Chapter 34
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Chapter 34
"Why... why are you suddenly saying such things...?"
Claude's blue eyes trembled violently. For some reason, his ears seemed to have turned red.
"Lucian is so fond of Amelia."
I opened my mouth with a serious voice toward him in his agitation.
"That troublemaker who never listens began to change after meeting Amelia. In a very good way. If he spends a long time with Amelia, he will surely grow into a kind and upright child. So... would it be possible for you to stay at the Duke's Mansion a bit longer?"
"Ah..."
Claude sighed at my earnest request.
'He was stammering and couldn't even meet my eyes properly. It seems there must be some important matter he absolutely needs to return to the Marquessate for.'
It appeared I had made him an awkward request.
"I apologize. I've asked something difficult of you, haven't I?"
"What?"
"It was just something I said on impulse. You don't need to worry about it."
"No!"
Just as I was about to take back what I'd said, Claude cried out urgently and grasped my arm.
"I will stay as long as you wish, for as long as you desire."
"But you cannot leave your territory vacant for too long, can you?"
"I have capable personnel, so there is no need to worry. I have also arranged methods to handle affairs from a distance. My territory has been left unattended quite frequently."
I belatedly recalled that Claude had often left his territory vacant while searching for his nephew.
Seeing how firmly the family was maintained despite the lord's absence, Claude's words did not seem like an exaggeration.
"But..."
"It would be difficult for me to ride in a carriage in this condition."
"Ah."
Only then did I realize that Claude was using a crutch.
No matter how fine a carriage was, it could not be as comfortable as a bed. If he traveled by carriage with his injured body, it would surely strain him.
"I was thoughtless. Please stay until your body has fully recovered. Though it is not my own home."
"It seems it will take some time for the bones to knit... Are you truly certain?"
"Of course. I am truly fine with it."
Despite what I said, a small doubt bloomed in my mind.
In the original work, Marquis Agris was a person with monstrous recovery abilities.
Thanks to his strong physique and recovery power, he could venture out to subjugate magical beasts daily and maintain a perfectly sound body.
'Yet recovery is taking such a long time?'
I looked at Claude's leg, wrapped not only with a splint but also with bandages wound tightly around it, then averted my gaze.
Well, if he says so himself, I shouldn't doubt him.
Having averted my gaze from Claude, I focused my attention on the children, including Lucian.
Rona, Lua, and Edwin seemed fascinated by the toys they were seeing for the first time and could barely take their eyes off them.
Amelia was kindly explaining how to use them to the children. Lucian too, though awkwardly, was speaking in a kind voice while following Amelia's lead.
'It seems I don't need to step in.'
I watched the children gathered in a circle and lifted the corners of my mouth in contentment.
"Mmm..."
It was then that I heard an unexpected groan.
I turned my head toward the sound, and there was Claude, groaning with his hand pressed against his head.
"Marquis, what's wrong?"
"There's pain in the injured area...."
"Really? Let me see."
I hastily brushed away Claude's hand that was shielding his forehead and examined his wound.
"The wound doesn't seem to have opened."
Contrary to my expectation that the bandage would be stained red, the gauze covering his forehead was pristine, like new.
"It's.... The pain isn't on the surface, but rather deep inside, if you will."
"Oh no, could it be festering inside?"
That would be serious!
"Wait just a moment. I'll fetch the Physician."
"Wouldn't it be faster if I went to him first rather than waiting for the Physician to come all the way here?"
"That would indeed be better."
Even in pain, Claude presented his argument with remarkable logic.
"It seems difficult to go alone. Would you support me?"
Claude extended the hand not holding his crutch toward me.
"Of course."
I stood and firmly grasped Claude's arm.
So he was a born warrior—his forearm was thick as stone.
"Riley, I'm going to take the Marquis to the Physician's Office. Can you watch the children?"
"Yes. Don't worry and go ahead."
I left the Playroom, leaving behind the maids who watched Claude with concern. Fortunately, the children were too absorbed in their play to notice us.
"You must be in considerable pain. Just bear with it a little longer. I'll have you there soon."
"I apologize. I'm causing you unnecessary trouble...."
