I Caught the Male Lead on a Deserted Island

“I-I don’t know what your circumstances are, but I can never fulfill such a request.”

 As she stumbled through her words, Radkiel showed no particular reaction. Well, there were plenty of ways for him to die without needing her help. What he wanted to confirm was whether Yuri was connected to the head of concubines or someone else, so as not to be used in an unpleasant manner.

 “I see. I understand. Then, just as I mentioned, until my body recovers…”

 “On this island, there are no poisonous flowers or mushrooms. There’s no pufferfish either. So even if you try to find them yourself after you recover, it will be pointless.”

 However, Yuri once again firmly shook her head. Judging by that reaction, it seemed like she would rush to his aid at the slightest hint of suspicion. There was no need to say anything more to her. Radkiel smiled as if he had concluded and answered.

 “I’m feeling a bit tired. Is it okay if I rest alone?”

 “…Yes.”

 “Thank you. And… the food, it was good.”

 Yuri quietly walked out of the room after throwing firewood into the fireplace. Despite his blatant refusal, she remained a kind-hearted woman until the end. His grip on the blanket tightened.

 Radkiel stared at the closed door for a moment, then slowly began to move his stiff body. Although he had regained a bit of energy, he still felt sluggish from head to toe. 

 When he thought about his circumstances again by himself, the hypothesis that perhaps the empress consort’s confidant had thought he was dead and thrown him into the sea emerged. Of course, it was just a hypothesis. There was no need to resort to such methods to completely dispose of a corpse.

 Anyway, for now, it was a priority to escape this warm and cozy space. If he stayed here any longer, he felt like he would be blinded with the lights.

 Radkiel found that the medicine Yuri had given him seemed to be taking effect as he calmly regulated his breathing. His limbs began to move relatively well, although he still felt sluggish from head to toe.

 Fortunately, the bed wasn’t too high. Radkiel almost fell head down, as if diving down. Kneeling on the ground, he realized that he was naked. He hastily pulled the blanket over himself. He panicked, realizing that he couldn’t escape naked. The weight of the soft blanket made it difficult for him to move, but he couldn’t afford to go outside naked like a savage.

 He had to escape before Yuri returned.

 There was a high chance of being caught if he went out through the door, and the distance from the bed was far. Radkiel targeted a window with ample lighting and began to move towards it. At first, he thought jumping over a small window wouldn’t be a big deal, but reality was far from his imagination.

His legs didn’t have any strength to stand up. He couldn’t even dream of getting up. Supporting himself with his elbows was impossible due to his bulky physique. On the other hand, his muscles were completely weak, as if devoid of any strength. Crawling on his knees was his best option, as he couldn’t even kneel properly.

 As Radkiel focused his attention on the door, thinking about what to do if Yuri suddenly entered, he felt as if his dignity as a human was crumbling.

 Somehow, he managed to reach near the window, but the next problem was getting over it. He  couldn’t reach the window to open it.

 “…D*mn it.”

 He keenly felt how powerless he was as a human being. But he never expected to feel this powerless in such a situation. Gritting his teeth, he desperately pushed the window using his remaining strength. He threw the blanket away, revealing his bare buttocks. In the midst of all this, he fervently hoped that Yuri wouldn’t come back until he safely escaped.

 Fortunately, the well-lubricated window opened easily, but Radkiel, who had turned pale to the point of looking sickly, was experiencing mild dizziness. However, he couldn’t afford to relax. Holding onto the railing, he lifted himself up and leaned his upper body forward, barely grasping the blanket at his waist. He intended to cross over just like when he fell from the bed. That was what he thought. But his legs wouldn’t go up. No matter how much strength he exerted, he kept wobbling.

 “D*mn it.”

 It was a pitiful effort. What a miserable sight. But he didn’t give up and continued shaking his body. He didn’t care about how he appeared to others anymore. He shook his body fruitlessly for a while, feeling exhausted. Suddenly, Radkiel raised his head and met the gaze of a woman with beautiful and luscious hair. Well, to be precise, he saw Yuri.

 “W-What are you doing there…?”

