“Huh?”
“He said it wasn’t edible.”
“Ah...”
She hadn’t expected him to compliment her on the food, but she hadn’t expected him to tell them to throw it away.
‘I didn’t really want Jeremiah to recognize my efforts, though.’
And as he slowly patted her, Karina’s trembling in his arms gradually stopped.
Jeremiah arrived in the room and carefully laid Karina on the bed.
After a while, the doctor came running in, panting.
“Treat her. Right now.”
The doctor had to check Karina’s condition before he could even catch his breath.
“The wound is deep. And she has lost too much blood, so she is in a dangerous condition.”
“That’s why I called you. Treat her. If there is something wrong with the Grand Duchess, you won’t be safe either.”
The doctor was shocked by Jeremiah’s threat but bowed his head to the ground and told the truth.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. All I can do is stop the bleeding from the wound. In this case, you should call a priest from the Great Temple in the capital and receive treatment with holy power.”
“A priest from the Great Temple?”
Jeremiah frowned at the doctor’s words.
The priests of the Great Hall were not the kind of people who would come unconditionally just because they received a request for treatment, and the distance from the Northern Grand Duke’s House to the Great Hall itself was quite far. Even if they made a request right away, it would take at least 4~5 days.
“Will the Grand Duchess be able to hold out until then?”
“...”
The doctor could not answer.
Karina was in a desperate situation right now. She could not wait for the priest of the Great Hall to come.
Jeremiah clenched his teeth.
Bam!
At that moment, the door opened roughly and Mikhail came into the room.
Jeremiah’s expression turned sinister as soon as he saw him.
“Where the hell did you come from? Get out of here right now.”
Jeremiah’s voice was fierce as he spoke.
Despite Jeremiah’s threat, Mikhail responded without blinking.
“I can treat her.”
Mikhail had just arrived at the Grand Duke’s House and was looking for Karina.
The moment he realized that Karina was injured because of the escapees, his eyes rolled back and he swept away the escapees.
Then, as soon as he came to his senses, he went to the magic tower at the western end and brought the highest-grade healing potion.
“How did you do that? I told you to stop talking nonsense and get out of my sight right now.”
Jeremiah muttered as if he was chewing on something.
“I just heard what the doctor said outside. He said that you needed to call the healing priest in the main hall and receive healing with his holy power, but there was no time to wait until then. If I were here, there would be no need for that. I am a wizard. I don’t have holy power, but I have a potion that quickly heals wounds, and I can use healing magic. Karina needs me right now.”
Jeremiah’s fist tightened.
He wanted to kill him right away for failing to protect Karina.
However, if what he said just now was true, Karina desperately needed his healing right now.
Jeremiah had no choice but to take a step back.
“If you make a mistake, you will die on the spot. You better not think that your faults will be lightened just because she lives. I will punish you for your sins later.”
“Do as you wish.”
Mikhail walked straight to Karina without even looking at Jeremiah.
Then he took out a small bottle of potion from his bosom.
It was an elixir, a top-grade healing potion.
Karina was taken aback by Jeremiah’s unexpected reaction.
“Let’s go in.”
Jeremiah quickly got off his horse, handed the reins to the knight commander, and quickly passed Karina.
“Ah... What about dinner?”
Karina quickly chased after him and asked.
“I ate.”
“Ah...”
Karina couldn’t hide her disappointment at his words that he had eaten dinner.
“I didn’t know you’d eat, so I prepared dinner for you...”
“No need.”
Jeremiah, who was walking ahead, replied without even looking back at Karina.
“But today is your birthday. I prepared beef stew and apple pie....”
“Can’t you understand if I tell you once? I said I didn’t care.”
“...”
He cut her off before she could finish her words.
Embarrassed, Karina couldn’t even open her mouth to say that she had prepared the food for him, and the conversation ended.
Still, thinking that it was a shame to spend his birthday like this, she followed Jeremiah to his room.
“How far do you plan on following me?”
Jeremiah asked as they approached the room.
“But it’s only been a few days since you came back, so how about having a cup of warm tea together...?”
“I’m tired. I want to go in and rest quickly.”
Jeremiah remained cold and unmoving until the end.
Then as if telling her not to come in, he slammed the door right in front of her.
Karina, who had become gloomy, loitered around his room for a while before turning around.
Her heart was colder than her frozen body.
The next day, Karina was bedridden with a terrible cold.
“The Grand Duke’s doctor is currently on vacation for a few days due to personal reasons.”
This was the answer the maid gave when she was told to bring the doctor.
“Haa, haa... Then call the village... doctor... please.”
“Let’s go in.”
Jeremiah quickly got off his horse, handed the reins to the knight commander, and quickly passed Karina.
“Ah... What about dinner?”
Karina quickly chased after him and asked.
“I ate.”
“Ah...”
