Chapter 12

'If I meet him, I should first thank him for helping me, ask if he’s not sick, apologize for not causing trouble again, and then quickly return.'

I cautiously took a step, simulating in my mind the scenario of meeting Altear several times. To avoid making mistakes in the real situation, thorough mental training was necessary. However, my simulation became meaningless as I encountered a completely unexpected scene after taking just a few steps.

“Eh... Why are you doing this here...?”

I found Blan and Cain kneeling side by side in the corridor, their hands raised. Although there were many knights in Eilsworth and I hadn’t memorized all their names yet, these two were people I definitely remembered both their faces and names.

“We heard that you have awakened, my lady. It’s really fortunate.”

“We thought something terrible had happened...”

Blan and Cain apologized repeatedly with pale faces.

‘Why are they feeling guilty about me falling into the water?’

I felt puzzled and hurriedly tried to stop Blan and Cain.

“I jumped into the water by myself. I should be the one to apologize for causing everyone to worry. If you feel guilty about me, please get up. I’m fine now...”

To show that I was fine, I waved my arms, but my head suddenly spun. As I staggered and barely managed to regain my balance, Blan and Cain quickly got up and approached me.

“My lady!”

“You need more rest!”

The two of them stomped their feet in distress, repeatedly extending and retracting their hands, clearly wanting to help but unsure if it was appropriate to touch me without permission.

‘This... is kind of cute.’

It was strange and amusing to see two large men making a fuss over such a trivial reason, and that reason being me. In the Baron Vain household, there were also many knights, but they were more solemn and rigid, rarely showing any disarray. In contrast, the knights of Eilsworth seemed a bit more approachable.

‘Of course, the knights of Eilsworth are physically larger and more robust...’

I didn’t feel afraid or intimidated. In the Baron Vain household, the knights’ presence alone would make me jump in fear.

“I must have been a bit dizzy from getting up after lying down for so long. I’m really fine!”

I quickly made an excuse to reassure them, but it seemed to have the opposite effect, as their expressions changed.

“What do you mean! Getting dizzy after lying down for a long time is a serious issue!”

“That’s a big problem! Your body must be very weak!”

Blan and Cain were shocked in turn. Their disbelieving gazes made me wonder if my common sense was really wrong.

“No, no! I’m not particularly weak. It’s just that women often have mild anemia...”

I tried to explain again, but it seemed my words didn’t reach the ears of the two knights, who were already very serious.

“Should we call a doctor?”

“Yes. That’s a good idea, Blan.”

The two knights were about to run down the corridor to fetch a doctor.

‘No, that’s not good!’

If they called a doctor just because I staggered a bit, they would think I was faking illness. They would definitely be bewildered, thinking, ‘You called a doctor for just this?’

“I’m really fine!”

I quickly reached out and grabbed Blan and Cain’s shirts. As I pulled them firmly, they stopped and looked at me. Feeling awkward, I tried to smile and let go of their shirts, but then I heard a voice from behind me.

“What’s going on?”

It was Altear’s voice.

‘They might call a doctor while I’m distracted.’

I turned my head to look at Altear, still holding onto their shirts. I met Altear’s gaze, which was glaring at me disapprovingly. I shivered reflexively, and his glare became even more intense.

“Didn’t you hear that you need more rest? You shouldn’t be out of bed.”

“I heard, but...”

I couldn’t bring myself to say that I was worried about Altear’s condition and wanted to check on him.

‘I should have practiced more thoroughly...!’

I didn’t have enough time to simulate the scenario properly because I unexpectedly ran into Blan and Cain in the corridor. Even if I had practiced dozens of times, I doubt it would have helped, given that the real Altear was several times more intimidating than the one in my imagination. As I hesitated, Altear reached out and gently pried my hands off their shirts. His sharp gaze then turned to Blan and Cain.

“I clearly gave you a punishment. Didn’t I tell you to kneel here with your hands raised until midnight?”

Blan and Cain had gotten up to help me. However, they didn’t offer any excuses, just bowed their heads. I had to step forward and take the blame. My heart raced in the cold atmosphere as I spoke up firmly.

“I, I was trying to help me!”

Altear’s gaze, which had been on Blan and Cain, turned back to me.

“So... you were trying to help, which is why they should be punished, right?”

