Celia’s Care

The world was shrouded in darkness. Serea once again found herself in that strange dream, but this time her consciousness was not very clear, and the scenes in the dream were vague.

Half-asleep and half-awake, Serea felt as if she were inside a furnace, the intense burning sensation drenching her in sweat—a discomfort so unbearable that she started to struggle. Yet, for some unknown reason, she simply couldn’t wake up.

She endured that searing heat until she suddenly felt a cool, soothing touch on her forehead. Shortly after, a rush of bitter medicinal liquid was gently poured into her mouth.

“Herbs? Right, I think I’m sick,”

Serea subconsciously thought. However, the medicine was poured too hastily, causing her to choke and start coughing violently. The person feeding her the medicine quickly stopped.

A large amount of the medicine was spat out by Serea, and the precious herbs were wasted just like that.

By then, Serea’s mind was gradually clearing. She blinked hard, as if trying to see clearly who was taking care of her.

Dazed, she opened her eyes, and the first person she saw was Celia. The moment Serea opened her eyes, Celia also noticed that she was awake.

The two locked eyes for a full ten seconds. Seeing that Serea was awake, Celia calmly stood up after finishing administering the medicine.

“You’re awake?”

“Ah… yes.”

Serea nodded, then stretched her body a bit. Her body felt dry and comfortable, with none of the clamminess from the cold sweat earlier. Glancing over herself, she asked,

“Wiping my body, changing my clothes and everything—was Celia the one who’s been taking care of me just now?”

“Well, you’re the patient, after all.”

“Thank you so much, Celia.”

When she said this, Serea felt as though there was something cool and liquid rolling across her own forehead, icy and pleasant.

Out of curiosity, Serea grabbed at it and found a soft slime in her hand.

“So you used these to cool me down…”

Looking at the slime in her hand, Serea hadn’t expected it to be so useful.

“Disturbing others’ rest is hardly the act of a lady.”

“Huh?”

Serea let out a startled cry, but Pelam ignored her, transformed back into a bracelet, and continued sleeping.

At that moment, Celia also reached out to feel Serea’s forehead.

“Your temperature is almost normal. One more night’s rest and you should be fine.”

As Celia spoke, she began tidying up the wooden basin and Serea’s changed clothing.

“Get some rest. If you need anything, call me.”

“Um… I’m hungry.”

At this, Celia’s steps faltered for an instant before she continued walking.

“Just wait. I’ll bring some food over in a bit.”

With those words, Celia left the wooden house. Less than ten minutes later, she returned carrying a steaming bowl of porridge, which she placed on the table.

“Eat, then go back to sleep.”

After that, Celia took a seat on a wooden chair nearby. It seemed she planned to stay the night to take care of Serea.

“You can’t expect a sick person to get up and fetch food for herself, you know.”

“You just have a cold.”

“That’s still the same.”

“……”

With no way to refute her, Celia got up and brought the bowl of porridge over to Serea’s bedside.

“Take this.”

“I don’t have the strength.”

“……”

“Ah~”

Serea opened her mouth, her intentions clear. Resigned, Celia sat down on the bed and picked up a spoon.

“Ah-um.”

Being fed personally by Celia, Serea was quite satisfied, and one taste was all it took to know that the porridge was definitely made by Dogsius.

Maybe she was simply too hungry—so even being fed, Serea finished the “battle” in less than five minutes.

“Had enough?”

“Yes.”

“Then rest now.”

Hearing that, Serea did feel her eyelids growing heavy.

“It’s already late. Celia, you should get some rest too.”

“I’ll rest in a minute… already asleep?”

Perhaps because Celia was by her side, Serea quickly drifted into a sweet slumber.

Watching Serea’s peaceful sleeping face, Celia took out a pendant, the soul crystal embedded in it emitting a faint blue glow.

That was the ‘Princess Serea’ whom she had sworn to protect for life. But for some reason, the only face in her heart was starting to overlap with another—today’s Serea.

With an indescribable anxiety filling her heart, Celia’s hand holding the pendant unconsciously tightened. Just then, another hand grasped her free hand.

The warmth in her palm pulled Celia back from endless imaginings. When she turned, she saw that Serea, even in sleep, was holding her hand and murmuring in her dreams:

“Hehehe, Celia…”

Serea smiled sweetly in her sleep as she talked, and seeing that smile, Celia’s own lips curled up unconsciously.

Perhaps it was precisely because this Serea existed now that she could endure the pain of losing her princess up to this point.

Accepting the “care” from this present Serea, somehow, that feeling never seemed to change. Bit by bit, Celia finally shook off her inner fears and quietly drifted off to sleep…

(To be continued…)

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