At the Hospital
2215 Words
It was very stupid of him to not know the basics of magic items. When a wearer used the magic item for a long period of time. The energy of the wearer must be compensated. That resulted in over exhaustion and strains on his body.
At the preliminary examination of the head doctor stationed at the Royal Medical Hospital. He assured the royal family that there will be no serious drawbacks to using a magic item. But one must use it in moderation and it’s not suitable for everyday use.
The doctor said that Gerald needed to take some rest and everything will be fine as long as he doesn't do it again.
It was clearly a reckless and careless act of Gerald and was now regretting it in his sleep. He can feel a weak sensation on his hand and was not quite able to open his eyes yet. However, he can hear their indistinct conversation.
He felt a surge of relief all over his body when he heard the doctor tell him that it was just fatigue and was not a chronic illness. But it was also stupid to think of that since he is a doctor and he’s the only one who knows his health than anybody else.
There’s no way that his father will permit him to use that portrait ability again. There will be no more disguises and his real identity will be revealed on the campus.
Few hours passed, he was able to open his eyes and a fleming light rushed over in his dilated pupils making him squint a little. He wanted to cover it with his hands but was unable to.
He tried to know the reason and turned his head to the right and saw a woman sleeping over his hand rendering it immobile.
There are also three girls seated on the bench. Now, piecing all of the information that he has. He can tell that the one who’s sleeping in his hand was no other than Catarina, the three girls on the bench are; Felicia, Andrea, and Howe, they were cutely sleeping on each other’s shoulder. It seems that they were here for so long and watched over him.
He smiled at them with a hint of apologetic expression. He was sorry that he made them worried over his ignorance even though he was reincarnated two times.
He can feel that his right hand was enveloped by Catarina’s hand. He enveloped his hand over her hands. These actions woke Catarina who was in deep sleep. She slowly opened her eyes only to find out that Gerald was now awake and was watching her sleep.
He can see her expression with her mouth opened wide as she was relieved that he was awake now.
“What...time...is...it?”
Since he just woke up and get over his exhausted state. He can’t speak straightly as it strains his diaphragm muscles. So he speaks word by word.
“Don’t force yourself, you’re still recovering.” She said with a soothing voice while enveloping his right hand even more.
“I’m...sorry.” He gathered all the strength within himself only to speak two words. He was so careless and made his family, friends, and fiance worried. It was very stupid for a man who has 4 Ph. Ds.
Then she jumped out over his chest hugging him, he can feel her large bust squeezing in between his body and her body. This was also the time where he can assess himself.
The first thing for a patient to do after they woke up is to know if their senses are intact. Hearing, touch is okay, his smell is okay after he sniffed her hair, sight is clearly okay, and the taste is the only thing he needed to prove to know if he has some sort of brain damage. Just to make sure.
“Don’t say things like that, I know that your father ordered you to take the portrait ability and he regretted it as well…”
She said with a soothing voice calming him down, there is also a hint of worries in her voice and that made Gerald feel sorry for them even more. He redirected all of his energy to his right arms and tried to hug her back.
Catarina who notices his arm moving slowly onto her grabbed it and locked it onto her waist. It seems that Catarina figured out what he was about to do.
“So, Andrea and Howe are worried about you. Felicia was crying earlier after knowing that you were hospitalized.” She whispered on his earlobe trying not to wake the other three from their sleep.
“What...about...Roland?” He asked weakly.
“Roland wasn’t here, he was now making a move on becoming a king. He is gathering political allies.”
Hmm, it feels like Roland seriously wants to become a king. But even so, this Empire fell on when he took the throne. A charismatic child who was favored by all nobles and scholars, his charismatic appearance helped him climb the ladder and gained the favor of the nobles. The point is, he doesn’t know how to run a country and he was treating it as it was an exam.
I digress.
Now, after hearing that, he was now at disadvantage. He didn’t include in his calculation that he will make a move so soon. This battle for the right of the throne will be hard-fought. Including all the projects that he must oversee to strengthen the Empire’s military and increases the welfare of his people through new policies. But those policies are credited to the reigning king not him. But his father doesn’t hunger for attention but gave Gerald the credit.
Meaning he was not that far back against Roland, there is also a possibility that he is ahead of the race.
“I...see...then...it...can’t...be...help...I...must...take...action...too”
He said trying to get up but was unable to. He lacks the energy to do so and to add the mass of Catarina weighing him down. His chance of getting up is zero. Catarina noticed that and tried to put more pressure on him trying not to let him get up.
“You must rest Thomas or else…I will not kiss you…”
After that, the resistance she’s feeling upwards gradually fades away after saying that word.
“I...need...you...to...kiss...me...in...my...lips...I...might...get...better…” He teased her with those words and laughed weakly.
But seconds later, Catarina suddenly kissed him on the lips. It was like a kiss on the forehead. It was fast. She looked at him with a dissatisfied look.
