Chapter 15
“Please tell the Grand Duke that I wish to speak with him.”
I must have said that line over a hundred times. Morning, noon, and night. I asked the maids who brought my meals at every mealtime, and they said they had definitely passed it along, yet no reply ever came back.
When it seemed that asking the maids alone was not getting through, I asked the doctors as well. Even then, Chase gave no response at all.
I spent the entire day staring out the window at the garden. I could not freely wander around the Grand Duke’s castle in the first place, and since the doctors had ordered me to absolutely rest, I was confined to my room. I kept watch outside the window the whole time. Anyone entering or leaving the castle would have to pass through the garden, and yet not a single strand of Chase’s hair ever came into view.
Even if I bend over backward and assume he uses a different gate when going out, does it make any sense that he would not come out into the garden even once? With that many subordinates going back and forth through it.
“Today makes it ten days already.”
Still gazing at the vast garden of the Grand Duke’s castle, where fallen leaves were drifting down, I plopped down onto the bed.
He is definitely avoiding me. Even so, there should be some limit to it. If I have said this much that I want to meet him, should he not at least give me some kind of answer? I looked down at my arm, which had grown noticeably lighter. The fever that had risen and fallen irregularly during the early stages of treatment had completely returned to normal two days ago.
The doctors skilled in magical healing not only provided good medicine but also visited every morning and evening to unfold a magic circle below my wrist, performing recovery treatments to help the bone heal quickly. Thanks to this, my wrist recovered rapidly, and I could now move it with just a bandage, the brace removed.
It was probably Chase’s effort to improve my condition as quickly as possible and send me back, but as a result, I ate well, slept well, rested fully, and received meticulous care here.
I stood in front of the mirror and stared hard at my face.
Ten days is an ambiguous length of time, neither short nor long. But for me, it was a period in which enormous changes appeared. Every morning when I checked the mirror, I was amazed at how quickly everything was improving.
The dark circles that had settled beneath my eyes due to malnutrition were gone, and thanks to my well-fed, glossy, pale skin, my eyes looked clearer and larger.
My once-dry hair was cared for daily and now shone with luster, my hollow cheeks had filled out appropriately and taken on a pink hue. My cracked, parched lips had regained color, turning into a pretty red color and becoming soft. The bruises scattered over my body and the traces of old wounds had almost completely faded.
“See. I told you I’d get healthier.”
If I showed this to Chase, he might change his mind.
The doctors must be reporting on my condition, so he’ll probably come soon to deliver his final instruction to leave. I decided to aim for that moment.
And then an opportunity came. The problem was that it was not Chase who arrived, but one of his subordinates.
The man who entered through the door was not an unfamiliar face. He was the man with short, deep blue hair swept back entirely over his forehead, the one whose name Chase had called on my first day at the Grand Duke’s castle.
When he saw me, his eyes seemed to widen slightly for a moment. But he soon greeted me with a composed expression.
“Good day. Lady Nita Grace.”
“Hello. Um…”
What was his name again?
“I am Logan Isudor. You may simply call me Logan.”
“Yes. Logan.”
Logan gave a bright smile. He has a solid build and a somewhat rough image, but his manner is extremely polite.
“I apologize for this right after introductions, but you will need to return to the capital tomorrow morning.”
I knew this would happen. I spoke without panicking.
“What about the Grand Duke? Please let me meet him.”
“I’m sorry. He is busy. You may take all the clothes and items you have used during your stay. I will return tomorrow morning.”
Not giving me any further chance to speak, Logan finished his business neatly and turned to leave.
“Wait a moment!”
“Yes? Please go ahead.”
When Logan turned back, I spread both arms and asked.
“How do I look?”
Logan’s eyes widened as if taken aback, then he slightly furrowed his eyebrows. Soon, as if realizing the intent of the question, he opened his mouth.
“You look healthier than when I first met you. You have recovered a great deal.”
“Do you mean that sincerely?”
“Yes. I do.”
Yes! This is it! So it’s not just me who thinks I look better.
“Then please tell the Grand Duke. Tell him that I am healthy now. That I am so full of energy I feel like I could even fly.”
“That is…”
“Please. You can at least pass along the message, can’t you?”
“Understood. I will deliver it. Then I will see you in the morning.”
Logan bowed his head and left the room.
‘I will deliver it,’ he says. Sounds like he’s saying it will be useless even if he does.
Fine. Then I’ll just have to prepare another plan as well.
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