CH 10

It started to rain in the afternoon, so I spent my time quietly in my private room.

The sun has set and it’s almost time for dinner.

I still haven’t heard from Dolph as His Highness Gresis hasn’t returned yet.

Batan

I heard the sound of something falling outside the room.

“Huh?”

Mai, the maid, brewed tea and said, “I’ll be right back.”

Did something happen?

I open the door and look outside the room.

“Eh!?”

In the hallway, various feline animals are crouching in pain without being able to move. Lion, ocelot, pampas, calico, lynx. . .

When did you come into the house?

It was like entering the world of stories.

“Her Highness Princess Lilith, I was just thinking of calling out to you. Please come in here.”

Dolph, who came out of His Highness Gresis’s private room, instructed me to enter the room.

Even though Dolph told me to do so, I wonder if he’ll get angry if I enter without permission.

“Please listen calmly, Your Highness. His Highness Gresis has fallen ill and is currently lying in bed. Please be assured that we will leave the ones in the hallway to those who are free.”

“I understand.”

I approach the bed with Dolph in order to confirm the situation of Prince Gresis.

“Eh?”

I looked at Dolph.

“This is His Highness Gresis.”

On the large bed with a strong presence, a large black panther is crouching and breathing hard.

Is this His Highness Gresis? No way. . . . .

“Huh? Then the beasts in the hallway. . .”

“They are the maids of the residence.”

That was unexpected.

“I see.”

I couldn’t believe it.

But if you look closely, the champagne-like yellow eyes peeking out from the black panther’s slightly open eye lids were certainly the same as HIs Highness Gresis in human form.

“This is a contagious disease that only affects beastmen. Once you get it, you won’t get it again, but there are many people who lose their lives, and His Highness is not in a very good condition. Beastmen take on the form of beasts to save their physical strength when they have a burden on their bodies, such as poor health or serious injuries. If your physical strength returns, you will naturally return to your humanoid form.”

While listening to Dolph, there was a knock and Mai entered the room.

“I have called the royal doctor, Mr. Crane.”

Crane was the royal doctor who took care of me on the way from the border to the palace.

“How have you been, Princess Lilith?”

“Yes, I’m fine. But His Highness has become a black panther. . .”

As soon as Crane saw the bed, he began examining His Highness Gresis.

“Unfortunately, there is no specific medicine for this disease. It’s an unpredictable situation, so please keep an eye on it as much as possible. It’s a symptomatic treatment, but give some herbal tea. It also has a sleeping effect. If you sleep, you will feel a little better.”

The medicinal tea that Crane gave was just one dose.

I thought that if the situation was this bad, they’d give three days’ worth.

“Um. . .”

“Actually, this disease is currently spreading explosively in the royal palace, and the people working in the palace’s medicinal herb garden have also contracted the it, so there is a shortage of workers to pick medicinal herbs. I will come to deliver the tea leaves as soon as they are ready tomorrow, so please wait.”

An epidemic had spread to the extent that it caused problems with the functioning of the royal palace.

Dr. Crane will be busy too.

“I wonder if I can help you with the work of picking those medicinal herbs.”

“Her Highness Princess Lilith? That’s no good.”

I tilted my head to the panicked Crane.

“Is it a task that must be done by a skilled person to pick it?”

“No, but I can’t let royalty do that.”

“Now is the time of emergency. Herbal tea should be needed by many people other than His Highness Gresis. If you are a member of the royal family, if there is something you can do to save lives, shouldn’t you do it?”

“That may be true, but. . .”

I feel like Crane is looking at Dolph as if asking for help.

Dolph’s expression was as gentle as usual, and I couldn’t read his thoughts. I wonder if Dolph will say no as well?

“Crane-dono, I would also like to ask you. As you know, Her Royal Highness is a human princess who will not be infected with the contagious disease. It is true that there is a shortage of manpower. I will speak to His Majesty King Leroy. However, the condition is that if the actual work is not possible, you will promise to quit immediately. What do you think, Princess Lilith?”

Unexpectedly, Dolph became an ally.

“Yes, I promise to quit if I can’t do it. I don’t want to cause trouble.”

“If Dolph-dono says that much, I understand. However, I can’t stay in the herb garden due to the medical examinations. I’ll talk to the person in charge, so please follow their instructions, is that okay?”

“Yes, of course.”

After the conversation ended, Dolph left the room to prepare medicinal herb tea, and Crane left the room to examine the maids of the mansion.

I stayed alone in His Highness Gresis’s private room and sat on the bedside chair to take care of him.

It’s an infectious disease, so you have a fever, right? I wonder if you can cool your forehead with a towel even when you’re a beast?

But there is no such sign.

As for changing clothes. . . I wonder if he’s wearing clothes? Is he naked? What should I do, when I think about it, I don’t know if I can take care of them in the same way as humans.

I’m in trouble. Dolph, can you come back soon?

To think that the man who would become my husband would become a black panther. . .

It felt like we were still in the world of stories.