Chapter 3.13

“That incident?”  

“Yes, well… that is…”  

“Don’t beat around the bush. Just say it. I won’t scold you.”  

Truthfully, he didn’t have the energy to reprimand anyone. Luette, his face marked with irritation, waved his hand dismissively.  

The maid gulped nervously before continuing.  

“When we visited the Dowager’s mansion last time… the Madam took some medicine that didn’t agree with her and fell very ill.”  

Leaning lazily against the backrest, Luette raised his eyes. The maid’s unexpected words were strange.  

“Medicine?”  

“Yes. It seems the Madam asked the maids there for a digestive aid, but they gave her the wrong medicine. From what I heard, it was the Lord Alec’s medicine… In any case, the Madam took it and became very ill.”  

What on earth was this about?  

“She told me not to tell anyone, but I couldn’t help worrying that it might be related to what happened tonight…”

Suddenly, his mind was filled with memories of that day.  

The disheveled hair, the untidy clothing, and the fumbling hands trying to fix it all.  

She hadn’t been asleep—she had been on the brink of death and back.  

“Then why didn’t she say anything…?”  

Luette trailed off. Solnia wasn’t the type to explain herself, especially not to him.  

“I think the Madam didn’t want to say anything because she was worried the Dowager’s maids would be punished.”  

The maid spoke as if defending her master, but Luette let out a dry laugh.  

Solnia Heston wasn’t that kind of person. If anything, her pride would have kept her silent.  

Luette’s gaze suddenly fixed on the maid before him.  

He had heard that the maids of Melfir were all terrified of Solnia, so what was this loyalty?  

Had she somehow grown close to them in this unfamiliar capital? Not that it mattered.  

Perhaps she had threatened to send them home if they didn’t act as her eyes and ears.  

“Alright. Thank you for telling me. Don’t worry; the maids at Oberon Mansion won’t be punished. You may go back now.”  

“Shouldn’t we look into the medicine…?”  

The overly loyal maid even offered to investigate the medicine herself. Luette let out a short, mirthless laugh and shook his head.  

If it was Alec’s medicine, it was probably just a sedative or headache remedy. Or perhaps a nerve stabilizer.  

People who laughed incessantly were bound to be broken in some way.  

Besides, Solnia had been taking a lot of medicine in general, so it wasn’t surprising if her body had reacted poorly. In fact, it was surprising that it hadn’t happened sooner.  

“I’ll take care of it. You may go.”  

“Yes, Master. I’ll inform the Madam as soon as she wakes up.”  

The maid from Melfir, looking determined, took it upon herself to handle even what hadn’t been asked of her.  

Once the maid left, Luette bit down on his cigar again. He still hadn’t lit it.  

‘You still seem half-asleep. Why don’t you go out and get some fresh air, my dear?’ 

‘I’m fine.’  

‘Perhaps you should look in the mirror as well.’  

‘….’  

Despite brushing it off with a light laugh, the image of her turning away, unable to say more, lingered in his mind.  

***

When Solnia opened her eyes, she lay still for a moment, taking in the room around her.  

It was, of course, the couple’s bedroom in the townhouse, and that realization brought her a sense of relief.  

Slowly sitting up, she noticed the faint light of dawn seeping through the curtains. The air felt slightly cool.  

She draped a robe over herself and approached the window, drawing back the curtains.  

As expected, the bluish hues of dawn were spreading across the world. In the distance, a faint red light was beginning to rise.  

“Phew…”  

Her long sigh was accompanied by a serene expression. She felt as though she had finally had a long, deep sleep.  

After taking several deep breaths, Solnia suddenly stopped.  

‘Will you stay by my side?’  

The familiar, detestable voice echoed in her mind like a hallucination.  

She then recalled the anguished gaze of her grandmother, whose face had been twisted with emotion.  

And herself, unable to even breathe properly in front of her.  

Without realizing it, Solnia clenched her teeth tightly.  

The fiery anger that flared in her chest subsided just as quickly.  

‘Let me make this clear: I don’t want any further disruptions to my plans.’

The last image of Luette Trovill flashed through her mind.  

From the moment she boarded the carriage, she had felt uneasy.  

Her body alternated between chills and fever, cold sweat pouring down her face.  

Eventually, everything appeared doubled, and even Luette Trovill’s voice grew faint.  

Still, she thought she had endured it well.  

“Ma-Madam…?”  

A startled voice came from behind her. Turning around, she saw Angie holding a damp cloth.  

Angie, who looked as though she had seen a ghost, quickly set the cloth down and seemed ready to dash out of the room.  

