Ch#109
The healer, who had been looking down at her in silence, spoke up cautiously.
“His Grace stayed by Your Highness’s side the entire time, but he left in haste after receiving word that looters had appeared outside the fortress walls.”
Thalia stiffened at the unexpected news.
She didn’t even have time to feel ashamed that her inner thoughts had been discovered. Thalia bolted upright and grabbed the hem of the healer’s robe. A sharp pain shot through her solar plexus at the sudden movement, but she didn’t care about that for a single moment.
“L-looters? Since when?”
“About four hours ago.”
The healer replied calmly.
Thalia pressed her anxiously.
“How many of them? Is it very dangerous? How many troops did he take with him…?”
Thalia, who had been pouring out questions like rapid fire, suddenly felt her vision turn white and bit her lip.
Her body tilted forward before she could even realize it. If a firm, sun-tanned hand hadn’t caught her shoulder, she would have tumbled right off the bed.
With cold sweat beading on her face, she looked at the healer. The woman firmly laid her back down on the bed.
“I will cast a recovery spell, so please try to rest for now.”
“Varkas…”
“His Grace will be fine. There are only a few dozen looters at most, and His Grace has the strongest mounted warriors of the East with him.”
The healer’s calm response finally brought Thalia back to her senses.
Thalia steadied her ragged breathing and stared out at the bright, white window.
If he had left two hours ago, the suppression might be over by now.
Yes. Even during the large-scale subjugation before, hadn’t he returned in half a day as if nothing had happened? There was no need to be so anxious.
As she repeated this to herself to soothe her unease, a thin, calloused hand came to rest on the back of her hand. Soon after, a lukewarm heat flowed into her body.
“I have also cast a healing spell, but magic does not work as well on internal injuries. Please refrain from any strenuous movement for a while.”
Instead of answering, Thalia closed her eyes tightly. The healer, who had been quietly observing her condition, soon slipped out of the room.
A while later, the Nanny returned to the room with a tray of food.
Unable to resist her urging, Thalia managed to swallow a few spoonfuls of vegetable porridge. As the food went down, her stomach stung as if she had swallowed needles. After tossing and turning in bed for a long time, Thalia was finally able to fall asleep around sunset.
By the time she regained consciousness, a thick darkness had begun to settle over her surroundings.
Waking up with a burning thirst, Thalia flinched when she noticed a large shadow cast in front of the fireplace.
Varkas, having returned at some point, was standing by the window dressed in a thin shirt.
Fortunately, he didn’t appear to be injured.
Thalia let out a long sigh of relief, then suddenly caught her breath.
Eyes as still as a frozen lake were staring at her intently.
There was no way to know why her heart sank at a sight that seemed no different from usual.
The man, who had stood motionless for a while, approached with slow steps. Thalia swallowed hard despite herself.
The man, who sent her an unnervingly quiet gaze, turned toward the shelf. He then picked up the pitcher from the tray and poured a glass of water.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
Thalia replied in a feigned casual tone as she hesitantly took the cup.
Originally, she had intended to scold him thoroughly. See, what did I tell you? I told you I didn’t want to take that medicine. This happened because you forced me to take it. All the words she had planned to hurl at him scattered inside her mouth.
Glancing at him, as he looked even more somber than usual, Thalia added cautiously.
“It’s nothing much. They said my stomach is just a bit irritated.”
For a split second, something like a flash flickered across Varkas’s face. He shot her a fierce look and snapped sharply.
“It is not ‘just a bit irritated.’ It was a serious situation where you were vomiting blood.”
Thalia looked bewildered by his sharp reaction. Varkas grabbed her shoulders and continued to press her.
“If I had found you even a little later, your airway might have been blocked and you could have suffocated. Why didn’t you tell me sooner that you weren’t feeling well?”
“That’s because… it hurts all the time anyway, so I didn’t realize it was such a serious situation.”
At her excuse-like words, the muscles in Varkas’s face hardened even further.
Tightening his jaw as if enduring something, Varkas walked over to the window and breathed in the cold air. When he spoke again a long while later, his voice had settled into a much calmer tone.
“We have decided to stay at this castle for a while so you can recuperate.”
“What about the tour schedule?”
“We have just finished visiting all the major cities.”
He replied bluntly, rubbing his temples with his index finger.
“Your Highness should focus only on recovering your health.”
Thalia nodded with a reluctant expression.
His overbearing tone irritated her, but she didn’t want to get into an argument with him when he looked so exhausted. She murmured in a somewhat dejected voice.
“I get it, so stop being angry. I’m already having a hard time.”
Varkas’s lips parted as if to say something, then closed again.
The flickering firelight greedily licked his weary face. He stroked the back of his neck with one hand and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Don’t just hold it; drink up. You lost a lot of blood. Even if your stomach is uncomfortable, you must keep taking in fluids.”
Relaxing at his much softer tone, Thalia emptied the water glass.
The sudden stimulation caused her stomach to tighten with sharp pain, but she didn’t show it and buried herself under the covers.
Then, she felt a warm heat behind her back. Thalia stiffened.
Varkas, having laid down behind her, naturally pulled her close. Then, with one hand, he stroked her tightly knotted solar plexus.
Her eyes grew hot at the tender touch. Was this behavior born of pity? Thalia, who habitually delved into the hidden meanings behind his actions, soon stopped her thoughts.
She didn’t want to torment herself with self-deprecating thoughts anymore. She just wanted to accept this warmth for what it was.
Blinking in the darkness, Thalia turned around and burrowed into his arms.
Varkas wrapped his arm around her back. She could hear his dull heartbeat through the thin shirt.
Listening to the powerful, rhythmic beating, Thalia cautiously wrapped her arms around his waist.
The castle, which had been as quiet as a dead mouse, was now in an uproar.
Entering the hall, Lucas frowned as he looked around the kitchen, which was teeming with peddlers. Among the merchants who had brought various food ingredients, there was a familiar face.
He strode into the crowded space.
“What are you doing in a place like this?”
“Ah, Master Lucas.”
Daren, who had been bargaining with the merchants, waved at him with a cheerful expression.
“Have you finished everything His Grace assigned to you?”
“I’m all done,” Lucas replied snidely.
“I didn’t miss morning training, and after taking care of the horses, I polished all of brother’s armor and weapons until they shone.”
“Well done.”
Daren patted his head as if he were proud.
Brushing the hand away roughly, Lucas asked in a sullen tone.
“So, what is all this mess?”
“I’ve specially sourced ingredients to serve the Grand Duchess. It seems there isn’t much she can eat among the Eastern food. I had no choice but to purchase several ingredients separately from Central merchants.”
Lucas frowned as he looked around at the sacks filling the dining area.
How much could that tiny woman possibly eat to justify purchasing this much?
Surely they aren’t planning to spend an entire season here?
He looked up at Daren with a serious gaze.
“Is her condition really that serious?”
“According to the healer, it seems her stomach is completely ruined,” Daren said with a troubled face.
