I had no intention of revealing my identity to him, but I approached closer to check his condition.

Elderly-looking nobles were busy chattering around Ian. Ian was rubbing his eyes with his fingertips, looking tired.

“Have you heard the news that war horses are being secretly smuggled out of the Parbel domain?”

“It’s just a rumor. Since it borders another country, sometimes ignorant people engage in private trade behind the lord’s back. And the horses raised in Parbel are just foals at best. Be careful not to spread words that could cause misunderstandings.”

“There must be a reason for such rumors to circulate. And foals? While horses born in Parbel are smaller than others, they are a breed that endures well even in high mountainous areas, making them sufficient as war horses. Isn’t it the lord’s duty to prevent illegal trade with foreign countries? I wonder if Baron Parbel is properly fulfilling his role as a lord if he can’t even manage that.”

Looking at Ian’s extremely tired complexion, I felt sympathetic. I couldn’t understand why they wanted to argue loudly in front of someone who looked so exhausted.

“If there are suspicious circumstances, we can send someone to investigate. I don’t want to misunderstand and think Baron Parbel is colluding with a foreign country, but since private trade is forbidden by the state, it seems a thorough check is necessary.”

At Ian’s words, the expression of the man with a long white beard brightened. On the other hand, the face of the short, potbellied middle-aged man who had been raising his voice in opposition twisted sharply.

“I know Baron Parbel is related to Count Ketaina. But I have no intention of associating Count Ketaina with any wrongdoing of his, if there is any.”

“That’s only natural.”

“And if no evidence is found after the investigation, Baron Chaison, who tried to tarnish Baron Parbel’s honor, will be held responsible.”

“Tarnish his honor… I merely relayed a rumor.”

“You must take responsibility for carelessly spreading unconfirmed rumors. So, which family’s knight are you thinking of dispatching to the domain?”

This time, they raised their voices again, asking for knights they recommended to be sent to Parbel’s domain. The people around them also took sides and started adding strength to their voices.

Just watching made me feel drained.

Ian seemed to feel the same way. He kept pressing his fingertips against his eyes, looking tired.

“Huh?”

Because I was closely observing his complexion out of concern for his health, I was able to witness his eyes changing in an instant, like drops of blood spreading in blue water. Chills ran down my spine.

I had advised him to honestly disclose his reddened eyes, fearing side effects, but not like this. I didn’t want people to find out in such an uncontrolled situation either.

I didn’t want to see the foundation he had worked so hard to build crumble just because of his eye color.

“How can we trust that person? Who knows if they might even fabricate non-existent crimes!”

“Are you insulting the knight I’m recommending right now?”

Fortunately, the nobles around Ian were too busy raising their voices at each other to notice the change in his eye color.

The problem was that Ian himself didn’t seem to realize his eye color had changed. He kept rubbing his eyes.

There was no time to think. If I delayed even a little, the people around him would see his changed eye color and find it strange.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince. I have an urgent matter to discuss with you.”

I recklessly entered their circle and grabbed Ian’s wrist.

At my sudden appearance, the nobles forgot their heated argument and looked at me with bewildered expressions. My action was impulsive and rude. But I couldn’t think of a better way to get Ian out of there.

I worried he might push my hand away. After all, a stranger was suddenly trying to grab his hand and pull him away.

Although I had spent a long time with Ian and broken down the walls between us, Ian wasn’t particularly kind to others. Rather, he was prickly. He wasn’t the type to smile and overlook such rudeness.

But fortunately, Ian didn’t push my hand away and obediently followed. He seemed too tired to think anything of my sudden rudeness.

I glanced back at him.

‘Is he smiling?’

He was wearing a strangely satisfied smile. With tears welling up in his eyes.

Even though I had grabbed his hand first, I felt like he was the one holding onto mine. He was gripping my hand tightly. As if he didn’t want to let go.

‘This is strange. The way he’s been staring openly since earlier… What is it? Did he have a secret crush on Claire all this time? That can’t be…’

Ian had never directly mentioned Claire before. But his attitude towards me, who now looked like Claire, was very peculiar.

‘It’s like the reaction of someone whose dead lover has come back to life.’

I had many questions, but that wasn’t the urgent matter right now. I pulled him along, looking for a place where there might be fewer people. Past the crowded fountain in the rear garden, a shaded space appeared between tall trees.

This place seemed unlikely to be noticed by others. Although I had hurriedly pulled him out, I was worried about how to explain this situation.

I wanted to shout, ‘Why didn’t you take your medicine? Your red eyes were almost revealed in front of everyone!’ but if I did, he would surely ask how I knew his secret.

I couldn’t tell him, ‘I’m Jane. There was a fire at the pharmacy, and when I opened my eyes, I had become Claire.’

What happened to me wasn’t easy to believe. Even if I explained in detail, I would surely be treated as if I had gone mad from a head injury.

Even if by some miracle I explained well and he believed me, I didn’t know how long I could borrow Claire’s body.

If I suddenly left this body, he would fall into despair again, and I didn’t want him to experience such a terrible thing.

‘That won’t do. I must never tell him that I’m Jane.’

“I’m sorry for suddenly pulling you away like this… but you looked really unwell…”

“?”

Ian didn’t even try to listen to my explanation and embraced me in an instant. In the blink of an eye, my face was buried in his chest.

“I missed you. Jane.”

“Ah…”

As I breathed in the cool scent of grass coming from him, I felt relieved to have returned to him, and tears suddenly burst forth without my realizing it.

I wasn’t the only one crying. He too was sobbing sorrowfully. My neck became damp from his tears. We stayed like that for a long time, holding each other.

When the situation was about to become awkward, I pushed him away. But he hugged me tightly again. Desperately, like a child clinging to a mother who was about to abandon him.

“Don’t leave me again.”

“…?”

My body stiffened at his words. My mind became complicated once again.

‘Come to think of it, didn’t he call me Jane earlier? Did he know I was Jane? How did he know? Is his condition that bad…?’

It was true that I was Jane, but it wasn’t normal for Ian to call me Jane when I had Claire’s body. Belatedly, I realized that his body was unusually hot.

“Wait a moment! I won’t run away, so please let go for a second.”

I barely managed to pry him off as he hugged me tightly as if he wouldn’t let go. Separated slightly from me, he looked at me with an anxious gaze, his face flushed.

He looked cute, like a puppy desperate to get close to its owner, but it wasn’t the time to just find him cute. His body, which had been embracing me, was like a fireball. It wouldn’t be strange if he lost consciousness right away.

“Stay still. Let me check your temperature.”

He nodded and lowered his head to make it easier for me to check his temperature.

“What on earth have you been doing to let your fever get this high without taking any medicine!”

With a fever this high, it was enough for him to mistake Claire for me. The fever could cause his brain to malfunction, leading to hallucinations or auditory illusions.

“It really is Jane.”

In this serious situation, he smiled. I wanted to scold him, but I couldn’t reprimand him further as he repeated “It’s Jane” with tears in his eyes while smiling.

“First, let’s do something about that fever… Oh my! Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

Before I could finish speaking, his knees buckled weakly, and he fell into my arms.

I mustered all the remaining motor skills in my body to barely prevent him from crashing to the ground.

“Ungh…”

But with Claire’s physical strength, I couldn’t hold him up for long.

“Oh no! Of all places, we had to come to this secluded spot where no one passes by…”

The location I had thought was perfect when bringing him here had become the worst choice. Since no one came by, I couldn’t call for help.