How the Sidekick Prince Lives Again - Chapter 74

You can’t do this……

……Step aside!

Any more disturbance won’t be tolerated……

Renato, who suffered from a fever all night and barely fell asleep at dawn, raised his heavy eyelids when he heard the noises outside the bedroom. The palace, which should have been quiet, was strangely noisy.

“Lou, is?”

Renato raised his upper body and called for Louis in a hoarse voice. But no answer came back. He couldn’t check the time because of the bed curtains, but seeing the dim light permeating his bed, it seemed like dawn had just passed.

“Luna?”

Having roughly estimated the time, Renato called for Luna this time. As a knight, Luna’s five senses were more sensitive than Louis’, so she would quickly come inside even when he called in a small voice. But it was different today.

“……?”

Renato became a little anxious when the two of them, who would normally come in straight away, didn’t show up. The harsh noise from outside also fueled his anxiety.

His Imperial Highness was not feeling well last night……

Then I will check that out myself!

As he fully woke up, the muffled voices gradually became clearer. Hearing strange sounds coming into his bedroom, Renato tried to move his exhausted body. His fever seemed to have gone down, but there was no strength in his body at all.

“Ah……”

When Renato took a step toward the door, he felt dizzy and staggered. In an instant, the world around him turned pit-black and spun around. He grabbed the bedpost, catching his breath for a moment.

What’s wrong with me these days? Renato clasped his hands over his aching head and let out a small groan. Other things might be different, but he was confident about his health, so the changes in his body over the past few months felt unfamiliar.

After his regression, he quickly got tired just from a bit of overwork. In the past, his fatigue would have disappeared after waking up from a deep sleep, but now, he couldn’t recover by taking a short rest. But he had no time to relax. As a result, he got tired little by little.

The fatigue that had accumulated in about three months gradually turned into aches and pains last night. Around noon, his body was strangely exhausted, but by the evening, he had a fever along with shivers.

As a result, Renato couldn’t sleep all night. Although Louis gave him the fever reducer that he had prepared as home medicine, his fever did not go away. It was rare for him to get seriously ill like this, except when he collapsed from taking hormone drugs given by Marquis Medus as a child, and when he was sick after being severely beaten by Maximo who had become the Emperor.

‘Can’t I just call the palace doctors? You have been unwell for several months now. This would turn into a big deal if we keep this up.’

Louis, who was taking care of Renato, didn’t know what to do because Renato hardly ever had a fever, and tried to call the palace doctors. Then, Renato stopped Louis and said it was absolutely impossible. Neither Marquis Medus nor Tristan should know that his body was strange. He also had to hide the scar.

‘If the Marquis realizes that now, it will affect our future work. If Imperial Father finds out, he’ll blame himself…… Then his depression might get worse again.’

‘But, huu, I understand.’

Louis was frustrated with Renato’s adamant refusal but eventually followed his orders. Renato closed his eyes, feeling Louis’ hand gently wiping away his sweat. Then, at some point, he fell asleep.

“Ugh.”

Tracing back his memories before falling asleep, Renato briefly groaned as he moved away from the bedpost. He only moved a little, but the inside part of his elbow was throbbing. It was the place where his blood was drawn by Marquis Medus a few days ago.

The needle mark and bruise that normally would have disappeared without a trace did not go away, perhaps because a larger amount of blood was drawn compared to usual. It was similar to when Maximo grabbed his wrist and left a bruise not long ago.

‘You have a tendency not to take care of your body, Your Imperial Highness.’

‘You always act as if it doesn’t matter if you get hurt, as if things like bruises aren’t a big deal. Have you ever thought about how that attitude will look to others?’

Khalid’s voice echoed in his still hazy mind. The thought that the man would be angry and worried because he didn’t take care of his body again made his heart pound. He felt good when Khalid worried about him, but he didn’t like seeing the man get angry.

Thinking that he would have to ask Louis to get an ointment later, Renato started walking again. He had never taken medicine or got treatment unless he was seriously ill, but it seemed he couldn’t do so anymore.

After all, he desperately felt the need to take care of his changed body from last night, and he also promised Khalid that he would not worry the man in the future.

“I said I would only get in for a moment! Why can’t you understand what I’m saying?”

Walking closer to the door, Renato paused his step when a shout struck his ears. As soon as he heard that voice, he came to his senses, and goosebumps crept upon his skin.

……Maximo?

Renato immediately recognized who was causing the disturbance. Maximo was arguing with Louis siblings outside.

