CH 7

‘And what matters now isn’t the pain of my wound. It’s to heal the Duke’s wound as soon as possible.’

Liriette took a medicine cabinet out of her bag.

The medicine made by mixing several herbs was made by the High Priest in her previous life.

The High Priest’s divine power was weak enough to detect the divine power of others. But when it comes to medicinal herbs, he was more knowledgeable than anyone else.

He made this medicine as Liriette’s body had many wounds.

Of course, it wasn’t for her sake.

It would be bewildering if Liriette, his source of money, died, so he took the bare minimum.

‘It’s a terrible medicine to think about, but anyway, this medicine suits my body very well.’

Unless it was a very deep wound, it healed within a day.

It was exactly what Liriette needed right now.

She applied a generous amount of ointment to the tip of her finger and tied them with bandages.

‘Phew, now I’m relieved.’

She let out a small sigh and took off her clothes.

Liriette, who was soaking in the bathtub water, involuntarily said “Wow!” and gave a small exclamation.

It was forbidden to wash the body with boiled water in the temple.

It was because of the doctrine that washing the body with water heated with artificial fire made by burning wood interferes with training, but the real reason was that the High Priest was a cheap jerk.

He didn’t allow anyone but himself to use boiled water.

So, it was the first time Liriette took a bath with such warm water.

Liriette muttered with a flushed face.

“It was such a good thing. It feels like spring has come in the water.”

It was all the more so because of the subtle flower scent in the water.

She splashed the water with a smile.

***

Playing in the water was so much fun that Liriette forgot about it.

That Marie was waiting outside the door.

Realizing this, Liriette jumped out of the bathtub in a jolt, hurriedly put on a bathrobe, and shouted.

“I finished my bath!”

Seriously, she didn’t want to hear Marie’s answer.

But contrary to Liriette’s wish, she came into the room as if she had been waiting.

Liriette’s face looked like she was going to cry.

“I’m sorry!”

“Yes? For what?”

“Miss Marie is waiting outside the door, so I should have washed my body as soon as possible, but I didn’t.”

Only then did she realize what Liriette was saying and the corners of her lips twitched.

Marie asked, gently turning her eyes.

“Why? Why didn’t you come out sooner?”

Liriette closed her eyes tightly and confessed honestly.

“Because the water was warm and I felt so good. I’m sorry.”

Instead of being angry, Marie smiled brightly.

“I’m glad you were satisfied with your bath. It’s worth the hard work.”

“…”

“If you feel better, please allow me to attend to Miss Liriette’s bath someday. I will make your bath time more enjoyable.”

Her cheeks turned red at Marie’s kind words.

“…Yes.”

‘Uaakhh! She’s cute even when she’s shy!’

Marie resisted the urge to rub her face against Liriette’s soft-looking cheeks and left taking the bathtub with the maids.

When the arrangement was over, Simon came into the room.

Seeing the dry Liriette, Simon spat out a small exclamation, “Wow.”

‘She was always cute, but after taking a bath, she’s even cuter.’

It was like a baby lamb that had been stripped of dirts and looked white. More so because of her freshly washed silver hair, which was exceptionally fluffy.

“Sir Simon?”

Liriette’s voice brought Simon back to his senses.

“Since you took a bath, shall we close our eyes now?”

“Yes.”

Liriette squirmed and got into the bed.

‘My goodness.’

Surprised, Liriette said involuntarily.

“The bed is so soft that I feel like I’m lying on a cloud.”

Simon laughed at the cute expression.

“I’m glad you’re not uncomfortable. Still, being alone in an unfamiliar place can be frightening, so shall I stay by your side until you fall asleep?”

Liriette shook her head in surprise at the unexpected words.

“No, it’s okay!”

“…”

“I’m not afraid at all. Really.”

Simon said with a slightly regretful face.

“I understand. Then have a nice dream, Miss Liriette.”

When Simon left, Liriette was left alone in the room.

Unfamiliar space. Strangers. Strange bed. Unfamiliar scent.

Yet Liriette wasn’t afraid of anything at all. It wasn’t simply because she had lived one life.

“Everyone is so kind.”

Even if she came to treat the Duke, Liriette was only a ten-year-old child without any acquaintance.

Nonetheless, the people she met at the mansion were all warm.

Liriette muttered with her sky blue eyes sparkling.

“It was just as I thought.”

The reason why Liriette chose Duke Windsorais wasn’t simply because he had great power to wield the High Priest.

Those who were healed by Liriette in her previous life thanked the High Priest, not Liriette.

As they knew that he was the owner of Liriette’s power.

Yet only Duke Windsorais was different.

The Duke, whose eyes were healed, came to Liriette, not the High Priest.

And bowed his head to greet her.

[Thank you.]

The infinitely low and cool voice sounded too warm to Liriette.

That’s why she came here.

With the expectation that the Duke wouldn’t be a cold-hearted person.

It was as expected.

He was cool yet polite to Liriette. So did those who followed him.

“It was so nice of me to be here.”

At the end of those words, Liriette’s big eyes closed.

Was it because she was very full?

Could it be because of the soft blanket?

Could it be because of the sweet scent of soap in her hair?

It seemed like a good dream.

***

The Duke’s room.

Duke Windsorais was sitting in a chair.

Simon said as he loosened the bandages on the Duke’s eyes.

“Miss Liriette fell asleep right away. Fortunately, she didn’t seem to be uncomfortable at all.”

“Alright.”

The Duke had an expressionless face that didn’t seem to care at all.

When Simon removed the bandages, the Duke’s face was revealed.

Even the horrible scars that settled on his statuesque face.

They were definitely much better than before.

Simon asked with a face full of surprise and delight.

“What kind of medicine did Miss Liriette use?”

The Duke’s eyes had no ordinary wounds. He was struck by a monster’s special poison.

The poison dug into his eyes, causing them to rot.

Even the best names and those with divine powers in the Empire were called, yet no one could fix the Duke’s eyes.

To think that such a wound could be alleviated with an application of medicine!

Simon said, eyes as narrow as those of a fox.

“The High Priest is said to be very good at medicine. Did she secretly bring the medicine he made?”

It was the Duke’s cold voice that ended Simon’s curious words.

“Stop, there.”

“…”

“I made a promise to her. I won’t ask anything.”

The Duke wasn’t the blood-crazed homicidal maniac that some might say. Rather, he tended to give generously to his subordinates.

However, he was merciless to anyone who disobeyed him, so Simon kept his mouth shut about it.

Instead, he brought up a different topic.

“Miss Liriette seems to be living a very hard life in the temple.”

“What do you mean?”

Simon told of the wonderful sight he had seen this evening.

The Duke’s eyes, which had been infinitely calm, became serious.

“She never eats meat?”

“Yes.”

“Is that possible?”

“I didn’t think it was possible, but it seems to be.”

Silence passed between the two men.

Meat was very important to northerners living in a harsh environment.

They started eating meat from the moment they had one tooth, and even as an old man whose all teeth were missing ate meat at every meal.

Only then could they overcome the bitter cold and gain the strength to protect themselves from the monsters that frequently appear.

The Duke furrowed his eyebrows.

“That’s why her voice was so small.”

The only thing the blind Duke could know about Liriette was her voice.

But that alone showed the Duke how fragile his child was.

Simon nodded his head.

“Yes. Not only her voice, but her height is much shorter than her peers, and her body is very thin. It’s amazing how she can move such a small body.”