CH 79

‘Is it getting better?’

With a dazed look, Sera watched Helios, who was imbuing divine power into her wounds. His violet eyes that were focused on her treatment were so deep and mysterious that she thought she might fall into them if she wasn’t careful.

Then, she recalled how his eyes had flashed for an instant, even when they were always just soft before. The moment he saved her, Helios reacted so sharply that it was unimaginable that this emperor had always acted so gently.

‘Did you get angry because of me?’

It was evident to see how angry he was when he firmly grabbed Duke Bethman’s wrist as the duke was holding onto Sera’s shoulder.

Sera continued staring at Helios, who had no idea what was going on inside her head. As she kept thinking of the ways he’s shown his favor towards her, Sera noticed her true feelings.

‘I like him.’

Sera unknowingly bit her lower lip as she said this to herself.

Handsome. A caring attitude regardless of status. Even the warm attention he had for his siblings was perfect. It would be strange for anyone’s eyes to pass over Helios.

Besides this, under the pretext of talking about the twin highnesses’ education, there were many times that they talked with only the two of them there. These light pink feelings she had for him naturally blossomed in many different ways.

However… He was the emperor of this country.

Adelio was a country where social class was predominant. Regardless of how Helios and the twins treated her well as a tutor, but the walls that stood between them were steep.

‘Someone who I won’t and <can’t cross the line with. He’s someone I can’t even <dare catch feelings for.’

It was difficult enough when a first love wouldn’t come true, but it was just too much to like someone who she wasn’t even allowed to harbor any affection for.

Feeling sorry for herself in this situation, Sera clenched her hands into fists. As if doing this would prevent her emotions, which were just about to bloom, collapse right then and there.

“It’s done now.”

Gradually pulling back his golden divine power, Helios slowly removed his hand from her.

Sera watched as his fingertips moved away from her until the very last second. Time seemed to pass very slowly. Then, she quickly came to her senses and lowered her gaze. If she were to face Helios now, he would notice the realization she had just discovered now.

“Are you still not feeling well?”

“It’s… It’s not that.”

Sera shook her head.

However, even as she lowered her head to hide her reddened face, it wasn’t easy to shift Helios’ attention from her just like that.

‘Is she in a huge shock? Well, it wouldn’t be strange to think that she had gotten scared.’

Her shoulders looked unusually small today. As he tried to inadvertently reach out to her just as he would hold Ferre and Rosé, he hesitated.

After contemplating for a moment, instead of withdrawing his hand completely, he instead placed his coat back over her.

<Knock, knock, knock.

“Oppa, can I come in? Is Sera there, too?”

It was Rosé’s voice. Glancing at Sera, Helios carefully opened the door.

The heavy atmosphere in the room seemed to have subsided as Rosé and Ferre prudently walked inside while they were holding hands.

As they saw Sear wearing Helios’ coat, they immediately thought that she had gotten hurt. So, forgetting their previous cautiousness, they ran towards Sera. The twins sat on both sides of her with their hips together.

“Sera, did something happen? Is that why Oppa went to get you?”

“Sera. You don’t look so good. What’s wrong? Did you fight with Hyung?”

Rosé’s green eyes and Ferre’s purple eyes looked between Sera and Helios alternately.

Sera shook her head quietly at the children.

“No, nothing like that happened.”

With a small smile, Sera gently patted Rosé and Ferre’s heads.

Meanwhile, Helios watched as Sera pretended to be as calm as possible, and this weighed down on him heavily. As he saw her smiling as though she’s fine and hadn’t been shaking just a moment ago, he felt bitter beyond these mixed feelings.

Despite her small stature, she was so thoughtful. She had such a strong sense of work ethic that she’d always put the twins’ well-being over herself. This was something about her that he valued, but right now, it made her shine even more in his eyes.

“Then where are you hurt? You’re wearing Oppa’s coat.”

“Sera! You can’t get hurt!”

Ferre’s eyes were filled with tears in an instant, and he rushed to her. Burying his face in her purple dress, Ferre hugged Sera tight. He closed his eyes and held her wrist as though she was his prized toy that he would never want to let go—as if Sera wouldn’t be hurt if he did this.

Helios was surprised by his younger siblings’ reactions. But even so, he watched them with a smile that was both happy and sorrowful at the heartwarming scene before him.

“Sera, there’s always something Oppa does for me if I’m hurt.”

Rosé let go of Sera’s arm and took the tutor’s hand in her small hands. There was a serious glint in her eyes.

“Hm? What is it?”

“Ferre! Let’s do that! What Oppa does for us!”

At Rosé’s words, Ferre pulled away from Sera’s other arm and raised his head. The two exchanged a meaningful glance—it was the same signal they gave each other when they used to do pranks.

<Kiss! Chu!

“Oh my!”

Sera’s eyes widened in surprise. Soft, gentle lips touched both sides of her face as the two children, who pulled themselves up by leaning up on the sofa, kissed Sera’s cheeks.

“Heli Hyung uses his divine power when we’re hurt. And then, he says it’s good to make sure to kiss all the pain away!”

“Sera, you can’t get sick, too. Now, repeat after me, Sera. Pain, pain, fly away!”

Rosé didn’t seem to just be joking around. Their tightly closed lips and grim eyes made them look even more serious about this.

Sera smiled because of how cute they looked. Then, just as Rosé and Ferre did it, she swung her hands and copied the two children’s innocent spell.

“Pain, pain, fly away!”

And as soon as they heard Sera say this, the twins hugged her tightly, as if trying to comfort her. It might not be actual magic, but it really <could be magic. It felt like, despite all the tumultuous events that happened, this day was still the best day because of the twin highnesses’ cute actions.

However, a wave of shame still flowed through Sera as she copied their actions. It’s worth seeing the cute seven-year-old prince and princess do it, and she had humored them as their tutor, but she was still twenty-three years old. It left her a little embarrassed, especially in front of Helios, too.

“Does His Majesty really kiss Your Highnesses on the cheek and say this spell whenever you’re hurt?”

Sera unconsciously looked at Helios.

‘Ah!’

Right then, Helios turned his head away. His ears were red.