Karina couldn’t hide her disappointment at his words that he had eaten dinner.
“I didn’t know you’d eat, so I prepared dinner for you...”
“No need.”
Jeremiah, who was walking ahead, replied without even looking back at Karina.
“But today is your birthday. I prepared beef stew and apple pie....”
“Can’t you understand if I tell you once? I said I didn’t care.”
“...”
He cut her off before she could finish her words.
Embarrassed, Karina couldn’t even open her mouth to say that she had prepared the food for him, and the conversation ended.
Still, thinking that it was a shame to spend his birthday like this, she followed Jeremiah to his room.
“How far do you plan on following me?”
Jeremiah asked as they approached the room.
“But it’s only been a few days since you came back, so how about having a cup of warm tea together...?”
“I’m tired. I want to go in and rest quickly.”
Jeremiah remained cold and unmoving until the end.
Then as if telling her not to come in, he slammed the door right in front of her.
Karina, who had become gloomy, loitered around his room for a while before turning around.
Her heart was colder than her frozen body.
The next day, Karina was bedridden with a terrible cold.
“The Grand Duke’s doctor is currently on vacation for a few days due to personal reasons.”
This was the answer the maid gave when she was told to bring the doctor.
“Haa, haa... Then call the village... doctor... please.”
She barely moved her roughneck and stammered to the maid.
“The village councilor is currently out of town and will take a long time to get him. I will send someone to fetch him, but you will still have to wait.”
“... I see.”
Her body was hot and her mind was hazy.
Even during her pain, she had a question.
“By any chance...The food I made yesterday...”
The maid, who had finally understood what Karina was wondering, answered.
“His Highness the Grand Duke said to throw away the food yesterday.”
“... I see.”
Her body was hot and her mind was hazy.
Even during her pain, she had a question.
“By any chance...The food I made yesterday...”
The maid, who had finally understood what Karina was wondering, answered.
“His Highness the Grand Duke said to throw away the food yesterday.”
Even though her ears were buzzing with fever, she could clearly hear the words that he had told the maid to throw it away.
“Huh?... Why... Why?”
“Huh?... Why... Why?”
“He said it wasn’t edible.”
“Ah...”
She hadn’t expected him to compliment her on the food, but she hadn’t expected him to tell them to throw it away.
‘I didn’t really want Jeremiah to recognize my efforts, though.’
She felt so sad because she was sick. She was so sad that tears welled up in her eyes.
Karina fainted as if she was waiting for the doctor.
After regaining consciousness and passing out several times, she suddenly felt much better. Her body was still heavy and her head still hurt, but she was able to get up.
When she got up from the bed, her clothes and bed were soaked with sweat.
Her throat was so dry. She pulled the rope next to the bed, but no matter how long she waited, the maid did not come.
In the end, Karina dragged her heavy body downstairs.
The path to the kitchen felt like a thousand miles.
Her body, which was as damp as water-soaked cotton, took up quite a bit of time.
Fortunately or unfortunately, thanks to this, her body, which had become cold after leaving the room, rose in temperature as if she had exercised. After barely making it down to the kitchen and finding water to drink, Karina looked around.
Judging from the darkness, it seemed to be the middle of the night.
'Is that why I can't see anyone?'
Karina, who was about to head back to the bedroom, suddenly stopped walking.
For some reason, she suddenly changed direction and headed to the office where Jeremiah would be.
'Even if I go now, he won't be there.'
Contrary to her expectations, light was leaking out of Jeremiah’s office.
“Is he still working?”
Karina mustered up her courage and knocked on the office door.
“Who is it?”
“Oh... It’s me.”
“...”
Despite Karina’s answer, there was no permission to come in from inside.
The moment Karina, who was hesitating, grabbed the doorknob to open it.
“What business do you have at this hour?”
Karina was flustered at the situation where he had her standing in front of the door and asked her business.
“...”
“If you don’t have any business, go back.”
When Karina couldn’t answer right away, Jeremiah gave the order to leave.
Karina felt resentful at Jeremiah’s cold attitude.
‘What did I do wrong? I didn’t ask for much.’
She felt saddened by his attitude of not opening the door or showing his face.
In her overwhelming emotions, Karina unconsciously called Jeremiah by his name.
“Jeremiah. Can you stay by my side just tonight? Just until I fall asleep.”
Karina begged earnestly.
If Jeremiah would do that, it seemed like all the things she had been upset about would be resolved.
‘Please. Just this once.’
Karina waited anxiously for Jeremiah’s answer.
However.
“I’m busy. I don’t have time for that.”
Jeremiah ultimately refused to grant her request.
The longing heart suddenly sank as if it had been poured with cold water.
Karina’s head dropped along with the tears that gathered in her eyes.
Terrible loneliness and desolation surged forward. Her vision darkened again.
