That dry gaze left her mouth parched.
Talia lowered her eyes, picking at her swollen lips with her fingertips.
She didn't know what to say.
Keeping her lips tightly sealed like a mute, she only shifted her eyes about when his even voice reached her.
“Your nanny is in the room next door. Call for her if you need anything.”
Talia looked back up at him.
Sliding his arm into his shirt sleeve, Varkas continued calmly.
“We will leave for the East in a week. I'll have servants brought in. If there is anything you wish to take with you, prepare it beforehand.”
“S-so soon?”
As she stammered in confusion, Varkas, who had been fastening his buttons, turned his gaze back to her.
Eyes veiled in deep mist carefully measured her face.
“Is there a reason for you to remain in the Imperial Palace any longer?”
Talia stared at him speechlessly before slowly shaking her head.
Watching her in silence, Varkas approached the bedside with measured steps. The sudden closeness of his face caused her heart to shrink.
Without realizing it, Talia's gaze fell upon his lips.
Through the slight opening between them, she caught sight of his red tongue.
That had entered me.
Was that real?
Or had it been a dream?
She was staring blankly when her chin was lifted, and transparent blue eyes drew close enough to fill her vision.
“Does the pain often worsen suddenly, as it did yesterday?”
The heart that had tightened now split apart with a crack.
Talia violently slapped his hand away. A surge of irritation rose within her at being treated like a gravely ill patient.
“I don't know. Why should I?”
“If there is a problem, additional treatment—”
“The mages of House Taren couldn't do anything. What makes you think you can cure it?”
Unable to suppress her anxiety, she raised her voice.
His lips closed firmly.
Those red lips, forming a severe line, captured her attention once more.
What mattered now was that those lips had invaded her as they pleased the previous night.
Then why was he concerned about her leg?
Talia parted her dry lips.
“More importantly... yesterday...”
Why did you do that to me? You only did that to give me the medicine, didn't you?
She nearly asked, but closed her mouth again.
Perhaps their lips had touched for no more than a fleeting instant.
Perhaps her ruined mind had distorted the memory on its own.
Swallowing dryly, she stole a glance at his expression.
Apparently unconcerned by the words she had failed to finish, Varkas straightened himself and spoke in his usual level tone.
“A healing mage has been stationed in the adjacent room. If you feel unwell, summon him immediately.”
That's all?
You have nothing else to say to me?
Questions circled endlessly inside her mouth, never reaching her tongue, when his calm voice continued.
“Until the day of our departure, I will remain in the Imperial Palace.”
Talia stared at him as though struck across the head.
Cool fingers settled against her forehead.
Her skin stung as though touched by a blade.
Instinctively shrinking her neck, she watched as Varkas brushed aside the disheveled strands of hair covering her face, then withdrew his hand.
Standing with the window behind him, dark shadows fell across his face.
“For the time being, you will not have to see me. So live at ease.”