CH 48.1

I let myself go too much.

He didn’t want to admit it, but when he heard that her life was in danger, he left the knights who were preparing for a large-scale subjugation and rode alone to the area where the avalanche had taken place.

Forcibly suppressing his uncomfortable feeling, believing that it was a waste of his hard work, he turned his head to the chief attendant, who was waiting outside the door.

“Useless things. What have you been doing?”

While turning a blind eye to the point that her life was in danger, the Grand Duke poured out his anger on the employees. The cold accusation pierced the eardrums of chief attendant Wald and Commander Abreham like a dagger.

“Forgive me. Your Grace… that’s what Her Grace…”

When they were reprimanded for not knowing it would be like this, instead of making excuses, they only bowed their heads deeply, not knowing what to do. Ashton, who was standing behind, couldn’t bear to see it and helped them out.

“They couldn’t disobey Her Grace’s orders. Since Your Grace was away, they had no choice but to follow Her Grace’s instructions?”

“My orders were to protect the Grand Duchess. I didn’t ask you to stare at that woman until she was buried in snow.”

The tone made even the rational Ashton shudder.

“If the Grand Duchess doesn’t wake up, you’ll all pay with your heads.”

According to the doctor, such an outcome was impossible, but at that point, everyone was holding their breath in fear.

Pathetic things, he thought, and strode past them and across the hallway. Ashton followed him, beckoning for everyone to leave.

“Are you planning to return to the Silbur Mountains?”

The Grand Duke, who was about to say that he would do so immediately, hesitated.

According to the doctor, Anne’s consciousness would return by tomorrow. So, it was right to take care of the unfinished business until the end… But other thoughts came to his mind. If she didn’t wake up…

Ashton glared at his master, who hadn’t even washed properly. While the doctor was examining the Grand Duchess, the master did not change his clothes, nor did he relax for even a moment. Anyone could see that he was worried about the Grand Duchess— he was the only one who didn’t admit it.

Ashton, who imagined what he would do if her life had been taken, shuddered. Even the Grand Duke, who was said to have no feelings for the Grand Duchess, made a monstrous expression when she lost consciousness and her body drooped.

He’s trying to hide his inner feelings.

Ashton sighed as he recalled the Grand Duke’s face when he threatened the doctor and told him to save her immediately.

“Since you’ve come this far, let’s take a day off and return tomorrow.”

The Grand Duke gave no reply, but Ashton took it as acceptance.

* * *

Even when night came, Anne did not wake up. Daymond, leaning on one shoulder against the window of the Grand Duchess’ room, looked out.

However, what he saw was not the scenery outside or the knights standing guard in the dark. It was Anne, who fell into a long sleep and laid still, reflected in the dimly lit window.

After the doctor withdrew, he claimed that he would stay by her side and dismissed the employees. He ordered the attendants to feed the fire a lot of fuel, so the temperature in the room was hot enough to remind one of a summer’s day. He was sweaty and uncomfortably hot, but his complexion was frosty.

“Huuuuh.”

A soft moan came from the bed. Responding reflexively, he strode straight to the bedside and examined her.

She looked as if she had been sleeping quietly, but Anne’s expression was painfully contorted. Her white face was as pale as her corpse, without any blood. The rosy cheeks had lost their life, and her lips were blue.

Daymond’s vision, looking down at the sleeping Anne, was blacker than the darkness outside.

“Are you having nightmares?”

Her slender fingers convulsed several times. Her white knuckles bulged out on the backs of her hands.

Daymond put his hand on her forehead. However, despite all the fire and medicine he had given her, her bare skin was colder than his frigid body.

“Damn it. It’s like ice.”

He went straight to the roaring fireplace and warmed himself for a while. Then he got into the bed, laid down, and held her little body tightly. Wearing only a thin slip, her body temperature remained low even under the thick cotton blanket. He hugged her cold, tender body closer into his arms.

Fortunately, he could feel her spasms gradually subside. The Grand Duke exhaled slowly on her face as if his arms were uncomfortable.

He put his lips on Anne’s cheek, hugging her cold body again.

“Anne… If you die again this time, I won’t forgive you, even if it means chasing you to the ends of hell.”

He took a shallow breath and recited fiercely to the lying body, but there was also a sense of urgency in his voice.

“If you are going to go again, at least kill me before you go.”

However, his only wish was near-impossible to achieve.

Unlike her, he was immortal.