Chapter 18

Phyllis went up to his room after dinner and immediately sat at his desk. The book, which wasn’t even closed, was filled with messy notes. The Herwin Earldom was a family of scholars with a long history. Spending most of the day studying was perfectly normal.

“Young Master, I’ll bring you some tea. Please drink it while you work.”

An elderly woman with graying hair knocked and entered. It was Emily, the nanny and head maid who had cared for him since he was young. Without putting down the pen he was already holding, Phyllis took the tray and placed it on the desk.

“Thank you, Nanny.”

“Don’t overwork yourself. The Master sent a letter saying he has a meeting.”

His father, who often didn’t return for days once an external meeting was scheduled. Phyllis nodded.

“Got it. Please let Mother know as well.”

After Emily left the room, Phyllis resumed his studies.

The concentration that had been interrupted lasted for a long time. The sharp pen tip wrote various formulas and terms on the paper. Much time passed like that. Phyllis stretched his stiff back and momentarily put down his pen.

“It’s already this late….”

Looking at the clock, it was almost time to go to bed. Not that he planned to follow that schedule tonight, either. Cornell, who had gone with his father, would only return home tomorrow.

Thinking about Cornell made even sleeping feel like a luxury. No, there were times when his entire life felt insignificant compared to hers.

‘I’ll just stay home again tomorrow anyway.’

Even as he scolded himself, his hands, which had stopped once, couldn’t easily pick up the pen again. Phyllis relaxed his body. The events of a few days ago, which he had been forcing himself to forget, suddenly came rushing back.

‘Shouldn’t we start bringing up the topic of breaking off the engagement with the adults soon?’

Recalling Karina, who had asked so casually, left a chill in a corner of his heart. He was startled by his own reaction. It was just something that needed to be said—why had he felt that way?

In the end, Phyllis chose the cowardly route of changing the subject. He was afraid. The fact that he didn’t even know why he was afraid made it all the worse.

“…She must’ve been upset. Of course.”

Muttering as if to scold himself, Phyllis rubbed his face with both hands. His mind was tangled with too many thoughts.

He knew, of course, that avoiding it wouldn’t solve anything.

The engagement ceremony with Cornell was going to take place on the first snowfall of the year. It wasn’t just a promise.

Phyllis folded one arm and leaned his face against it. When he closed his eyes, the silence was almost terrifying. He opened his eyes again and slowly lifted his body, picking up the pen once more. Somehow, it felt heavier than before.

‘Just wait a little longer, Karina. I’m sorry.’

Should I have said those words in front of Karina? 

For now, he couldn’t know anything. Like a puppet devoid of consciousness, the only thing Phyllis could do at that moment was move his hand.

The night deepened quickly into a place he couldn’t reach.

***

Cornell climbed into the carriage. It was the road leaving the Bruton Earldom after the early morning meeting. Her destination was not the Herwin Earldom but the Imperial Palace. There were materials she needed to pick up from the research institute.

“They said it started yesterday, right?”

Of course, that wasn’t her only reason. Cornell’s eyes, gazing out the window, glinted briefly.

Upon arriving at the Imperial Palace, Cornell first stopped by the research institute. Today, too, her next destination wasn’t the main gate. Instead of entering, she walked around the building, and soon the annex and the training grounds came into view.

“Working hard from the morning, I see.”

“Miss Cornell?”

At that moment, a knight heading toward the training grounds recognized Cornell. Judging by the emblem on his chest, it seemed he was part of the First Knight Order.

“I am Colt Weiss of the First Knight Order. What brings you to the Imperial Palace?”

“I had some business at the research institute, but I heard the sound of drills.”

“Ah, I see.”

Judging by his proud expression, it seemed the training of the First Knight Order was indeed underway. Cornell smiled brightly, realizing her intuition was correct. Then she asked Colt a question.

“Sir Colt, are you heading to training now as well?”

“No. I was already participating, but… one of the soldiers got injured during the drill, so I’m on my way to report it.”

“Injured? How badly?”

“Well, it’s a bit serious, so he’ll need to be hospitalized.”

Hearing that hospitalization was necessary, Cornell was startled. This time, it wasn’t an act. As someone studying medicine, Cornell had a general understanding of the injuries soldiers sustained during training. If it was serious enough to prevent participation in training, it must have been a major issue.

Concerned, Cornell told Colt that she wanted to see the injured soldier. Originally, she had planned to visit the training grounds anyway, but it seemed she now had an additional purpose.

“Are you heading there right away?”

“Yes. I know the location, so I’ll go alone.”

But just as she was about to enter the training grounds building, a loud noise came from the upper floor. While Colt looked around in surprise, Cornell immediately went upstairs.

“Orlando, hold on!”

“Let go! I’ll kill that wench and go to prison!”

Running down the hallway toward the source of the vulgar curses, Cornell saw a chaotic scene in front of the infirmary. A soldier, who had a splint on his arm and was clearly the injured party from earlier, was thrashing about.

