Anyway, the maids from the Empress’s palace would bring those tailored clothes. Since the Empress had chosen Marian’s clothes, they had no idea what kind of clothes they would bring.

Marian closed her eyes slightly, sensing that today would be another long day.

The physician carefully examined her body.

“Do you eat regularly?”

“These days, yes. Before, I couldn’t because there was nothing to eat.”

“……Hmm.”

The physician glanced at Abel before asking Marian.

“At what age did you have your first menstruation?”

“It was rather late. I was seventeen.”

Marian answered without hesitation. In truth, Marian had no expectations for her body at all. Having grown up in such harsh conditions, there was no way she could be healthy. As long as she didn’t die tomorrow, it seemed fine.

“……Do you menstruate regularly?”

“Hmm. No, I don’t. It comes once every two or three months.”

“Do you sleep well?”

This time, Marian glanced at Rosette and Abel. She lowered her head slightly.

“……Sleep, I’m trying to sleep well.”

“It’s good that you’re trying.”

Better smiled awkwardly.

Various other questions were exchanged. Better’s expression gradually hardened. Only after checking her pulse several times did Better carefully give his diagnosis.

“I’m very sorry to tell you this, Your Highness.”

“Speak freely.”

“First, your nutritional state is poor. Because you can’t sleep properly, even when you eat well, your body can’t properly absorb it. You can’t gain weight because both your body and mind are uncomfortable. A woman’s physical condition is often linked to fertility……”

Better spoke quietly.

“In my opinion, the possibility of pregnancy is very low, Your Highness.”

Marian blinked slowly.

So that’s how it is.

That thought just came to her. Benjamin had made unnecessary efforts. Even if he hadn’t poisoned Marian, she wouldn’t have been able to conceive.

“Of course, there’s a possibility. If you take care of your body from now on and keep your abdomen warm……”

Marian let out a bitter laugh.

Would that be possible?

No, would pregnancy even have any significant connection to Marian’s life? For her, the possibility of getting pregnant wasn’t such an important issue.

“Thank you, Better.”

“I’ll prepare medicine for you. You must take it consistently.”

“I’ll try.”

Marian smiled faintly. It was fortunate that it wasn’t anything too serious. Fortunate that she wouldn’t die tomorrow, and fortunate that she could still do what she wanted to do.

“Wait, wait.”

Instead, Rosette held onto Better.

“Please tell me in detail. If her nutrition is lacking, how can we supplement it?”

“Since it was affected during her growth period…… I’ll prepare nutritional supplements that might help. She’ll need to take them long-term.”

“Oh, you mentioned keeping warm…… And is there anything else that might help? Foods to avoid or foods that must be eaten……”

Rosette’s voice trembled.

“It’s because I, I served you poorly.”

“Rosette!”

How could that be?

“I wouldn’t even be alive if it weren’t for you, Rosette.”

Marian consoled her. Rosette buried her face in her palms and burst into tears. Marian looked at Abel and Better with a bewildered expression. Instead of looking at Marian, Abel coldly asked Better.

“She’s been exposed to violence since childhood. Could that be related?”

“I cannot say it isn’t.”

Abel ran his hand over his face.

Even while staying in that vicious place, Abel had taken terribly good care of his body. No, there were people who took care of him. Leona would secretly send nutritional supplements and other health aids when needed, and he never lacked food. But Marian had no one to take care of her like that.

Marian was truly withering away in isolation with only Rosette by her side.

Abel muttered while covering his face with his palm. His white teeth showed fiercely.

“I’ve really been acting like a spoiled child.”

Abel lowered his hand.

“Good, Better. You’ll stay here and focus on Marian’s recovery. I’ll compensate you well for the risk involved.”

“What?”

Better hugged his medical bag with a surprised face. This was all he had brought with him. Better swallowed.

“Oh, I have no clothes and no herbs…… and not enough medicine……”

“You don’t need to worry about any of that, Better.”

“Abel, you don’t have to do this. I’m really fine……”

But Abel was adamant.

“It won’t be for too long. There’s a basement in the princess’s palace, so you can use the best room there as your laboratory. That would be fine, right, Marian? Ah, there are plenty of rooms for servants too, so choose whichever room you like. You’ll agree, won’t you, Marian?”

