My vision shifted drastically each time I opened and closed my eyes.

Footsteps echoing on marble.

Doors flung open.

Shoes bustling across carpets.

Through fragments of consciousness, I vaguely sensed I was being moved somewhere.

“……”

Before I could even feel the softness against my back, my body trembled from the chill of my cold dress.

After laying the Grand Duchess on the bed, Carlo’s eyes remained fixed as he looked down with a hardened expression.

The dim dawn cast deep shadows in the blue eyes set in his pale face.

When our gazes met, my foggy mind seemed to clear slightly.

“Your Highness, the dress will need to be cut for proper examination, as it’s too difficult otherwise.”

Ah… this is an expensive dress.

After briefly lamenting its loss, I weakly nodded in acceptance.

With multiple layers of dress completely soaked with water, removing it normally would be no simple task.

“I’ll cut it now.”

As my hand was held, I felt the touch of cold metal against my skin. Perhaps because of this unexpected cold sensation, the feeling of the icy river came rushing back, overwhelming my consciousness.

Noticing my frozen state, Carlo quickly snatched my hand away.

“How dare you.”

“…But the dress must be cut for proper examination, Your Highness.”

When the imperial physician hastily explained, the nurse who had been holding my hand also nodded.

“We’re cutting it out of concern for possible fractures, and would absolutely never harm the Grand Duchess…”

“Give it to me.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’ll do it.”

The physician, who had been gesturing for a female nurse—perhaps misunderstanding that I felt uncomfortable with a male nurse—paused and looked at the Grand Duke.

When the Grand Duke extended his hand, the physician slowly placed the silver scissors in it with a bewildered expression.

“I’m just going to cut it. You understand.”

He met my eyes as if trying to reassure me.

At his calm tone, my body quieted as though nothing had happened.

Only the eerie sound of the dress being cut filled the room.

“The physician will be checking for fractures and bruises, so only you need to remain, correct?”

When Carlo spoke calmly, the physician flinched and signaled to the medical staff standing nearby.

After cutting the dress, the nurse who had been preparing to cover my body with a thin cloth quickly set it down and left.

Violet, who had been sobbing nearby, rushed forward and picked up the cloth.

“Then I’ll help. Sniff.”

Each time a piece of the cut dress fell away, Violet quickly covered my body, leaving no gaps.

However, with my mind hazy and eyes already half-closed, I couldn’t even worry about Carlo or others seeing my body.

Perhaps I wasn’t preoccupied with such thoughts because Carlo, who would be the first to see my body, maintained an expressionless face as if he had not the slightest interest.

“It’s okay. No need to worry.”

Whenever I trembled at the touch of the scissors, he would comfort me and silently continue his task.

Violet was equally thorough in covering me.

I stared blankly at both of them.

“……”

To think there were people taking such good care of me.

In my previous life, I was always alone when sick, and at hospitals, being asked if I had come without a guardian was routine.

I had thought our eyes meeting in the cold, surging water was purely my imagination.

But before I could even process my disbelief, he had jumped into the river.

“Is she alright?”

As the physician began examining various parts of my body with a small bright light, Carlo asked.

I felt like I finally had a guardian.

Someone who would check on my condition and persistently inquire about me…

That thought made me feel overwhelmed yet somehow brought a tightness to the bridge of my nose.

“Thank… you.”

I spoke to him while the physician checked my bones and ligaments by rotating my joints.

There was pain in my chest, but it was bearable.

“I… just… real… ized…”

Carlo slightly furrowed his brow upon hearing me speak in a small voice, then leaned in closer.

“Real… ized… a lot.”

I barely managed to convey my message while holding onto my faint consciousness. Tears were welling up, whether from pain or emotion, I couldn’t tell.

His gaze became quite suspicious, as if doubting my sanity.

Even with my entire body aching, I felt I needed to move my stiff tongue to speak more clearly.

“What I mean… is…”

“Your Highness. Fortunately, there are no signs of fractures or ligament tears. Could you please help the Grand Duchess sit up now?”