"Trouble? Don't say such things. Just lean on me comfortably."
"No, I'm already grateful enough for your support."
"There's no need to say that. I'm stronger than I look, so just lean on me. Quickly now."
"Then... very well."
Unable to resist my continued urging, Claude finally leaned his weight against my shoulder. As his shadow fell over my head, both my shoulders grew heavy.
'It's lighter than I expected.'
But weight wasn't the important thing.
"Marquis, why is your body so hot?"
"Pardon?"
"Your body feels like a burning ember."
I placed my hand on Claude's forehead.
"Miss...."
"Stay still."
....
At my words, Claude's body stiffened. I could see the corners of his eyes trembling beneath my palm.
"You definitely have a fever."
The muscle spasms around his eyes made it clear his condition was deteriorating.
"We need to get you to the Physician right away."
I led him, his face flushed from the fever, toward the Physician's Office.
"Lucella? Marquis Agris as well—what brings you here?"
"The Marquis isn't feeling well. It seems the wound on his forehead has reopened."
"Oh my. When I saw it before, it appeared to be healing quite nicely..."
The Physician furrowed his brow and immediately unwrapped the bandage and gauze around Claude's forehead.
But instead of a wound mangled with blood and discharge...
"Hmm?"
A pristinely disinfected wound came into view.
"The wound hasn't reopened at all. In fact, it's healing remarkably well."
His recovery was so swift that not a single scab clung to the affected area. Only a faint red mark remained where the wound had been.
"Your regeneration is quite exceptional. Based on the condition, I'd say bandages are no longer necessary."
The Physician removed the gauze that had been loosely clinging to Claude's forehead and gently wiped the former wound site with a cotton swab soaked in disinfectant.
Where the disinfectant passed, the skin gleamed brilliantly under the light.
"This is strange. Marquis, didn't you just say the wound had reopened? That your head was throbbing?"
"Yes, it was."
Claude nodded sheepishly.
The way his eyes darted about... if it resembled a puppy caught misbehaving and nervously watching for a scolding, then perhaps I was imagining things.
"If your head is throbbing, the problem might be something other than the wound itself."
The Physician stroked his chin with a contemplative expression.
"I noticed you had a fever earlier. Could the headache be caused by that?"
"A fever would certainly explain the headache. Let me check."
At my words, the Physician retrieved a thermometer from the drawer.
"There's no need. I'm fine now."
It was Claude who stopped the Physician.
"The headache is completely gone now. I'm fine, so there's no need to worry."
For some reason, Claude tried to stand up hastily.
I pressed down on his shoulder and made him sit back down.
"Fine, you say? Just moments ago, your body was burning like a coal."
"I'm truly fine now."
"Illness doesn't disappear that quickly. Stop being difficult and get a proper examination. If something goes wrong, it could be serious."
I gestured to the Physician, who promptly inserted the thermometer into Claude's ear.
The result was perfectly normal.
"There is no fever."
"Didn't I tell you? I'm fine now."
Claude opened his mouth awkwardly.
"That's strange. It was definitely burning hot just moments ago."
"Perhaps you were mistaken, Miss?"
"That can't be right...."
I pressed my palm against my cheek. The cool skin revealed no trace of fever.
"Marquis Agris, let me take your temperature once more."
"Taking it again won't change the result...."
Instead of inserting the thermometer into Claude's ear, I pressed my forehead against his.
"...!"
Claude held his breath.
Through the contact of our skin, I felt a distinct warmth radiating from him.
"You do have a fever, don't you?"
The temperature that had seemed merely warm began to rise rapidly, growing hot as if boiling.
"I shall verify once more."
The Physician, who had stepped back moments earlier, inserted the thermometer into Claude's ear again. Shortly after, the reading soared far beyond normal.
"Indeed. It appears the previous measurement was incorrect."
"See? I told you he had a fever."
That's right. My biological thermometer couldn't possibly be wrong.
"Um, Miss Lucella."
"Yes?"
"I'm terribly sorry, but... your face is so close...."
"Oh."
Only then did I pull my face away from Claude's. His cheeks had turned crimson, like a beet.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org