Chapter 73

Chapter 73

“I still have no strength in my limbs.”

Marie was being examined by a doctor.

“You’ve been lying down for a long time, so that’s why. You can rest a little longer. Practice moving little by little.”

“Yes.”

The doctor, who wanted to get out of the Count’s place, went outside as soon as he finished his examination.

“Did he do the proper examination?”

Seeing Kentrail staring at the seat the doctor left with a displeased tone of voice, Marie smiled softly and replied.

“He is the best doctor in the Kingdom.”

“But, it’s because he says the same thing every time.”

She missed that disapproving expression so much that she captured him in her eyes.

“What’s on my face?”

Unfamiliar with her gaze, he touched his face before touching the rough skin that he could feel.

“Ah, I wasn’t aware.”

When he was in the Capital, he always shaved and had a polished appearance, though now, he hadn’t been able to for a while. At that, he jumped up from his seat, embarrassed to be in this state in front of her.

“Where are you going?”

“I’d shave a little…”

Embarrassed to say that he would come after tidying in his appearance, he was diminished.

“I like the Count’s appearance like this.”

At Marie’s words, he turned his head away from her and gazed at her again. His face was a little flushed.

“You… aren’t you coming in too fast?”

“Hahaha. What is that?”

She laughed pleasantly and suddenly made an expression that her stomach got pulled.

“Why? Does it hurt…? I told you to be careful.”

“It’s fine. I just pulled it a little.”

“It is forbidden to laugh for the time being.”

“What in the world is that?”

As the time between the two of them grew longer, the butler, who was waiting outside, sighed. He wanted to tell her to take a breather, although it wasn’t easy to get the timing right.

It was Barry who saved him.

“Butler.”

“Oh, it’s Barry. Did you come to see your sister?”

“Yes, is the Count inside?”

“Yes. Go on in.”

Barry had a bewildered expression on his face as he saw the butler rushing inside, using himself as an excuse.

Knock, knock.

Kentrail’s head turned at the sound of the knock. He couldn’t see Marie’s, but his expression was wrinkled like a man who chewed poop.

“What is it?”

“It’s me.”

The butler responded timidly to the harsh tone. Then, he took a step back and pushed Barry inside.

“Barry is coming.”

Seeing Barry, who had wanted Marie to wake up as much as he did, Kentrail couldn’t help but let go of his expression.

“Did you take a nap?”

Marie looked at her brother and asked affectionately.

“Yes, I’m going to take turns with the Count.”

“Yes, Count, go and sleep. Now I just need to stay with Barry.”

She was obviously speaking for his own good, though Kentrail became strangely sad. It had been a long time since he had seen her, and he thought that the only person she wanted to be with a little longer was him.

“I see…”

His reluctant words seemed to have a lot of lingering feelings.

“Go on.”

Eventually, he let out a low sigh as he moved his steps at Marie’s urging.

The butler, who heard the sound, flinched and hurriedly left the room. It seemed that he had to hide for a while, out of sight of the Count.

***

When the two left, only Marie and Barry were left. She patted her side and told her brother to come closer.

“Ellie?”

“She’s still sleeping because she’s been up all night.”

“I see.”

Nodding her head, she recalled her brother’s face she had seen when she woke up. It must have been that he had suffered a lot because of her, who was still lying down.

Barry, who came close to her, reached before taking her hand and handing her something.

“Huh…?”

“Is this sister’s?”

It was a brooch.

“Huh?”

“I went to the kitchen and picked it up. I think sister dropped it during the fight.”

Though it wasn’t hers, it was what the kitchen staff who stabbed her had. Marie took it for now since she couldn’t tell Berry the truth.

“Where is he?”

“The person who stabbed sister?”

“Yes.”

“In jail. Although I guess he keeps saying useless words.”

“Really…?”

Marie was relieved inside because she was nervous that he might have said that she had tried to kill Brielle. It seemed that she should discuss this matter with the Count as soon as he wakes up.

‘…Is there an organization?’

She could not understand why the organization was threatening the Count.

“Sister, do you know that?”

After noticing that her mood subside a bit, Berry spoke up abruptly. It was to lift his sister’s mood.

“Yes?”

“The Count. He ran at least a distance that would have taken him for a fortnight in eleven days.”

“What…?”

Marie screamed with a very surprised expression.

“The knights who went with him all said that they could not catch up with the Count and fell behind.”

“He pushed himself too much to come, did he?”

“Of course.”

She was moved, but thought she should give her an earful when he came. What would he do if his body got hurt?

