Ida and Laurent returned to their home, the tranquility of the elegantly arranged villa ruined.
Denis sat the trembling Thérèse on a bench first.
Water dripped abundantly onto the clean floor.
Dennis stretched out his long legs, then offered her a thick towel and warm water, and lit a fire in the fireplace before going to her and asking her to wash herself.
“I heated the water.
If you don’t shower soon, you’ll catch a cold.”
Even though it was the middle of summer, the inside of the villa was as hot as Dennis's fireplace.
"… Yes."
"What?
Do you want me to wash you?"
As if he had found some room to rest now, Dennis said jokingly, pulling his sweat-soaked hair back.
His shirt, soaked with river water, clung carefully to his body, lightly highlighting his figure.
"… no."
Therese entered the bathroom, dragging her heavy dress with water.
Therese dived into the bathtub filled with hot water and remained immersed in it for a long time.
When she regained consciousness, she felt ashamed almost to the point of madness.
That part of her that shows her lack in front of that person.
She wanted to always show him her skilled image in everything.
“Therese?”
She heard a voice calling her from outside.
She quickly got up and wiped the water off her body.
“I'm going out now.”
Her face was red from the hot steam in the bathroom.
“Drink this.”
Dennis, who seemed to have changed his clothes and looked fresh, offered her something.
It was hot tea.
He said, blushing:
“I couldn’t find the tea box before.
Drink it and relax.”
Therese stared at the tea thoughtfully.
Her eyes were reflected in the crimson tea water.
"… Thank you."
The words were sincere.
Dennis patted her head once and then walked outside.
It seems that he went to organize the fishing tools that he had thrown away when he returned.
Therese felt her whole body relax after drinking the warm tea.
The reason was that she fell into cold water and then remained in hot water for a long time.
After drinking a few gulps, she put the teacup on the table and went up to the bedroom on the second floor.
As she covered herself with the quilt, she smelled a pleasant scent dried by the sun.
Therese fell asleep momentarily.
What I thought was a short nap turned into a long sleep.
It was completely dark outside and the sun had set.
Therese rose, placing her heavy head on her hands.
When she sat on the bed, the water towel that was placed over her head fell.
The water towel that had been placed over her head until a moment ago was very warm.
When she looked closely, she felt that her whole body was hotter than usual.
It's as if the world revolves around her.
Where did His Highness the Prince go?
Therese staggered away from the bed.
“Your Highness?”
Her voice came out lower than usual.
She looked for him in the living room but did not find him.
Her anxiety began to increase.
As a child who lost her mother.
Where could he go at this time of night?
She sat in front of the fireplace, staring at the burning flame in a daze.
She felt like her entire body was sinking.
Her head is heavy and her throat is tingling.
She felt foggy even though she had slept for a long time.
At that moment, the entrance door opened and he entered.
When he saw her sitting in front of the fireplace, his heart sank.
"I woke up?"
"Yes."
“How are you?
First, eat this, then take the medicine.”
What he held in his hand was a small pot.
Inside the pot is fresh, just-prepared soup.
He scooped the soup into a bowl and then led her to the dining table.
Therese swayed helplessly and sat down in the chair.
Her mouth was dry and she could not swallow the soup smoothly.
Dennis sat in front of her and watched her until Therese finished all the soup.
When the bottom of the bowl appeared, he brought the medicine and water.
“Swallow.”
Therese took the medicine easily and swallowed it.
The scent of cinnamon and herbs spread warmly in her throat.
“The medicine will take effect, lie down again.”
Dennis put her back on the bed, then covered her up to her neck with the quilt.
Therese lay staring at him with a cloudy look.
“Do you need anything?”
The tone of his question was very gentle.
"no."
“Then why are you staring at me?”
“Why...”
Tehys couldn't finish her words.
She felt like something was rising from her throat.
“Why are you so kind to me?”
“Does this count as charity?”
He answered while laughing lightly.
“Yes.
You saved me from drowning, and you took care of me.”
“My wife becomes a child when she gets sick and shows all her pampering aspects.”
“Not that...”
Therese tried to object to his words.
“Okay.
Maybe… maybe that’s true, Therese.”
Dennis looked at her as he stretched out his words.
“I feel comfortable when I'm here.
I fall asleep easily and feel relaxed.
I think that's why.”
“Because it's not the palace I can be... a little...”
Therese could guess what Dennis had left out.
She felt like she could read his expressionless face too.
He kissed her forehead lightly.
“Night has fallen, and the little girl must sleep now.”
Then he arranged the quilt around her and went downstairs.
child.
Therese felt that the fever that had subsided was returning again.
The next day, when she woke up, Thérèse's fever had miraculously subsided.
Dennis was curled up next to her bed, sleeping like a shrimp.
His pale face, and the things scattered on the side table like water and medicine, made her realize that he had spent the whole night caring for her.
When I rolled back the duvet, Dennis stood up, rubbing his tired eyes.