“Stay where you are.”  

“But I need to let them know you’re awake…”  

“I want to be left alone.”  

“But you’ve been unconscious for two days! I must call the doctor—”  

“Angie.”  

At the soft call of her name, Angie finally closed her mouth and nodded.  

When Solnia returned to the bed, Angie picked up the cloth she had prepared and knelt down before her.  

Carefully, Angie began to wipe Solnia’s arms and legs.  

Though Solnia usually despised anyone touching her body, she felt strangely at ease this time. Perhaps it was because this young girl had stayed by her side while she was unconscious.  

Angie’s brown eyes occasionally darted to check Solnia’s complexion, a gesture that seemed rather endearing.  

Unable to help herself, Solnia let out a small chuckle.  

“I’m fine. You don’t need to keep checking on me.”  

“Are you really alright, Madam? Shouldn’t we call the doctor?”  

“I’m fine. In fact, I feel refreshed, as if I’ve had a good, long sleep.”  

As she spoke, Solnia suddenly recalled the dream she had.  

It had been a series of short, fragmented dreams, but one stood out like a flash of light.  

In the dream, Luette Trovill, dressed in a tailcoat, leaned in close to examine her.  

He had placed his hand on her forehead, then on his own.  

That fleeting moment was all there was to the dream.  

Recalling it now, Solnia chuckled again.  

To think she’d dream of something so absurd, like a lonely beast yearning for human touch.  

And of all people, Luette Trovill.  

“You must have had a hard time staying by my side all night.”  

The one who actually stayed by her side must have been Angie.

Though she had fainted countless times before, no one had ever come to wipe her limbs with a damp cloth.  

Solnia gently placed her hand over Angie’s busy one.  

Angie, blushing as she had on the first day she was praised, wrinkled her nose in embarrassment.  

“I’m planning to visit the square later. Would you like to come with me?”  

“The square? Me? Yes, yes! I’d love to, Madam!”  

Angie, who had been smiling like an excited child, suddenly grew serious.  

“What’s wrong?”  

“Oh, nothing. It’s nothing. But why the square?”  

“I have some errands to run. I thought I’d stop by while I’m out.”  

“Errands?”  

Solnia didn’t answer, merely smiling in response.  

‘You should understand that I’ve already shown you the utmost patience and consideration.’ 

‘…’ 

‘And that I have no intention of doing any more.’ 

Even as cold sweat ran down her back, the sharp voice that had pierced her ears remained vivid.  

***

“Time is running short.”  

Luette woke to the sound of his aide, Philip, urging him.  

Philip shook his head as he looked at his master, who had once again fallen asleep crumpled on the sofa in the study. At Philip’s signal, waiting attendants approached with clothing in hand.  

Luette frowned at the sight.  

“Anyone would think I’m attending a royal ball.”  

All he had to do was visit his parents. After the announcement made at the Dowager Heston’s party, the summons had been inevitable.  

His parents were likely waiting with a feast prepared, thrilled that their son had finally come to his senses.  

He couldn’t understand the joy noblewomen seemed to find in parading their married children around society. His mother, of course, was no exception.  

Unfortunately, their dream would be shattered within the hour.  

“You must hurry. You’ve overslept, and time is tight.”  

“Today, of all days, they’ll gladly wait for hours if necessary.”  

Despite his words, Luette dressed quickly. He believed it was best to deal with tedious matters as swiftly as possible.  

As Luette moved to leave, Philip asked, 

“Aren’t you going to fix your hair?”  

“Are you joking?”  

“You’ve dressed impeccably, yet your hair…”  

Luette shot him a glare that said he’d tear his mouth off if he said one more word. With a deliberate motion, he raked his fingers through his thick black hair and stepped out of the study.

“Solnia.”  

Striding toward the lobby, he asked indifferently, as though inquiring about the weather. Philip sighed and replied,  

“She’ll be fine. She’s just sleeping, so probably by today… huh?”  

Philip stopped mid-sentence, letting out a foolish sound. Luette also halted his steps belatedly.  

And then, he doubted his own eyes.  

From far away, at the opposite end of the hallway, Solnia was walking toward them. She was accompanied by Gwen.  

Dressed in a white indoor gown, her long, chestnut-colored hair was braided neatly.  

The sunlight streaming through the long windows on the right side of the hallway illuminated Solnia. Perhaps because of this, she looked particularly radiant today.  

In other words, she looked fine. So fine, in fact, that it was hard to believe she was the same person who had collapsed with a pale face just days ago.