CH 11

Early Night (3.2)

Lily stared at her. There was something she wanted to ask, but… She bit her lips and turned away. “So, Buttercup. The duke… What kind of person is he?”

“Our lord is a good person.” Buttercup answered as if she was waiting for that question. “As you know, people like us are lucky to survive… Marriage is forbidden for us, and it is impossible to get a job. All we can do is steal or be sold to perverts…”

Working as a maid in the duke’s castle where it was difficult for ordinary people to get into, much less as the duke’s closest aide, was basically impossible.

“Our Lord thinks that as long as someone has the ability and can follow his rules, they can work for him. But he’s just a little… a little strict but…”

A sudden headache seemed to build, so Lily frowned slightly.

Buttercup hurriedly finished her sentence. “He’s a ki-kind person. Our lord did not intentionally leave Madam alone. He said Madam had a fever and went to get the priest, so he’ll be back soon.”

A kind person.

She thought the description didn’t suit the man after what she had been through. He was intimidating.

“By the way… who has a fever? Me?” Lily squinted.

No wonder she felt so dizzy. She had a fever.

As soon as she realized it, she noticed all of her other symptoms. The aching muscles, the heat. She shook.

“Yes. That’s why the Lord ordered me to bring more bedding…. Madam!”

Lily collapsed onto the bed.

***

Her body throbbed everywhere.

She felt like she was melting. The breath she exhaled was so hot that it warmed her face like a fire. Lily could also hear the men’s voices through her clouded senses. While the conversation was clear, she couldn’t manage to understand it.

Lily groaned, trying to gather her mind in one place and overwhelming herself in the process.

“So why is she so hot?”

A very low, familiar voice broke through the other noises.

“It’s only natural that her body is overworked.  How many weeks did she travel by carriage in the middle of winter?”

It was a soft, enchanting voice.

“Just tell me the name of the disease. Don’t beat around the bush with me.”

“This isn’t a disease. As I said, it’s difficult for a woman’s body to endure the harsh winter conditions.”

“…”

“That’s not all. I also heard that the carriage fell down on the mountain road and there was quite a commotion. She must have been quite surprised, but instead of resting immediately, my lord also made her exert herself. And so she collapsed.”

It sounded like a polite response with thinly-veiled frustration.

“I can’t understand. A knight was also with her,” the deep voice said after a moment of quiet.

“Isn’t the difference between the knight and your wife clear? In the first place, we shouldn’t compare the young madam to people who live here.”

Silence fell again, punctuated by Lily’s wheezing breath.

“Will she die?”

“No. Although people may die from fever, Madam will be fine. I know this because I am a capable priest.”

Even though Lily could hear the conversation, she couldn’t comprehend it, which was frustrating.

She swallowed, then opened her eyes with great difficulty, sweat blurring her vision.

Lily could see the figure of a man standing close to the bed. But other than his impressive height and dark hair, she couldn’t tell who he was beneath the voluminous clothes he wore.

Who is it?

There was only one black-haired man who would visit her if she was sick.

“Tristan?” Her voice was barely audible, but all movements in the room stopped instantly.

Lily tried to stretch out her hand, but her arm was too heavy and only her fingertips twitched. It was a silent movement, but somehow the man noticed it. He approached the bed and sat down.

Calluses brushed against her slender hand.

She squeezed with all her might. However, as her strength continued to fade, he gently wrapped his hand around hers.

“Don’t say anything. I’m worried… that you and the others will catch my fever.”

When he didn’t answer, Lily’s anxiety spiked. Tristan had a habit of ignoring her whenever Lily spoke like that.

She bit her lower lip.

Why aren’t you saying anything now when you said so much earlier?

Was it because her entire body hurt? For some weird reason, sadness came rushing in, and her nose started to become stuffy.

Lily held back her tears. “Promise me. Please…”

“Okay. I promise.”

It was a short answer, but still, Lily breathed a sigh of relief.

Tristan had a deep voice. His tone was a little stiff but it was easy to distinguish him.

He reassuringly stroked the back of Lily’s hand with his finger

It was not a big deal, but her heart ached at the affectionate touch. He used to say he would listen to anything. And now, she wanted to say everything.

This would never have happened if she wasn’t delirious.

“Tristan, you know…” Her nose turned stuffy again, and heat gathered around her eyes. “I… need to… get married, don’t I…? This time again…?”

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Tears flowed down her cheeks quietly, much like her overwhelming, uncontrollable emotions. The only thing she could do was bite her lip to prevent full-blown sobbing.

“No. Just forget about it… I’m sorry.” Lily held her breath and clenched her teeth, her face flushed and damp.

He didn’t say anything. She felt the air around her getting heavier.

Her consciousness faded away again.

Lily felt a hand gently stroking her eyes and wiping away her tears.