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68.
"As you likely already know, allow me to introduce myself. I am Eustaf Macfin."
"Rebecca Devon.... No, Rebecca Obelia. ‌‌‌It's a pleasure to meet you. I apologize for ‌‌deceiving you unintentionally last time."
"Not ‌‌‌at all. I understand there were circumstances involved. The journal you provided last time was most helpful. Your meticulous organization proved invaluable to me. But I'm curious—what brings you to seek me out?"
"You are not only an accomplished botanist but also a physician, are you not? Would you examine me? I'm quite eager to know when the poisoning symptoms will completely disappear."
"Pardon? How did you know I was a doctor?"
Eustaf stared at Rebecca in stunned silence.
Rebecca gazed at him with clear, ingenuous eyes that harbored no sinister intent.
Before becoming a botanist, Eustaf had been a medical student.
He had even obtained his medical license and began working at a small hospital, but he quickly lost interest in what amounted to little more than service work. ‌‌‌
To ward off boredom, Eustaf took up the study of herbalism as a hobby.
And then he fell in love with plants.
In my previous life, my great success with Demon's Claw stemmed ‌‌‌not ‌‌‌merely from my extensive knowledge of plants.
It was made possible by the superior medical expertise that underpinned ‌it.
Rebecca knew this fact well.
Eustaf examined Rebecca carefully.
Where ‌‌‌‌she had learned of his background mattered little.
What mattered was her capability.
The sharp intelligence he had glimpsed when first meeting her was no illusion.
She was neither Julian's hidden lover nor his subordinate. If anything, Julian would be the one in that position.
'Father always said that knowing how to navigate connections was the secret to success.'

Eustaf assessed the situation and promptly bowed his head.
"Your wish is my command. How may I be of service?"