 Yuri asked in surprise. In an instant, Radkiel casually shifted his gaze before replying.

 “Just photosynthesizing.”

 “…Are you a plant?”

 Of course, it was an excuse that didn’t hold up, so his answer only embarrassed him further. He was burdened by the fact that he had been caught by Yuri. Radkiel recovered his strength for a moment, but he was still sprawled out.

 Although it was embarrassing to be in such a situation, he remembered his clothes and was able to ask for underwear. Yuri blushed and handed him the underwear, which he accepted while holding the sheets.

 After wearing the underwear under the blanket, he didn’t have the energy to go back to the bed. Panting heavily between the sheets, Yuri returned with some clothes.

 “Um, I finished making the clothes and brought them.”

 “You’re… very fast. Is it really possible to make clothes this quickly?”

 “Well, um…”

 Although it was a somewhat awkward response, Radkiel didn’t inquire further. In fact, he had no intention of doing so. He thanked Yuri for handing him the clothes and weakly stretched his arms. Radkiel was used to being dressed. Naturally, he thought she would dress him. Yuri showed a surprised expression but immediately picked up the clothes.

 Guided by her hand, he moved his arms back and forth, and his exposed upper body was finally covered. However, seeing the uniquely shaped top that completely exposed his arms, he unintentionally covered his chest and said, “What an unusually shaped undergarment.”

 “Huh? Uh, it’s not an undergarment, just a normal top…”

 However, the answer that came back surprised Radkiel greatly.

 “Normal? Are you saying that this revealing piece of clothing, which shows skin like this, is normal for men?”

 “I’m wearing the same clothes as well.”

 “But aren’t you a female, Miss Yuri? I was a bit surprised to see you wearing pants, but I understand that women have diverse clothing styles. However, if a man dresses like this, people would find it absurd.”

 “…Really?”

 Radkiel was genuinely taken aback, but Yuri seemed to think he was strange. He stiffened at a sudden thought. Could it be that the place where Yuri was raised and the Empire had completely different cultures and way of thinking?

 Black hair was a characteristic of people from the eastern continent. Radkiel didn’t know much about their way of life, and Yuri’s clothing was somewhat unusual. Seeing the clothes he was wearing again, he realized that the fabric was sturdy enough to be called a top. 

 The sleeves were not too short, and it felt like clothes when he looked at them. The top allowed good ventilation and easy movement. Yuri also pondered his words and then hugged the pants in her arms.

 “Um, please wait a moment. I’ll quickly make different clothes. So, it’s fine as long as your skin isn’t exposed?”

 “…No, no. I just remembered that there’s only you on this island. You went through the trouble of making them, so I apologize for making rude remarks.”

 “Oh, no. Making clothes is easy, and if it’s uncomfortable, I can always make new ones for you.”

 “It’s really fine. It’s easy to move in, it’s cool, and the fabric feels soft, so I really like it. Also, you must have thoroughly examined my naked body…”

 “What?! I-I, no, I only saw your chest! I undressed you under the blanket!”

 “There’s no need to be so flustered… But, it seems that I should wear the pants.”

 Yuri’s flushed cheeks moved as she pursed her lips. Radkiel realized that she didn’t have any ill intentions towards him and felt relieved. After sighing, Yuri handed him the pants and hurriedly left the room. Radkiel put on the pants by himself and once again lost himself in thought.

 Yuri is a kind person, and it was clear that she was starving for human warmth. Many people romanticize living on a secluded island, but the reality was different. The area near the beach was heavily influenced by the sea breeze, causing everything to deteriorate quickly.

 However, the window was well-maintained without any rust or creaking. Seeing that she was holding wool, it seemed like she even raised livestock herself. And the scenery he glimpsed while hanging from the window was neat and tidy. The well-sewn sturdy clothes seemed to indicate her skill in sewing, and she also seemed to be good at cooking. Surely, she must have personally made that mysterious liquid she gave him, claiming it was medicine.

 Yuri had been living here, self-sufficiently, and there must have been unavoidable circumstances for her to do so. Being able to do everything alone also meant being forced to do everything alone.