𝐈 𝐀𝐌 𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 → kny x m! reader

02. | strange changes

As much as he hated it, the inept physician kept coming back to give him the same disgusting medicine, as per Hidesato's request. He did not know what the hell that man put inside the concoction, but the damn thing tasted downright awful.

But still, he kept drinking each and every single one of them.

After drinking even one medicine, the taste would remain on his tongue for hours. And now, with him drinking it multiple times every single day, that taste of bitterness had made itself at home at the roof of his mouth, permanently lingering inside his body.

Usually after giving him the medicine, the physician would encourage him to eat more food, to no such success, of course.

Any kind of food served on his plate has remained barely touched these past few days.

What he noticed, most of all was the bland taste. No matter what type of spices the servants served it with, there would always be an inexplicable sense of nausea before he had even finished chewing it.

To be honest, he has pondered day and night the meaning behind these strange events. He was never one to deny good food. Besides, he should be famished by now with how little he had been eating, but his stomach did not growl nor did it have the desire to eat.

Perhaps the physician was poisoning him?

He quickly washed away such a thought, for what reason would Hidesato bring an untrustworthy person right to his doorstep?

Nonetheless, the healing process so far has been ineffective.

Instead of the medicine restoring his vitality, there was a degree of queasiness in his body that lingered. that would not let itself be washed away. When the sun had risen to paint the skies in its hues of pink and orange, he felt like retching instead.

All this for what? Restlessness gnaws at his very being.

His brother's promise had sparked hope within him before, but it's quickly fading with the state his body is currently still in. He'd rather this ceaseless treatment stop and have the physician heal someone else instead.

Nothing has changed. Nothing will change. His fate was sealed the moment he took that hit for his brother.

"Oi," [Y/n] began to speak to the physician after drinking his medicine for the day. The man smiled meekly in answer. His smile while gentle brings a sense of wariness to the [h/c] male. From what his brother told him, the man had a record of helping the weak and frail, trying his best to give medicine to those who had suffered unjustly.

"You can stop coming here."

His eyes widened. "May I ask why, my lord? I am here under your brother's request to heal you. Have no fear, I guarantee that you will heal in due time."

Sure.

[Y/n]'s gaze shifted downwards, his heart heavy, weighted down by his aching body.

"This—," he pointed at his legs, "—is a lost cause. You're better off healing someone more dire. At the very least, I'm still alive. I'm already grateful for that fact." The physician gave a rueful smile, still trying to convince him.

"I am sure that with my help—" [Y/n] raised his hand, signaling him to stop.

"You've helped enough. Now, go help someone else."

"I see," he replied after a long silence. Bowing deeply to the [h/c] haired man before finally leaving. [Y/n] gave a long sigh, gazing at the sinking sun from his window.

As the night slowly takes over and the pale moon finally becomes visible, he looks down at the sword sitting on the tatami. It was delivered today by one of the servants, finally cleaned from the blood that had stained it after the last battle. Reaching out, he took it and carefully opened it from its scabbard.