“Sorry, did I wake you up?”
“How's the fever?”
His large hand covered her forehead.
“I have calmed down.”
Perhaps it was uncomfortable to lie down, so Dennis got up, stretched his body, and then turned his head left and right.
"I apologize."
"On what?"
“Because I got sick...”
Because I disturbed you.
Thérèse swallowed the last words inside herself and did not speak them out.
“Okay.
Aren’t you supposed to say ‘thank you’ in situations like this, wife?”
Dennis looked at her and smiled spontaneously.
"Thank you."
Therese greeted him lightly.
“Okay, let's go to breakfast.”
"Yes."
It seemed that the news had reached Ida as well, as she placed the pot-o-fo filled with meat and vegetables in front of Thérèse.
“Today you will eat everything, down to the last drop of broth.”
Ida's facial expression was very serious.
She seems to think that Thérèse's illness was due to her not eating enough.
Although Eda served meat broth for hours starting at breakfast, today no one could stop her.
It seemed that both Laurent and Denis silently approved of Ida's behavior.
Therese stared at the plate in front of her in amazement.
It was piled high with beef ribs, potatoes and carrots.
"Thank you.
I'll take it well."
Therese held the fork with the spirit of a leader heading to the battlefield.
Therese chewed the meat slowly.
It was delicious, as one would expect from a broth that Ida had so carefully prepared.
But no matter what I ate, it didn't decrease.
She felt as if she were a leader surrounded by the enemy's constant flow.
How am I going to handle all of this?
Although she ate diligently, it seemed that she had not even eaten half yet.
At that moment, Dennis, who had almost finished eating, called out to Ida.
“Iida, can you bring apricot jam?”
“Apricot jam?”
Ida, who had been watching Thérèse from the side as if she were watching her, stirred in the closet.
“No apricot jam...”
“No?”
Dennis looked at Ida kindly.
His eyes were sparkling like a child asking his mother for more candy.
Then Ida ran out the back door outside, saying that he might be at her house.
Dennis looked at her as she sat in confusion and said:
“Therese, stop eating and go up to the room to rest.”
"… Yes."
Therese slowly got up from the chair.
“Quickly, take the medicine next to the bed and go to sleep.”
“I think I'm fully recovered now, Your Highness.”
“My wife will rest for the next three days.”
“Why...”
Therese looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“Because I decided to.”
When Thérèse stared at him thoughtfully, he pointed with his chin to the second floor.
It seemed like he meant for her to get up quickly before Ida got back.
In the end, Thérèse remained in bed as he had asked her to, even though she had fully recovered from her illness.
Thus, there was only one week left of the two-week summer vacation.
After she was fully recovered, Therese sneakily suggested to Denise that they fish for the salmon they had not finished catching.
But what I got was a flat rejection.
Instead, Dennis asked her what she thought about going to Skoni Forest.
“How about we have lunch there and then come back?”
"good."
One sunny day, Therese and he went to the Skone Forest late in the morning.
Dennis tied the picnic box tightly and then dragged the bike.
“I will carry it, Your Highness.”
“Leave it, baby girl.”
The road leading into the forest was a narrow path suitable for slow walking.
The feeling of walking through the dense trees was not bad.
“Your Highness, are you good at riding a bike?”
"yes and you?"
“I've never tried.”
“How many things have you not tried, my wife?
Is it because you are a child?”
“...Enough of your sarcasm.”
Dennis laughed loudly at Therese's voice, which sounded a little whiny.
It was a refreshing laugh.
After walking for about half an hour, they reached a large square in the middle of the forest.
People seem to visit it sometimes, as it is evenly paved.
Dennis brushed his place there.
He lay down comfortably without saying anything, then took out the book of poetry he had been reading on the train.
Therese stared at the sight in amazement.
She watched Thérèse and his concentrated form and then stood up.
Then she turned around in the forest.
There were only trees everywhere.
She sat under the shade of a tree and raised her hand to shade the light filtering through the trees.
Lying in the light, he looked as small as the palm of a hand.
Her one hand blocked it.
Despite the distance, Therese could make out his features in detail.
The forehead frowning as he concentrates, the fingers turning the pages of the book, the figure lying relaxed but elegantly leaning on her arm.
Even among thousands of people, I will be able to distinguish you.
The warm breeze made his hair sway.
He was very handsome.
It looked like a painting hanging in a museum.
Therese bent her knees and covered her head.
It seemed that she had truly become a child, he said.
Even though she should feel happy when she was with him, she felt depressed instead.
Like a child, she does not want to see the end of the story and does not want to turn the last page.
Did the heroes continue to be happy?
Without parting, and so they continued...
She heard a voice calling her at that moment.
She raised her head and looked at Dennis, who was calling her sweetly.
“Therese, come here.”
Therese took a step from the shadows into the light.
It was a dream you never wanted to wake up from.