RTTFW CH 3.5

No matter how hard he tried to distract himself while eating, it was beyond his control. Traveling recently and subsisting on bland meat soups only made it worse.

“Young master, please eat more. You need to get healthier!”
“Ah…”

Paladin tore off a meaty leg dripping with fat and placed it on Ent’s plate. Ent could only manage a bitter smile.

How could he refuse this here?

Ent, who had been deliberately chewing on a few pieces of unappetizing-looking vegetables, picked up the leg reluctantly under Paladin’s expectant gaze.

Delicious juices burst in his mouth. The pungent spice scent, warming his nose, stimulated his salivary glands, and the meat was tender, succulent, and full of savory flavor, with no tough bits.

Yet for Ent, it was pure torture.

The process of tasting the food, chewing it, and finally swallowing it was unbearably dreadful. He swallowed it down, repeating to himself dozens of times that it was okay, but his stomach was already churning.

He remembered eating well without a second thought during his first meal with his family long ago, but ever since becoming aware of his eating disorder, this was how it had been.

Izel tactfully offered Ent the milder-flavored dishes, but Ent, already repulsed by the food, shook his head firmly. His mind was consumed with the urge to vomit everything up quickly, leaving him no room to notice his surroundings.

After the meal, Paladin, startled by Ent’s pale face, asked if he was okay. He barely managed, “I guess I ate too fast.” He should have been more careful about the food.

Ent resented the version of himself from just an hour ago who had thoughtlessly suggested they all gather for dinner.

“A-ong…?”

Ent barely managed to stop Izel from entering the room with him, slipped inside, and locked the door. Ion, who had been waiting in the room, approached Ent, who looked unusually pale, as if asking what was wrong. Unlike usual, Ent had no time to pay Ion any mind and dashed into the bathroom.

Ent couldn’t even bring himself to close the door, instead clutching his stomach as if it were being twisted inside out. The taste of the food he’d forced down wouldn’t leave his mouth, dominating his thoughts.

“Ugh…!”

He’d thought he was recovering well by eating properly, but it seemed that had been a mistake. Vomiting food after so long proved far more taxing than he’d anticipated.

His stomach felt twisted and cramped, making it difficult to stand straight. The relentless process of retching left his throat and palate burning intensely. Blood rushed to his face, leaving Ent irritably exhausted.

“A-ong! A-oong!”

Ent lifted his head from where it had been bowed, hearing the familiar cry. Though it was his own will, it was akin to being violently forced to vomit. Ent wiped away the tears that had come naturally and reached out a hand to calm the startled Ion.

“It’s okay.”
“A-ong…”
“It’s okay, Ion. It’s nothing…”

As the nausea rose again, Ent bit down hard on his lip. This damn body. It felt like something was lodged inside him, making his stomach feel tight and stifling, as if it were being forced down regardless of his body’s will to reject the food and vomit it out.

“Ha… Son of a bitch.”

The harsh words slipped out involuntarily. Cold sweat trickled down Ent’s forehead. His body, having forced something up, felt hot and sweaty, yet he shivered uncontrollably as if freezing.

“A-oong.”

Ion approached Ent, who was lying face-down catching his breath, and rubbed his head against Ent’s side. Ent shook his head from side to side, trying to regain his senses with the warm comfort.

‘I shouldn’t curse in front of Ion.’

It was a curse born of sheer frustration with the situation, but he shouldn’t have used such words in front of Ion, who looked like a baby angel. Only then did Ent manage a small smile at Ion’s comforting presence.

“Haah… I’m exhausted.”

Ent roughly tidied up the bathroom before returning to the room to change clothes. He could have asked Izel for help, but his entire body was too exhausted to even consider it.

Plop.

Ent collapsed onto the bed, clutching his stomach in agony. His stomach still throbbed as if twisted, showing no sign of improvement.

‘What kind of body is this?’

Even though it was his own body, Ent couldn’t help but complain. If he could, he wanted to grab Park Jaeyoon by the collar and tell him to take care of his body because there were others who needed it next.

“A-oong.”

Ion tugged at Ent’s sleeve, who looked like he might fall asleep at any moment. Ent knew exactly why Ion was doing this. It was the dead of winter. Sleeping in a regular inn, not a well-insulated noble mansion, without a proper fire going was a surefire way to catch a cold.

