After crouching down in reflex, screaming at the top of her lungs, Eve quickly realized her mistake.

'No! I can't act scared!'

Albeit with fear in her heart, she raised her head, eyes filled with determination, and stared ahead. She watched the black object fly toward her… over her head and out of the cave, followed by a dozen more.

"…Bats?" Eve muttered a second later, realizing what they were.

The first one had been shaken by her kicking a loose pebble, and the rest were scared out by her shrill scream. As soon as she understood what really happened, she let out a sigh of relief.

"Oh, right! I have to make sure the cave is safe first!"

Recalling her duty, she carefully scanned the cave.

It was dark, but relying on the faint light coming from the entrance, she was able to explore it sufficiently.

Past the area where the bats stayed near the entrance, about fifty meters in, was the end of the cave. It was flat and a bit raised, so there was no fear of flooding. Furthermore, it was dry and away from the cold draft.

"There are no other animals either. This should be safe enough."

She nodded to herself before returning the way she came.

Outside, Axel was still leaning against the rock wall, unconscious. He didn't miraculously wake up or anything. But Eve wasn't disappointed; she had made it her duty to ensure Axel survived this situation. Thus, she was willing to do anything for Axel.

"Humph…!"

Again, carrying him over her shoulders, she dragged him into the cave. As far back as she could. About two minutes later, she finally reached the end of the cave.

There, she carefully laid Axel on the flat ground, observing his state.

His breathing was labored, as if in pain. Each exhale was an undeniable groan, making Eve worry for him. And when she reached toward him, touching his arm…

"Cold!"

His skin was cold enough that even her cold hand felt as if it had just touched ice.

"This is bad!" Eve gasped.

At the rate he was losing body heat, he would soon enter hypothermia. Of course, Eve wasn't aware about the term, but she was wise enough to understand the danger of getting "too cold" and the threat it posed to his life.

However, Eve had no options to help him warm up.

She couldn't make a fire, as she didn't have anything to burn, much less anything to start one with. She didn't have anything to warm them up either, like blankets or similar items. She was helpless, only able to look at Axel's anguished expression.

"…No."

At that moment, she recalled something her mother once told her.

A story of long ago.

An experience she had with Eve's father back when they were pushed back in a war. At the time, they weren't monarchs yet, but rather a prince and his fiancée.

Back then, they were chased by enemy soldiers, and just like Eve now, they had chosen to hide in a cave. Cold and hungry, the two could only huddle together in patience and wait for rescue. And to fight against the cold…

"Back then, Mother…"

Eve's expression tightened, her hand hovering over her chest that was yet to bud. Hesitation crossed her mind for but a moment before her expression sharpened.

"If it means saving Sir Axel, then…!"

Without hesitation, she started to remove the wet clothes covering Axel.

Everything.

From his coat, his white long-sleeved shirt, his pants, and even his boxers. He was stripped naked methodically and precisely.

"…"

Although blushing at the sight of a man's thing for the first time, Eve continued her actions without pause. She carefully squeezed water out of Axel's clothes until no more droplets could be squeezed out. Then, as if it were the most obvious choice, Eve started to remove her dress.

Unlike Axel, with several layers of clothes, Eve only had her underwear beneath the dress, so it didn't really take long.

Since they were too deep, the winds couldn't reach them.

Still, a faint draft flowed from a crack somewhere, causing Eve to hug her naked body, cold and shivering.

She quickly crouched down beside Axel's body and whispered to herself like a chant.

"This is to survive… nothing to be ashamed of…"

Slowly, she turned Axel's body to the side and lay right beside him. Now face-to-face, she felt more embarrassed than before, even if Axel was unconscious. Still, she didn't stop.

She wrapped her arms around Axel's body, pulling him into a tight hug. She rested his head over her shoulder, almost as if she were lulling a baby to sleep. Her legs did the same, keeping tight against his body.

Although various things were hitting each other, she paid it no mind.

Her face, red and hot, was just her imagination… she convinced herself of that.

"Sir Axel…" Eve whispered as she felt the warmth of her body encroach on him. "Please… wake up soon…" And she said a quiet prayer for his return.

Just like that, in the middle of a dark cave, two bodies desperately clung to each other, sharing what little warmth they could.

…

"Mmh…"

Axel slowly opened his eyes.

His vision was blurry, and his head was aching. He was cold in most parts, but his chest, for one, felt extremely hot. Almost scalding.

Then, pain quickly followed.

His dislocated shoulder, the bruises on his back that had now turned into black spots, and many others. It was so painful that his sleepiness flew far away in an instant.

Without hesitation, he skimmed his inventory and grabbed a potion from the medical supplies. Just as he was about to withdraw it, he noticed that his able arm was unable to move.

"Huh?"

Only then did he realize what was going on.

At present, he was buck naked while lying on his left side over a rough stone ground.

Before him, arms wrapped tight around his chest and legs entwined around his right leg, was Eve… similarly naked. Their bodies were pressed tight together, enough that he thought they'd meld if given more time.

"…"

The arm in question was being used by Eve as a pillow.

As soon as he realized this, he understood why he couldn't move it. His entire arm had gone numb!

"No choice…"

Axel carefully peeled Eve away from him before successfully withdrawing a potion and drinking it. Like magic, his injuries faded. The pain disappeared almost like it was an illusion.

But although he was finally back to full health, he was still feeling a bit dizzy.

"I guess my mana's still near the bottom…"

Reasoning as such, he quickly grabbed a mana potion from the ones he made and chugged it. As soon as he did, the dizziness disappeared. Not only that, he could feel the warmth in the middle of his chest—his mana—expand further.

With that, he was truly back in full health.

Right then, Axel tapped Eve's cheeks, trying to wake her up.

"…?"

But as soon as his hand touched her body, he felt something was amiss.

She was hot…

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