* * * ‌‌‌‌
"How is this posture for you? Are you uncomfortable in this position?"
Julian regarded Eustaf with an expressionless face as he examined Rebecca from every angle.
When she announced her arrival, I had hastily ordered the servants about to prepare the Reception Room.
After confirming my appearance was presentable, I hurried toward the ‌‌‌‌Reception Room.
But the Rebecca I had ‌imagined would greet me warmly was nowhere to ‌‌be found.
After offering Julian a formal greeting, Rebecca had been conversing exclusively with Eustaf.
Moreover, that girl Kanna kept glaring at me, making this entire gathering deeply uncomfortable for Julian.
'I thought she came alone....'
I released a quiet sigh and proceeded to brutalize the innocent cake with my fork.
Seeing this, Kanna let out a snort of derision that made me bristle with irritation.
While Kanna and Julian engaged in their silent confrontation, Eustaf's cheerful voice rang out.
"Fortunately, the recovery is progressing well. The pustules are gradually diminishing in size. At this rate, you should be free ‌‌of the poisoning before winter arrives."
"Before winter? Is it difficult to recover before autumn arrives?"
"It is possible. However...." ‌‌
"However?"
"What is your current body weight, if I may ask?"
"Ah, my body weight...."
"Eustaf!"
Just as Rebecca was about to answer readily, Julian, unable to contain himself any longer, cried ‌‌‌‌out.
He fixed his gaze on Eustaf's hand, which held Rebecca's arm, as he spoke.
"If you intend to be disrespectful, you should be prepared to forfeit your life."
Despite the rather sinister threat, Eustaf raised his head confidently.
"Disrespectful language? Whatever could you be imagining? As a physician, I am merely attempting to assess my patient's condition."
"What could I possibly ‌‌‌‌be imagining...."
At Julian's protest, everyone's gaze ‌‌turned toward ‌him.
Among those gazes was Rebecca's.
Julian's face flushed as his eyes met Rebecca's.
"Ah...."
Rebecca too quickly averted her gaze, her own cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
Eustaf, reading the peculiar atmosphere between the two, lifted ‌‌‌‌‌the corners of his mouth with evident interest.
"Hmm. So that is the nature of your relationship. Now I am exceedingly curious what the Duke was imagining."
"Eustaf ‌‌Macfin. If you continue in this manner, you ‌‌may find yourself departing this world the moment you leave the Duke's Castle."
Croa raised one eyebrow slightly and delivered a warning wrapped in jest to Eustaf.
Faced with Croa's intensity, Eustaf cleared his throat and fell silent.
Croa glared at the back of his head.
'The ‌‌Duke is mine alone to tease. How dare this sudden interloper presume such familiarity!'
Unaware of Croa's true sentiments, Julian was deeply impressed by what he perceived as her loyalty.
I decided I should grant her a reward ‌‌‌‌today, and sent Croa ‌‌‌a look of profound trust.
Rebecca, undeterred by Julian's objection, unhesitatingly disclosed her body weight to Eustaf.
At that, not only Eustaf but Julian, Kanna, and Croa all widened their eyes and stared at Rebecca.
"Is that truly all? This is troubling. I suspected your recovery would progress faster than this."
"Is it that serious?"
"Haven't you been frequently dizzy and struggling to breathe? Since taking Demon's Claw, you've been sleeping excessively."
"Yes, that's true. But I thought those were normal symptoms...."
"It's all due to weakened vitality. If you wish to recover by autumn, you must gain ‌‌‌weight starting now. Your nutritional state is abysmal. Your weight is less than that of a young lady who hasn't even made her debut."
"Still, I have been eating diligently of late...."
"You must eat more. Drink water frequently as well. ‌‌I shall compile ‌‌‌a list of foods excellent for nutritional replenishment."
Eustaf tore a sheet of paper and began listing foods in neat rows, even jotting down brief recipes.
Rebecca watched his swift hands move, then lifted her head under the weight of piercing gazes.
Julian, ‌‌Kanna, and Croa were all staring intently at her.
"Why.... Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Rebecca blinked her large eyes as she asked.
Julian was the first to stand.
"So thin like that. This is all my fault. Eustaf, hand me that food list."
Soon after, Kanna reached out to Eustaf, refusing to be outdone.
"No, this is my oversight. Master ‌Macfin, please give me that paper. I shall take responsibility and ensure Rebecca gains weight."
"You haven't forgotten who your employer is, have you?"
Julian smiled with his eyes and firmly gripped Eustaf's shoulder. ‌‌‌
Eustaf let out a cry.
"No, why are you all doing this!"
"Master Macfin, there are many frail individuals at the Duke's Residence, so I too have some expertise in nutrition. How would it be to add a dish made from octopus, a marine creature? It appears grotesque, but it's perfect for restoring vitality."
Croa also stepped forward and began adding suggestions to Eustaf's food list.
A ‌‌commotion erupted.
Eventually, Eustaf agreed to write identical lists for both Kanna and Julian, and the uproar ‌‌subsided.
Croa's suggestions were all reflected in the final list.
Croa reviewed the food list with a satisfied expression.
Julian turned his ‌‌‌‌head toward Rebecca.
"Alright, Rebecca. From now on, it's intensive training. Let's go ‌‌‌‌eat immediately. ‌‌‌‌You'll need five meals a day, ‌‌no—ten meals."
Kanna, refusing to be outdone, simply dismissed his words.
"Rebecca, you must return home at once and have your meal. If I tell Father, he'll prepare wonderful dishes for you."
"What are you saying? The Duke's Castle has more kitchen staff, so you can taste a greater variety of dishes here."
"Are you insulting Theo Obelia's cooking right now?"
"What? When did I ever say such a thing...."
Kanna and Julian began bickering again.
Rebecca sighed.
Yet this commotion was not entirely unpleasant.
"Now, please stop. This will never end at this rate. ‌‌‌How about we send one of our Duke's Castle chefs ‌‌‌‌to Obelia Mansion? What do you think?"
Unable to bear it any longer, Croa stepped ‌forward and resolved the situation.
"That would be ideal. It seems I won't ‌‌be able to visit here frequently for some time. Thank you, Croa."
Rebecca quickly expressed her gratitude at Croa's words.
When she agreed, Julian and Kanna reluctantly nodded their heads with somewhat disappointed expressions.
"If Rebecca says so..."
"If you say so..."
Rebecca gave Croa a subtle wink.
Croa, who had been exhaling a breath ‌‌‌‌‌of relief, flinched slightly at her wink.
'Perhaps she's not as bad a woman as I thought...'
No, wait. No.
Croa forcefully suppressed the favorable impression beginning to form toward ‌‌‌‌Rebecca.
It could be a scheme to win her favor in such a manner.
She was undoubtedly hiding sinister intentions to seduce her, just as she had done with the naive ‌Julian.
Croa shook her head and observed Julian, who occasionally stole glances at Rebecca with a vacant expression.
I had to be vigilant and protect the Duke's Residence from that cunning woman.
I straightened my posture with a sense of duty.
But my resolute expression soon crumbled like a deflated balloon.
"Then would you all mind stepping out for a moment?"
"Pardon?"
"I have something to discuss with Julian alone."
Rebecca offered Julian a fresh smile.
Julian stared blankly for a moment, then smiled broadly and immediately issued an order of dismissal to everyone.
"Didn't you all hear? Get out."
"But my lord!" ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌
"Out!"
Croa gritted her teeth. And looked at ‌‌‌Rebecca's face.
Despite her beauty fading due to illness compared to before, Julian seemed to have fallen even more deeply for Rebecca.
It appeared that the charm Julian felt toward Rebecca was far more than mere appearance. She was a woman of considerable resourcefulness.
'Unfortunately, I'll let this one slide for now.'
Julian was still at a stage requiring stability.
If I overstimulated him, he might collapse back into bed so soon after rising from his sickbed.
Though he was known throughout the Empire for his robust constitution, he was still of the ‌‌Duke of Johannes's bloodline.
There was no telling when he might collapse from heart disease, so excessive stimulation was forbidden.
"Sigh..."
Croa let out a quiet sigh and left the room with ‌‌‌‌‌Kanna and Eustaf Macfin.
"Come now, let's have some tea elsewhere."
Kanna and Eustaf Macfin were equally reluctant, alternating their gazes between Rebecca ‌‌‌‌and Julian.
But they ultimately followed Croa out of the Reception Room.
The Runaway Countess Returns
E-book publication.

January 12, 2022
Author.

Ginbamhaneul
Publisher.

Desert Fox ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌
Published by.

Woongjin ThinkBig Co., Ltd.
Submission Contact.

naver.me/54VzzLSn
Blog.

blog.naver.com/wj_fennecfox
Twitter. ‌

@wjt_fennecfox

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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support ‌‌our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------