Chapter 10 –  The Master of the North (Part 3)

“How can it not be a big deal when you’re sweating coldly, waking frequently without deep sleep, breathing heavily as if gasping for air each time you wake, and even letting out short screams occasionally? How… how can that not be a big deal?”

It was pity. It was empathy and concern. The persistent feeling of sympathy stemmed from this.

She spoke calmly about her pain, and to avoid worrying others, she said she was fine even when she wasn’t. Her constant smiles made him want to be sad on her behalf.

“How did you…?”

Ria’s eyes widened at his detailed account, as if he had been watching her closely, and she glanced between Ennie and Letban. She had realized the answer.

“If that aspect made you uncomfortable, I apologize. But I don’t regret the decision. For any potential emergencies, I had to observe and be informed of everything. Above all, if I hadn’t done this, it seems you wouldn’t have told me about the nightmares caused by trauma.”

“‧…….”

“Not getting proper sleep will strain your body. I’ll give you sleeping pills and herbs good for calming the mind and body. Take the sleeping pills only before bed, and burn the herbs whenever you feel drowsy. Ennie will assist you.”

Letban quickly spoke and gathered the prepared medicine before standing up.

If he said he hadn’t projected even a little of his mother onto her after hearing the servants’ remarks, it would be a lie. Like others, he had overlaid her with the fantasy, wondering if his mother had been as kind, if she had smiled often.

That’s why he wanted to feel sadder, and that’s why he feared her reaction to the surveillance revelation. He was afraid she’d turn away from him, disappointed by his actions. It was a pathetic sight of wanting more after secretly fulfilling unmet affection.

“Young Master.”

“I’ll be going now. Since it might be uncomfortable to see me, I’ll send the medicine through Ennie or other servants from lunch onwards.”

“Young Master!”

Ria called out to him as he tried to escape, lost in his own thoughts after saying what he had to say. Letban froze in place, never having heard her raise her voice before. He wondered if she truly resented him.

Ria looked at Letban, who seemed fearful of something, and Ennie, who was restless, and then sighed.

“To be honest, it’s not that I’m not surprised by the fact that every move I make is being reported. It’s not exactly pleasant either.”

As expected… Letban closed his eyes tightly, anticipating what she might say next.

“But that doesn’t mean I don’t understand. Even if the Marquis brought me here himself, it would be stranger not to suspect the first person to enter after closing the gates.”

However, what she said next was something Letban hadn’t imagined at all.

“In the past, my daily life was always briefly reported to the family doctor, so even if you had requested it, Young Master, I would have nodded in agreement.”

The family doctor at the Astina Duchy even knew about her intimate relationships, so that says it all. Well, seeing them bring her in every day, they couldn’t help but know.

Anyway, she wouldn’t have been angry because she would have done the same in Letban’s position. Of course, it wasn’t pleasant that it was done without her knowledge, but she was also continuously suspicious and cautious of them.

So, at least in her opinion, their suspicion was justified.

“Anyway, you’re the one taking care of my condition right now, and you even told me in the end without hiding it, so it’s fine. I’ve also been suspicious and cautious of all of you. So let’s just call it even.”

“Even…?”

“Oh, um… I mean, let’s just say we’re even.”

“…Are you forgiving me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive…”

Ria, who had been leaning against the bed’s headboard while continuing the conversation with Letban, suddenly sat up. A thought that had been on her mind since she woke up resurfaced.

“If you feel that sorry, could you answer one question for me?”

“If it’s a question…”

Hearing his willingness to listen, Ria’s eyes lit up as if she had seized an opportunity.

“Everyone has the same mark on the inside of their wrist. What is that?”

Letban and Ennie’s faces simultaneously froze, and their eyes widened.

＊ ＊ ＊

“She mentioned the mark?”

“Yes. And she knew exactly where it was located.”

“Hmm…”

Knox rubbed his chin with his hand and murmured softly at Letban’s words.

“She can see the mark. Huh, no way.”

His mouth opened slightly, and then, for the first time in a while, the corners of his mouth lifted. It seemed his grandson, who rarely came to see him unless it was necessary outside of meals, had rushed over with some interesting news.

“Did she say anything else?”

“No. And I…”

“Go on.”

“I told her that Ennie was reporting her every move.”

Although there were circumstances, Letban didn’t mention them. He believed it was only right to be punished for his mistake. However, Knox, after pondering more about Ria mentioning the mark, turned his attention back to the documents.

“Is that all?”

“Yes. So… huh?”

“I asked if you had anything more to say.”

“The punishment…”

“That’s enough. If you’re finished, you may leave.”

Letban, bewildered by the situation that was different from what he had expected, stood there for a moment before bowing his head and turning to leave. Even just before he opened the door to exit, he still wore a confused expression.

“Letban.”

As he took a step into the hallway, Knox called him. When Letban turned his head, Knox continued speaking, still focused on the documents.

“Ennie came by before you did. She said she was running an errand.”

“What?”

Even as Letban questioned the cryptic words, Knox said nothing more, as if that was all there was to say. Letban stood holding the door for a moment, trying to grasp the meaning, and then his eyes gradually widened. It seemed he had figured it out, as he turned and ran off somewhere.

Eventually, the door closed, and the only sound in the now silent office was the turning of pages. After a while, having finished reviewing the last document, Knox rubbed his eyes, which were growing weary, and leaned back comfortably in his chair.

Soon, he recalled what had happened before Letban had arrived.

“‘I know it might be presumptuous for someone like me to say this, but it doesn’t seem like the Young Marquis acted independently in deciding to monitor me. I was worried that you might get scolded unnecessarily, so I stepped up, perhaps overstepping my bounds. It’s not that I don’t understand the need for surveillance, and above all, I’m not the kind of person who would get angry and demand things from those who saved me. So please, let it slide just this once. I ask you.’ she said to convey.”

“What does ‘demand things’ mean?”

Even though the words were unclear, a smile involuntarily crept onto his face. The courage to express opinions to the master of the North was admirable. She made sure to mention knowing her place while saying everything she wanted. The added words were even more amusing.

“And… ‘Still, it’s not very pleasant to do it secretly, so if you’re going to monitor me, at least give me a heads-up. I’ll accept it without complaint. …If I say this, you’ll probably be annoyed, thinking I’m getting uppity after being saved, right? Please omit this part.’ she said, and then asked to properly convey, ‘Thank you once again for saving me.’”

“Ha.”

Knox burst into laughter, bending over this time. His back heaved, causing the old chair to creak. The contrast between the statements at the beginning and the end was hilariously striking. She probably didn’t think Ennie would report everything.

What should he say? She was an amusing child. From the first day she woke up until now, whenever he visited her room once a day, she always seemed to watch him like a frightened little animal, yet seeing this made him wonder if she was truly afraid of him.

After laughing for a while, he took a deep breath and leaned back deeply. Closing his eyes, he saw the familiar illusion again.

“Even this reminds me of you.”

Even the way she insists on saying what she wants. To be honest, from the moment I first saw that child, I thought of you. Because it was so reminiscent of your last moments. It seemed like you, too, would have died in such a cold place.

“…My dear, don’t forgive this useless and foolish father.”

The words that finally escaped like a sigh were filled with profound sadness and self-reproach.