Ch.22Surprise Attack

“What? He’s dead?”

“Yes, a messenger just arrived urgently with news that Count Nevers has died.”

As soon as Chloe left the room to deliver a message to Ines, a messenger rushed in with shocking news.

…Huh.

He just dies like this? That man who was so full of vigor?

I used to wish he would die quickly, but I had grown somewhat fond of him after he fought for me during the war.

“The cause?”

“It seems someone in the Caroling Kingdom’s army had poison on their blade. The physician warned him to avoid bathing even with a small wound, but Count Nevers ignored the advice and bathed anyway, causing the poison to spread faster through his body, resulting in his death.”

“Hmm…”

To think a mere scratch, not even a deep wound, could lead to this.

The battlefield truly is dangerous. I was right to listen to Chloe and the generals.

“But why did the messenger arrive so late?”

“They discovered Count Nevers’ death a day after Your Grace departed. There was quite a commotion, and the Count’s son who succeeded him handled matters somewhat ineptly, causing the delay.”

Well, that’s understandable. In such chaos, it’s easy to forget a thing or two.

…I was unnecessarily upset that he didn’t attend my coronation.

Though he spoke harshly to me, I wish him happiness in the afterlife. Or perhaps in his next life, since rebirth is possible, as it was for me.

“Tell him to come swear his loyalty to me once everything is settled. Recognition of his succession to the title will follow after that.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

……….

“She says it’s fine to meet in her room… is that what she means?”

After I gave orders on how to handle the Nevers situation, Lord Lorel’s servant, who arrived with Chloe, bowed respectfully and delivered Ines’s message.

“Yes, the lady asked me to tell Your Grace, ‘Since we will soon be husband and wife, you may come to my room.'”

What is this about?

It’s true we’ll soon be married, but… we haven’t even held the wedding ceremony yet.

Hmm… I was being considerate by suggesting we meet in the reception room, but it seems she doesn’t mind at all. Ines has changed a lot.

Well, since our engagement is unlikely to be broken off, her words do make some sense. However—

“…”

I notice Chloe standing behind Lorel’s servant, head bowed with a darkened expression.

—Why did she send a separate servant?

She could have just delivered Ines’s message through Chloe, whom I had sent.

Hmm… Does she not trust Chloe, or was she just giving the idle servant something to do?

…I’ll assume it’s the latter.

Chloe has always been diligent in her duties, and Ines has no reason to doubt my servant whom she just met today.

“Hmm… but that won’t do. Tell Ines I’ll be waiting for her in the reception room.”

“Understood.”

The servant nods in agreement, as if anticipating my response.

While it wouldn’t be a big issue to go, I should avoid visiting Ines’s room if possible to prevent any potential scandal. We must consider all possibilities.

“Chloe, could you prepare the reception room?”

“…Yes!”

Chloe responds energetically to my request.

I’m glad she seems to be in better spirits, though I don’t know why.

……….

*Click*—

“This is truly a pleasant place to stay, Your Grace.”

“…Is it? I’m glad to hear that. If there’s anything uncomfortable, please let me know right away.”

“Hehe, I will.”

…Is she really 18 years old?

Is this the product of early aristocratic education? The 18-year-olds I knew in my previous life weren’t like this.

Entering the room, sitting in a chair, her posture, putting down the teacup after drinking, smiling, speaking—every action embodies the very image of nobility I had in mind.

Having received all sorts of etiquette training since my previous life until now, I know well how uncomfortable and difficult those postures are.

Yet this 18-year-old not only endures it but does it so naturally. I wonder at what age she started her etiquette education?

“…Ines.”

“Yes?”

Ines slightly bows her head, then looks at me with a gentle smile.

I had originally planned to just ask if she was comfortable, but I also wanted to tell her that we wouldn’t have children until she turned 20.

…But this is so difficult to say.

Given Ines’s personality and level of education, if I told her we wouldn’t have children until she was 20, she would probably just nod in agreement.

Without even asking why.

She wouldn’t show anger, sadness, or any emotion at all. Because that’s what nobility does.

“…Twenty, wait until you’re twenty.”

“Pardon?”

But I have to say it. If I must tell her eventually, it’s better to do so before the wedding.

“We will have the wedding ceremony. But until you’re twenty… we cannot share a bedroom.”

“…Pardon?”

This reaction is expected. In a world where most women, including my mother, naturally have children at 17-18, I’m asking her to wait two years longer.

A deep shadow falls across Ines’s face. Her eyes and mouth desperately maintain a smile, but her pupils grow endlessly deeper.

…I’m sorry, Ines.

Some might call me a prude, but… I can’t help it. How could I, when she’s at an age that might be equivalent to a high school student in Korea?

“Do you mean that literally? Or is it a euphemism?”

“…It’s a euphemism.”

Of course it’s a euphemism. With Chloe and other servants nearby, I can’t speak openly about such matters.

