As I slowly regained consciousness, I found myself in a comfortable bed in the assigned room. The warm colors of the walls and the gentle lighting created a pleasant atmosphere of comfort. Next to my bed sat a maid with cute rabbit ears. Her face was marked with worry, but when she noticed I was awake, she jumped up. Her silk dress rustled softly as she hurried to the door and disappeared.

I slowly sat up, feeling the pain receding and a pleasant sense of relief taking its place. But at the same time, I felt a slight disappointment rising within me. I had hoped to possess superhuman powers and easily overcome the illness. It was a reminder that even as a healer, I had my limits. Thoughts of all the other people who might also be ill made me pensive.

At that moment, the butler, the rabbit maid, and an older man entered the room. The man, a doctor, had gray-white hair that shimmered in the soft light. His goatee and round glasses gave him a wise and respected look. The way he entered the room actually reminded me of a majestic goat, attentively observing his surroundings.

(Doctor)

The butler spoke with sincere concern in his voice, "Your Holiness, how do you feel? Are you in pain? Do you need anything? Please let us know if anything troubles you!" His words came in a single breath, and his ears were slightly folded down, indicating his worry. It was touching to see someone genuinely concerned about my well-being. It was the first time someone other than the nature spirits had shown me such attention and care.

(the Butler)

The doctor approached cautiously and cleared his throat before speaking, "Ahem... Your Holiness, if I may, I would like to conduct a brief examination to ensure that you are in good health." His calm and deliberate manner instilled confidence in me, and I nodded in agreement. He began the examination by feeling my pulse, examining my eyes and throat, and gently palpating my abdomen. I felt in good hands with his calm and professional approach.

"Thank you, but I'm feeling well," I finally said with a grateful smile. But suddenly, the room fell silent, and all three of them stared at me as if they had made a mysterious discovery. It dawned on me that I was no longer wearing my hood, and my true appearance might have surprised them, or had I said something wrong?

Suddenly, a loud rumbling came from my stomach. It was mine, and I couldn't help but blush slightly. I hadn't eaten or drunk anything for the past few days, and now my body was reminding me of that fact. I couldn't suppress a slight smile, and my stomach rumbled again, this time more quietly.

The butler hurried to save the situation and quickly said, "We will bring your breakfast immediately. Please continue to rest, Your Holiness." The rabbit maid bowed hastily and swiftly left the room. I couldn't help but admire her speed, and the smile on my face widened.

"Hmph... I would still recommend a few more days of bed rest. After all, you were unconscious for a whole day," the doctor said, trying to hide his grin by coughing into his fist. "If Your Holiness doesn't need anything else from me, then I shall take my leave."

"Thank you, that will be all," I replied. The man bowed politely and left the room. Now only the butler and I were left. His gaze remained on me, and I felt somewhat uncertain, so I finally said, "How is the young boy?" The butler beamed and replied, "Thanks to Your Holiness, our young prince is doing well. He is already awake.""I'm glad to hear that. I hope he recovers quickly... I have another question. What about the others? Are many people affected?" I asked cautiously. The butler hesitated for a moment and then replied, "Among the villagers and servants, there are some who have fallen ill. However, their illnesses could mostly be treated with the help of doctors and herbal remedies. Only our young prince seemed to be unaffected by any treatment."

"I understand," I said thoughtfully. Before I could further inquire about the illness, the rabbit maid returned with a tray, on which there was a fragrant bowl of soup and a piece of fresh bread. "Please forgive this humble meal. But the doctor recommends that we offer you light fare for now," she explained with a slightly downcast expression. I smiled encouragingly at her and accepted the tray. The aroma of the soup filled my nostrils, and my stomach growled again in anticipation. Without many words, I began tasting the warm soup. It was delicious and warmed my body from within. The flavors of fresh vegetables and spices danced on my tongue as I dipped the bread into the soup and savored each bite.

Before I knew it, I had finished the bowl. They looked at me with surprised eyes. I held out the empty bowl to the rabbit maid and asked shyly, "May I have another serving, please?" She smiled in relief and replied, "Of course, Your Holiness. I..." But I interrupted her kindly, saying, "And please don't address me like that. The same goes for both of you". They looked at me in surprise, "As you wish. How would you prefer to be addressed?"

Did I even have a name in this world? Until now, I had only been referred to as a monster or a bastard. Even my father addressed me only as "my son." After a short moment of contemplation, I answered, "My name is Hikaru, but you can simply call me Haru." I decided to keep my old name, as it gave me a sense of identity.