Her consciousness was once again consumed by the distant darkness.
‘No. Stop.’
Karina let out a gasp.
‘Stop. I don’t want to see this.’
Karina struggled, lost in memories of the past she didn’t want to recall.
She wanted to escape, but she couldn’t move as if her entire body was tied up by something invisible.
‘Stop. Get me out.’
Karina struggled with all her might in a miserable mood.
‘Get me out!’
At that moment, a warm energy enveloped Karina.
She felt warm and comfortable as if she was being held in a warm embrace. She welcomed the hand that wrapped around her.
Karina desperately held onto it as if it were her lifeline.
‘Don’t go! Please.’
At first, he acted as if he would disappear soon, but soon he remained still as if he sensed her desperation.
For some reason, she felt like crying.
Jeremiah carefully carried the injured Karina back to the Grand Duke’s residence.
The Grand Duke’s servants were shocked to see the Grand Duchess covered in blood and unconscious.
But that was only for a moment, and they were even more surprised by Jeremiah’s actions.
“Bring the doctor to the Grand Duchess’ room. Right now.”
Jeremiah urgently ordered the doctor to be brought and personally carried Karina to the room.
Jeremiah was too busy suppressing his rising anger.
‘Why was the Grand Duchess held there? Why on earth? What was the guard doing?’
The fact that Karina was in such a dangerous situation that her life was in danger made him unbearably angry.
Furthermore, he felt hot and heartbroken when he realized that the person Karina desperately called his name at the moment when she was really in a situation where she was going to die was not him. He understood it in his head.
'You wouldn't think of someone you don't even like right before you die.'
In a way, it was natural.
Karina didn't love him.
'For Karina, it was just a marriage of necessity, and she was only trying to use me.'
To her, he was a threat to the Emperor, an obstacle that got in the way of their goals.
Karina fainted as if she was waiting for the doctor.
After regaining consciousness and passing out several times, she suddenly felt much better. Her body was still heavy and her head still hurt, but she was able to get up.
When she got up from the bed, her clothes and bed were soaked with sweat.
Her throat was so dry. She pulled the rope next to the bed, but no matter how long she waited, the maid did not come.
In the end, Karina dragged her heavy body downstairs.
The path to the kitchen felt like a thousand miles.
Her body, which was as damp as water-soaked cotton, took up quite a bit of time.
Fortunately or unfortunately, thanks to this, her body, which had become cold after leaving the room, rose in temperature as if she had exercised. After barely making it down to the kitchen and finding water to drink, Karina looked around.
Judging from the darkness, it seemed to be the middle of the night.
'Is that why I can't see anyone?'
Karina, who was about to head back to the bedroom, suddenly stopped walking.
For some reason, she suddenly changed direction and headed to the office where Jeremiah would be.
'Even if I go now, he won't be there.'
Contrary to her expectations, light was leaking out of Jeremiah’s office.
“Is he still working?”
Karina mustered up her courage and knocked on the office door.
“Who is it?”
“Oh... It’s me.”
“...”
Despite Karina’s answer, there was no permission to come in from inside.
The moment Karina, who was hesitating, grabbed the doorknob to open it.
“What business do you have at this hour?”
Karina was flustered at the situation where he had her standing in front of the door and asked her business.
“...”
“If you don’t have any business, go back.”
When Karina couldn’t answer right away, Jeremiah gave the order to leave.
Karina felt resentful at Jeremiah’s cold attitude.
‘What did I do wrong? I didn’t ask for much.’
She felt saddened by his attitude of not opening the door or showing his face.
In her overwhelming emotions, Karina unconsciously called Jeremiah by his name.
“Jeremiah. Can you stay by my side just tonight? Just until I fall asleep.”
Karina begged earnestly.
If Jeremiah would do that, it seemed like all the things she had been upset about would be resolved.
‘Please. Just this once.’
Karina waited anxiously for Jeremiah’s answer.
However.
“I’m busy. I don’t have time for that.”
Jeremiah ultimately refused to grant her request.
The longing heart suddenly sank as if it had been poured with cold water.
Karina’s head dropped along with the tears that gathered in her eyes.
Terrible loneliness and desolation surged forward. Her vision darkened again.
Her consciousness was once again consumed by the distant darkness.
‘No. Stop.’
Karina let out a gasp.
‘Stop. I don’t want to see this.’
Karina struggled, lost in memories of the past she didn’t want to recall.
She wanted to escape, but she couldn’t move as if her entire body was tied up by something invisible.
‘Stop. Get me out.’
Karina struggled with all her might in a miserable mood.
‘Get me out!’
At that moment, a warm energy enveloped Karina.
She felt warm and comfortable as if she was being held in a warm embrace. She welcomed the hand that wrapped around her.
Karina desperately held onto it as if it were her lifeline.
