“Where is the physician?”

Although Logan had asked Joshua a question, his eyes remained fixed on Bella, who was lying unconscious on the bed. Just yesterday, she had been well and looking after him. Now, she lay there, burning with fever and lost in delirium.

“The physician… has not been summoned.”

It was only then that Logan turned to look at Joshua. His gaze swept over the large basin on the bedside table and the damp cloth that Joshua was holding. This was far from adequate for tending to a woman who was struggling to breathe due to the severity of her fever.

“Her condition is critical. Why has a physician not been called?”

Logan could not comprehend why the maid had not been seen by a doctor long before it reached this point.

“Unlike the capital, Rosedale does not have many physicians. People like us cannot easily see a doctor simply because we are ill.”

“The count’s personal physician?”

“They would not summon a noble family’s physician merely because a maid has fallen ill.”

Joshua answered calmly, but Logan’s expression made it clear that he did not understand.

Someone born into the highest ranks of nobility, such as a duke, could never truly understand. For someone like Logan, a personal physician could be summoned at any moment without a second thought. Joshua had been fortunate — both his grandfather and his father were doctors. Yet, because of that, he had witnessed countless commoners lose their lives to minor, treatable illnesses simply because they could not afford medical care.

“I may not possess my grandfather’s medical knowledge, but if this continues, Bella’s life will be in danger.”

Although the duke could not comprehend the reality faced by ordinary people, Joshua could not remain silent.

He bowed respectfully before gently wiping the cold sweat from Bella’s brow with a damp cloth. There was no need to exaggerate — Bella’s condition was serious enough.

He wanted nothing from the duke. But for Bella’s sake, he had no choice.

“Find a physician immediately. I don’t care what they demand—pay whatever it takes.”

As Joshua had hoped, Logan gave his secretary the order as soon as he had finished speaking. When the secretary hurried out of the guest house, Logan stepped forward and lifted Bella into his arms.

Even unconscious, she felt incredibly light. Does she ever eat properly? This thought hardened his expression.

“What are you waiting for? Bring an umbrella.”

Adjusting her limp body securely in his arms, he shot Joshua a sharp glance.

“We’re moving her to my bedchamber.”

***

Shortly afterwards, it was the Count who entered the Duke’s chamber, rather than a physician.

Having heard that the duke was asking for a doctor, he hurried over and offered to summon the estate’s personal physician. Logan did not look pleased, but this was the quickest solution given the circumstances. Searching for a reputable doctor in town in the stormy conditions would take far too long. Calling the estate’s physician was far more practical.

At the count’s request, the doctor braved the driving rain and rushed to the estate, only to be met with utter confusion.

The duke, who should have been bedridden, was standing there in perfect health. Instead, an unknown woman lay unconscious in the duke’s bed.

‘What on earth is going on here?’

From what he vaguely remembered, the woman had worked as a maid on the estate before being sent to Netherwell. He had heard that she often suffered seizures and fainted for no apparent reason, which was why she had been moved to the dowager’s residence.

He knew that one careless word could cost him dearly.

More cautious than ever, he began his examination under the piercing gaze of the Duke, the Count and Vincent, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, as well as the Dowager’s physician’s grandson. Under such scrutiny, he broke out in a cold sweat.

“It appears to be a common cold accompanied by a fever. However, if the fever does not subside, there is a risk that it could progress to pneumonia. She will need to be monitored closely for now.”

After completing the examination, the physician lowered his trembling hands. Even delivering such a diagnosis felt dangerous under the duke’s unwavering, piercing gaze.

“She’s burning with fever to the point of losing consciousness, and you call that a simple cold?”

“Given the sudden spike in her temperature, she must have been experiencing symptoms for some time. Typically, it begins with a mild fever and cough, and then gradually improves. But in this weather, being caught in the rain would only make her worse. Moreover, this maid has always been prone to minor illnesses.”

As the physician continued speaking, Logan’s gaze slowly shifted towards Joshua.

“What do you mean she has always been prone to illness?”

“My grandfather once told me that shortly after she arrived at the estate, Bella started experiencing unexplained phantom pains. He thought these pains were a lingering effect of her memory loss. Initially, the pain and seizures were so severe that she would often lose consciousness. However, as she grew older, the episodes gradually became less severe.”

Joshua answered carefully, though he did not welcome the duke’s questioning.

“It seems the House of Everett neglects the health of its servants.”

Logan’s reprimand was directed squarely at the count.

“Your Grace, as you know, there are very few doctors in a rural area like Rosedale. It would hardly be appropriate to summon the family’s personal doctor just because a maid has fallen ill.”

The count tried to justify himself, though it was clear that he did not understand the duke’s reaction. To most nobles, servants were little more than property, bought and sold like commodities. In his eyes, causing such a disturbance over a mere maid was not admirable.

“Even so, this maid is fortunate. Do you know how many commoners die from something as simple as a cold? Yet she has been examined by a personal physician. Thanks to you, Your Grace, her life has been spared. How fortunate she must be.”

The Count of Everett failed to realize that with every word he spoke, he made Logan look more and more displeased.

Joshua was the only person who sensed the subtle shift in the duke’s expression. Speaking without malice and in complete sincerity, the Count could not possibly imagine that his words were striking the Duke like quiet, unrelenting blows.

“As the Count said, ordinary people like us often die before ever seeing a doctor. If it were not for your gracious mercy, I might have lost my dearest friend today. I offer my sincere gratitude.”

Joshua removed his hat and bowed to the duke. He was grateful to the nobleman for his benevolence, implying that the duke had not summoned a physician out of personal affection for the maid, but simply out of charity towards a pitiful commoner.

Beneath that gratitude, however, lay a quiet warning.

Do not treat her as anything special.

***

“Shall we move the maid back to the annex?”

Once Bella’s breathing had steadied, the doctor sighed with relief and turned to the Duke. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. The fever had been so stubborn that it had taken some time to fall, even after he had administered the antipyretic.

“No. She will remain here until her fever subsides. In the meantime, may I have the physician stay, Count?”

“Have him stay? Of course. If Your Grace requires him, he may be called upon at any time. He will remain at the estate and attend to her until she has fully recovered from her cold.”

“Yes, of course. She is my patient. I will see to her care until she is completely well.”

Upon hearing Logan’s words, both the Count and the physician nodded excessively. Having a personal physician for a maid alone defied common sense, but while the Duke was staying at the estate, they were determined to accommodate him in every way possible.

Under no circumstances could word reach the capital that the House of Everett had been unwelcoming.

“If you’re finished here, you may leave.”

Having secured the answer he wanted, Logan dismissed them all. The chill in his voice was unlike anything they had ever heard before and left no room for refusal.

Once the room was empty, he remained quietly at Bella’s side. Even after taking the fever medicine, she struggled for a while before finally falling into a shallow, uneven sleep. He watched her in silence.

Now that he no longer had to consider the opinions of others, his expression hardened.

‘She had a chronic condition.’

Why hadn’t she told him sooner?

The woman he had seen was slim, yes, but she didn’t look unwell. Had he known about her fragile health, he would never have summoned her to his office early each morning just to suit his own schedule.