The Male Lead’s Sickly Aide is My Type - Chapter 89.1

Schedule: Tue and Sat. Nana's ko-fi, Nabi's kofi.

Chapter 89.1

Turning the corner, Carinne collided with someone running from the opposite direction, landing hard on her rear. Before she could comprehend who it was that she had run into, she felt strong arms wrap around her. Though his coat dragged on the dirt, he paid it no mind.

The person who had held her in his arms and nuzzled his head against hers soon pushed her away to check her condition. Carinne watched in a daze as her arms and legs were lifted.

After finishing his examination, he realized that she was unharmed and held her head tightly.

“Ah, Princess, thank goodness. I’m truly relieved…”

“Archen?”

Hearing the familiar voice, she finally came to her senses.

Carinne lifted her head and pushed his chest where they were touching. Archen’s face appeared before her. He didn’t seem to be in pain or unwell. Holding onto her shoulders, he was the picture of health.

“Are you alright?”

Instead, he was the one worried about her.

His elegant and clear voice trembled with anxiety. Though her rear stung with pain, she was more overjoyed that he was safe. She couldn’t be happier that he was with her, healthy and sound.

“I’m fine. You’re unharmed too, Archen…”

Carinne caressed his cheek with her hand. Seeing him worry about her, she understood the situation roughly.

‘Iris must have been behind this.’

She must have told him something terrible had happened to Carinne while telling her something terrible had happened to Archen. Though they had argued, she saw that their hearts, which cared for the other, hadn’t changed.

The method she used was probably a cliché often found in the romance novels Iris loved.

‘… Isn’t she hiding somewhere, watching with amusement?’

With a reasonable suspicion, Carinne looked around but then decided it didn’t matter if she saw her or not. Judging by the tears welling up in her round eyes, it seemed Archen hadn’t realized that this situation was a well-orchestrated plan.

“Please forget what I said this morning. I don’t dislike the Princess for being headstrong. Rather, I like that about you. I truly appreciate how the Princess does as you please without being hindered.”

Although he had said she was headstrong, it seemed he was incredibly bothered by it. His sincere words melted away the lump that had been lodged in her throat.

“I was happy that the Princess followed me, though I was also worried, and so…”

“I’m sorry, too. I insisted on following you even though I don’t know how to do anything, and I acted like a child.”

Fearing his confession would never end, she cut him off. She hadn’t exactly behaved well either. Carinne wiped his eyes with her index finger, then held him close and patted his back.

“Did you take your medicine? Are you really alright?”

“I took it a while ago. I’m fine, so you don’t have to worry.”

As if to prove his words, Archen held Carinne tightly. Carinne hugged him back and rested her chin on his shoulder. Warmth radiated from their bodies. While she was relieved that he was unharmed, she was also a little embarrassed that they had unknowingly been worrying about each other.

“How did you know I was here?”

“I heard from Lady Iris. She said something had happened to the Princess.”

“She told me something terrible had happened to you.”

Carinne said flatly.

Archen’s head shot up at her words. His eyes, which had been cloudy, widened in surprise. Had he finally realized the situation? He really was a naive man.

“Then, Lady Iris…”

“Let’s just overlook it this time. And about closing the rift, you don’t have to do it if it takes too much magic power. We can just go back and bring another mage.”

It was something she had been thinking about.

She didn’t want to put him in danger again. Closing the rift was something another mage could do. Carinne planned to protect him even if it meant dragging Marta out of her debt. Surely, there would be at least one mage willing to step up if she used Marta’s power.

“I’ll catch one and drag them here. There are always ways.”

“Closing the rift doesn’t take much magic power, but getting there is the problem.”

But we had already reached the rift, hadn’t we?

Since they had already scattered the monsters gathered there, there was nothing to worry about. He smiled with a crescent moon shape, his eyes red and bloodshot.

“It doesn’t feel bad to be worried about this much.”

“How could I not worry? You…”

He was clearly not well. Carinne swallowed the words caught in her throat and helped him up.

“Let’s go. Iris and Duke Lucas are waiting.”

The two walked out hand-in-hand. As they returned to the town, they saw Iris smiling brightly. Carinne thanked Iris with a nod.

Duke Lucas, who was standing beside her, muttered to himself.

“They’ve finally reconciled. When we met on the road, they were so hostile they could have devoured each other.”

Carinne started to say something, but she decided to keep quiet so as not to ruin the good mood. Archen raised an eyebrow in question.

“Come to think of it, why were you there?”

“I was on my way home.”

The Duke’s gaze, as he spoke, was fixed on Carinne for some reason. He had been watching Carinne with a bitter expression, but when Archen’s gaze fell on him, he made an effort to look away. Archen’s expression became even more puzzled.

“That road leads to the Second Duchy’s mansion. It’s the road that connects the city to the Second Duchy’s mansion. Did you have business with the Princess?”