Chapter 21
21. Returning2021.11.11.
Reina fell asleep in the carriage on the way back. Perhaps because she had cried so much, or because she had exhausted her mental energy. Her tear-streaked face was pale beneath the moonlight. Arthur lent his shoulder to the sleeping Reina.
“…….”
Arthur’s gaze lingered on Tristan’s handkerchief clutched in Reina’s hand. He tried to gently tug it free, but it wouldn’t come loose easily, gripped tightly as she slept in her tense state. Her furrowed brow looked worn out in discomfort. ……Is her body unwell, or is she just fatigued? Seeing Reina’s pale face, Arthur let out a soft sigh.
“She might be a bit delicate. She suddenly collapsed on the day of the triumphal procession, after all.”
Tristan spoke in a tone that was neither particularly negative nor sympathetic. It was obvious he didn’t care for Reina, but as if following Arthur’s orders to maintain propriety, he didn’t seem to think she was exaggerating or show any displeasure.
“……Shall we move on our own tomorrow?”
It was something Arthur had been pondering as well. Leaving Reina alone would give the Marchioness an opening to approach her, which wouldn’t be good for him……
“I’ll ask my wife’s preference.”
“Yes, sir.”
Tristan replied flatly and withdrew.
“…….”
As for approaches from the Marchioness’s side, he had started assigning knights to guard duty, so he could block them to some extent. But the knights hadn’t fully settled into their positions yet. To keep things safe, there would need to be at least one clash first. Only after firmly impressing upon them that ‘touching her will cause problems’ would she truly be secure.
“…….”
Even so, he couldn’t completely block sly approaches or voluntary contact initiated from ‘Reina’s’ side. In any case, Arthur’s presence by her side was the safest option. He could respond to situations as they arose. He could find out what conversations took place.
“…….”
Even after arriving at the mansion, Reina didn’t wake until Arthur lifted her down in his arms. Arthur lightly placed a hand on her waist to check if she had laced her corset too tightly. * * * On the way up to the bridal chamber, Arthur encountered a woman who had been waiting in front of the knights. The knights who had begun guarding the floor where Arthur stayed hadn’t let her pass, so the woman, who hadn’t been granted permission to enter, stood quietly before their spears and swords, holding a bag with an expressionless face. As the knights’ eyes shifted upon spotting Arthur, the woman turned to follow their gaze.
“…….”
And she smiled, her face half-hidden by her bonnet.
“Hello.”
A beautiful woman with golden hair and a splendid dress. And in her arms, another woman asleep with a shawl draped over her face. In response to the woman’s greeting, Arthur merely smiled faintly in lieu of an answer, then ignored her and walked past. A knight glanced at the bonnet-wearing woman and asked Arthur.
“She was waiting for Your Excellency. Do you know the lady?”
Arthur replied.
“No.”
The woman laughed from behind.
“We’re not strangers. We met once a few days ago.”
“It doesn’t seem like much of an acquaintance.”
Arthur responded, turning back a step later.
“It’s late in the evening. It wouldn’t do to warmly welcome the visit of a chaste lady with whom I only have a passing acquaintance.”
“…….”
The woman laughed without reservation.
“You’re right.”
Her face was calm and composed.
“I’ll visit properly again. At a time that’s not so late.”
I only came to say hello today. —she added. The woman lifted the hem of her skirt with one hand, gave a slight curtsy, then turned lightly and departed. She didn’t spare a single glance at the woman in Arthur’s arms. * * * The next dawn. When Arthur left the bedroom, Reina still couldn’t get up. She had vaguely woken from sleep, but her mind was foggy like she had a cold, and she had a fever. Arthur briefly conferred with his knights waiting to accompany him on the day’s schedule—Tristan, Lukan, Kay, and the others—right outside the door, then pulled the bell cord to summon a maid. After instructing her to fetch the family physician and giving a few more orders. Arthur decided to leave one of his most trusted subordinates there—one who could be spared from today’s schedule yet was suitable for the task. And he gave the knights a few things they needed to know about her. In that short time, a bit of commotion arose. Arthur just smiled faintly, entrusted the aftermath to Tristan, and returned to the room. While waiting for the maid to bring the physician, Arthur, now dressed in his uniform, sat by the bedside until it was time to leave, stroking Reina’s damp forehead.
The doctor will be here soon.
I’ll leave the maids and my knight with you.
Arthur murmured softly, cooling her feverish cheek with the back of his cool hand. In her dazed state, Reina looked up at him faintly and mumbled.
Come with me.
Arthur gently stroked her hair as he gazed down at her. Then he leaned in, brushing his lips lightly against her hair as if soothing her.
……I’ll be right back. I won’t be late.
He closed the slightly ajar door. Tristan waited quietly, leaning against it. · · ·
「There’s one thing I haven’t told you.」
「I told Tristan, but now it’s time for you to know as well.」
「The woman lying in there right now is not Christina Julius.」
「The Julians judged that I wouldn’t return and sent a substitute in Christina’s place five years ago.」
「Reina Astalin.」
「That’s the name of my wife in the bedroom right now.」
* * * Chirp chirp.