Abel stared at Marian. She opened her mouth, then closed it again. There was no one here who would take her side. Even Rosette sniffled, tugging at Marian’s sleeve.

“Your Highness. You must accept. I…… didn’t even know Your Highness had such problems…… huuuung……”

Marian smiled awkwardly. If Marian refused here, it seemed Rosette would lay down right there. She sighed.

“Do as you wish, Abel. Better, I’m counting on you. I’m sorry for causing you such trouble.”

Before Better could say anything, Abel pushed Marian’s back.

“We’ll stay well hidden, so go greet the maids from the Empress’s palace. They seem to have just left.”

Marian had felt it too. She glanced at Better with complicated eyes before leaving the room.

**

In the room after Marian left—

Abel spoke to Better.

“I’ll pay you ten times what Leona promised.”

Better’s eyes widened. It would take ten years of work to earn such money. But Abel continued without hesitation.

“Paying you that much means you must restore Marian’s body to normal. Do you understand?”

Better gulped. He felt his insides burning hot. Great rewards come with great responsibilities.

“If I fail……”

“Surely not.”

Abel smiled coldly. Only Abel could make a smiling face look so threatening. Better bit the inside of his cheek. He felt his insides growing cold.

“Do you think I would be paying someone incompetent?”

Abel swept back his hair.

“Didn’t you say so yourself? It’s not that she can’t conceive at all, but that it’s difficult, and offering to prepare helpful supplements means there’s room for improvement. Did I misunderstand?”

Better bit his lip firmly.

“That’s……”

“I won’t accept any excuses about it being too difficult. Let me say again, I’m not hiring you because you’re incompetent, but because I’m paying you well. Leona saw that you were worth it.”

Abel pressed down on Better’s shoulder, the weight of responsibility bearing down on him just as heavily as Abel’s hand. Better forced a smile, though it was awkward.  

Abel’s damp gaze bore into him, filled with a pressure that felt almost like a mix of killing intent and fury. Better let out a sigh and asked, his voice heavy with the strain.

“Perhaps… are you still the same as before?”

Abel tilted his head.

“Are you still angry?”

Abel let out a quiet laugh. Come to think of it, he remembered Better coming occasionally to examine him.

‘……What do you do when you’re angry?’

‘Are you asking about specific instances of anger?’

‘……’

‘What an odd question. There’s never a moment when I’m not angry. Even now, I’m just holding it back.’

Abel stroked his chin. His transparent red eyes sank deeply. The particularly threatening aura Abel emitted must be due to the poison accumulated in his heart. Abel answered slowly.

“Always.”

Abel bared his teeth.

“Would this rage subside even if I tore them apart and killed them?”

Better trembled. The aura Abel emitted felt like it was crushing his entire body. His magical field whirled around the room.

“Even if I dig out their hearts with these hands and gouge out their eyes, would the dead return to life?”

“Your Grace……”

Better instinctively bowed his head.

“I haven’t forgotten that day for a single moment. So how could my anger ever subside?”

“……I’ll prepare medicine for you. You need to at least sleep peacefully, Your Grace.”

“I don’t need it.”

“Leona is worried.”

Abel clicked his tongue while covering his face with his hand.

It seemed Better’s stay at the Princess’s Palace was thus decided.

**

Marian fiddled with the ornate hair ornament on her head. A deep blue sapphire that matched her eye color was set in the hair ornament.

This was something Marian had brought.

It was the final inheritance her birth mother had pressed into her hand at the moment of death. No matter how hungry or difficult things got, she had never parted with it.

Since entering the imperial palace, she had kept it deep in her jewelry box and never taken it out.

‘Your father gave this when he learned of your existence. Can’t you see how precious it is? It means he treasured you that much.’

She used to believe those words. She remembered everything even though she was only five months old when she heard them.

But after entering the imperial palace, she learned that wasn’t true. The Emperor couldn’t even remember Marian’s existence. This hair ornament must have been his payment for bedding a maid. Marian smiled bitterly.

Still, taking it out now gave her a fresh feeling.

Marian entered the arena. Among the bustling crowd, she spotted Helena. As if she had been waiting just for her, she waved her hand.

“Marian!”

“You came early.”

Helena looked around and nodded.

“I was excited.”

Marian chuckled. Her small face, flushed with anticipation, was pleasant to see. Helena still retained her innocence. Had Marian once been like that too?