# 33
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In the new center of the Revolutionary Army, Etheus sat with a frowning brow, lost in complex thoughts.
“...this is impossible.”
He whispered in a low voice, as if he was denying something.
“Catherine Elmore...”
On his desk were notes from his secret supporter.
In his mind, the image of those panting violet eyes beneath him materialized in his dreams.
Like spring breezes and alternating storms, the seasons and weather in his heart were changing dozens of times every minute.
If this line is real.
If that dream wasn't just a dream.
So even that trembling, sarcastic smile he gave as she touched his cheek wasn't sarcasm.
No, he wasn't sure yet.
Etheus shook his head.
He knew very well what kind of woman Catherine Elmore was.
During her academy days, even when she made harsh and hurtful comments disguised as confessions, her lips always curled into a wry smile.
Of course, Katherine Elmore, who he recently encountered again, is still living up to her bad reputation for being arrogant.
But he realized that she wasn't exactly the kind of villain he imagined.
That confession at that time... Was he honest?
Such uess thoughts came to his mind because they possessed a uniqueness that he could not deny.
The more he became involved with her, the more he felt an inexplicable discomfort inside him as she occupied his thoughts.
Once again, his eyes moved between Catherine's line and Supporter's line.
Her perfect, elegant handwriting did not match the hurtful insults she was hurling at him.
It was an unusual line.
But it was not conclusive evidence.
For now, he could only keep this small possibility in his mind and investigate further.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to calm his tangled emotions.
At some point, he longed to grab her slender wrist and ask her everything.
Those raging feelings were now turning into expectations that he couldn't suppress.
Like a boy whose blood boils at the mere sight of the trembling leaves, he felt a longing that he could not name attacking him from within.
KOLOK —
He tried to get rid of these thoughts and turned his gaze to the window.
Outside, men could be heard coughing.
Recently, many people have been coughing on the streets and even inside government offices.
Those living communally were particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases, and just a few days ago, Caron instituted special health protocols to isolate the infected from the healthy.
Despite this, this powerful virus seemed to spread widely, with more Revolutionary soldiers falling ill.
“Caron.”
He left his room and opened the door at the end of the corridor to find Caron and some of the revolutionary soldiers curled up and asleep.
The patients were kept in one room, but this room at the end of the corridor was particularly cold, unsuitable for patients.
“Your cough sounds bad, are you okay?”
Karon, whose face was red with fever, was shivering under his blanket.
“I-I'm fine, Your Highness, please, don't worry and rest.”
Etheus looked at Caron and the other soldiers who had woken up.
“Tonight, change rooms, all of you, come sleep in my room.”
Caron suddenly sat up in protest.
“This is impossible, Your Highness! What if you get sick too?! Ku kah ku kahh!”
“He's right, you need a warm room, Your Highness.”
“We're fine here, it's just a chill...”
Even during their illness, the soldiers refused his orders to protect their master.
But Etheus's sharp eyes flashed as he spoke again.
“This is an order, everyone stand up.”
His firm and unrelenting voice left no room for discussion.
“…His Highness the Prince.”
Knowing his master's character well, Caron realized that persuasion was uess.
He swayed on his feet and gestured for the others to follow him.
He turned to Etheus and said.
“Be careful, ku kah ku, it’s a virulent disease, Your Highness.”
Eventually, they staggered out of the room.
Only after the door closed behind them did Etheus let out a small exhale.
The sound of the cold wind seeping through the old window was audible, but it didn't feel unpleasant or sad.
Karon and the soldiers did not want their prince to stay in such a room.
But Etheus lived in much worse places before he had a backer.
'Supportive. …’
Once again, those violet eyes flashed like the night sky in his mind.
He leaned against the solid wall and closed his eyes.
* * *
A new publication for the Poor House has been completed.
It's time to provide medicine for the Rhett pneumonia that is now sweeping the empire.
'The comfort level is declining at an alarming rate.'
Seeing the clock displaying a lower comfort level than last night, I sighed and published the new crunchy post.
[In collaboration with Elmoa Pharmaceuticals, we are ling an experimental drug that may be effective against Rett pneumonia. Better than death, so take it!]
A post like this will only attract the truly desperate.
[Those who bring a previous Sistine Shelter voucher will receive it for free.]
But for those who have tried Sistina Support before, this will sound tempting.
Last time, the food, medicine, and field supplies we provided were of such high quality that the nobles themves used them.
People believed that even if these were experimental drugs, the Sistine House funded by the cruel Lady Elmore would not risk harming them.
Word of the Sistine House's charitable work spread among the public, and they would quietly come to buy the medicine.
Revolutionary soldiers can use their vouchers to get it for free.
Those who are disgusted by the idea of experimental hospice drugs for the poor are merely arrogant nobles – the people to whom I plan to l the final version at exorbitant prices.
“Preparations are complete, kah kah kah.”
Hirose had been coughing since yesterday, and he didn't look well.
“Did you take your medicine?”
“Yes, this morning.”
“Then rest today, drink plenty of warm water... I should get you fruit too, vitamins help with recovery.”
“But...”
I shook my head and placed my hand on his forehead as he approached.
“Don’t think stupidly, if you go out like this, you will only mess things up.”
Seeing my cold rebuke, Hirose's eyes flashed before his face flushed and he lowered his head.
“I understand, I will obey you today.”
“Good, wise choice.”
In fact, I didn't need his help today anyway.
I wasn't planning to upload posts to the Etheos cart this time.
Doing that again would be very suspicious.
Now, word of the new assistance to the poorhouse will spread among those who know Sistina.
After sending Hirose to rest, she ordered the servants to distribute leaflets in every street.
As Rett's pneumonia spread throughout the empire and more people fell ill, the Emperor locked himf in his cabin, refusing to come out.
Naturally, no countermeasures or assistance were offered to his people.
The nobles closed their doors, gathered doctors to reside in their palaces, and treated only themves.
For the neglected world, the Sistine Poor House was their only hope.
It was financed by the infamous Mrs. Elmore, so expectations were low.
But after the great help last time, rumors of her benevolence began to spread quietly.
Unable to find a doctor for Caron, whose fever lasted for days, Etheus went straight to the Sistine House.
His subordinate's life is at stake; Even the experimental drug was worth a try.
In front of the Sistine House, people stood in three queues to obtain medicine in similarly desperate circumstances.
When his turn finally came, Etheus noticed a woman sitting comfortably behind the poorhouse staff, drinking tea.
Wearing a luxurious red dress, it was Catherine Ellimore.
Even as the other noblewomen locked themves away from the raging pneumonia, she sat proudly, radiating her signature elegance.
She raised her slender hand, raising the tea cup to her crimson lips.
Suddenly, Etheus felt a strange feeling of tightness grip his chest, leaving his lips dry.