Second Life, I’m Dying Soon Chapter 65

Chapter 65

 

Alexis held Cecil tightly in his arms, carefully stroking his trembling back.

Buried against Alexis’s nape, Cecil breathed raggedly as he took in the familiar voice and scent. Gradually, the strength drained from his body.

Only after confirming that Cecil had fallen asleep did Alexis carry him out of the basement. The estate was in complete chaos. Outside, knights who had received the news late were gathered in force.

Claude, standing at the front, hurried over and bowed deeply.

“Your Highness, the carriage is ready.”

“We depart at once. Assign several knights to remain behind and deal with the marquis’s estate.”

“Your orders are received.”

While the aftermath was handled in haste, Alexis boarded the carriage that had been prepared in advance.

Claude, who had given instructions to the knights, followed and climbed into the carriage as well. After thoroughly securing the doors and lowering the curtains on the windows, Claude glanced at Cecil, who was lying with his head resting on the Crown Prince’s lap, and frowned in concern.

“His condition… doesn’t look good.”

“I should have found him sooner.”

“Your Highness did everything you could.”

Instead of answering, Alexis let out a sigh tinged with regret. He brushed his rain-soaked hair back, then once again carefully examined Cecil’s condition.

“Secure a nearby inn.”

“You’re not returning to the Imperial Palace?”

“Not immediately. As for our absence, make an appropriate excuse.”

A large hand gently caressed Cecil’s smooth forehead. Sticky sweat clung to his skin, but Alexis didn’t mind. The fact that he had been recovered safely was enough.

“No one must know that Cecil met with misfortune.”

“I’ll keep it under strict control.”

The long night had passed, and the sky was beginning to brighten. The carriage carrying the three of them rolled forward, gradually leaving the grim estate behind.

They discreetly rented out an inn. The knights, now changed into civilian clothes, moved about pretending to be guests while maintaining tight security.

No matter how well it was managed, an inn was still an inn—it couldn’t hide its shabby nature. Even so, they chose the largest and best room available, allowing Cecil to rest properly, and at last examine his condition in detail.

Even as time passed, Cecil failed to regain consciousness. Occasionally, when his name was called, he would open his eyes and react—but even then, his responses were little more than incoherent murmurs.

Watching him, Alexis’s worry deepened.

“They said he took some kind of drug. What on earth could reduce someone to this state?”

“From what I’ve learned, it’s a new narcotic currently circulating in brothels. There happens to be a physician well-versed in such substances, so I had him standing by.”

“Bring him in.”

No sooner had Alexis given permission than the doctor arrived. Having passed through the heavy guard and entered the room, the man stood there in a daze—then caught sight of Alexis’s hair color and immediately dropped to his knees.

“Y-Your Highness! To behold the brightest star of the Empire—!”

“Shh. Quiet. Come and examine the patient.”

The doctor crawled forward on his knees. He dared not look at the Crown Prince’s face, nor even spare a glance toward Commander Claude, who stood nearby like a watchful sentinel.

At this point, the man lying on the bed also seemed to be someone of extraordinary status. The doctor swallowed the saliva pooling in his mouth and finally began examining the patient.

“You said he ingested a narcotic? For the first time?”

“Yes. I don’t know exactly when, but it has certainly been half a day.”

“Judging by his unfocused eyes and rapid pulse, it appears to be a case of overdose.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. I’ve seen many similar cases. If left untreated for too long, there’s no hope—but fortunately, it hasn’t been that long. Treatment should be entirely possible.”

The doctor rummaged through the bag he’d brought. What emerged was an unlabeled brown vial of indeterminate contents.

Seeing it, Alexis narrowed his eyes.

“What is that?”

“An antidote I formulated myself. It helps expel the toxins spread through the bloodstream—”

“Can it be trusted?”

“Of course! I’ve never seen anyone suffer ill effects from it! Everyone’s desperate to get their hands on this medicine!”

The doctor’s words were hardly reassuring, but there was no other option. If anything, he likely knew more about narcotics than the palace physicians. Clicking his tongue softly, Alexis gave a nod of permission.

