The child's father, Jude, was exhausted.
Even as those who had come to him at Kiel's direction helped the weary woman into the carriage, Marilyn would not let go of Dorothea's arms.
Even Richard, who had been grimacing in displeasure at Luke's appearance, cried so sadly that he found it difficult to speak.
“Hey, should you stop now?”
At Richard's words, Marilyn looked up at him with her head filled with tears.
Richard flinched as he faced Marilyn, whose hair was disheveled, the pins that held her hair in place had all fallen out, and whose makeup was smudged and whose face was covered in dark tear stains.
“No, why don’t you go back and cry some more?”
Although his life was not that long, Richard was also overwhelmed by seeing the noble lady crying so sadly in such a disheveled state for the first time in his life.
'I heard that the two of them are quite close.'
It was a well-known story in the capital that Marilyn followed Dorothea well, but he didn't think it would be to this extent.
“Did you come all the way here and meet bandits just because you hadn’t seen her in a few days?”
It was a completely wrong guess, but there was no one to correct Richard's mumbling.
“Can I take the hound’s body to the castle?”
“Are you talking about a dead dog?”
“Unfortunately, it met an unfortunate end, but since we harmed a dog that had an owner, I think it’s only right to find the owner and compensate them.”
Before Count Kiel could respond to Dorothea's words, Colin ordered those behind him to carry the hounds.
Dorothea, with a smiling face, stared blankly at Luke, who was also in a mess.
As if she knew that it was him who had brought Marilyn here.
“Can Your Highness the 7th Prince please find out the owner of those dogs?”
“...”
“Since diplomatic information should not leak out, we should not allow unrelated people into the castle...”
Dorothea's eyes narrowed gently at Luke.
“I trust that you will maintain security very thoroughly.”
It was as if she was saying that if anything was ever said to anyone or if anything that happened in the castle was ever spread outside, it would all be Luke's fault.
'I'm quite upset.'
After saying those words, Dorothea turned around and helped Marilyn into the carriage, and on her shoulders, a small squirrel was already riding.
"What the hell is a pup let such a dangerous dog out of the woods? I though I was going to die."
As Dane grumbled and rubbed his neck, Philip approached him and handed him a handkerchief to wipe his disheveled face.
“But why is everyone out in the forest?”
“To look around the hunting grounds.”
Dane shook his head at his calm words.
“You’d better not do that. That forest is really weird. I don’t know why, but the wild animals roll their eyes halfway and attack people.”
"Hmm..."
“There were many different types. No, I was even shocked to see a wolf rushing at us with a deer right in front of it. Then the deer turned its eyes and rushed towards us.”
Philip exchanged a quick glance with Colin.
Apparently, Dorothea had deliberately spoken to them to stall for time before they entered the forest.
That would mean something 'was' happening in the forest.
After all, the owner of the hunting dogs was probably not a nobleman who was simply carelessly enjoying hunting games.
“When you arrive at the castle...”
At Colin's words, Philip looked at his father.
“Get plenty of rest.”
Philip nodded and smiled at his 'father' who was worried about the future in which he would be so busy that he would surely not have time to rest.
“Thank you for your concern.”
Although he had a blunt face, with an unfriendly and difficult-to-understand concern, it was clear that he was doing his best as a 'father'.
“I will do so, Father.”
Addressing the silent one as “father” has now become as natural as breathing.
***
“The news comes very quickly.”
Count Kiel nodded with a gentle smile at the words he spoke while looking at the people waiting outside the castle.
“I think there are people who need treatment, and I think we need to prepare an extra room quickly, so I sent a message in advance.”
Mrs. Jenix, who was supposed to be in charge of the castle, approached and bowed politely.
“I heard you’ve been in trouble. I’ve left a message for the owner of the hounds, so they’ll come to the castle soon to apologize.”
“You know the owner of the dog without even seeing it?”
Although it was a question asked with a smile, Mrs. Jenix calmly answered Dorothea's words, which had quite a bit of substance.
