Chapter117

After struggling on horseback for a while, Elara finally gave up on pushing herself too hard and reached out her hand to Uno.

Uno stepped forward again, took her hand, wrapped an arm around her waist, and carefully lifted her off the horse.

Once she was off the saddle that had tormented her all day, Elara felt completely exhausted. Her legs were numb and aching, and she had no intention of standing on her own.

She cursed this weak body in her heart as she reached out to wrap her arms around Uno's neck. She didn't notice how his body slightly stiffened when she did that. Snuggling into his arms for a bit, she finally found a more comfortable position and didn't want to move again. She simply let him become her legs, and wherever she pointed, he carried her there.

"Uno, carry me around this area. Let's take a look at the terrain, then head back to the tent to rest."

"Yes, Your Highness." Uno's voice was a little hoarse, maybe because of the wind he'd endured all day on horseback.

After being carried around to inspect the surrounding terrain and confirming there was no danger, Elara told Uno to carry her back to the camp the elite soldiers had set up.

Once inside the tent, Elara slid down from Uno's arms, only to lie on the makeshift bed with a painful grimace. She didn't want to move at all.

Lying there in a daze, she felt her whole body out of sync. Then suddenly, a pair of large hands pressed onto her sore thighs and began kneading the muscles with just the right amount of pressure.

Elara opened her eyes and saw Uno, who was supposed to be gone, kneeling by her bed. His calloused hands were gently resting on her legs.

Sensing her gaze, Uno lowered his sharp eyes slightly. Elara wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but his hands felt a bit hot and slightly trembling.

"Princess, I know a few ways to ease soreness. Please forgive me if I've overstepped."

Elara's legs were numb and aching. The moment Uno pressed down, the mix of soreness and comfort almost made her moan. She quickly said to him,

"Not overstepping. Not at all. Keep going. Give me a good massage."

As she spoke, Elara relaxed her body even more and signaled Uno to continue.

In her past life, she had a personal massage therapist who gave her weekly therapy sessions. Compared to those sessions, where she'd be half-undressed for a full-body massage, she was now fully clothed. Her loose robe covered her from neck to feet, and Uno was pressing through the fabric.

Because of that, Elara didn't feel the massage was inappropriate at all. Her sore and tight muscles were finally relieved by just the right pressure. She felt like her numbed limbs were slowly coming back to life.

Uno looked at the girl lying in front of him, her slender limbs relaxed and spread out, allowing his movements. His thick lashes lowered a bit, and the large hand on her leg tightened slightly.

His voice was low and hoarse as he replied, "Yes." He kept his eyes lowered, forcing himself not to linger on the softness beneath his hands.

His palms, calloused yet gentle, moved steadily over Elara's thin limbs, carefully easing the tension away.

Half an incense stick's time passed like that. Just when Elara was so comfortable she nearly dozed off, the flap of the tent was suddenly lifted. Oswyn stepped in, holding a box of ointment.

"I knew your weak body couldn't even handle riding a horse. Yet you still push yourself every day. Hmph, did your legs get chafed? I brought medicine. With the right technique, it works fast—"

Oswyn lifted the curtain as he spoke, but once he saw the scene inside, he stopped mid-sentence. His gaze shifted from the lying Elara to Uno, then to Uno's hand that was massaging Elara's arm.

After a short silence, Oswyn let out a quiet breath and closed his eyes briefly. When Elara looked at him in confusion, he showed a look of forced restraint.

He still walked over to the bed, holding the ointment. But compared to his loud entrance, his steps were now slow and heavy. Each one made the temporary tent creak beneath his feet.

Once he reached the bed, his expression had turned blank. He looked down at Elara from above.

"I almost forgot. A princess like you is never short of people to wait on her. You never need to suffer or rely on others, do you?"

His sudden sarcastic tone came from nowhere.

Still, even while saying that, Oswyn tossed the ointment to Uno. "Apply it. Focus especially on the chafed and swollen areas. Use the 'Yin to Yang' method to help her absorb it fully."

Without waiting for a reply, Oswyn added, "If you don't know that method, use your inner energy. It'll have about the same effect."

Then he turned, tossed his sleeve, and left the tent in big strides.

Elara, just about to fall asleep, was now wide awake. She stared at Oswyn's strangely upset back.

Only after he lifted the curtain and completely left did Elara turn to Uno. "Did someone upset him during today's march?"

Uno shook his head. "No, Your Highness. Master Oswyn has been riding alone the whole way. No one disturbed him."

Though Uno had stayed near Elara in the lead, as the top shadow guard of the Wei clan, his senses always extended over the whole group. He could pick up on anything happening during the march.

After hearing Uno's response, Elara glanced at the curtain that had just fallen. She thought for a moment, then gave up trying to figure it out.

Forget it. Wasn't Oswyn always like this? Since the moment she came to this world and met him, he rarely showed her a pleasant attitude.

Maybe he just got annoyed for no reason again. Elara didn't want to waste energy guessing what made him unhappy.

After all, he was equally good at adjusting his mood and getting irritated without warning. When he had random issues with Imani before, he still came around with medicine later like nothing happened. His face and attitude stayed completely unchanged.

Even now, she didn't know what had triggered him, but he'd probably return to normal in a couple of hours. She didn't need to bother asking.

With that in mind, Elara looked back at the ointment box in Uno's hands.

Hmm... regardless of everything else, Oswyn really had improved lately. At least he now took the initiative to bring her medicine.

Elara, who had already experienced Oswyn's medical skills, placed high hopes on the ointment. She raised her hand and loosened her robe, removing the outer layer until only her undergarments remained.

Then she spread out her limbs again and lifted her chin toward Uno, signaling him to begin. "Come on, Uno. Use your inner energy to apply the medicine for me."

The lighting inside the tent was very dim. That's why Elara didn't notice the faint blush slowly rising at the tips of Uno's ears after she undressed and gave the order.