“Miss Cornell, it’s dangerous. Please step back.”

Colt, who had followed her up, blocked her path with his arm. Cornell smiled reassuringly to show she was fine.

“He’s injured, isn’t he? It’s okay.”

The soldiers restraining Orlando noticed Cornell and frantically gestured to calm the situation.

Cornell walked over to them and first asked what was going on. Orlando, still panting heavily, opened his mouth to speak. But before he could finish, someone stepped out of the infirmary.

“Hey, loser. Done whining yet?”

A woman with red hair tied up high sneered as she picked her ear. Cornell’s eyes widened.

‘Why is she here… wasn’t she a woman?’

The Crown Prince had mentioned that Noah and Kaya would be assigned to the First Knight Order. However, Cornell hadn’t expected that Kaya, being a woman, would train alongside the other soldiers. Especially not in such a rough situation.

“Making a fuss over a broken arm. How embarrassing.”

“That woman, I swear…!”

“What are you doing? Grab his legs!”

Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed Kaya was heavily involved in the current incident. For now, Cornell needed to prevent a fight from breaking out. She tried her best to stay calm and placed her hand on Kaya’s arm.

“Excuse me, but since someone is injured…”

Cornell, who was trying to speak as kindly as possible, stared blankly at her hand as it was abruptly slapped away.

“What’s this?”

“Kaya. Can you step outside for a moment?”

Noah, who had been peeking from behind, asked in a cheerful tone. Without even glancing at Cornell, Kaya moved aside to the hallway.

For a moment, Cornell was so shocked that she didn’t even notice Noah, the person she had been looking for. But she quickly regained her composure. Blocking the two of them from leaving, she saw Kaya raise one eyebrow crookedly.

“You’re acquaintances of Lady Karina, correct? I believe we met at the bookstore that time. Don’t you remember?”

Cornell asked, trying her best to control her crumbling expression. Noah and Kaya exchanged a brief glance before nodding. Then they each gave their own response.

“No, I don’t remember.”

“Did that happen?”

Their genuinely clueless expressions left Cornell frozen in place. The two walked around her as if she were just an obstacle. The sound of their footsteps echoed down the quiet hallway as they leisurely walked away.

***

A whimpering sound filled the room. Karina stroked Edel with a worried expression.

“What could be wrong?”

Becky, who had been cleaning, approached the bed. Though she pretended otherwise, it seemed she had grown attached to Edel, as her expression wasn’t good.

In the end, Karina jumped up from the bed.

“This won’t do. I’ll take him to the hospital.”

Becky left, saying she would prepare the carriage. Karina hurried to get ready to leave. But when she finished preparing, Edel, who had been lying on the bed, was nowhere to be found.

Turning her head, she saw him pacing nervously near the window. Watching him, Karina suddenly remembered something.

‘If Edel ever seems restless, feel free to visit.’

Now that she thought about it, Edel had been lethargic for days. Even when she took him on walks, his excitement only lasted for a short while.

“Take care, Miss.”

Descending to the first floor, Karina held Edel as she headed toward the carriage, still deep in thought. It seemed like going to the hospital first was the right decision. If there was a physical issue, it would be a bigger problem.

However, in hindsight, Karina’s judgment might have been wrong.

“Well, I don’t see any particular abnormalities.”

After visiting a nearby clinic, Karina felt both relieved and confused by the doctor’s words. Edel lay limp in her arms as though lifeless. He had seemed slightly better after leaving the Ducal residence, but perhaps not.

“Please take me to this address.”

“You’re not returning to the Ducal residence?”

“It won’t take long. I just need to check something.”

Having no other choice, Karina handed the coachman Noah’s letter, which she had brought just in case.

The journey to the estate didn’t take long. Edel, who seemed to regain his energy as they traveled, made the trip even quicker. The carriage stopped in front of a grand castle along a familiar path.

Holding Edel, Karina got out and spotted the guard standing forlornly at the gate.

“Lady Karina, what brings you here?”

The guard, whose face she remembered from before, greeted her with a friendly familiarity.

“I need to meet someone… Well, not a person, but an animal.”

“Pardon?”

Struggling with how to explain, Karina gave up and instead asked if Noah and Kaya were present.

A short while later, Karina was waiting in the empty entrance hall, which she was seeing for the second time. She set Edel down on the floor and looked around when she heard footsteps approaching from somewhere. For some reason, they sounded urgent.

“You little mutt, if I catch you, you’re…! Lady, please grab him!”

Kaya, who had practically tumbled down the stairs, reached out desperately while sprawled on the floor. Startled, Karina bent down to catch the running puppy, only to bump her face into someone’s chest.

“Oh, my! Are you okay?”

Noah, holding the puppy in one hand, touched Karina’s forehead briefly before pulling back his hand.

“I’m sorry. I was in a hurry and didn’t mean to.”