TVDWL - Chapter 174 < The Saintess Has Come >

In fact, the management of the orphanage had been stable for a long time with a person in charge assigned. As the Grand Duchess, Karina was sufficient in leaving the orphanage work to the experts and only paying attention to it by occasionally checking in. However...

'I can't leave it in the hands of other people.'

It is impossible to do so when you see children sneaking up on her, each holding their favorite toys or picture books in their hands, or when you see children offering food to her, gulping down their saliva because they want to eat it.

'These children are hungry for affection and people.'

Karina couldn't just leave these children alone who didn't receive enough protection and love from their parents and adults.

'I guess I've become quite attached to it.'

It wasn't just the orphanage kids. Unlike before the return, she realized that there were many precious people in the North. Jen, the exclusive maid who looked after her every morning and evening, now knows Karina's preferences and tastes quite well, and she takes care of them without her having to ask. She also did her best to dress her up without going against Karina's tastes when preparing for this banquet.

'I feel like her skills in decorating and managing things are improving day by day, no matter where she goes and what she earns.'

Karina couldn't help but chuckle as she recalled the look of satisfaction on Jen's face as she watched Karina prepare to attend the banquet. Selena and Hasten were also precious connections that she had made in the North.

'Of course, I went to see Selena and Hasten on purpose.'

The information center centered around them was also well-established, and the businesses they invested in were very successful, so they made a lot of money.

'And I first met Mikhail in the North.'

When Karina looked up at Mikhail, their eyes met and he smiled gently, curling the corners of his eyes. As she listed these things, she realized that the North after the return was not a place that only had bad memories. She had absolutely no intention of cutting off all the connections she had worked so hard to create.

'Because I can't leave the empire anyway because of my contract with the dragon.'

She recalled the story she had heard from the owner of the tower when she was on the tower.

"I'm not planning on leaving right now. And even if I do, I'll still keep in touch with you guys and visit the orphanage often."

At her words, Aiden's eyebrows, which had been drooping, rose again.

"Really? It's a promise!"

Aiden waved his pinky finger in front of the screen for confirmation.

"Yes."

Karina also smiled and made a gesture of raising her pinky. After confirming her well-being, they continued the conversation a little longer before ending the call.

"I'm glad that everyone seems to be in good spirits."

"That's right. I didn't know Aiden would express his concern so openly."

"That's right."

Standing before the darkened communication port, Karina and Mikhail laughed and clapped their hands at each other's words.

"Karina, I have something to tell you."

"Huh? What is it?"

"Actually..."

It was at that moment that Mikhail, who was scratching his chin as if thinking for a moment, was about to say something else.

Knock knock.

"Karina."

Jeremiah's voice was heard along with a knock. It was strange that he, who had been coming to her bedroom every day before she woke up, didn't show up today.

"Come in."

After giving her permission, he opened the door and entered the room.

"Karina. How are you feeling?"

It was a question no different from usual, but his condition seemed slightly depressed. His face was dark.

"What's going on?"

Karina asked right away. He hesitated and said with a slightly embarrassed look.

"The Saintess has just come to the mansion."

'Saintess?'

Karina was puzzled by the sudden news of the Saintess's visit. Jeremiah had said just yesterday that he would have nothing to do with the saint.

'If that's true, he wouldn't have called Lucia...'

"Why is the Saintess here all of a sudden?"

She asked, tilting her head.

"Phew."

Jeremiah pressed his temples and sighed deeply.

"That is..."

The moment his answer was due, there was someone who responded faster than him.

"I have received orders from His Majesty the Emperor to check on the Grand Duchess' health and provide medical care."

"...!"

Karina's gaze turned to the direction where the voice had come from. Lucia was standing in front of the open door, smiling brightly.

"I clearly told you to wait in the reception room?"

Jeremiah stood between Lucia and Karina with a stern expression and spoke coldly.

"You can't tell a sick patient to come. It's more efficient and faster for me to come than to wait."

Lucia spoke her mind without any hesitation. If it had been a sick patient, she would have naturally expressed her gratitude for the consideration, but that was not the case for Karina.

'You came under His Majesty the Emperor's orders?'

She had been putting off the Emperor's order to come to see him on the pretext of being sick right up until the banquet. She had even returned home early yesterday, the day of the banquet, saying she was not feeling well. Perhaps he had sent the Saintess so that she could no longer make excuses about her health.

'It doesn't make sense that you're still sick even after receiving treatment from a Saintess.'

Karina wasn't happy with this situation at all.

'And is that really all?'

When she met the Emperor and exchanged a few words with him, shr felt that he was a treacherous man and she was uneasy. Although he appeared to be kind and generous on the outside, she could see that he was full of malice towards Jeremiah, who was a threat to his power.