‘Don’t go! Please.’
At first, he acted as if he would disappear soon, but soon he remained still as if he sensed her desperation.
For some reason, she felt like crying.
Jeremiah carefully carried the injured Karina back to the Grand Duke’s residence.
The Grand Duke’s servants were shocked to see the Grand Duchess covered in blood and unconscious.
But that was only for a moment, and they were even more surprised by Jeremiah’s actions.
“Bring the doctor to the Grand Duchess’ room. Right now.”
Jeremiah urgently ordered the doctor to be brought and personally carried Karina to the room.
Jeremiah was too busy suppressing his rising anger.
‘Why was the Grand Duchess held there? Why on earth? What was the guard doing?’
The fact that Karina was in such a dangerous situation that her life was in danger made him unbearably angry.
Furthermore, he felt hot and heartbroken when he realized that the person Karina desperately called his name at the moment when she was really in a situation where she was going to die was not him. He understood it in his head.
'You wouldn't think of someone you don't even like right before you die.'
In a way, it was natural.
Karina didn't love him.
'For Karina, it was just a marriage of necessity, and she was only trying to use me.'
To her, he was a threat to the Emperor, an obstacle that got in the way of their goals.
'That's why she married me. She pretended to love me when she didn't, and she deceived and betrayed me.'
But why!
Seeing Karina like that made him feel so suffocated and suffocated that he felt like he was going crazy. It felt like a blazing flame was burning everything inside him. Jeremiah coldly suppressed the emotions swirling inside him.
'But still.'
"I never once wanted you to die."
Jeremiah whispered in a desperate voice.
"Please hold on, Karina."
Jeremiah carefully hugged Karina's body. Karina unconsciously dug into Jeremiah's arms as if she were searching for warmth. Jeremiah tried to change the position of their embrace, fearing that he might move the wrong way and cause the wound on Karina's neck to open. However, Karina clung to him desperately. She was trembling pitifully, and tears could be seen beading between her closed eyelashes. Jeremiah saw this and hugged her even more deeply than before.
And as he slowly patted her, Karina’s trembling in his arms gradually stopped.
Jeremiah arrived in the room and carefully laid Karina on the bed.
After a while, the doctor came running in, panting.
“Treat her. Right now.”
The doctor had to check Karina’s condition before he could even catch his breath.
“The wound is deep. And she has lost too much blood, so she is in a dangerous condition.”
“That’s why I called you. Treat her. If there is something wrong with the Grand Duchess, you won’t be safe either.”
The doctor was shocked by Jeremiah’s threat but bowed his head to the ground and told the truth.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. All I can do is stop the bleeding from the wound. In this case, you should call a priest from the Great Temple in the capital and receive treatment with holy power.”
“A priest from the Great Temple?”
Jeremiah frowned at the doctor’s words.
The priests of the Great Hall were not the kind of people who would come unconditionally just because they received a request for treatment, and the distance from the Northern Grand Duke’s House to the Great Hall itself was quite far. Even if they made a request right away, it would take at least 4~5 days.
“Will the Grand Duchess be able to hold out until then?”
“...”
The doctor could not answer.
Karina was in a desperate situation right now. She could not wait for the priest of the Great Hall to come.
Jeremiah clenched his teeth.
Bam!
At that moment, the door opened roughly and Mikhail came into the room.
Jeremiah’s expression turned sinister as soon as he saw him.
“Where the hell did you come from? Get out of here right now.”
Jeremiah’s voice was fierce as he spoke.
Despite Jeremiah’s threat, Mikhail responded without blinking.
“I can treat her.”
Mikhail had just arrived at the Grand Duke’s House and was looking for Karina.
The moment he realized that Karina was injured because of the escapees, his eyes rolled back and he swept away the escapees.
Then, as soon as he came to his senses, he went to the magic tower at the western end and brought the highest-grade healing potion.
“How did you do that? I told you to stop talking nonsense and get out of my sight right now.”
Jeremiah muttered as if he was chewing on something.
“I just heard what the doctor said outside. He said that you needed to call the healing priest in the main hall and receive healing with his holy power, but there was no time to wait until then. If I were here, there would be no need for that. I am a wizard. I don’t have holy power, but I have a potion that quickly heals wounds, and I can use healing magic. Karina needs me right now.”
Jeremiah’s fist tightened.
He wanted to kill him right away for failing to protect Karina.
However, if what he said just now was true, Karina desperately needed his healing right now.
Jeremiah had no choice but to take a step back.
“If you make a mistake, you will die on the spot. You better not think that your faults will be lightened just because she lives. I will punish you for your sins later.”
“Do as you wish.”
Mikhail walked straight to Karina without even looking at Jeremiah.
Then he took out a small bottle of potion from his bosom.
It was an elixir, a top-grade healing potion.
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