8. Stay still

Julian was closer to Adelaide than Callion when the chef attacked her.

Even if he hadn’t expected the chef to jump out as soon as she opened the carriage door, Julian’s skill would have been enough to protect her.

But he didn’t.

“No answer?”

“…….”

Julian’s lips parted and closed. Callion’s disappointment was palpable at the perfectly deliberate admission.

“What is the duty of the Knight Commander, Julian Uclaire?”

“To protect Tiflis and the Duke’s safety.”

“You know this, and yet you fail to fulfill your duty.”

“…….”

 “If I had made a mistake trying to save the Duchess, this blood could have been mine.”

Julian realized why Callion hadn’t changed his clothes since their return to the castle.

“You may as well have threatened my life by turning your back on the Duchess.”

“I didn’t think you were the kind of person who would fall prey to a mere scoundrel.”

The calmness of her words made Callion smile bitterly. At the same time, he could see how Adelaide was being treated in this castle.

“And you don’t care if the Duchess is killed?”

“…….”

“I hope you haven’t forgotten that she is my wife.”

“My lord, Adelaide Cornwall is the Emperor’s…….”

“Did you not understand me?”

“……I apologize.”

He didn’t sound sorry at all. Callion jerked his chin, his face full of energy.

“I hope there won’t be another time I will be disappointed in you. You may leave now.”

“Rest.”

After dismissing Julian, Callion wiped his forehead. He knew Julian didn’t like her, but he hadn’t expected him to be so openly hostile.

Today, Julian not only failed to fulfill his duty as the Knight Commander but also abandoned the least bit of chivalry.

And yet he shows no sign of remorse.

‘Perhaps it’s my attitude.’

Perhaps his estrangement from Adelaide has put her in a difficult position.

Callion pondered deeply.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Are you okay? Are you sure you’re not hurt?”

“I’m fine. Stop crying.”

It was Margaret who greeted Adelaide, who had just returned to the castle after washing up and changing out of her blood-stained dress.

Seeing her, Adelaide felt embarrassed and comforted Margaret.

“It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have been away…….”

“If you had, you might have been hurt. It’s fine since you’re safe.”

Only after she repeatedly told her to stop crying because nothing happened did Margaret stop crying.

The scarf around her neck stood out, and Adelaide smiled sheepishly.

“I’m sure you’re shaken up too, but you should get some rest, and I’ll leave Elaine to take care of me.”

“Yes.”

Snorting, Margaret rose from her seat. The envelope she’d tucked into her loose clothing fell to the floor. Margaret picked it up and held it out to Adelaide.

“Oh, and this.”

It was a bag containing gloves bought from the general store.

Adelaide touched the bag with mixed feelings before putting it down.

“Put them in my dressing table drawer.”

“Shouldn’t you give it to His Grace?”

“Later, when I get a chance.”

Margaret put the gloves in the drawer. Seeing her rummage through it, Adelaide remembered something that needed to be dealt with.

“Margaret, can you take out the letter in the first drawer?”

“Sure.”

The letter she’d written before she’d gone to see Sycamore was a list of things Elkius was going to do. It was a list of things that hadn’t even happened yet, and I had to get rid of it before anyone saw it.

Margaret, who was furiously rummaging through a drawer, turned and asked.

“I don’t see any letters. Are you sure you put them here?”

“Of course. Look carefully.”

“Surely you didn’t put it somewhere else and forget about it?”

“No, I’m pretty sure I put it where I put it every day…….”

A bad feeling flashed through her mind.

The first drawer is where she keeps her letters to Elkius, and only one person knows she keeps them there.

“Margaret, go get Elaine.”

It’s Elaine. Elaine must have taken the letter.

‘What if she had already sent the letter? ‘

A chill ran down her spine, even colder than when the chef’s knife had been pointed at her heart.

If the letter fell into Elkius’s hands, it would be…….

Knock knock. She promptly answered the door.

“Come in.”

“You called for me, My Lady?”

“Elaine, did you take the letter I left in the drawer?”

“Yes, I was going to send it to His Majesty tomorrow.”

Adelaide’s heart sank at the mention of the letter still in Elaine’s hand.

“I hadn’t told you to send it yet. What if something happened carelessly? There are things left unsaid, so bring it back.”

“I thought you sealed it, so I assumed you were done with it, but did you leave something important out?”

Elaine’s suspicions were evident, perhaps because she saw Callion return with Adelaide. Adelaide responded casually.

“I learned some new information today. There’s something urgent I need to tell His Majesty.”

“Oh, I’ll get it now.”

Elaine, fooled by Adelaide’s lie, obediently retrieved the letter. Straddling between trust and suspicion, she wasn’t yet in a position to oppose her.