“If there are hunting dogs roaming the hunting grounds, they must be the dogs raised by Lord Dover, Kiel’s nephew. He often lets them out when there are no people around, and I guess that was the case today.”
After speaking, the woman slowly bowed toward Richard.
“It was my negligence to not take this into account even though I knew that the Prince would visit.”
Richard, who had been furrowing his brow and remaining silent, raised his hand to stop her.
“No, it’s not the nanny who should feel sorry. Even though he’s the nephew of Count Spencer, he did some pretty irreverent things near the castle."
Although it was located within the Earldom of Spencer, the castle was Richard's summer residence, and so the hunting grounds near the castle were essentially his personal estate.
Dorothea turned to the stranger, leaving Richard alone as he spoke, his chin raised as if he were trying to establish his princely dignity.
“The therapist called by Mrs. Jenix.”
Valerie gave a small hint.
“It seems that there are no priests in the temple who can properly use divine powers. Among the common people, he is said to be the most famous healer.”
The man who was repeatedly raising and lowering his head one step behind was wearing luxurious clothes and had a strong scent.
A strong scent as if someone had poured out a perfume that only nobles would use, rather than an herbal scent, stung her nose.
His eyes were filled with excitement as he looked at the unusual sights.
“Hey, Young Lady.”
Only then did Marilyn come to her senses, wipe her tears, and grab Dorothea's sleeve.
“The man who came with me...”
Dorothea could tell from the way she hesitated to bring it up because there were so many people.
She probably wants to tell her that the child showing some 'strange' symptoms and that she should look into it with the powers that only she can use.
'I think I know how Luke got involved.'
Although she was timid and fearful, Luke seemed to have already figured out how to manipulate the strangely soft Marilyn.
“Okay. I’ll meet you separately and talk about it.”
A look of relief crossed Marilyn's face at Dorothea's words.
Mrs. Jennix, who had sufficiently established Richard's prestige, approached Dorothea, who had half-deliberately pretended not to know about the child's strange condition.
“Although he may be lacking, he is the most capable healer in the area. He said that you can use as many herbs as you need, so I recommend that you receive treatment first.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
The therapist, who walked in front of the woman with a confident gait as if he were a quasi-noble, looked at the group with a pretended serious face.
His eyes, which had been looking closely, stopped at Marilyn, who was next to Dorothea.
“This Young Lady seems to be in the most serious condition, so I will treat her first.”
“...”
Even though it was a miss, Dane was right next to him, bleeding from an arrow in his arm.
Luke's condition didn't look too good either.
Marilyn's face was distorted, with only light abrasions and black marks from her makeup smearing across it, and her hair disheveled like thorns.
The therapist asked Marilyn with a pitiful look on his face as if he could sense her pain where it didn't exist.
“Are you in severe pain?”
“...”
The other nobles around them were also worried at the words of the 'skilled' therapist, who was even guaranteed by the Prince's nanny.
As everyone was genuinely concerned about Marilyn's serious injuries, she also began to feel pressured to complain about her pain.
'Am I really that messed up? Is that really true?'
Tears that had barely stopped welling up in Marilyn's eyes began to well up again.
***
When it was mealtime, the remaining nobles who had been strolling along the beach returned and reported on the situation.
“That must have been a good thing, you went to the hunting grounds.”
Everyone nodded to what Count Jubel had said.
If the royal guests were to stay here and the hunting dogs were as menacing as before, it would have been a problem.
“I guess there weren’t any problems, Sir?”
The nobles exchanged glances with puzzled faces at Richard's question.
He may have discovered some parts that he might have missed, but he didn't find them with his own abilities.
Even the suggestion to go hunting was made first by Dorothea.
However, Dorothea, who had intercepted the ball, seemed to deeply sympathize with Richard's words and continued to encourage him.
“If the Prince had not stopped us from entering the forest, saying that the fog was thick in the hunting grounds, we would have suffered greater damage.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“I think I should stay in the castle and comfort my friend who has been suffering from the difficult journey, but I think it would be better to move with Count Jubel in the afternoon.”
“Ah! Don’t worry. I’ll take a closer look. The Count, just trust me.”
