OPDSP 27

She clearly tried to look out for others, in her own quiet way, with that stony face of hers. Maybe that was why the soldiers liked her so much.

“I’m alright now. Things are still awkward between us, but I’m sure it’ll get better with time.”

“Then that’s good. They’re not bad men. It’s just that this subjugation started with so many disruptions, things haven’t settled properly.”

“And there’s no Innis to set the discipline straight, is there?”

“……”

Aeryl turned to her and asked seriously,

“You’re afraid of healing magic, aren’t you?”

“No.”

Innis replied quietly, still staring ahead.

“Then… may I treat your hand?”

“…No.”

“See?”

“I have nothing more to say.”

Pierced right in the heart, Innis tried to walk away. But Aeryl grabbed her wrist and asked,

“Would you still run, even if there’s a way to heal you?”

“What…?”

Innis turned back to him. Her eyes trembled uncontrollably.

He could do this—Aeryl was sure he could persuade her.

“Does something like this even count as an illness?”

Innis asked, her voice shaking.

“It’s not a wound, and it doesn’t hurt. I’m fine, but I get scared just at the sight of an injury. I get chills at the smell of medicine. I can’t stand healing magic. I feel like there’s just something wrong with my head… How does someone fix something like that?”

A woman who rarely spoke much had just poured out a flood of words. Inside them, Aeryl could feel all the suffering she’d silently endured.

“It’s not common, but it’s not unheard of either. There’s a professor at the Imperial Medical Academy who specializes in studying patients like you. According to his research, it can be treated.”

“But I can’t go all the way to the Imperial Medical Academy.”

“That just means you’re lucky. I studied at the Academy.”

Not formally, of course. He used to sneak into lecture halls and secretly read through their research materials. Still, it counted as studying. The only reason he hadn’t done it properly was because he was a prince.

“You’re saying you can treat me?”

Aeryl nodded. Innis froze in place.

Last summer, she’d been injured during a mission to wipe out the Valbean Pirates. The wound had festered because it wasn’t treated immediately, and an emergency operation had to be performed on the spot. Despite being under anesthesia, the pain was unbearable.

After that, just the sight of a military doctor or a hospital left her mind blank with fear—and before she knew it, she’d be retching in a corner. Because of that, she became afraid of getting hurt, and her behavior became increasingly withdrawn.

But she was a soldier. Her life had always been the battlefield, with spear and shield in hand. It was a life she’d taken pride in. And yet now, she couldn’t stand on that battlefield because she feared injury. What use was such a soldier?

Innis was ashamed of what she’d become. She’d tried desperately to hide it from others. Volunteering for the purge unit had been part of that effort—to keep anyone from noticing the change. But Grand Duke Asirion had seen through her and assigned her as a porter.

‘I shouldn’t have volunteered at all.’

Trailing after the purge unit as a porter had made it painfully clear—she was no longer who she once was.

“After this is over, I was planning to retire and return to my hometown.”

“I see…”

“If I could be cured, wouldn’t I run away from it? Of course not! I want to go back. I want to return to who I was.”

Innis had always had a strong sense of duty and pride in being a soldier—strong enough to volunteer for the Great Purge every year. She hadn’t given up willingly; she’d simply lacked a path forward. But if one existed, she wasn’t the type to retreat.

“Please. Help me!”

Innis bowed her head. Her entire body radiated a desperate longing for healing.

“Alright.”

Aeryl placed a hand on her shoulder. Innis slowly straightened up.

“First, let me explain the treatment plan. There’s a bit of a trade secret involved, so let’s move somewhere else.”

“Yes!”

Aeryl took her to his tent. After seating her on the bed, he calmly explained why she had developed an aversion to medical treatment and the fear that stemmed from it.

“A method that gradually acclimates me to it. I understand. It’s like how we train soldiers to fight monsters—we use a similar method.”

She described how they would tie up a captured monster and have the soldiers observe it. Innis caught on quickly and even pointed out a flaw in the method.

