I felt compelled to make excuses, insisting it wasn’t just about that. There were matters I needed to discuss with Leopold, and I absolutely had to persuade him. After all, no one could survive on an empty stomach, and sharing a meal would at least ensure he sat across from me… Numerous justifications came to mind.

But was that truly the whole story?

If I wanted to talk to him, I could do so without using a meal as an excuse. Wasn’t it simply that I wanted to see Leopold face-to-face? As Roscoe had said, because I loved him…

It was a bitter realization that I didn’t need to expose my heart like this. No matter how much I gave of myself, if the other person didn’t feel the same, the outcome was always pain. Knowing this all too well, stepping into despair was foolish.

Once again, I tried to suppress the emotions that were constantly trying to surface.

“All done!”

Eventually, Roscoe cheerfully showed me his empty bowl.

“Well done. Now, it would be best if you got some more sleep. You need good rest to regain your strength.”

“But I’ve already slept a lot!”

The child tilted his head in confusion. I smiled slightly and replied gently.

“When you’re sick, your body is so exhausted that even when you sleep, it doesn’t truly rest.”

“But I’m not sleepy at all!”

With his fever gone and his energy restored from eating, Roscoe kept energetically talking back. Then he pestered me like a child, asking to be shown around the mansion. That wasn’t the reason I had brought him here, and it was a bit of a headache.

I pondered what to do with this child.

“Madam, it’s Peter.”

Peter’s monotonous voice sounded more welcome than ever. I jumped up from my seat and responded.

“Come in.”

Though his expression rarely changed, his face seemed subtly more tense than usual. I instinctively realized he hadn’t brought good news.

“I’ve completed the task you assigned. Would you like to see it now?”

“Yes.”

My voice naturally lowered, as if a dam of anxiety had burst open.

“Roscoe, behave yourself today. I’ll show you around the mansion tomorrow.”

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, the child pursed his lips and nodded earnestly.

I hurriedly followed Peter. There were many questions I wanted to ask, but since I would soon see for myself, there was no need to rush.

We arrived at my personal study, connected to my bedroom. Judging by its immaculate condition, it seemed it had been consistently maintained.

“This way.”

Peter pointed to the desk. Several small square glass bottles, each fitting in one hand, were placed there.

“There was a secret space between the bookshelves in the Duke’s study where these were found.”

Listening to his explanation, I approached the desk. I carefully picked up one of the glass bottles and examined it closely. The clear bottle was filled with a transparent liquid. Its opening was tightly sealed with a cork, and there were no markings or symbols on the outside. It was a potion of a type I had never seen before.

“Peter, do you happen to have a handkerchief?”

“Yes, here.”

He immediately pulled out a white handkerchief from inside his jacket and handed it to me. I spread it out widely on the desk and opened one of the bottles. Then I poured all its contents onto the cloth. The liquid, which looked like water, showed no change.

“I’ve lost my sense of smell, so I can’t detect any scents. Could you check the smell for me?”

Peter carefully lifted the cloth and sniffed it thoroughly. After checking the bottle and cork once more, he spoke.

“There is no smell at all.”

“No smell at all?”

“Yes. My sense of smell is quite sensitive, so I can detect even the slightest differences, but… this really seems like water. To be precise, it doesn’t even have a hint of a watery smell.”

My fears were becoming reality. I felt anxious but tried to stay calm. I took a deep breath and slowly began to channel my magic. As soon as the blue light touched the liquid on the handkerchief, the white cloth turned black. This indicated it was a forbidden substance.

So this was why I hadn’t detected Leopold’s heart condition right after my return…

“Madam, what does this mean?” Peter asked, clearly confused. I snapped out of my brief daze.

“It’s a potion that hides symptoms. Healers can usually check a person’s health through magic. But someone who has taken this potion…”

“Cannot be examined, you mean…” he said, trailing off in surprise.