I glared back, indicating that I was willing to take the punishment in their place. Altear’s eyebrows twitched.

‘Oh, he’s angry that I stepped out of line!’

I clenched my skirt, bracing for a scolding, but his response was unexpectedly calm.

“...Helping you? What do you mean?”

“Because of mild anemia, I was staggering... Ah!”

Before I could finish, Altear frowned and scooped me up.

“Why did you come out? What if you fall again?”

“I just wanted to check on something.”

“Check what?”

“You said you jumped into the lake to help me... I was worried about you... and I wanted to thank you and apologize for causing trouble...”

I had practiced this in my mind, but in reality, I was stammering and shrinking back, intimidated by Altear’s expressionless face. Altear was silent for a moment, then sighed.

“...Worrying about me is unnecessary. I’m fine.”

Altear definitely seemed fine. He didn’t look weak, and his complexion was good. He even seemed to be in better condition than usual.

‘That’s a relief.’

I felt a wave of relief that he wasn’t sick because of me. The burden I had been carrying while lying in bed lifted, and I naturally relaxed. Altear, finding this uncomfortable, shuddered. I tensed up again, and he winced, looking at Blan and Cain.

“Go back to your quarters.”

“But there’s still a lot of time until midnight. We’ll complete the punishment time we promised.”

“I agree with Blan. If we don’t complete the punishment, I’ll feel guilty.”

Blan and Cain refused Altear’s order without hesitation. However, Altear didn’t accept their refusal easily.

“It’s fine. The person you wronged has forgiven you. If you keep punishing yourselves, she won’t be able to rest properly.”

Blan and Cain exchanged glances and, after a moment, bowed deeply and stepped back.

“...If you say so, Blan and I will return to our quarters.”

* * *

After they left, Altear carried me back to bed. My insistence that I could walk was dismissed with, “You almost fell, didn’t you?” Did my comment about mild anemia seem like a big deal to him? I felt drowsy again as I lay in bed, and I struggled to stay awake, blinking my heavy eyelids. Altear, leaning against the window, spoke to me.

“How was your time in the capital?”

Not knowing how to answer his vague question, I looked at him, and he continued.

“What did you do with your time?”

“I read books, went for walks... it was pretty ordinary.”

Of course, it was ordinary except for the fact that I avoided various parties due to my timidity. I didn’t mention this, thinking Altear might not like a wife who was bad at social activities. Although I wasn’t lying, my heart raced, thinking I had deceived him. Fortunately, Altear’s expressionless face showed no sign that he had noticed.

“I see. Ordinary...”

He seemed lost in thought for a moment, then pulled out a crumpled envelope from his pocket and placed it on the table.

“The hunting season is coming up, and the Eastern Noble Alliance has sent an invitation. We plan to attend, so be prepared.”

“The Eastern Noble Alliance... will all the nobles from the east be there?”

“Most of them.”

That meant I would meet a lot of people! In the capital, I was so timid that I didn’t even attend small tea parties. Suddenly facing a major event where I would meet all the Eastern nobles was overwhelming! But as a baroness, social activities were a necessary duty. I had prepared myself for this when I got married. Altear probably expected his wife to handle such responsibilities.

‘Besides, since it’s a hunting season gathering...’

Everyone would focus on hunting, so there would be little social conversation. It would be a manageable event for a social novice like me. Even though it was called hunting, the goal was usually small animals like rabbits and foxes, so it wasn’t dangerous.

‘The problem is the blood.’

I had a severe phobia of blood and would faint at the sight of it. I could handle a little blood, but if I saw a lot, I would faint like at my wedding.

‘I might need to practice getting used to blood before the hunting season...!’

I steeled myself and gripped the blanket firmly.

“I’ll do my best!”

“You don’t need to try hard. Just do what you usually do.”

‘But if I do what I usually do, I’ll just stay in my room...’

I swallowed my unspoken thoughts and nodded. Altear then added, as if remembering something.

“Oh, by the way, the Third Prince will also be there. Do you know him?”

“The Third... Prince?”

“Prince Orca. He’s often on convalescence because of his weak health. He’s staying in the east this time.”

Even without Altear’s explanation, I knew about the Third Prince Orca. I couldn’t not know, because...

‘Orca is the rebel lord Altear served!’

He was another villain in the novel!