“…….”
Reina opened her eyes to the morning sunlight and birdsong without startling. For the first time in three days, she woke up in bed calmly, without any surprise. Reina stared blankly at the white sunlight draping over the bedsheets.
“…….”
For the first time, she thought the bed felt cozy. Reina rolled over restlessly, pulling the soft blanket into her arms. The damp cloth that had been on her forehead tumbled off to the side.
“…….”
Reina stared blankly at the damp cloth that had rolled off beside the pillow.
“…….”
Vague memories from the previous night flashed through her mind. On the way back after touring Julius Territory and meeting with the bereaved families. Dozing off from exhaustion in the carriage, and him silently offering his shoulder—the sequence came back to her. At some point, her body had gone as limp as a waterlogged cotton ball. And in the early morning, a chill had set in like the onset of a cold, keeping her from getting out of bed. All of it felt faintly like a distant dream.
「I’ll be right back. I won’t be late.」
“…….”
Was that a dream? Reina blinked vacantly and placed her own hand on her forehead. All that remained there was the damp, cool sensation of the cloth that had been placed on it.
“…….”
Reina stirred, trying to sit up. She was dressed in comfortable nightclothes. Her body was slightly damp with sweat, but it didn’t feel bad. Her stomach just felt unsettled. Urgh…… Reina propped herself up on her elbows. Instead of Arthur, she saw Brody and an unfamiliar knight leaning near the door. And there was Doctor Lorenson, the family physician. Arthur was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes scanned around in search of him.
……Where did Sir Arthur go?
“You’re awake.”
Seeing her sit up, Doctor Lorenson approached. Brody hurried over first on quick steps and draped a shawl over Reina’s nightclothes. Brody tidied the cloth and damp pillow on the bed, helping Reina sit comfortably.
“How are you feeling?”
The physician asked. Her gaze, which had been searching for Arthur, turned to Lorenson.
“I’m fine.”
She answered out of habit, but truthfully, she wasn’t. Her throat felt hoarse. She cleared it with a cough, but her stomach churned, and unable to hold back, Reina pressed her chest with a uncomfortable expression. As her face scrunched up, Doctor Lorenson drew closer to the bed and extended his hand.
“Please give me your wrist. I’ll take your pulse.”
“Ah…… Yes.”
Reina extended her wrist to Doctor Lorenson. He placed his fingers on it.
“…….”
Doctor Lorenson began his questioning.
“Is your stomach upset?”
“……Yes. A little.”
“How long has it been like this?”
“Since this morning. After waking up…….”
“What did you eat yesterday? How many hours did you sleep?”
The questions continued. Feeling honored by the renowned physician’s careful inquiry, Reina answered each one.
“Have you been eating meals regularly lately?”
“Ah, yes. Better than ever…….”
“Do you eat a lot?”
“My appetite hasn’t been great, so not a lot……. But more than usual.”
“And sleep?”
“That too, much longer than usual…….”
Reina pressed her nape in embarrassment. She was conscious of the unfamiliar knight, so her gaze flicked toward him. Weren’t these answers revealing too much about her shift from maid to lady? Reina awkwardly pulled up the shawl Brody had draped over her.
“Do you have restless nights?”
“Sometimes, but…… still, much better than usual.”
“And your menstrual cycle? Is it regular?”
“……I don’t keep track, so…….”
Reina answered uncertainly in a small voice.
“Hm…….”
After a moment, Doctor Lorenson quietly stepped back to the trolley with the tray. There was a clink of dishes.
“How much of the tea did you drink the day before yesterday?”
He meant the dark red liquid.
“A full cup.”
“…….”
The clinking paused for a moment.
“……You drank quite a lot.”
“…….”
For a while, Doctor Lorenson stood there tinkering. Clink. The sound stopped as he turned around.
“It seems your body hasn’t adjusted to the medicine you weren’t taking before. With accumulated fatigue still unresolved, it must have reacted harshly to the drug.”
Alvin Lorenson left the dark red liquid on the tray untouched and brought only the accompanying pills with a glass of water.
“Have just this today.”
It was clear water. Reina stared at Doctor Lorenson in a daze, not taking it.
“…….”
Reina glanced at the dark red liquid, gauging the situation. ……It won’t be reported to the Marchioness?
“One day won’t hurt.”
Doctor Lorenson urged again, flicking his hand lightly up and down. Reina took it. Afterward, Lorenson picked up the medicine bowl from the tray, went to the window, and poured it out onto the potted plant with a gurgle.
“!”
Reina was startled. The ‘dark red liquid’ was quite expensive medicine. Even though the Julius mansion paid maids generously, she had seen many struggling financially over the need for it, stomping their feet in distress. To just throw it away like that?
“Rest today.”
Lorenson said flatly. Creak.
“Your Excellency.”
The air shifted with the knight’s voice. A voice said that the lady had woken up just a bit ago. He entered the room, turned his head this way, and their eyes met. It was Arthur.