"I apologize, but we cannot address you by your given name, Your Highness," said the butler with a serious expression, lowering his gaze respectfully. His posture revealed the centuries-old traditions and hierarchy that governed this mansion. "Then I won't ask, I command it. You may call me 'young master' if the occasion requires," I replied firmly, trying to exude as much sternness and authority as possible.

"We understand, Your Holi... Mr. Hikaru," they responded awkwardly, making an effort to comply with my instruction. The butler and the maid looked at me with a mixture of respect and curiosity. The closeness of the room intensified the silence as we scrutinized each other. I felt the urge to get to know them better, to learn more about their stories and backgrounds.

"Now that we are somewhat acquainted, could you perhaps tell me your names?" I asked kindly, showing interest in their personalities. Wolfram, the butler, took a step closer and replied with a slight smile, "My name is Wolfram, and this maid here is Isabella. You may address us as you please, Mr. Hikaru." His voice sounded warm and familiar. Isabella then left the room with the empty soup bowl.

Within the next moment, Isabella returned with a new bowl of steaming soup, carefully placing it beside me. The enticing aroma filled my nostrils and awakened my appetite. "Thank you, Isabella," I thanked her politely and took the bowl in both hands. As I tasted the first spoonful of soup, I felt the comforting warmth and the flavors of the carefully chosen ingredients. It was a meal that filled not only my stomach but also my soul.

While I enjoyed my meal, we suddenly heard commotion in the hallway. A maid with cat ears and dark brown, almost black, hair entered the room, her eyes revealing concern. "Forgive the interruption, but the young prince is nowhere to be found," she reported breathlessly. A shadow of worry fell upon Wolfram's face, and he visibly startled. He bowed briefly to me before hurrying off to address the situation.

(Isabella and the cat maid)

"If there is anything amiss, please ring, and I will come to your service immediately, Mr. Hikaru," Isabella said sympathetically, bidding farewell before following the butler. The room fell silent again, and I was left alone with my thoughts. The question of whether I should help with the search pressed upon me. The young prince seemed to have disappeared. But before I could even rise, the young boy entered the room. His face displayed a mixture of relief and excitement as he quickly glanced around before closing the door behind him.

With his big round eyes, the boy looked at me, his gaze full of curiosity. "Hello," I greeted him kindly, with a gentle smile. The boy's eyes sparkled as he cautiously approached me. Just before reaching the bed, he stopped and extended his hand hesitantly. I took it gently in mine and felt a warm, innocent touch. "Thank you!" he exclaimed, tinged with excitement. As he dropped something into my hand, I opened it and found a chocolate candy inside. It was the first gift I had received from someone in this world. I smiled and ruffled the boy's hair. "Thank you very much."

I took the candy and I took a careful bite. The boy was startled, and his eyes widened. "Does it still hurt a lot?" he asked worriedly. Only now did I notice tears running down my cheeks. I smiled and tried to wipe away the tears. "I'm fine," I assured him, joy in my voice. The boy looked at me skeptically, but then he placed his hand on mine and gazed at me seriously. "Are you crying because of my brother? I know many people say he looks like a demon and is mean to people. But he's not a demon. He's nice." It was remarkable how he stood up for his brother and defended him. I had to suppress my laughter because his statement was just too adorable.

"Don't worry, I'm not crying because of your brother," I reassured him. A smile spread across his face, and he seemed relieved. "Okay, good! If he or anyone else tries to bother you, let me know." "Will you protect me from them?" I said jokingly. The boy looked at me with a bright smile and nodded vigorously. "I'll protect you, Mr. Angel." I was surprised by his statement. Did he mean me with that? "Thank you, but I'm not an angel... I'm just Haru."

"Haru?... My name is Ryota," he introduced himself. His name sounded beautiful and suited him. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better already, Ryota," I replied sincerely. "Thank you. If there's anything I can do for you, let me know. After all, I owe you a great debt," he suddenly said with a maturity and seriousness beyond his age. "Actually, there is something you could do for me," I responded. Ryota looked at me expectantly but also tensely. "You could be my friend. But only if you want to." A slight hesitation hung in the air as he processed my words. Then his face brightened, and a broad smile appeared. "Friend?" he repeated. "Yes, I want to be your friend." His agreement warmed my heart. He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out more chocolate candies. With a joyful twinkle in his eyes, he sat down next to me on the bed, and together we enjoyed the sweet taste of the candies.

[I will add a few more pictures in the next few days and create a character overview page.]