Dominate Another World with a Brainwashing Skill!? No, If Anyone Finds Out, I’ll Be Executed, So I’ll Live Honestly and Upright! - Chapter 81: I Wanted to Write a Scene About Wiping the Body, But Held Back for the Web Version

Chapter 81: I Wanted to Write a Scene About Wiping the Body, But Held Back for the Web Version

By the time our discussion with Prince Lucas wrapped up, the setting sun was already casting its glow outside the window. 

As we returned to the room, Marquis Prime, the chancellor, arrived just in time.

According to Marquis Prime, His Majesty’s condition had improved so much that it was as if he had never been sick at all. However, since he had been bedridden for several days, he would need some time to recover his strength.

Marquis Prime bowed his head to Recty, asking to formally express their gratitude at a later date.

“O-Oh, there’s no need for thanks! I just did a little to help…!”

“The saintess herself said that without you, Miss Recty, His Majesty couldn’t have been saved. You have no reason to be humble. You are a hero who saved the kingdom.”

“A h-hero…!?”

Hearing such an overwhelming title from Marquis Prime, Recty’s eyes widened in shock, completely speechless.

Well, thinking about it, if His Majesty had died, the country would have most likely plunged into civil war, and in the worst case, Reese Kingdom might have collapsed entirely.

Marquis Prime must have understood that as well—that’s why he called Recty a hero who saved the kingdom.

“Chancer, can we discuss what comes next?”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

“Thanks. Alyssa, I’ll leave the rest to you. Roan, Lucretia—can you come with me?”

Prince Lucas left the room with Roan and Lucretia (who was actually Merry in disguise), along with Marquis Prime. The rest of us decided to head back to the academy.

“Loug, are you okay…?”

“Yeah. I’m still feeling a little lightheaded, but I’m fine.”

Loug, who had been lying on the sofa, sat up and gave a small nod. Her face was still a bit flushed, but she seemed a little better than before.

While she was asleep, Recty had used <Heal> on her a few times, which probably helped a lot.

Recty’s <Heal> doesn’t just heal wounds—it also helps with fatigue recovery. Since I’ve been getting it cast on me every morning lately, I know firsthand how effective it is.

I carried Loug on my back (she flat-out refused when I tried to carry her princess-style again) and took her to the carriage. We then set off back to the Royal Academy.

As I watched the streets of the capital from the carriage window, I couldn’t help but stay on alert, expecting something to happen. But in the end, we made it back to the academy without any issues.

Prince Lucas did say that nothing would happen right away, so maybe I’m just overthinking things.

We parted ways with Alyssa in front of the school gates and headed toward the dorms. Lily and Recty, worried about Loug, accompanied us all the way to the front of the boys’ dormitory.

“Loug, are you feeling better now…?”

“Yeah. Thanks, Recty.”

Loug, still leaning heavily against my back, responded in a tired voice.

“Hugh, if anything happens with Loug, let me know right away. I’ll inform the dorm manager, so just come to the entrance, and it’ll be fine.”

“That helps. I think things will be fine on your end too, but if anything happens, let me know.”

Prince Lucas had mentioned that he would send a few knights as reinforcements. With Alyssa around as well, the academy should be safe for now.

Still, it’s frustrating that we don’t have an immediate way to contact each other in case of an emergency. It would be nice if there was a magic tool similar to a phone… but that’s probably asking for too much. Though, with the <Brainwashing> skill, I feel like I could create something like that… but messing with it without proper thought might not be a good idea.

I decided to think about the magic tool idea later and said goodbye to Lily and Recty at the entrance to the boys’ dorm.

Back in my room, I gently set Loug down from my back. She staggered slightly before flopping onto my bed with a soft thud.

Hey, that’s my bed… Well, at this point, it’s practically Loug’s bed anyway, so I guess it’s fine.

I adjusted her awkward sleeping position and pulled the blanket over her.

Glancing at the clock, I realized it was already dinner time.

“Loug, you hungry? If you want, I can go to the cafeteria and get you some bread porridge.”

“No, I’m fine… but, Hugh.”

“What is it?”

“Can you… hold my hand?”

Was it because of her slight fever, or because we were finally alone and she let her guard down? Loug reached out to me from under the blanket with her left hand.

Her voice was soft and sweet, like honey. Her flushed cheeks and those deep blue eyes, glistening with moisture, made her delicate features stand out even more, stirring a strong protective instinct within me.

…Whoa! That was close. Her cuteness nearly made my brain short-circuit.

I knelt beside the bed and gently took Loug’s small hand in both of mine.

“Hehe, Hugh… your hands are so warm.”

“R-Really…?”

…I love her. I had to fight the overwhelming feelings welling up inside me.

“Thank you, Hugh… for taking me to the castle. You encouraged me when I hesitated, and because of you, I got to see my father… If he had died without me seeing him, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life, so… thank you.”

“It’s okay, I understand. I’m glad your father got better, Lucretia.”

“Yeah… I’m really glad…”

That must have been all she wanted to say. With a relieved expression, Lucretia slowly closed her eyes. Before long, the sound of her gentle breathing filled the room.

Maybe we had both reached our limit with this whole act. I knew that Loug was actually Lucretia, and she knew that I was aware of it too.

We had been pretending not to notice because we were afraid of taking that first step. Once we did, it felt like we wouldn’t be able to stop ourselves from running forward.

Ignoring it—pretending not to know—was the easiest way to keep our feelings, our hearts, and our impulses in check.

But…

“I love you, Lucretia.”

I placed our intertwined hands against my forehead and whispered softly.

It wasn’t about reason or logic—it was just pure emotion overflowing from deep within my heart. And it was getting harder and harder to hold it back.