“...”
Dorothea was the first to finish her meal and stand up, ignoring the looks of resentment and irritation directed at her.
Although she had emptied her plate, Dane opened his eyes wide at the strange sight of her leaving before dessert was even served but soon nodded as if he understood.
'You were so deeply worried about Lady Marilyn.'
His heart warmed as he watched her leave, even refusing the food she loved so much.
“By the way, Lady Lehr, even so, why did His Highness the 7th Prince and Lord Dane come here?”
Dane shrugged as he finally caught his suspicious gaze.
“If Lady Lehr wants to go to Thea for the first time in a while, I can’t send her alone. As you can see, the whole way here was extremely rough and there were bandits everywhere.”
“Bandits?”
The nobles, whose journey had been smooth, asked with a puzzled look, but Luke remained silent.
Even the fact that wild beasts are rushing at them with such a lack of reason is just passed over as strange, and even the fact that those with average skills are systematically targeting their group is just a thought that the bandits are doing it.
It was such an insensitivity that it was hard to believe that he was Dorothea's relative.
Philip, who was next to him, smiled faintly.
“Dane looks a lot like Uncle Aiden.”
If only he had been half as good as his father Felix, he would have had a sense of humor.
It's amazing how similar Dane is to Aiden.
It was a pity.
***
Dorothea left the dinner table early and followed her maid's directions to the room where Marilyn was being treated.
“Are all the curtains covering the hallway windows new?”
“Yes, it was Mrs. Jenix's direct instruction.”
Although they used luxurious velvet fabric, the curtains were excessively thick and heavy in color.
It's not a material that's commonly used when decorating a castle.
“Basically, the internal structure of the castle makes it cool in the evening, and the Kingdom of Rohen is warmer than here.”
Dorothea nodded as if convinced by the plausible story, and soon stopped in front of the door.
The maid who knocked on the door on her behalf announced softly.
“Lady Dorothea Highclere has come to visit.”
As the door opened, Marilyn was seen, now looking quite human, with a tired look on her face.
The therapist next to her bowed his head and rolled his eyes awkwardly at Dorothea's appearance.
Dorothea glanced at the sandwiches prepared for her to eat lightly next to her, smiled, and sat down in front of her.
“How are you, Marilyn?”
“Young Lady.”
Marilyn, with a rather serious look on her face, hesitated for a moment before saying something and nodded to the therapist.
“Look after other people first. I’m fine.”
"But..."
"Okay."
She frowned as she watched the therapist leave reluctantly after hearing her firm words and suddenly asked.
“Are you sure he’s the greatest healer around here?”
“That’s what Mrs. Jenix said. She doesn’t seem like the type of person to lie.”
“That guy couldn’t even tell where my wound was. He didn’t know if it was a bone injury, a muscle injury, or if the bleeding had stopped or if it wasn’t bleeding at all!”
Marilyn was half in doubt about the scent of herbs that permeated his body, but no matter how she looked at him, he didn't seem like a great healer.
“But all the maids and servants in the castle say that he is a truly excellent healer!”
Dorothea nodded as she listened to Marilyn's excited words.
“That’s right, Marilyn.”
“That’s ridiculous... Yes?”
Marilyn, who had been speaking passionately, suddenly stopped talking as if she was taken aback and opened her eyes wide.
Dorothea lightly tapped Marilyn's cheek and smiled.
“Maybe what people say isn’t all lies. He really has ‘cured the sick’.”
She almost didn't notice it because of the thick scent of herbs that permeated the man's body.
The pouch he wore on his waist and the large cane he carried.
“It’s a strange thing.”
He is neither spiritually gifted nor has the power of a soul.
“Why does he have an exorcist item?”
He didn't cure the disease.
It simply clears away the negative energy and drives away the 'ghosts' that are possessing the disease or visiting the sick.
“Then, is the therapist right?”
Dorothea looked intently at Marilyn's long, thoughtful face and smiled brightly.
“No, he is a quack.”
Although he was said to have cured the sick, he was not a healer.
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