The doctor proceeded with extreme care. Propped up at an angle with layers of cushions, Cecil swallowed the potion several times. Each time he coughed, they paused. Each time he thrashed, they stopped. It took a long while to administer the entire vial.

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, the doctor spoke.

“Phew… it’s finished. You should observe him for about a day.”

“There won’t be any side effects?”

“Rather than side effects… he’ll likely sweat profusely during the detoxification process, so you’ll need to monitor him closely. Make sure he stays well hydrated, and keep his body warm at all times.”

“You’ve done well. You may leave.”

The doctor backed out the way he came, dragging his knees along the floor. Claude followed him out to ensure his silence. Once they were gone, the room grew quiet, with only Cecil’s labored breathing drifting through the air.

Because of the rain, the wooden inn felt somewhat damp. Though the chill wasn’t severe, recalling the doctor’s words, Alexis rose and added more dry logs to the small fireplace.

Crackle. Crackle. The wood burned fiercely.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Alexis stared into the red-flickering flames before turning his gaze back to Cecil, their faces close.

“You fool. You knew exactly what kind of man the marquis was—why did you follow him anyway?”

“…….”

“I’m asking you. Someone usually so clever—how did you end up falling victim to such a filthy bastard?”

There was no answer. Watching Cecil, still not fully conscious, Alexis clicked his tongue.

“Just wake up. You’re going to get a proper scolding.”

Despite his scolding tone, the hands caring for Cecil were incomparably gentle.

Though he had never attended to another person before, he brushed aside sweat-soaked bangs himself, supported Cecil’s drooping head while giving him water, then laid his weary body back down more comfortably.

Yet despite such devoted care, Cecil’s condition showed no improvement. His wheezing breaths were enough to leave even the listener short of breath.

Just as doubt crept in—whether the antidote was even working—Cecil began to shiver violently.

“…Hh… ugh.”

“Are you cold?”

The room was already filled with heat. One would sweat simply sitting still, yet Cecil hunched his shoulders and trembled like someone seized by chills.

When the sound of his teeth chattering rang out, Alexis rose with a sigh.

He brought extra blankets and piled them over Cecil’s body, but it made no difference. Compared to the expensive bedding of the imperial palace, the inn’s blankets were uniformly old and lifeless, and even to Alexis, their warmth seemed woefully inadequate.

“You really are high-maintenance in every way.”

Lifting the mound of blankets, Alexis lay down on the bed himself. He positioned himself behind Cecil, who lay on his side, and wrapped an arm tightly around his shivering shoulders.

Sharing body heat was the surest way to transfer warmth. He decided to serve as a human furnace to chase away Cecil’s cold.

Cecil flinched at the sound of someone breathing near his ear. Perhaps bad memories stirred his anxiety—he began to struggle, pushing Alexis away.

“N-No… don’t. Stop it. Go away…”

Sharp elbows jabbed into Alexis’s chest repeatedly, but Alexis endured, pressing his body even closer.

“Shh. It’s alright.”

He gently patted Cecil’s chest, soothing his fear.

“Nothing happened to you. You just had a bad dream.”

“…A dream?”

“Yes. A dream. Forget everything.”

Whether it was the voice seeping into his ears, or the solid presence guarding his back like a steadfast pillar, Cecil’s ragged breathing gradually calmed. Before long, he fell completely asleep.

Even after the trembling subsided, Alexis continued to stroke him gently.

What should he do with this boy from now on?

He ought to hate him—yet Cecil lingered in his thoughts, making it impossible to leave him alone. The resolve he had barely managed to steel wavered again, leaving Alexis just as conflicted.

Several hours later, the effects of the antidote finally began to show.

Cecil remained asleep, but his once-pallid complexion had improved, and his breathing stabilized.

However, he was drenched from head to toe, sweat pouring from him as though it were rain, accompanied by a sour odor. Watching closely, Alexis ordered the knights to prepare bathwater.

As he lifted Cecil up, Claude quickly stepped forward and extended his arms.

“I’ll do it.”

“No. I’ve attended to him this far—bathing him is hardly a problem.”

As Alexis moved Cecil with a light step, Claude rubbed his face in embarrassment and dismissed all the knights from the room. Preserving the Crown Prince’s dignity was the duty of the Knight Commander.