TFM 109

Chapter 109

***

The healer, who had been silently watching her, cautiously spoke up.

"His Excellency had been standing guard by Your Highness’s side the entire time, but upon hearing news that raiders had appeared outside the city walls, he rushed out."

Talia stiffened at the unexpected words.

She didn’t even have time to feel ashamed that her true feelings had been exposed. Jumping to her feet, Talia grabbed the hems of the healer’s robe. A sharp pain shot through her solar plexus from the sudden movement, but in that moment, she didn’t care in the slightest.

“Wait, raiders? When exactly?”

“About four hours ago.”

The healer replied calmly.

Talia pressed her anxiously.

“How many showed up? Is it a dangerous situation? How many troops are there...”

As Talia fired off a barrage of questions, she suddenly felt her vision go white and bit her lip.

Before she knew it, her body lurched forward. If not for a tanned, firm hand gripping her shoulder, she would have tumbled right off the bed.

She looked at the healer, her face covered in cold sweat. The woman laid her back down on the bed with a firm hand.

“I’ll cast a healing spell on you, so please try to rest for a moment.”

“Varkas…………….”

“His Excellency will be fine. The raiders number no more than a few dozen, and he commands the strongest cavalry warriors in the East.”

The healer’s calm reply finally brought her back to her senses.

Talia steadied her ragged breathing and gazed out at the gleaming white windowpane.

If they had set out two hours ago, they might have finished suppressing the rebellion by now.

That’s right. Didn’t he return in just half a day during that large-scale campaign the other day, as if nothing had happened? There’s no need to worry needlessly.

As she repeated this to herself to quell her anxiety, a calloused, gaunt hand settled on the back of her hand. Immediately, a lukewarm warmth flowed into her body.

“I’ve cast a healing spell as well, but magic doesn’t work well on internal injuries. Please refrain from any strenuous activity for a while.”

Instead of answering, Talia closed her eyes tightly. The healer, who had been silently monitoring her condition, soon left the room quietly.

A short while later, the nanny returned to the room carrying a tray of food.

Unable to resist her nagging, Talia managed to swallow a few spoonfuls of vegetable porridge. As the food went down, her stomach stung as if she had swallowed a needle. Lying in bed, Talia tossed and turned for a long time before finally falling asleep as the sun began to set.

She regained consciousness just as deep darkness began to settle over the room.

Waking from a burning thirst, Talia shuddered when she noticed the large shadow cast in front of the fireplace.

Varkas, dressed only in a thin shirt, was standing by the window—she didn’t know when he had returned.

Fortunately, he didn’t appear to be injured.

Talia let out a long sigh of relief, but then suddenly held her breath.

His eyes, as still and silent as a frozen lake, were staring intently at her.

She had no idea why her heart sank, given that, at first glance, he looked no different from usual.

The man, who had stood motionless for a while, approached her with slow, deliberate steps. Talia swallowed hard without realizing it.

The man, who had been gazing at her with an eerie calmness, turned toward the shelf. He picked up a teapot from the tray and poured her a cup of tea.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.”

Talia took the cup hesitantly and replied in a feigned calm tone.

She had originally planned to give him a good scolding. “I told you I didn’t want to take that medicine. You forced me to take it, and now look what happened.” The words she had been about to hurl at him dissolved in her mouth.

Glancing at him—who seemed even more subdued than usual—Talia added cautiously.

“It’s nothing serious. They say it’s just a mild stomach upset.”

For a moment, a flash of anger flickered across Varkas’s face. He shot her a fierce glare and snapped sharply.

“It’s not just a little upset. It was serious enough that you  coughed up blood.”

Talia looked taken aback by his sharp reaction. Varkas grabbed her by the shoulder and continued to press her.

“If I’d found you just a little later, your airway could have been blocked and you might have suffocated. Why didn’t you tell me sooner that you weren’t feeling well?”

“Well… I’m always sick, so I didn’t realize it was that serious.”

At those words, which sounded like an excuse, the muscles in Varkas’s face hardened even further.

As if enduring something, Varkas clenched his jaw tightly before walking to the window and inhaling the chilly breeze. The voice that emerged after a long pause had settled into a much calmer tone.

“For the time being, I have decided to stay at this castle and recuperate.”

“What about the tour schedule?”

“I have already visited all the major cities.”

He replied curtly, rubbing his temple with his index finger.

“Your Highness, please focus solely on recovering your health.”

Talia nodded reluctantly.

She was annoyed by his condescending tone, but she didn’t feel like getting into an argument with him, especially since he looked so tired. She muttered in a somewhat dejected tone.

“I get it, so stop getting mad. It’s hard enough as it is.”

Varkas’s lips twitched as if he were about to say something, but he clamped his jaw shut again.

The flickering light greedily licked his fatigue-soaked face. He sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.

“Don’t just hold it there—drink up. You lost a lot of blood. Even if your stomach feels queasy, you need to keep hydrating.”

Relieved by his softer tone, Talia relaxed and drained the glass.

A sharp pain shot through her stomach as it clenched in response to the sudden stimulus, but she hid it and buried herself deeper under the blankets.

Just then, she felt a warm sensation on her back. Talia stiffened.

Varkas, who had settled down behind her, naturally pulled her close. Then, with one hand, he gently stroked her tightly clenched stomach.

Her eyes stung at the tender touch. Was this an act born of pity? Talia, who had been habitually dissecting the hidden meaning behind his actions, soon stopped her train of thought.

She no longer wanted to torment herself with self-deprecating thoughts. She simply wanted to accept this warmth for what it was.

Blinking in the darkness, Talia turned and burrowed into his embrace.

Varkas wrapped his arms around her back. Through his thin shirt, she could hear the dull thud of his heartbeat.

Listening to the steady, powerful rhythm, Talia carefully wrapped her arms around his waist.

***

The castle, which had been as quiet as a grave, was now bustling with noise.

Stepping into the hall, Lucas frowned as he surveyed the kitchen teeming with peddlers. Among the merchants who had brought various ingredients, a familiar face stood out.

He strode confidently into the chaotic space.

“What are you doing in a place like this?”

“Ah, Young Master Lucas.”

Daren, who had been haggling with the merchants, waved at him with a cheerful expression.

“Have you finished all the tasks His Excellency entrusted to you?”

“I’ve finished them all.”

Lucas replied sharply.

“I didn’t miss a single morning training session, and after tending to the horses, I polished my brother’s armor and weapons until they shone like new.”

“Well done.”

Daren patted his head as if to show his approval.

Lucas brushed the hand away roughly and asked in a sullen tone.

“So, what the hell is this mess?”

“We’ve brought in special ingredients to serve the Grand Duchess. It seems there isn’t much in the eastern cuisine that she can eat. We had no choice but to purchase a few specific ingredients from merchants in the central region.”

Lucas frowned as he surveyed the sacks filling the dining hall.

How much could that tiny woman possibly eat to warrant buying this much?

Surely she wasn’t planning to spend an entire season here?

He looked up at Daren with a serious expression.

“Is her condition really that bad?”

“According to the healer, it seems her stomach is completely ruined.”

Daren said with a troubled expression.