I Only Need the Duke's Child — Chapter 34

WE HAVE MET AT THE TEMPLE BEFORE, DO YOU HAPPEN TO REMEMBER?

THAT PRIESTESS FROM EARLIER IS THE WOMAN YOU WILL COME TO LOVE.

...I REMEMBER, PRIESTESS.

IT IS UNEXPECTEDLY NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN LIKE THIS.

ARE YOU PERHAPS HURT ANYWHERE?

NO, I AM NOT.

HOW IS THE WOUND YOU WERE TREATED FOR BACK THEN?

MAY I ASK WHAT YOUR CONDITION IS?

I AM PERFECTLY FINE, YOUR HEALING MAGIC WAS PERFECT.

I AM GLAD.

IT WAS AN INTERNAL INJURY, AND I WAS SO NERVOUS BACK THEN THAT I WORRIED WHETHER IT HEALED PROPERLY...

AH, HOW IS THE DUCHESS DOING?

SHE SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN VERY STARTLED BACK THEN AS WELL.

I COULD NOT CHECK ON HER PROPERLY BACK THEN, AND IT HAS BEEN WEIGHING ON MY MIND.

PRIESTESS.

YES?

I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN, BUT I DO NOT THINK THIS IS THE TIME TO BE LEISURELY CHATTING.

Ah... I AM SORRY, I WAS JUST SO GLAD TO SEE YOU...

THEN I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME.

STILL, SHE IS THE ONE WHO TREATED YOU, SO WHY COULD YOU NOT TREAT HER A BIT MORE WARMLY, YOUR GRACE?

MORE THAN ANYTHING...

THAT WOMAN,

SHE IS A PRIESTESS WITH DIVINE POWER...

THOSE WITH DIVINE POWER ARE RARE, SO KEEPING HER CLOSE WILL BE A GREAT HELP.

THAT IS WHY I TOLD HER WHAT TO DO BEFORE SHE GETS DRAGGED AWAY FOR NEGLECTING HER DUTIES.

...YES, YES, YOU ARE VERY AFFECTIONATE.

EVEN THOUGH HIS EXCELLENCY DID NOT GIVE HER A SINGLE GLANCE.

...MY THROAT IS DRY.

I AM RETURNING TO THE ESTATE NOW.

THE IMPERIAL KNIGHTS WILL HANDLE THE CLEANUP ON THEIR OWN.

YES, WELL...

SINCE DUMPING THE DEMONIC BEAST DISPOSAL ON US AND JUST HANDLING THE CLEANUP IS THEIR JOB, AFTER ALL.

TSK, THEY ARE A WASTE OF TAX MONEY.

RINA, PLEASE BURN THIS FOR ME.

AH, YES.

THAT CREST IS THE ONE ENGRAVED ON THE DAGGERS MY HUSBAND BESTOWED AFTER THE WAR ENDED,

TO THE FEW KNIGHTS WHO SHARED LIFE AND DEATH WITH HIM.

THEN THAT MEANS THE MAN WHO KILLED ME IS A KNIGHT OF DELMARK...

AND ONE OF HERDIN'S DIRECT SUBORDINATES AT THAT.

BUT THERE WAS NO MAN AMONG THEM WITH A SCAR ON HIS NOSE BRIDGE.

DID I MISS HIM?

AT THIS HOUR, THE KNIGHTS SHOULD STILL BE TRAINING.

IT WOULD BE BEST FOR ME TO CHECK AGAIN.

AH, MADAM! YOU CAME DOWN JUST IN TIME.

THE ENTRANCE IS NOISY, HAS MY HUSBAND RETURNED?

A FEW PEOPLE HAVE ARRIVED FROM THE MAIN CASTLE.

THEY PROBABLY WANT TO GIVE THEIR GREETINGS TO YOU, MADAM.

IF YOU ARE NOT BUSY, COULD YOU SPARE SOME TIME FOR THEM?

...BEING A FEW MINUTES LATE WILL NOT CHANGE ANYTHING, I SUPPOSE.

YES, LET US DO THAT.

OH, MY.

TO THINK THE MADAM WOULD PERSONALLY WELCOME US FROM OUR FIRST MEETING,

THIS IS AN HONOR FOR US.

IF I HAD KNOWN, I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT A GIFT ON THE WAY.

WAIT.

THOSE EYES...

THEY SEEM SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR...

IT IS A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, MADAM.

I AM CALIGO ELPARIND, A KNIGHT OF DELMARK.

WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF IT SOONER?

THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE CULPRIT MIGHT BE A KNIGHT FROM THE MAIN CASTLE...

...MADAM?

I NEED TO SAY SOMETHING,

BUT MY VOICE WILL NOT COME OUT...

THIS SOUND, COULD IT BE...

TO THINK EVEN OUR EXCELLENCY WOULD COME TO WELCOME ME LIKE THIS.

DID YOU PERHAPS RUSH BACK BECAUSE OF ME...

THAT IS ENOUGH GREETINGS FOR NOW, CALIGO.

YOU MUST HAVE HAD A HARD TIME COMING A LONG WAY, SO GET SOME REST.

Yes, sir. Haha.

I WAS JUST ABOUT TO GO IN ANYWAY.

I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN, MADAM.

ARE YOU NOT FEELING WELL?

IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR YOU TO GO INSIDE AND REST.

I AM FINE.

...ESCORT THE MADAM TO HER ROOM.

OH MY! YOUR BODY HAS BECOME COLD, MADAM.

Let us go inside and get you something warm to drink...