smile that always made it impossible for me to refuse her gifts.

“…You really can’t resist pretty faces, can you? That’s an illness.”

“What? What did you just say?”

Distracted by the cookies, I hadn’t heard Utilia’s mumblings, so I asked again, but she just shook her head.

“Miss Lindel, please, have some.”

As the three of us happily shared the cookies, Julia continued, “I was hoping we could do a fitting for the uniform I mentioned earlier. Would that be alright?”

“Yes, of course! Should I try it on now?”

“I’ll wait here.”

It seemed that today was the day for the fitting she had mentioned before, to adjust the uniform she had gifted me for the banquet.

As I stood to go change, Utilia gave me a curious look. I explained that Julia had given me a uniform to wear for the banquet and that I was going to try it on for fitting.

Utilia looked surprised, but quickly nodded.

Leaving the two of them behind, I went to change. I could hear them talking as I left, but the door closed before I could catch the details.

‘Hmm, it really doesn’t need any adjustments.’

I examined myself in the mirror. The uniform fit perfectly. I had already told Julia there was no need for alterations, but she had insisted that she had to make it flawless for me.

After adjusting the gold epaulettes on my right shoulder, I walked back to the parlor where Utilia and Julia were waiting.

“Did I keep you waiting long?”

But Utilia looked… strange.

“Utilia? What’s wrong?”

Her eyes were shaking slightly, and even though I asked her with a puzzled expression, she didn’t answer. I turned to Julia, but she wasn’t looking well either.

What on earth had happened while I was gone?

“Miss Julia!”

Just then, tears began to well up in Julia’s eyes as she stared at me, her lips slightly parted. Shocked, I rushed over to her, and Nelly, her attendant, also hurried to her side.

“Are you feeling unwell again? Are you having trouble breathing?”

Worried that her breathing issues had returned, I asked urgently, but Julia simply shook her head in silence.

This time, though, Nelly’s reaction was different. He calmly took a handkerchief from inside his jacket and handed it to Julia.

“Miss Julia is often moved to tears in particularly touching moments. She has a very sensitive soul.”

Nelly’s explanation was surprisingly calm and reassuring.

“I see,” I said seriously, nodding along.

Of course, I had no idea what had been so touching about this moment. Beside me, I could feel Utilia staring at us with a look of utter disbelief.

But what could I say? I didn’t understand it either.