“So, don’t get hurt again. I would have done it if I had heard that you got hurt.”

Marie turned towards her brother, who was looking at her affectionately.

“Yes.”

“Sister, you should rest now. I will be in front of the door, so if you ever feel sick, call me.”

“Okay.”

With those words, Berry left the room.

***

A woman was lying down.

Her face was bone thin, and she had no energy.

‘I’m getting punished.’

She, who risked her own life as collateral, was so painful and cruel. However, there was no regret because she had to do something like this. Not long ago, her rapidly deteriorating health was irreversible.

The only person who could protect her was her spouse, though her spouse had gone hunting and she was alone.

‘…I’ve only seen him once.’

She tried to spit the name out.

“Brielle.”

The child would hate and be disgusted with her terribly. Still, she couldn’t help it. It was because she had to live at that time, and that was all…

Fortunately, the wish had come true. That was it.

‘Because Brielle is alive, your last wish has been granted.’

Closing her eyes and tried to escape the pain, but she couldn’t.

***

A letter has arrived for Marie.

It came from the Queen. She asked about her well-being in the letter. Apparently, she knew that Marie was injured.

“I am grateful. She also gave medicine that is good for the body.”

“Since when were you close…”

Kentrail, who had taken a nap, spoke in a displeased tone.

“Actually, when the Count was away, I was continuing a relationship with the Queen through the letter.”

“…What?”

He was startled.

“At that time, another letter arrived after sending a reply refusing the invitation to the tea party. We continued to reply like that, but she was taking care of me even like this.”

“Still…”

“I know what you’re worried about… She can’t hurt me with a letter. I’m not writing about what happened to the Count. So, please allow us to keep sending letters, yes?”

“…Yes.”

He lost again today. How can he win when she said so…?

Kentrail only sighed once.

“What did you mainly write?”

He asked because he was curious inside.

“Oh…”

Marie, who was about to explain to him, paused for a moment.

‘Come to think of it, it was mainly the Count’s story but… If I do it wrong, it might be a disgrace to her.’

The contents that the Queen sent to her mainly contained things such as what she struggled a lot to live like such a strict greeting, did Brielle not like her, and so on. In the reply she sent back, even though the Queen’s expression was a little stiff, Marie knew that she was attentive and caring inside.

‘It should be a secret.’

Marie, having made up her mind, just smiled.

“Why can’t you answer me?”

At that moment, Kentrail’s expression hardened. It was as if he had a grumpy attitude towards making secrets.

After seeing him like that, Marie quickly changed the topic.

“Oh, Count. This is it.”

“Yes?”

Marie put her hand under the pillow and pulled something out of it. It was a brooch.

“This… What were you doing?”

“No. Could you please check who is out there?”

“Just a second.”

He glanced out of the room, but no one was there.

When he said no one was there, Marie opened her mouth again, “This is… the person who stabbed me had it.”

“What?”

“When I insisted on why he was trying to harm the young master, he shouted out rather loudly saying, ‘I also had tried to kill young master Brielle’.”

Kentrail took the brooch in her hand and began to examine it.

“Is the brooch the mark of an organization?”

“Well…”

It wasn’t unusual though.

‘Did Brielle’s aunt even join this organization?’

His expression hardened. Marie was sorry and regretful that she couldn’t be of much help to him. Did he know about Marie’s heart…?

Suddenly, he gazed at her as he turned his head.

“Well, I have something to tell you.”

“Yes?”

Marie was nervous for a moment because he lowered his voice and spoke too seriously.

“Who told you to jump in at the criminal and get hurt? Did I not tell you not to get involved in something dangerous?”

As he left her, he was begging her for a favor. Even though he told her to only care about her own happiness, he went out to catch the culprit.

“What about the Count?”

“What?”

“Who told you to force yourself to come back? What if you collapse?”

Both voices grew louder.

A fight without a single leeway began again.

“Change your perspective and think. If I’m hurt, could you just stay?”

Kentrail stared at Marie with a gaze that made the officials tremble in fear. Still, she didn’t lose either. She made a face that gave Brielle and Ellie a frightened look.

“Then, what about the Count? Young Master Brielle or someone who is making the mansion dangerous is right in front of you. Could you just leave it alone?”

Both of them grunted as they spit their words out.

Ellie, who had come to her sister, heard the voices and stopped outside her.

‘…I don’t want to be involved in love fights.’

The child wiser than the butler quickly turned around and ran away. She disappeared with Brielle, who was coming down to the first floor.

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────