7.

Morning had dawned, but the medical wing was still filled with dim darkness.

Dr. Dennis fell into serious contemplation. It had been days since he wept bitterly with a gloomy heart after giving the lady a terminal diagnosis.

‘What is this?’

Dr. Dennis greeted the mistress every morning and collected a few drops of blood.

That was his daily routine, and it would continue every morning until the lady received a clean bill of health.

“Master, what seems strange?”

“You fool! Didn’t I tell you not to enter here!”

“Ah, well, you see. I looked for you outside but you didn’t respond…… I apologize.”

The lady’s poisoning symptoms were still a secret outside. Even among his disciples, only a few close ones knew about it. The young disciple apologized profusely while asking.

“What’s troubling you so much?”

“I don’t quite understand what’s happening here.”

The disciple glanced over his master’s shoulder and tilted his head upon seeing the blood sample. Though he didn’t know whose blood it was…..

“The blood is diluted.”

“You can see that too?”

“Th-that…… am I not supposed to see it?”

Initially, the poison was mild. Though very mild, there was plenty of poison residue in the blood, perhaps due to consistent exposure. But now that poison is gradually becoming fainter.

“Is His Grace building immunity to poison? I know high nobles build immunity to poison from a young age!”

The young disciple showed curiosity but quickly lost interest. He seemed to realize that showing interest in the affairs of high-ranking people could lead to an early beheading.

“His Grace has arrived.”

Dr. Dennis held hope seeing a very slight change, as small as a fingernail. The lady was still enduring.

Though she appeared to be calmly awaiting death, she was enduring the poison with a firm heart. Dennis shed tears at this fact.

“Is there a problem?”

Lorendis strode into the medical room. His expression was so fierce that Dennis flinched and almost fell to his knees. Wiping his palms on his white coat, Dennis showed the blood sample and report, raising his voice.

“There’s hope for the lady.”

“What do you mean?”

“The blood is diluting the poison itself. That is, it seems to be building immunity. Usually that process would be extremely painful…… yet why doesn’t the lady show any signs!”

Lorendis frowned. His wife wasn’t hiding her pain; she truly had a complexion that showed no sign of illness…..

“And the poison has become slightly fainter, just by a fingernail’s width.”

“Why?”

“Usually it would fade with an antidote, but I don’t know. It’s still at a dangerous level. Even with immunity building, it’s still dangerous. It’s more amazing that she’s endured this much.”

Dr. Dennis swallowed his overwhelming tears and paid respect to the mistress’s will. This is a miracle that happened because the lady’s will to live is strong.

Normally, being exposed to poison for that long would cause internal illness and great pain. It’s clear that the lady has endured with determination.

“I’ll inform the lady.”

“No. It’s not time yet. Let’s observe the progress more and wait for your disciple first.”

Dennis had almost forgotten. A very small hope is just a lamp. If this lamp goes out, it would be like putting the lady back into darkness. To have forgotten this fact, he almost committed a cruel act against the lady.

‘He means to bring it up when we’re certain.’

Dr. Dennis knelt and respectfully paid his respects. He would approach the treatment with the determination to offer his head if he couldn’t save the lady.

“I understand. I’ll remain silent for now. When I bring that disciple to research, there will surely be results, so please wait just a little longer, Your Grace.”

And Lorendis had a strange premonition.

‘Somehow I feel she wouldn’t greatly rejoice at that news.’

It would be right to rejoice if there’s a chance to live, but Catherine seemed more at ease facing death. Even now she faces death with detachment and enlightenment, but somehow if she hears this news…..

“She’ll probably question me.”

“Pardon? Your Grace?”

“Never mind. Just continue with the research for now.”

As Lorendis loosened his cravat that was tightening his chin, Brady knocked on the medical room door. The energy of those gathered in the medical wing from early dawn rippled like waves in the stillness. Lorendis seemed to be waiting for the right moment as he slowly caught his breath.

“Where’s my wife?”

“She woke up early today. Dr. Dennis also visited, and I see you were just talking with him.”

Lorendis received his schedule from Brady and fell into silence.

* * *

It was a clear afternoon. The blue sky had not a single cloud, and the weather was cool. Still, the wind remained chilly.

Catherine sat at the table covered with a warm cloak. Lorendis was quietly watching Catherine from across.

“Do you need something from me?”

His blatant gaze anxiously scratched a corner of Catherine’s heart. When Lorendis stared at Catherine, unfathomable emotions surged beneath his dark pupils.

“How long has it been since that time?”

“Th-that…… why are you curious about that now?”

“You just look like you’ve been suffering alone for a long time. I wondered if you endured it all alone during the time I was away from your side.”

If you add the half-year Lorendis was away and the time spent at the residence, it’s not a short period. As Catherine picked up her teacup and savored the tea, Lorendis asked again.

“Are you in any pain?”

“As I already told Brady, I don’t have any major pain. I endured alone because I could, and I can continue to do so.”

She thought Lorendis would get angry at these words. Only after speaking did she realize her mistake.

It makes her look like someone who hides her pain and suppresses it. Even if it’s true, should she have shown some signs of pain…..

“If the maids don’t even know their mistress is ill, perhaps there’s no need to keep them by your side.”

Catherines shoulders stiffened with a start at his matter-of-fact statement.

“Lorendis, I am the same as usual. I wake up early in the morning, read books, drink tea, talk with you, meet Dr. Dennis. Do I appear ill to you now?”

Lorendis rested his chin on his hand and stared at Catherine. That gaze seemed to dissect and read her point by point. All her nerves were captured by that gaze. He had already placed Catherine under his view and was thoroughly scanning her from head to toe. Only after being freed from that gaze did Catherine exhale a dry sigh.

“You don’t look that way.”

“I’m just lethargic. If you become depressed by my side because I appear lethargic, that would probably make me more depressed.”

Lorendis dismissed it, saying that was fine then. His thick fingers covered his eyelids. The hand that had been brushing his eyebrows stopped slowly. Lorendis withdrew his hand and slowly straightened his neck.

“Then that’s fine.”

After that, Lorendis smoothly changed the subject. Compared to him who had been very angry with Catherine a few days ago, a different energy flowed now.

That difference was ambiguous. The indifferent and quiet demeanor was similar. Those dark and explicit eyes remained the same.

‘It’s hard to pinpoint what’s different from before.’

The teacup slowly cooled. Nancy took the teapot away, saying she would reheat the tea. The body quickly cooled in the cold wind.

Lorendis must have felt it too, as he asked a maid to bring another blanket.

The maid perceptively brought the blanket to Catherine, and Lorendis tidied his seat.

“Don’t stay outside for too long.”

“What? Yes….. I understand.”

Afterward, Lorendis left with his aide.

“The master has gone to a meeting with his advisors.”

Nancy returned quickly with the teapot and carefully poured the tea.

“Now that the master has fully returned, it would be right for the lady to begin public activities as well.”

Catherine flinched in surprise and trembled.

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing. I didn’t hear you, what did you just say?”

“I suggested that you gradually start public activities. Since you’re living in Helen now, shouldn’t you learn to stand above people as its mistress?”

The public activities that had been postponed could no longer be delayed. As Lorendis’s absence lengthened, social gatherings and public activities were declined using that as an excuse…..

The master of Helen has arrived, so open the gates of the inner castle. Since the head of the family had been absent for a long time, there was a need to reimprint his presence on people.

“I understand it’s difficult since it’s your first time. Then, how about inviting close vassals for a light social gathering?”

“Could you bring me the list of close vassals?”

Nancy, who had already prepared such a list, hurriedly unfolded the roster. Catherine opened the list and tapped the table with her fingertips.