CH 33.1

“…Rather, such questions are better suited for the temple, I suppose.”

“Haha. It is also my hope to go to the temple with My Lady to worship.”

The temple was open to everyone. Although the worship hall was separate, people from noble families, aristocrats, and commoners all went there, so it was always bustling with people.

Knowing that Grace would never go to such a place, Benjamin chuckled wryly.

In her drowsy state, Grace responded softly.

“…Sure.”

“What?!!”

Benjamin was taken aback, abruptly rising from his chair. To avoid waking Grace, who was on the verge of falling asleep, he barely managed to catch the chair that was about to fall. He appeared incredibly surprised.

“R-Really, My lady?! Are you serious?!”

Benjamin whispered in a very low voice as he asked Grace.

“…Hmm, I’ll try my best.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Benjamin smiled, pleased that Grace had made a promise to him.

“…I shouldn’t sleep…”

“It’s alright, please rest.”

Grace still didn’t have clear thoughts. She mustered up the courage, but if she fell asleep now, it felt like that courage would disappear without a trace.

“We have tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow. There are still eight months ahead, so don’t worry.”

As Benjamin carefully covered Grace with the blanket and extinguished the lamp, Grace fell into a deep sleep.

Strangely enough, she no longer heard all the whispered, impure voices she had been hearing.

When she woke up, the fever had subsided considerably. A slight fever remained, but it wasn’t as severe as yesterday.

Grace felt sorry for all the servants who had been concerned about her because of her own situation.

As Grace prepared to wash herself to cleanse her body covered in sweat, a maid asked her.

“Madam, do you still not need a bath attendant today?!”

“Hmm, no, not today…”

With her body feeling unwell, Grace, who had made a determination to change in order to live properly, didn’t know whether this could even be called a change. Just as she opened her mouth to ask the maid to bathe her sometime later, she suddenly snapped her mouth shut.

She nodded apologetically to the bewildered child looking at her with confused eyes.

“I’m sorry. But if something big happens, I’ll call for you.”

“Yes.”

Grace silently touched her forearm in the empty bathroom.

⋆★⋆

‘The weather is nice.’

Since such a situation had arisen, it seemed she wouldn’t be able to go out for a while.

Thinking so, Grace stretched her legs and sat on the beautiful turquoise bench in the Duke’s garden.

Grace absent-mindedly gazed at the sky, lost in thought.

She didn’t come outside just because the weather was nice. It was mainly because the annex made Grace feel suffocated.

‘I can’t think properly with those constant noises.’

It wasn’t as if the self-devouring voices that tormented her weren’t audible here. However, it was less intense compared to there. Grace took a deep breath, exhaling.

‘My feet hurt…’

It wasn’t just her feet; her legs hurt too. 

Actually, upon further reflection, her back hurt as well, and her entire body was in pain. Grace’s entire body was screaming in agony.

‘Although I thought my stamina had improved compared to before.’

Grace had been living a confined life for over a year, and her range of activity was limited. When she first possessed Grace’s body, even simply walking around the mansion’s garden would tire her out.

With both her body and mind exhausted, it was impossible for a person to make sound judgments.

During the remaining probation period, she pondered over what she needed to discover and what she should do.

‘Let’s continue exercising.’

She would also continue with her diet regimen. Take it slow, no need to rush. While Grace was lost in thought, looking up at the slowly moving clouds, a shadow was cast over her vision.

“My Lady, why are you not in the shade and instead here?!”

“Your Highness.”

Grace glanced up at Benjamin, who was sending her an affectionate gaze, but then averted her eyes. Her heart was beating uncomfortably.

“May I sit next to you?”

“…If you’re not busy.”

“Yes, then I will sit.”

They sat side by side, but there was a long silence. Both were hesitant to speak first.

In the end, Benjamin was the first to break the silence.

“I’m glad your condition has improved compared to yesterday.”

“People were extremely surprised because of me. I feel nothing but sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for being in pain. Pain is just pain.”

“Even if you say so…”

Grace understood what Benjamin was trying to say, but it wasn’t easy. 

It was difficult not to be conscious of others or not to feel overly sorry.