…Huh? Why is her face brightening—

“Then ‘literally’ sharing a bedroom wouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“Uh…?”

What?

That’s not what I meant… or is it? Wait?

“We’ll be husband and wife, right? Sharing a bedroom is only natural.”

“Well…”

“I won’t ask why, just please let me stay with you…”

“…”

I can’t… refuse. We’re not married yet, but I can’t point that out in this situation.

How could I refuse such a request when she’s looking at me with those tearful eyes, saying she won’t ask for reasons, just wanting to stay together?

Right, it should be fine as long as I don’t touch her?

“I suppose that’s—”

*CRASH!!*

“—Ugh?!”

Just then, a loud noise of metal hitting the floor rings out beside us.

“What—Chloe!?”

Turning toward the sound, I see Chloe collapsed on the floor, her body trembling.

Judging by the tools scattered around her, the loud noise must have been from them falling.

“M-Master…”

“Chloe, Chloe!! Wake up, Chloe!!”

Her face is terribly pale.

Her breathing is very unstable and so rapid that she’s showing symptoms of hyperventilation.

Her limbs are trembling, and her muscles are repeatedly expanding and contracting as if cramping.

“Chloe… ugh…”

Even her pupils are affected.

She’s staring straight at me, but her pupils don’t change size even when I bring my face closer.

“Call someone immediately!!”

“Yes!!”

At my shout, the servants waiting in the room finally rush out to call a doctor.

Until the doctor arrives, all I can do is… provide emergency treatment for hyperventilation.

“Ugh… Chloe. Hold on a little longer, the doctor will be here soon. For now, breathe into this.”

“Haah… haaah…”

For patients with hyperventilation, having them breathe into a paper bag helps alleviate symptoms.

But there are no paper bags here… I’ll have to make a pouch with cloth.

“Haaah…. haaaah…”

“Good…”

It’s working well enough.

Just hold on a little longer, Chloe.

……….

“…What?”

“We must bleed her. This is an imbalance of bodily fluids caused by excessive stress—”

Due to Chloe’s collapse, my meeting with Ines ended abruptly.

I rushed to Chloe’s room with the doctors who came to the reception room, but now these so-called doctors are talking nonsense.

Bloodletting? What kind of ridiculous suggestion is that?

“Forget it and everyone get out. I’ll take care of her myself.”

“But…”

“Out.”

“…Yes.”

Fortunately, I haven’t been seriously ill since coming to this world. That could have been disastrous.

These people can usually identify causes when there are symptoms or a corpse. They’re quite capable in that regard, as shown by their knowledge that fairy disease spreads through coughing or that Count Nevers died of poisoning.

But… the problem is that their treatment methods are all completely misguided. Without serious external injuries, most prescriptions end up being bloodletting.

Poisoned? Bloodletting to remove the poison from the blood.

Body feeling stiff? Bloodletting to balance the bodily fluids.

…This world didn’t need to mimic Earth’s medieval medicine too.

“Haah… haaah…”

“Chloe, are you conscious?”

“Y-Yesss…”

Thank goodness. Her symptoms have improved significantly.

There’s no one else in this room, it’s quiet, and it’s dark outside, so her stress seems to have been reduced.

One of the main causes of hyperventilation is excessive stress… if it’s just stress buildup, it shouldn’t be life-threatening.

“Chloe.”

“Yes…”

“…I’m sorry for constantly overworking you.”

“It’s… not… that…”

What do you mean it’s not?

The reason for her stress is obviously from working too much.

Chloe has always been… constantly doing something since she was young. She never rested.

If I tried to take over her duties or stop her, she would secretly do them anyway.

“…Would you like to rest?”

“What…? What do you mean…”

“I mean… you don’t have to work as a servant anymore.”

“Ugh…”

“Chloe…?”

As I finish speaking, Chloe’s eyes widen.

She stares at me with those wide eyes for a moment, then slowly speaks in a tired voice.

“Please… let me… work.”

“But Chloe, you’re like this because you’ve been working too much…”

“No… that’s… not it.”

“Huh?”

Chloe seems too exhausted to continue speaking.

She slightly opens her mouth, breathing raggedly, and makes a small gesture with her hand for me to come closer.

…She must be having trouble speaking loudly.

“What exactly—”

*kiss*

“—!?”

I leaned closer to Chloe to hear her quiet voice, but suddenly everything went dark and my lips felt moist and slightly warm.

It didn’t take long to realize that Chloe was the cause.

My pupils are reflected in Chloe’s teary eyes.

“Ugh?!”

“Puhaaa…”

I hurriedly pulled back, but the trail of saliva stretching between our lips confirms that what just happened wasn’t a dream or illusion.

Chloe blushes as she exhales with satisfaction.

“Chloe, what is this…”

“This… is the cause…”

I should have done this sooner.

Chloe takes a deep breath and says this with the brightest, happiest smile I’ve ever seen from her.