“But there were also soldiers who ended up more afraid of the monsters. What if this treatment just makes me fear it even more? And won’t it take quite a bit of time?”

“That’s true. That’s why even at the Imperial Medical Academy, they use drugs or tools to support the treatment.”

Aeryl pulled a necklace out of his coat pocket. It was the one he’d received from Jenx as a gesture of apology.

“It’s a magical tool I got from Jenx. It supposedly helps timid people become more assertive. It should also suppress your body’s physical reactions to anxiety. You’ll wear this during treatment from now on.”

“Isn’t she just hot-tempered?”

“She said it’s a side effect of the necklace.”

“I thought so.”

Just how hot-tempered had Jenx been that everyone knew about it? At that point, wouldn’t it be better not to wear the necklace at all?

“This part follows the method used by the Imperial Medical Academy. But I’m planning to add one more step—omega pheromones.”

“Omega pheromones?”

“Yes. It’s the field I mainly research. I’m going to use omega pheromones to reduce fear and ease your tension.”

“Is that really possible? I’m a beta.”

“Even betas are affected by pheromones. The effect is just different from that on dynamics.”

“I’ve never heard of that before… But I don’t think you’re the type to make things up.”

“Right.”

“Ah, but there aren’t any omegas in the purge unit…”

“I told you, you’re lucky.”

Aeryl pointed at himself with his finger.

“Ah!”

Realization struck, and Innis’s eyes widened.

“No wonder I thought you were beautiful.”

“Being a dynamic has nothing to do with appearance. The idea that all omegas are pretty is a common stereotype. But… thank you. Anyway, let’s proceed.”

“…Right now?”

“Why wait?”

“…….”

Innis shut her mouth tightly and hesitated. Now that treatment was right in front of her, it seemed fear was creeping in.

“I won’t use healing magic. Just show me your wound, and I’ll apply some medicine. If you want to stop at any time, just say so. If I seem like I’m pushing you, go ahead and kick me!”

“…You might die.”

“Uh, then just give me a light tap?”

“Alright.”

Aeryl handed her the necklace. With a determined expression, Innis placed it around her neck.

“Now, give me your hand.”

Aeryl held out his left hand. Innis took a sharp breath. Just revealing the wound seemed to be a hurdle. Her eyes trembled incessantly, and her shoulders were so tense they looked locked in place.

“I’m going to release pheromones now.”

It’s not scary. I won’t hurt you. You’re safe now. Please trust me.

Aeryl poured all his sincerity into the pheromones he released. A soft, sweet scent settled over Innis’s tense body.

“I don’t feel anything.”

“Right.”

But her body began to change. Her shoulders, which had been raised nearly to her ears, slowly lowered. The tension in her expression melted. She was visibly relaxing. As if to prove that, Innis hesitated for a moment, then placed her injured hand into Aeryl’s left one.

“Good. That’s very good. Now I’ll unwrap the bandage and apply the medicine.”

“What should I… do?”

“Let’s see. Try thinking about something that makes you feel happy. How about that?”

“Something that makes me happy…”

Innis turned her head slightly, struggling to think of something she liked. She kept wanting to pull her hand away, but forced herself to endure. Words that didn’t come easily were finally spoken.

“Honey toast. I like toast with lots of honey poured over it.”

“That sounds delicious.”

“Yes. Honey is expensive, so I only eat it on special occasions…”

“Then once you’re healed, let’s have some.”

“There’s really expensive honey—chestnut honey. It has a faint nutty fragrance, and it’s delicious. I want to eat my fill of that.”

“That sounds wonderful. What kind of bread do you like?”

Aeryl responded gently, guiding her so she could stay focused on the pleasant imagery. At the same time, he kept a sharp eye on her. Her forehead was drenched in sweat.

‘Maybe I should release a bit more pheromones.’

He deliberately sent out a stronger wave, and slowly began unwrapping the bandage on Innis’s hand.