“Your Highness, can’t you at least withstand measly stings from disinfectants?”
“Honestly, it doesn’t matter. It was quite painful though,” whispered Damian as he looked me in the eye.
“Then why would you endure the pain!”
I yelled at him.
My blood was boiling!
“Argh!”
At the same time, a scream erupted from Damian’s mouth.
It was because I wiped Damian’s fingertips with a cotton swab.
Thankfully, the punctures weren’t too deep.
He’ll recover fully if he takes the medicine given and a couple of days off from training.
“Putting those gloves on without a fight was the best option,” Damian answered soberly.
“What do you mean?”
“Why else would the Emperor go through the trouble of having those gloves made and giving them to me?”
“….why?”
I blinked blankly.
Damian continued to speak in a soft but burdened voice.
“He carefully chose a place where presents could be given. A place where everyone would be watching.”
At those startling words, I bit my lip.
Looking back, I was so mad at what Damian went through that I didn’t even think about ‘that.’
Damian lightly shrugged his shoulders as he continued his words.
“It’s a test of my obedience towards the Emperor.”
“….Obedience?”
“Yes. To see how willing I am to obey him and how far I’ll endure anything irrational.”
Damian’s words were bereft of any childlike innocence. It was hard to believe such somber words came from a thirteen-year-old.
“If I hadn’t worn those gloves, the Emperor would have raised suspicions.”
“Hey, but.”
“I have no issues being under suspicion but I don’t want to cause any more trouble than I already do for you and her Majesty,” murmured Damian as he stared at his bandaged fingertips.
I was overcome with emotion.
Damian is still thirteen.
And yet, this thirteen year old has to suffer under the Emperor’s harsh machinations…
“You know, your Highness,” I said as I opened my first aid kit.
Damian glanced back at me before smiling.
“You said you didn’t want to cause any trouble but….I don’t mind any of that.”
“What are you saying?”
“What I’m saying is that I like his Highness very much.”
“….uh, what?” Damian muttered, his breathing becoming irregular for a moment.