“How many times do I have to tell you? His Imperial Highness has not woken up yet.”

“Then I’ll wait until he wakes up.”

“Huu, if you want to ask for an audience, please don’t rush in, instead, please make an appointment according to the procedures. Didn’t I already tell you this a little while ago?”

“Every time I come, you keep saying he is away, he is busy, then reject me! What if he is avoiding me?!”

“He is not avoiding you on purpose. And please don’t shout. Why are you being rude in front of His Imperial Highness’ bedroom? If you keep doing this, I will call the guards.”

“What? Guards? Ha, how dare a mere attendant…… Just call them here! Do you think His Majesty the Empress will like it if you cause a commotion here?”

Maximo, who was arguing with Louis, sarcastically mentioned Blanche. Feeling Louis’ anger beyond the door, Renato gulped.

“Are you threatening us?”

“I’m not threatening you, I’m just warning you. Now then, try to get me out of here. What’s wrong? You can’t? Hey, guard knight. Why don’t you pull out your sword instead of just looking?”

Hearing Maximo’s voice provoking Louis and Luna, Renato tightly clutched the doorknob. Even the Prince’s attendant and guard knight could not recklessly touch a noble’s body. Moreover, Maximo was a collateral imperial family member. It was a felony for a person serving the imperial family to carelessly touch an imperial family member. Maximo knew that too, so he was confident.

“You were being impudent just a moment ago, but suddenly you’re quiet now? I guess you understand the situation now? Hmm?”

“……”

“Now hurry up and tell His Imperial Highness. Tell him that I will meet him.”

What should I do? Renato pondered as he grabbed the doorknob. In his mind, he wanted to open the door right away and yell at Maximo to go back. But his hand couldn’t move.

Just hearing Maximo’s voice made his fingers slightly tremble. If his trauma symptoms appeared in front of the three, what he had been trying to hide so far would go down the drain. In the worst case, Maximo might be able to grasp his weakness.

“No matter how many times you say this to us, we cannot tell His Imperial Highness. So please stop throwing a tantrum and go back.”

While Renato was agonizing, Louis refused Maximo’s request in a firm voice.

“What?”

“His Imperial Highness needs a rest right now. So……”

“Seriously!”

Frustrated by Louis’ refusal, Maximo burst with anger, and at the same time, a violent punching sound rang out. At that moment, Renato couldn’t bear it and turned the doorknob. When he opened the door, he saw Louis losing his balance and staggering, and Maximo raising his hand toward him. He could also see Luna hastily stretching out her arm to stop the two people from colliding.

“Louis!”

Renato called out to Louis in a screaming voice and jumped in between the three of them. Then, he firmly hugged Louis.

“Y, Your Imperial Highness?”

“Renato?”

Louis, suddenly hugged by Renato who just appeared, had a perplexed expression. Maximo, who was about to swing his fist at Louis, also stopped. Renato gave strength to the arm that was holding Louis and looked at Maximo.

“What are you doing?”

“No, I……”

Maximo faltered when hearing the sharp voice, then lowered his hand. Renato’s gaze turned to Maximo’s hand before moving back up. The moment their eyes met, Maximo felt his heart sink. The emotions that filled Renato’s pale purple eyes were clear anger and hostility.

“Did you just hit Louis?”

“I didn’t hit him! I just pushed……”

“Lie!”

Renato yelled at him. Since he usually never raised his voice, not only Maximo but Luna and Louis were also astonished.

I thought I would lose him again.

Renato pulled Louis into his arms and clenched his teeth. His body was trembling with anger and fear toward Maximo. When he faced the man, just like what he had been afraid of a moment ago, his stomach churned and his back quickly became damp with sweat.

But he had no intention of running away. This time, he had to protect Louis this time. A gruesome, horrific memory flashed in Renato’s mind. It was the day Louis left his side.

‘Cut off that impudent attendant’s head right now!’

In his previous life, Louis lost his life in vain because he blocked Maximo when the man was beating Renato.

‘Please forgive Louis, Your Majesty. It was my fault. Everything was my fault, so…… Please punish me and have mercy on Louis. I implore you. Please, I beg of you, please don’t kill Louis.’

Renato knelt before Maximo who ordered to behead Louis, and desperately begged for his life.

‘If that attendant can endure the punishment I give, I will spare him.’

Maximo looked down at Renato begging him with a strange gaze, then feigned generosity by saying he would spare Louis if he endured the beating. Renato bowed his head several times to thank him for his kindness. However, Maximo had no intention of sparing Louis from the beginning.