At the physician’s polite request, Carlo raised me up and let me lean against his chest.

As I sat up, the physician checked my eyes and then opened my mouth to check for injuries.

Ah, I need to speak. I must convey my gratitude right now. I shouldn’t have my mouth stretched open like this…

He firmly held my body with his thick arm, preventing me from sliding down as I kept losing strength.

I looked up at Carlo with all my might, trying again to express my gratitude.

Even in this tragic situation, I couldn’t help but sigh in admiration at how decadently handsome his cool face looked as he gazed down at me with wet hair.

Sniff, this is seriously no joke.

“…I will.”

“What are you…”

“Do well… if I… survive… this. Really.”

“You’re not going to die.”

“Sniff… I drank too much… water… My stomach is so…”

“I said you won’t die.”

“You can’t know… Even now my stomach is…”

“Of course you’ll live. I’ll make sure of it.”

Hiing. Even the way he speaks is so reassuring…

Wasn’t that just now really cool and somehow romantic?

My mind must truly be affected, because this man who normally seemed devoid of any emotion appeared full of affection.

Yes, with this man protecting me like this, I fear nothing.

This man is my reliable guardian…

“If she’s survived until now but dies during treatment, that would be intentional murder, wouldn’t it?”

Carlo spoke while still holding me with one arm.

“O-of course, Your Highness. That’s why I’m doing my absolute best. Truly.”

“She’s vomited all the water she swallowed, has no breathing difficulties, no head injuries, and no broken bones.”

Hmm? That conversation just now seems a bit less romantic.

“Th-that’s correct.”

“Given the circumstances, we can’t consider this a s*icide attempt.”

That statement moved even further from romance…

“That would require further investigation by the Imperial Police Investigation Bureau, but currently…”

“What did you say?”

The physician straightened his back in surprise at the low, displeased tone.

“It’s clear she had no suicidal intentions.”

“That’s right.”

What is this about?

“Then when you leave this room, the Imperial Police Investigation Bureau will come looking for you to take your statement.”

So this is…

“Yes. Th-they will.”

“I hope you understand exactly what you need to testify.”

“I… understand, Your Highness. Based on the Grand Duchess’s current condition, there’s no evidence she jumped in herself. Rather, she suffered intentional harm from someone else. Fortunately, no major issues were found, so she can return to daily activities immediately and will only improve from here. I’ve administered a sleeping drug, so she’ll wake up in about an hour.”

So that’s why I needed to stay awake during the examination…?

“Ah, Your Highness. Here…”

Just then, the physician peered closely at my neck and reached toward my chest.

Simultaneously, Carlo, who had pulled me protectively into his arms, bared his teeth with a growl.

“How dare you put your hands there.”

“Ah! No, there’s a wound here…!”

“I can handle that myself. Do you want your fingers cut off?”

…What?

“B-but there’s a strand of hair stuck to it, and I was trying to remove it for treatment…”

“I’ll remove it.”

After warning the physician not to touch me, he removed the hair stuck to my collarbone and began applying herbal cream to the wound.

I obediently surrendered to his touch while continuing my interrupted thoughts.

Yes, so if I died while unconscious during the examination, the situation could turn bad, right? Even if someone murdered me during that time, there would be no way to prove it.

In that case, I would likely be labeled as a woman who jumped into the water herself—a s*icide.

As a result, naturally, I alone would take the blame for the St. Berte Castle attack incident, having died at Rishelt Island.

“Ah…”

So that’s why this man told me I absolutely had to stay awake until the examination was complete.

That’s also why he excessively protected me and prevented people from touching me or coming close…

“Aah…”

I managed to lift my gaze and gave him a bitter look.

Romantic my *ss.

Ha, right, this is how people should be.

This is how you succeed like a Grand Duke.

Making every situation advantageous for yourself, no matter what…

“Lea.”

The sour feeling lasted only briefly before I finally fell asleep in his arms, completely relaxed at last.