“Why...is...it...so...fast?” He complained, “This...will...not...get...me...better…more”
She pulled his cheeks and Gerald began to complain.
“Don’t get full of yourself!” She scolded him for teasing her and then her face turned bashfully, “I’m...saving...it...for...our...wedding”
Catarina was looking cute at her bashful face and cute voice. She fought her embarrassment just to say those words so Gerald had to smile at least in return.
“Well...if...you...say...it...like...that...I...feel...assured” He smiled teasingly at her reddened face.
They were having a smooth conversation until Felicia woke up, she was hearing this indistinct voice and opened her eyes slowly only to see Catarina flirting with his brother.
“What do you think you’re doing!” She shouted which rouse the two women in their sleep.
This voice was the voice Gerald doesn’t want to hear since it will interrupt their casual conversation with Catarina.
Felicia used her elbow to push Catarina aside and said.
“My brother is sick and you’re flirting at him? I know that you’re the fiance but have the courtesy of common sense.” She scolded Catarina who was surprised at her mature statement.
His brother is also surprised as well. It feels like Catarina was burned by that sentence.
“Look, I was not flirting with your brother, I was just having a conversation with him.”
“Ahh so? How can you explain the lovey-dovey act that you two committed earlier before?”
“Earlier?” Catarina tilted her head to the side questioningly.
Catarina who was contemplating her thoughts realizes something.
“Don’t tell me you were awake?”
“That’s right, I was watching subtly, it feels like I’m watching a romantic play.”
“Hahahahaha” Gerald chuckled after hearing it from his little sister.
“Moah! It’s embarrassing.” She said with a flustered face.
“I also witness how my brother is meekly teasing Catarina, you should have seen her face at the time hahaha”
“I wasn’t, I wasn’t”
The two siblings are now teasing Catarina and the atmosphere seemed to be casual. However, they forgot one thing.
“Your Highness!”
A two beautiful maiden who was kneeling said in unison with a tone of respect.
“First of all, I’m sorry for showing my disrespectful attitude towards you. I am sure that this matter won’t slide and I’m willing to be punished even if that is Lese Majeste. Please before you do that, I heed you one final request...Please spare my sister!”
Wales declared seriously on which Howe was baffled for a little bit.
“Onee-chan? What are you saying?” Concerned to her sister she looked at Gerald with a straight face and said.
“If you’re going to do that, please do it to me! Don’t punish my sister for being acting like that. In fact, she likes you so much, there’s no way that she can disrespect the man she highly looks up to!” She defended.
“No Onee-chan! I am the one who disrespected him! I must be punished.”
“No, it’s me! I didn’t scold your attitude back then so it was my fault.”
“No! You apologized to him so there’s no way that you’re the one who will be punished.”
After a series of points out, Gerald had enough and began to raise his hand and shouted “Enough!”
The two who are in trance began to silence immediately after he shouted. Rapping his fingers to his forehead he looked at the two who were wearing a pitiful expression.
“I...was...in...disguise...so...technically...you..didn’t...disrespected...me...directly...after...showing...your...compassion...and...concerns...on...my...health...I...am...deeply...thankful...to...the...two...of...you...so,..don’t...think...about...of...being...punished”
He gathered most of his strength just to assure the two that there will be no punishment. In fact, he should apologize to them for disguising and talking to them.
“Thank you for those compassionate words, your highness!” Howe said once more reverently and bowed her head.
Andrea did the same, feeling assured of being free of punishment.
“It seems like the second prince is awake”
A manly voice sounded at the door, he was with someone that he’s overly familiar with.
“Your Majesty!” Andrea and Howe exclaimed
“Father?” Gerald and Felicia exclaimed.
“And father?”
Andrea and Howe looked to the guy beside the King who seems to be their father. Gerald recalled his memories to know who’s the guy standing beside his father.
After a moment of skimming through his memories, the answer abruptly rose.
That is the Duke of Wales! The famed general participated in many wars including the rebellion on Britannia Columbia.
“Father, what are you doing here?” Andrea immediately asked his father who is also in surprised as well,
“Why? don’t you want to see your father?” The Duke said.
“It’s not that…”
“Well, the King and I have an announcement to make.”
“Announcement?”
“Yes, the truth is the two of you will become the advisor of Prince Gerald del Stuart! Andrea Wales, you will be his military advisor and you Howe Wales will become his political advisor! I know that two of you have a huge grasp of knowledge in terms of the field chosen to you. The king appraised it and wants the two of you to work with him at Britannia Columbia in six months.”
Hearing the announcement, the two siblings can’t help but exclaim in disbelief once more. Them being the advisor of the prince? This is an absurd role to someone who’s the same age as him.
“I’m looking forward to working with you,” Gerald said straightly.
“Your Highness? Is that really okay?”
“Why not? It’s a huge help for me since I don’t know how politics and the military works. So, It's perfect timing that my father assigned you to me. I believe you have the will and wits to accomplish your task.”
“We will not let you down your highness!”
- Writer