‘Ah, if only I could leave the door open… Izel would light the fire for me…’

That thought made Ent chuckle softly. How long had it been since he returned as the noble Ent Harbilta? He was already getting used to Izel’s attentions. Ent still wanted to make excuses, like how Izel’s care was too perfect to refuse, making it impossible to do everything alone like in his Park Jaeyoon days.

“A-oong, a-ong.”
“Ugh, fine… Just a little sleep…”

Yeah, yeah, just light the fire, leave the door open, and sleep. Cover yourself properly with the blanket too. I know, I know.

Just a little while, Ent intended to sleep for just a little while before getting up.

He simply couldn’t endure the nightmare that had taken complete control of his body.

How much time had passed?

The sound of peaceful snoring filled the room. Ion hopped onto Ent, the only source of warmth in this cold, chilled room. Climbing onto his chest, Ion looked at Ent’s face.

He was already fast asleep, showing no sign of waking.

“Ugh, ugh…”

Ent frowned, as if something were pressing down on him. Ion, unaware that his own weight might be too much for Ent, tilted his head, wondering if it was just the cold.

“A-oong…”

Ion hesitated for a moment. He wondered if he really needed to go that far, but when the Ent curled up slightly as if cold, he couldn’t help himself. He rubbed his nose against the Ent’s cheek.

After climbing down from Ent’s body, Ion stared at the tightly shut window with its curtains drawn. He checked the securely locked door and sensed whether there was any sign of life nearby.

A moment later, the gray-furred puppy was nowhere to be seen. It took Ion a little time to get used to the feeling of walking on two legs again, something he hadn’t done in a long while.

“… Tsk.”

Ion clicked his tongue softly, watching Ent sprawled asleep on the bed.

He kicked the blanket off the floor, wrapped it loosely around himself, and lit the fireplace in the corner beside the bed. As warm air spread instantly, the frown on Ent’s face relaxed.

Limp human.

Ion lifted Ent up with a jerk and laid him straight back on the bed. Covering him with the quilt, his face, sleeping oblivious to the world, looked incredibly peaceful.

‘… Since he seems to be in pain, I’m helping him out specially.’

The image of him waking up tomorrow, groaning in this cold room, was crystal clear. He already looked unwell, so Ion couldn’t just leave Ent like that.

‘Anyway, he’s a strange human.’

Ion had seen Ent’s entire ordeal, muttering curses in pain. He pretended to be healthy all by himself, but in truth, he was just as weak and feeble as he appeared on the surface.

“… I don’t like it.”

Ion knew Ent had diligently cared for him until now, but that didn’t mean he intended to stay by his side forever. Ion had no desire to remain for long beside Ent, who seemed to be a noble. Humans, especially nobles, were all worthless.

A moment later, Ion, having reverted to his beast form, curled up and lay down beside Ent. His tail swayed helplessly back and forth.

And outside the window of the room where Ent stayed. Izel, concealing his presence, watched everything that happened in Ent’s room.

Ent felt good all morning. He had slept more soundly than usual, waking up refreshed with no aches, and his condition was much better than yesterday. He felt he might be able to eat something today.

“Lord Ent, locking the door to guard against danger is wise, but you…”
“Uh-huh, sorry.”

Of course, Ent got scolded by Izel for locking the door and sleeping. And rightly so – he’d told Izel to wait when he tried to follow him into the room, then collapsed inside, exhausted from vomiting, and fell asleep without a thought. Ent felt a bit sorry, wondering how long Izel had waited for him.

“Still, you lit the fire yourself and seem to have slept well.”
“Hm?”

At Izel’s words, Ent finally noticed something was off. Come to think of it, that was right. He was sure he’d just tossed everything aside in annoyance and collapsed to sleep. Yet, upon waking, the fireplace was lit, and he was snug under the blankets.

While Ent tilted his head in confusion, Izel turned to look at Ion.

“Ion.”
“A-ong?”
“… You, you slept well, didn’t you?”

Izel stared at him intently with a subtle expression. Ent tilted his head. Had he been captivated by Ion’s adorable appearance since morning?

Ent, unaware of Izel’s thoughts, chuckled softly.

He scooped Ion up in his arms.