Dame Gwendolyn’s serious expression made me swallow dryly.

“Well, I just meant that it’s absurd how he talks to Angie as if she understands what he’s saying.”

“The Grand Duke, who claims to be her biological father, must have a reason for treating her that way.”

“…You mean there might be some secret passed down from the First Blood of Arcadia?”

Dame Gwendolyn gave a short nod, as if confirming my guess.

“My Lady, since we’re on the topic…”

She withdrew her hand from checking my pulse and spoke.

“What if I met the Grand Duke in person?”

“You?”

“If I speak to His Grace as an expert, he might change his mind. Even if they share blood, His Grace can’t explain the baby’s condition. No matter how much I search through records on the First Blood of Arcadia, there’s nothing about an abnormally fast growth rate.”

“I see…”

Cedrion had also firmly stated that there was no such precedent.

‘But if I let them meet, Cedrion will surely ask about my condition…’

As I hesitated to respond, Dame Gwendolyn tried to persuade me again.

“If the baby truly has a special talent, I might be able to help her develop it. At the very least, if we confirm that she is indeed communicating unusually well, we can find better ways to interact with her.”

“Couldn’t we test that in other ways? Asking her different things and observing her responses?”

“But you said that when the Grand Duke spoke to her, she not only recognized specific information but also gave appropriate replies. To distinguish between the two, we need a precise mana-based examination, as I mentioned before.”

If Angie really was that conscious of her surroundings, how frustrating must it be for her? I gently stroked the fine strands of her silver hair as she lay fast asleep on my chest.

“…Huung.”

Her downy silver hair, the plump cheeks protruding below Her small head, and the faint grumbles as She sucked on Her tiny fingers in Her sleep…

Looking at Her like this, She just seemed like an ordinary baby—one who was simply developing quickly, understanding words well, and learning fast. An exceptionally adorable baby, but still, just a baby.

Dame Gwendolyn’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she observed us.

Despite all my complaints about her being a slave to capitalism, Dame Gwendolyn was, at her core, a scholar with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Ever since arriving in Norhart, she had spent all her free time buried in the Grand Duke’s library when she wasn’t treating patients.

For someone like her, studying a child as extraordinary as Angie was only natural.

“You know, Cedrion is starting to get suspicious because I collapse so often. He says that even for someone weak, this is excessive.”

At my cautious remark, one of Dame Gwendolyn’s eyebrows lifted.

“If I bring up testing Angie, he’ll definitely ask you about my health too.”

“As he should.”

“He’s already making a fuss about it. I’ve been brushing it off for now, but…”

I studied Dame Gwendolyn’s expression.

She had never directly brought it up, but she must have known that my engagement to Cedrion was abnormal, considering I was terminally ill.

“In fact, I’m sure you’ve already realized it.”

“Yes. You must have decided to stay here only until your health deteriorates beyond a certain point—for the baby’s sake. And of course, you haven’t disclosed your condition.”

As expected of the woman responsible for academic matters in the Blue Roof Manor.

Rather than trying to outmaneuver her, it was better to be honest and upfront.

“But he thinks I’m just being stubborn. At first, he proposed a contract marriage, but I refused, saying I didn’t want a loveless union.”

“You struck at the very weakness of political marriages.”

“Right? But then he insisted on having me and Angie here, and now we’re in this situation…”

I decided not to mention that Michael was the real reason I had ultimately chosen to leave Meldorf.

After all, Dame Gwendolyn was someone who would continue living in Arcadia.

“If he finds out I hid a health issue of this magnitude, I might even have to pay damages. But Angie… and for the sake of the nanny and Mathias, I want to see this through to the end.”

“You mean Madame Allen and her son.”

“They were the last people who served a traitorous household. If I die…”

Even though this was my second life, maybe because my first death had come so suddenly, talking about it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I absentmindedly stroked Angie’s soft hair.

I hadn’t even noticed when her restless sleep noises had faded.

“Where else could they go?”

Dame Gwendolyn’s brows drew together in a wry smile.

