Since he was Kissian, who had been rolling around among the monsters, there was no way he would have given me false information.
As he said, once someone was contaminated, they would never be able to recover.
But it was cured. And that was just with a touch.
While I was frozen in shock at the situation before my eyes, Baron Baldeck and his wife were looking at each other.
Gert looked at his mother with a gentle expression, as if he had never caused such a fuss.
Saying things like, "What on earth happened to make half your face disappear?" and other very normal and natural things.
The Baron already seemed to believe that his son had come to his senses.
I was the only one who couldn't accept the situation.
'Is it really true that I'm cured...? But I'm not... Letie either.'
If Letie had cured the contamination, that would have been the case.
It's no wonder that the savior of the empire works miracles.
I must have thought that God had given that child some special power and moved on.
But I am not Letie. I am not the savior of the empire; I am just an ordinary human being.
There's no way Gert would have been cured just by touching something like my hand...
"Thank you very much, Your Highness. Really. I cannot express my feelings in words. Really, truly, thank you very much."
As my thoughts continued, Baron Baldeck approached me and said.
The Baron repeatedly bowed his head toward me, who still looked bewildered.
"When Your Highness said you would look after the child, I didn't really expect much. Contamination is something that cannot be cured by human power. But I didn't really expect it to be cured."
"Wait, are you sure? I think it would be better to wait and see a little longer."
To that, Baron Baldeck quietly shook his head.
"As a father, I can be sure. That child is the child I loved so much. That kind of child who was not tainted by the demonic power."
"..."
"I won't ask what method you used. I am simply grateful, and I am grateful again. In that sense, apart from the subjugation fee, I have something small to offer to your Highness..."
"No, it's okay. It's not something I expected to receive."
"I feel bad if I don't give you anything, so I really hope you accept it. I'll look into Gert first and then I'll take care of it for you right away."
"It's okay though..."
Although I refused, Baron Baldeck did not back down and took out a key.
After that, he released the chains that were binding Gert's wrists and ankles.
Perhaps because he had been restrained for a long time, Gert stumbled out of bed.
Then, seeing that his father had thanked me, he nodded toward me as if he felt he should do the same.
As he seemed to be still not well, the Baron seemed to want to take him to the doctor.
He helped his son out of the attic.
I was left alone in the attic, which had served as a prison for a long time.
'I really need to cure the pollution...'
It was a ridiculous story, but I couldn't doubt it any longer after seeing Gert healed right before my eyes.
I cured the pollution with my own hands.
Not by the hands of Letie, the savior, but by my hands.
I was stuck in that empty attic for a while.
Then, belatedly, I noticed a commotion in the mansion.
The sound of the mansion's front door swinging open was heard, along with the sound of several armored soldiers rushing in.
It seemed like Kishian had returned from his expedition, so I hurried downstairs.
But the moment I saw the soldiers rushing in, my joy disappeared without a trace.
Most of the soldiers looked unwell, as if they had fought a tough battle.
Most of them were bleeding profusely and groaning as if they would die soon, and only a few were in good condition.
But what really confused me wasn't their shabby appearance.
I moved my stiff, unmoving lips and asked one of them.
"...Where is the Grand Duke?"
"..."
"I ask again, Where is the Grand Duke now? Why didn't he come back with you?"
Frustrated by their hesitating attitude, I urged them again and only then did the soldier open his mouth.
"His Highness the Grand Duke is safe. He returned after successfully defeating the escaped monster on his own. However, he will not be returning to Baron Baldeck's residence."
"..What on earth are you talking about? He's safely completed the subjugation, but he's not returning to the Baron's residence?"
"There was a bit of an accident."
"Accident?"
I was so shocked that I stuttered without realizing it.
There was an accident?
My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was crashing to the floor.
I felt dizzy, but I managed to stay upright and wait for the soldier to continue speaking.
The soldier continued his explanation with a look of hesitation.
"He was slightly injured during the expedition."
"..."
"So, to receive proper treatment, he returned to the Grand Duke's residence first. His Highness the Grand Duke told you to follow him slowly."
Are you saying that he went back first and left me behind?
It was strange. If he were injured, it would have been better to receive emergency treatment at the Baron's residence and then leave rather than going to the Grand Duke's residence.
But he went first. As if he were hiding something...
"Yes, I see. I guess we can go and check what happened."
Even if I caught the soldiers now and questioned them, they would not readily tell me the truth.
It seemed like Kishian was hiding something. He must have even told the soldiers not to tell me.
In that case, I had no choice but to go and see for myself what had happened to him.
I ordered them to treat their wounds and rest.
After that, I went to see the Baron and informed him that I was planning to leave tomorrow.
All I could think about was meeting Kishian as soon as possible and asking him what happened.
***
From early morning, the Baron was busy seeing off the soldiers.
The Baron bowed to me again as he loaded up the wounded with medicine, food, and the items he had promised to give me the day before.
"Even after you leave, I will not forget this favor. I am sorry that the gift I gave you was not very good."
"You're saying that's not much?
You gave me such precious things.
I hope your family finds peace."
After exchanging greetings, I immediately led the soldiers and headed towards the Grand Palace.
When I was chatting away in the carriage with Kishian, time seemed to pass quickly, but when I went alone, it was incredibly boring.
I sat alone in the empty carriage, waiting for the train to hurry and reach its destination.
After what felt like an eternity, I was finally able to reach the Great Palace.
I dragged my stiff body into the mansion after sitting in the carriage for a long time.
The mansion was quiet as if it had lost its owner, even though it was clear that Kishian had arrived first.
As soon as I got back, I called the maids over and asked them to wash themselves properly.
"Where is His Highness now?"
"Ah, that's..."
Anne, who usually answered any question without hesitation, hesitated for some reason.
By that point, I could tell something really big had happened to Kishian.
I asked again, firmly holding Anne's wrist as she washed my body.
"Tell me honestly, so I won't be surprised. Is something serious happening?"
"No, that's not it... He's fine. He just said he was a little tired, so he's resting alone in the bedroom in the annex."
There are many bedrooms in the main building, but the story is that he is leaving those rooms alone and instead resting in the annex.
Anne said he was okay, but that couldn't be true if he really was.
Did you lose a part of your body due to a monster attack?
No, that couldn't be true, since he was the type of person who easily recovered from any wound.
Then, could it be... that he has been mentally polluted?
All sorts of ominous thoughts filled my head.
It didn't take long before I decided that I had to find him somehow.
So, after arriving at the mansion, I headed to the west wing where he was staying, with Walter following me around and Anne taking care of me.
All along the way, Anne fidgeted and tried to stop me, but I didn't listen.
So I arrived in front of the annex and tried to go in, but the soldiers guarding the entrance blocked my way.
"His Highness the Grand Duke has ordered that no one be allowed into the annex."
"...Are you saying that he has forbidden even me, the Grand Duchess, from entering?"
"Yes, no one is an exception."
"I just want to chat for a bit. I'm not planning on staying too long."
"There are no exceptions."
The soldiers blocked my path, repeating the same words like parrots.
I tried to persuade them and even used some threats, but the soldiers would not budge.
His attitude was so resolute that it seemed impossible to enter the annex.
I was heading back to the main office to write a letter and deliver it.
"It's been a long time, Your Highness, the Grand Duchess."
In this situation, Albrecht's sinister voice, which I really did not want to hear, caught my attention as I walked.
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