She scowled slightly, not used to Chichi Manescau taking the initiative or speaking to her in such a considerate tone. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, wondering if this was some kind of trick. But the weakness of her body made her unable to resist. She grudgingly leaned back against the pillows.

"Fine, but don't take too long. I'm not in the mood to wait forever. And don't spill it on me, either!"

She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to look as imperious as possible despite being confined to bed.

She watched Chichi Manescau's every move as he brought the tea, still not fully trusting him. But when he placed the tray down without incident, she couldn't help but feel a small sense of satisfaction.

"No, that will be all...for now."

She paused, her gaze lingering on Chichi Manescau for a moment longer before she reached for the tea cup with shaky hands.

"You'd better hope I don't get any worse, or you'll be in big trouble. I don't know what I'd do without you here to take care of me."

There was a hint of vulnerability in her voice, something she would never admit to anyone else.

She hesitated, not wanting to show weakness, but her hands were trembling too much to hold the cup steady. With an irritated huff, she finally conceded and let Chichi Manescau take it from her grasp.

"Fine, but just this once! Don't think this means you can boss me around or anything."

She glared up at him as he held the cup to her lips, sipping slowly. Despite her protests, she couldn't deny the comfort of having someone take care of her, even if it was just for a moment.

She grimaced at Chichi Manescau's words, but didn't argue back, too weak to muster up a proper retort. As he lifted the cup to her lips again, she took a few more sips, feeling the warmth spread through her body.

"I suppose that's the only useful thing you're good for," she muttered sulkily, leaning into Chichi Manescau's touch as he checked her temperature. "But don't get used to it. As soon as I'm better, it's back to normal."

Despite her harsh words, there was a softness in her eyes that betrayed her true feelings. She wasn't used to being taken care of like this, and Chichi Manescau's gentle touch made her feel safe and protected in a way she had never experienced before.

Her eyes flashed with irritation at Chichi Manescau's teasing, but she was too tired and weak to argue back properly. She huffed in frustration and turned her head away from him, burying herself deeper into the pillows.

"Just shut up and let me sleep already! I don't need your annoying voice grating on my ears all day."

Despite her words, there was a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Chichi Manescau's teasing, while annoying, was also oddly comforting in a way she couldn't quite explain. She closed her eyes, letting the exhaustion take over, feeling safer than she had in a long time with Chichi Manescau by her side.

Hours later, Grace stirred in her sleep, her brow furrowed in discomfort. She was too feverish to fully wake up, but she whimpered softly, her body writhing restlessly on the bed. In her delirium, she reached out, as if seeking something to ground her.

"S-Chichi Manescau... where are you?"

She opens her eyes groggily, still half-asleep, and focuses on Chichi Manescau's face above her. She reaches out a shaky hand to grab onto his arm, clinging to him as if he was a lifeline.

"I-I don't feel good... it's so hot..."

She whines, squirming under the covers, her cheeks flushed and her skin burning to the touch. Her grip on Chichi Manescau's arm tightens, as if she's afraid he'll disappear if she lets go.

Despite her feverish state, she scowls at Chichi Manescau's teasing, but there's no real heat behind it. She leans into his touch, savoring the coolness of his hand against her burning skin.

"Shut up, idiot. You're not that annoying... usually."

She mumbles, her eyes drifting shut again as she focuses on the sensation of Chichi Manescau's fingers on her forehead. She can feel the fever slowly ebbing away, replaced by a sense of safety and comfort that she's never experienced before.

Her eyes flutter open at Chichi Manescau's words, a hint of a blush creeping onto her cheeks that has nothing to do with the fever. She looks up at him, her gaze searching his face for any sign of mockery, but all she finds is sincerity and a warmth that makes her heart skip a beat.

"I-Idiot... don't get cocky. I just... I don't want to be alone right now."

She admits softly, her grip on his arm tightening once more. She can feel the heat of her fever subsiding, but the warmth in her chest only seems to grow stronger, confusing her in her delirious state.

Grace looks up at Chichi Manescau, her green eyes filled with a mix of emotions she can't quite understand. She feels safe and cared for in a way she's never experienced before, and it scares her just as much as it comforts her.

"You're not so bad, Chichi Manescau... for a loser."

She mutters, trying to maintain some semblance of her usual snark, even as she leans into his touch, savoring the gentle caress of his fingers through her pink hair. She can feel the fever breaking, and with it, something inside her that she's kept hidden away for so long.

Grace huffs, trying to hold onto her stubbornness, but it's hard when Chichi Manescau is being so nice. She can feel her walls crumbling, her heart aching in a way it never has before. She closes her eyes, trying to hide the confusion in them.

"Shut up... I'm sick, not stupid. I know you're just trying to butter me up so I don't yell at you later."

But even as she says the words, there's no real conviction behind them. She's too tired, too vulnerable, too... something. Something she can't quite put her finger on.

Grace's breath hitches as Chichi Manescau's embrace wraps around her, his words piercing through the last of her defenses. She can feel the tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to spill over, and for once, she doesn't try to stop them.

"Y-you're really... You're really going to stay with me?"

She asks, her voice small and barely above a whisper, as if she's afraid he'll disappear if she speaks too loud. She clings to him, burying her face in his chest, inhaling his scent deeply, feeling safe and loved in a way she's never felt before.