“…That’s right. It’s banned because it could be used for assassinating royalty, so not only is its consumption forbidden, but also its production and possession. Only a few people can even make it…”

In the end, the situation could only be explained by my mentor having given this potion to Leopold. She knew about his illness, and when Leopold asked her to help hide it, she complied…

There were too many questions.

I couldn’t understand how my mentor, who was stricter than anyone with patients and cared for them, could give him such an absurd potion.

Moreover, why did Leopold want to hide his illness? Even if it wasn’t me, my mentor or any other healer could have helped him.

My mind was a jumble. Would he even answer if I asked him? I’d be lucky if he didn’t avoid me… I sighed, pressing my fingers against my temples.

“Who dared to rummage through someone else’s study? Oh, here we have the culprit.”

Startled, I turned to see Leopold approaching with a cold expression. He then addressed Peter, who stood nearby, in a low, warning tone.

“Peter, as a butler, how could you support such unnecessary actions? Have you lost your judgment in your old age?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Leopold! That’s too harsh!”

I raised my voice, alarmed at Peter bowing apologetically. Leopold merely chuckled and looked at me with disdain.

“You’re worse. Didn’t I clearly warn you to leave? I didn’t realize you were so stubborn that you wouldn’t even listen.”

“Yes, that’s right! I’m stubborn, which is why I’m still here doing this! But why are you being so stubborn? If you’re sick, just get treated. What’s the problem?”

Our voices grew louder. His rude attitude was infuriating, but more than that, his constant avoidance of the issue made me angrier. However, Leopold’s face hardened as he replied seriously.

“It seems you’re misunderstanding. I’m not sick.”

“Ha… Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve heard your heart beating irregularly several times. Even yesterday in the cave! Do you think I’m so stupid that I can’t tell you’re avoiding the question? Pretending otherwise won’t work!”

I spoke in agitation, thrusting a bottle towards his face.

“And this potion here. Do you think I wouldn’t know? This colorless, odorless potion turns black when touched by magic! It’s a forbidden substance that hides symptoms! Why was it found in your study?”

“Who knows. Perhaps one of the previous dukes wanted to kill a royal.”

“You really…!”

I was momentarily speechless, watching him casually talk about such a terrifying possibility while denying everything.

Leopold continued with a cold expression.

“Your belongings are already packed. Leave tomorrow. I don’t welcome uninvited guests. This is my estate.”

It was a remark that drew a line as clearly as possible. I had never considered the possibility of being expelled, and it left me speechless.

“And Peter, bring the healer here at dawn tomorrow. The destination… Since it seems she hasn’t decided yet, the capital would be good.”

Switching to formal titles as if addressing a stranger, he gave his orders and left.

Peter cautiously spoke up afterward.

“…Madam, I’ll come to escort you again tomorrow morning.”

The butler politely bowed to me, who stood there in a daze, and followed Leopold out of the study.

I stood there blankly, staring at the place where they had disappeared.

***

I spent the night almost entirely awake. Persuading Leopold seemed nearly impossible. I hadn’t anticipated him taking such a firm stance. It seemed more practical to gather the knights, explain the situation, and subdue him by force.

The passing time made me anxious. Since he had been hiding his heart condition since my return, his condition might have worsened…

By morning, Peter and the staff would surely come, led by him. Holding my throbbing head, I got up and went to the window. The day was already breaking. I knew better than anyone that Leopold’s orders were absolute within this estate.

I sighed and opened the window, hoping the cold air might ease my headache a little.

Then I heard the sound of hooves in the distance. Looking closely, I saw several knights riding, led by a black horse. It seemed they were going on another patrol of the White Forest.

Suddenly, a realization struck me.

Since Leopold wasn’t at the estate, and the divorce hadn’t been announced yet, wasn’t I technically the head of the Lawrence family? I had foolishly forgotten because of our separation.

If that were the case, maybe it would be easier than I thought to stay here as long as I wanted.