After dismissing Elaine, Adelaide examined the letter. There was no sign that the seal had been broken.

Adelaide poured oil on the letter and threw it into the fireplace. The oiled paper soon turned to ashes.

‘I’ll have to be more careful in the future.’

There’s a mountain of tasks to do, but there are too many obstacles in the way. It’s difficult to make progress while paying attention to each one individually.

…How should they be dealt with?

Adelaide bit her lower lip impatiently. Her mind raced.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Ugh…….”

Adelaide tossed and turned all night and finally dozed off at dawn, only to wake up in excruciating pain. Her body ached as if it had been beaten all over.

Her wrists, exposed beneath her loose sleeves, were bruised. It looked like bruises from when Callion grabbed her.

“At least it’s only this much.”

Adelaide secured the sleeve with an elastic band and tugged on the cuff.

“Are you awake?”

Elaine entered with a warm, soaked towel, and Adelaide arched an eyebrow as she opened her eyes and found herself face-to-face with a stern opponent.

Had she told Margaret to leave for no reason?

Adelaide quickly wiped her face with the towel.

“Shall I bring your meal to your room?”

“Yes. I have no appetite, so keep it simple.”

“Yes.”

Elaine stepped away, squinting at the dressing table.

Adelaide opened the first drawer to find the fake letter she’d slipped in the night before. She wouldn’t be able to post it anyway, but she needed the distraction until she could put her plan into action.

“Here’s your meal.”

The tray Elaine brought was short.

A glass of juice, coleslaw, and chicken stew and a dark green liquid in a small vial.

It was a contraceptive made from nerium leaves.

“I guess you’ve been faithfully taking the medicine I gave you.”

Adelaide stared at the vial, reliving the vivid memory.

“Take your medicine first.”

“……It seems unusually dark in color today.”

“I made it stronger. Please take it immediately.”

“I’ll eat first. I don’t feel well on an empty stomach.”

Adelaide refused the medicine and picked up the spoon.

While she ate, Elaine looked around the room. She seemed suspicious of Adelaide’s new demeanor.

Adelaide finished her meal quietly, pretending not to notice Elaine’s scrutiny. When Elaine tidied up the empty plate, she reluctantly picked up the vial again.

“Are you finished? Do you feel okay inside?  Can you take the medicine now?”

Did this girl know this medicine could be poisonous?

Adelaide looked back and forth between the vial and Elaine.

“May I come in?”

She was just about to take the medicine when there was a polite knock on the door and a man’s voice. Elaine rushed to the door in a panic.

“Your Grace, what are you doing here at this hour?”

“Do I need to explain my business to you?”

“No, Your Grace. I apologize.”

The mildly reprimanding tone of his voice made Elaine turn to face her. Adelaide nodded.

“You didn’t prepare to meet His Grace, but if you say it’s okay, let him in.”

“What preparation is necessary for a married couple to see each other?”

Intercepting the answer, Callion stepped inside. Sweat beaded on his smooth forehead as if he had just finished training.

As Adelaide attempted to get up from the bed, he stopped her.

“Just stay there. I’ll leave soon.”

Adelaide turned to Elaine.

“You should go.”

“Yes, My Lady. Shall I put the bowl away when you’re done?”

Elaine’s gaze drifted to the medicine bowl. At her unspoken urging, Adelaide gulped it down. Elaine finished the empty bowl and left the room.

“Did the doctor visit?”

“No.”

“Then what is that medicine?”

“It’s a decoction she makes for me to help my body.”

“Did you ask the doctor what the medicine is made of?”

Adelaide evaded the question with a vague smile.

“What have you been doing here in the early morning?”

“I came to bring you this.”

Callion pulled a clunky container from his pocket. He lifted the lid, and a pungent odor wafted out.

“It’s an ointment for sore muscles. It’s effective, so apply it to any sore spots.”

“I’m really fine, I don’t have any sore spots and I’m not hurt…… ah!”

Before she could finish her sentence, Callion grabbed her bruised wrist gently. Even though he didn’t exert any force, a scream escaped her lips. He quickly let go and sighed.

“Stop with the obvious lies and roll up your sleeves.”

“…….”

“Are you waiting for me to roll them up?”

Adelaide reluctantly rolled up her sleeve. The area where he had held her was tinged with a dull purple.

“Don’t tell me this is okay…….”

‘Is it just the wrist? I can’t take off my clothes to check, but it’s obvious that my back and legs are all covered in bruises.’

Clicking his tongue, Callion squeezed Adelaide’s wrist, this time more gently.

“Hold still.”