'I couldn't understand why I didn't know about it before.'

It seemed clear that there must have been some other ulterior motive behind sending the Saintess to the Grand Duke's house, beyond the superficial reason. She had a bad feeling about it.

"Is there anywhere that feels uncomfortable or particularly painful?"

To Lucia's question, Karina answered in a curt voice.

"No, there isn't."

Even though she was really in pain and was screaming, she didn't want to be treated by the Saintess. Karina didn't want to receive her help.

"There is no pain or discomfort, so please go back."

Even though she resolutely refused treatment.

"Oh, really? Sometimes, some people are good at enduring pain."

The Saintess accepted it as if she was used to it and did not back down easily.

"Just because you don't feel pain doesn't mean you're not sick. Feeling lethargic or suffering from minor illnesses for a long time is not considered healthy."

Lucia began to talk about health-related issues as if she were a doctor treating a really sick patient. Her appearance was quite serious and meticulous.

"That's why it's important not to skip meals as much as possible."

Lucia tries to get closer to the bed where Karina is sitting.

"Stop."

It was Jeremiah who stopped her talking.

"My wife said she doesn't need treatment."

"Karina doesn't like it, so please leave now."

The same was true for Mikhail, who had been looking uneasy from the moment Jeremiah and the saint entered.

"..."

Lucia glanced at them as they surrounded Karina, tilted her head once, then opened her eyes wide and spoke.

"Your treatment of the Grand Duchess is truly extraordinary."

The tone was one of complete surprise.

"Or is it overprotection?"

Because the room was so quiet, they could hear everything she said, even the things she muttered to herself.

"Overprotective?"

Those words seemed to grate Jeremiah and Mikhail's nerves, causing sharp reactions from both of them at the same time.

"You talk nonsense."

Jeremiah snapped at her in a warning voice as cold as ice.

"Overprotective? Who are you talking about now?"

Mikhail also frowned as if he had heard something absurd. From their perspective, they were worried and anxious about Karina, who could not use magic or Aura as if she were a child left on the shore. In fact, she had been involved in various incidents and had almost died several times, so it was natural for her to be so cherished. And it was none other than Karina. Originally, this was not enough, but since Karina did not seem to want it, this was also greatly restrained. 

The two of them shared the same thought: they wanted to lock her in her room, feed her only good things, and make sure she never knew about the bad things that happened.

"Umm..."

Lucia smiled awkwardly at their reaction. She had gained a lot of experience treating the sick while traveling around the empire. She hadn't examined her yet, but when she saw Karina, she didn't feel like she was hiding any illness or that she was sick...

Usually, in these cases, there was usually nothing wrong with her body. And she had seen countless instances of people around her being kind to sick patients and taking care of them. However, Jeremiah and Escort's way of taking care of Karina was closer to taking care of a loved one than the way they treated a sick patient.

'Hmm. This story is so different from what I heard.'

Contrary to what she had known, Jeremiah seemed to have genuine feelings for the Grand Duchess.

'Things are getting a bit tricky. What should I do?'

Lucia saw Mikhail taking care of Karina and her naturally accepting it.

"Hmm?"

Lucia opened her mouth as soon as she saw that.

"It seems the Grand Duchess is very close with her escorts."

"Yes?"

Karina asked back with a puzzled expression. Lucia added with a bright smile.

"It seems like the two of you are very close and have no formal relationship."

"..."

Karina frowned slightly after hearing Lucia's words.

"What does that mean?"

"Even though the Grand Duchess was wearing her pajamas, the escort came into the room so naturally."

"Karina is a patient."

Jeremiah countered.

"Of course, if the patient is so sick that he or she cannot come to his or her senses, there is nothing we can do, but you feel well enough to say that you do not need treatment, right? I said that because the sight of you being escorted in your pajamas in such a state seems so familiar."

"..."

The Saintess's words were not entirely wrong. It was common for nobles to wash, prepare, and change clothes before going down to breakfast. It was the same in front of their families, but she was talking to others without any hesitation. It seemed that she had become too accustomed to the two people already in her room before she even woke up. However, there was a reason for this. It was in case Karina couldn't wake up from the magic tower, just like when she couldn't wake up. In that case, it was safer for Mikhail to be on standby at all times to quickly grasp Karina's condition. However, there was no need to tell the saintess about the situation.

"..."

While Karina hesitated to choose her answer.

"Because Karina is a very precious person to me."

Mikhail said naturally as if there was nothing wrong with being close.

"I see. It looks good."

Lucia said with a smile. The smile on her face was so pure that it was hard to tell if she was being sincere or sarcastic.

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