It was the same look she had given me when I had once asked her if I should thank the Norhart Grand Duchy for sparing my father.

The same look she had when she found it strange that Odelia was paying such attention to her surroundings.

“So, what if I ask him on your behalf?”

“You would, my Lady?”

“Since it concerns Angie, I want to assess the situation myself. And through that, I’d like to build more trust with Cedrion.”

Dame Gwendolyn fell into deep thought at my words.

After a brief silence, she said something rather unexpected.

“But, my Lady… do you trust the Grand Duke?”

“Cedrion?”

“Yes. Norhart is certainly a good place for you to entrust your remaining days. And given that the baby is involved, His Grace providing you with a comfortable life is only natural. However…”

“You’re asking whether I trust him enough to entrust the nanny and Mathias to him, even after I’m gone?”

Dame Gwendolyn smiled faintly as if I had grasped her thoughts precisely.

“That’s true, but honestly, while I understand the reasoning behind your engagement, I can’t help but worry about your relocation to Norhart.”

“The exile decree only stated that I must not return to Belvo; it didn’t say I couldn’t leave Meldorf. At least, on paper.”

“But considering how Baron Alterman was concerned about some kind of barrier, it does make one wonder.”

Dame Gwendolyn furrowed her brow, perhaps recalling Baron Alterman’s outburst when he came to the Blue Roof Manor.

“Cedrion even submitted a petition for my father’s sake, and the only place that rivals the royal family’s influence is Norhart. So, for us, this is the safest place.”

“I do agree with that, but…”

“And actually, I think Cedrion and I may have known each other when we were children.”

“What? When you were children?”

“The nanny didn’t know either, which means I probably didn’t remember him even before I lost my memory in this incident.”

Dame Gwendolyn’s expression grew even more serious.

It was understandable. Even I found it strange that the real Odelia had no recollection of her childhood.

I hesitated, then decided to just say it.

“There was a time when I lived in Meldorf as a child. Apparently, we knew each other then. And… something happened back then that made me forget all of my childhood memories.”

Dame Gwendolyn’s golden eyes took on the same solemn look she had when diagnosing a patient.

“Cedrion wants to tell me what happened back then.”

I held her gaze without blinking.

I trusted Cedrion, but I trusted Dame Gwendolyn just as much. I often joked that she was just loyal because of her generous salary, but after living together for over a month, some things naturally became clear.

In my previous life, I had lived as a dependent, constantly gauging the moods of others. I had developed a good sense for people.

Above all, it was obvious that Dame Gwendolyn genuinely cared about my health.

“Cedrion keeps implying that there is another truth behind my father’s punishment… I think it’s connected to my childhood memories.”

Her eyes darkened slightly, shifting as if she was comparing what she knew to what I was saying.

“…That’s possible.”

“So, whether Cedrion and I really knew each other as children, whether my father and nanny are hiding something that he knows, what exactly that is, and how it ties into Lure’s downfall…”

I trailed off for a moment before suddenly blurting out,

“Do I… even need to know?”

“Huh?”

Dame Gwendolyn flinched at my candid question.

There was truly no one else I could discuss this with. She was not loyal to Lure, so even if I chose to forget everything and live out the rest of my days as I was, she would not interfere.

“I have less than ten months left. And I’ll be leaving Norhart even sooner than that.”

Dame Gwendolyn fell into deep thought, her golden eyes darkening.

“…You said you wanted to live well in Norhart for the sake of Baroness Allen and her son, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I’m worried about you too, to be honest… but you’re a highly skilled physician, so you’ll be fine.”

“I appreciate the compliment. In any case, if you’re truly thinking of them, I would recommend hearing the truth. If the Grand Duke is willing to reexamine Lure’s case, it means he believes there’s a chance of success. If that’s the case, then someday…”

Dame Gwendolyn trailed off, adjusting her glasses slightly.

“The Marquis might be able to leave the Coffin of Atonement.”

“Sometime in the future? You mean…”

Dame Gwendolyn did not respond, only offering a faint smile as her brows relaxed.

She was talking about what would happen after I had already lived out my remaining days.