Behind the coachman, two men were lying on the ground, unable to withstand the whirlwind.

“Those men look like they’ve fainted?”

If they continue to lie on the cold northern ground, they’ll freeze.

“We should take them to the physician.”

I couldn’t ignore it as it was a matter concerning my domain. But the coachman stopped me from getting down from the carriage.

“These kinds of things happen often around here. People in the domain will take care of it, so don’t worry.”

“People are just watching and not helping?”

People had gathered around them, but no one was taking them away.

“Madam, if we don’t leave now, we won’t know when the wind will start again. The carriage also…. don’t you have urgent business?”

“I do, but.”

As I hesitated, the coachman added.

“If that’s the case, I’ll go and ask for them to be taken to the physician.”

“Do that.”

“Yes. Don’t worry and wait in the carriage for a while.”

I felt like he intentionally warned me to stay away from them, but I ignored it.

There was no reason for the coachman to do so.

“But my body does feel chilly today.”

I pulled my fur cloak closer and curled up.

With Serdis in the North, I had been uneasy, and my condition was not good.

Moreover, the cold wind hit me headon, and I started to feel feverish.

“I need to hurry back.”

(This is a time separator.)

Kantard’s wound left only a faint scar.

Although it was a deep wound, it took a long time to heal even with medicine, but it healed without major issues.

I nagged at Kantard, who was stomping his feet on the ground.

“Since you couldn’t use your left leg for almost a month, don’t start running around. Start practicing walking slowly.”

“I’ll go straight into training.”

“I won’t be responsible for your troubles later. Tomorrow is the last day.”

Hertian might have started to suspect me by now.

I had been sneaking out every day for almost a month.

Tomorrow, I’ll receive the 30 billion, so I felt liberated knowing I don’t have to deceive him anymore.

A humming tune escaped my lips naturally.

“Are you that happy?”

“Of course. I’m finally free. Working nonstop for a month is also a job.”

“I must’ve made you go through unnecessary trouble.”

“Well, you paid me a fair price.”

I started to clean up the pile of herbs I had spread around the barracks for a month.

I planned to teach the soldiers one more treatment method tomorrow, so I needed to sort out my stuff in advance.

“Today, once this is sorted, I’ll leave.”

Kantard quickly questioned me.

“You’ve been here for such a short time, and you’re leaving already? Planning to squander the money?”

He’s good at pressuring subtly with money.

Ignoring his nagging, which I had grown accustomed to, I said,

“That’s not the case.”

Just as I finished sorting out the herbs and was about to pick up the basket,

Dizzy.

My vision began to blur, and my body swayed heavily.

‘Again.’
I was on the verge of collapsing.

Here of all places.

Today, even Bonisado didn’t come with me.

Because of the unexpected guests, there was much to do in the castle.

So, I couldn’t afford to faint here.

If I fainted, I would sleep for the whole day, and Hertian would come looking for me.

And if he found out that I had dealt with the Cursians against his word…

‘I might even get asked for a divorce.’

My vision started to blur.

With a supreme effort, I managed to stay on my feet.

“Today… I feel a bit under the weather.”

Fortunately, my senses started to return.

I took this chance to walk up to the guardhouse.

If I could only make it to the village, I could ask the carriage driver to take me to the duke’s castle. It didn’t matter if I fainted in the carriage.

However, it was risky to collapse here.

“Hold on. I have something to say.”

At that moment, Kantard, who knew nothing of my situation, stopped me.

I barely managed to keep walking.

“If it’s not urgent… can we talk about it tomorrow? My head hurts right now…”

“It’s not urgent, but… very well. Be careful.”

Fortunately, he didn’t stop me. I safely left the guardhouse.

Just a little further to the village, just a little further.

My body trembled like mad.

I clutched my cloak tightly around me. Even with an additional thin cloak, it couldn’t block the wind.

‘Fox fur… rabbit fur…’

It was so cold.

It was a mistake to have switched to such thin clothes because they were commoner attire.

I sniffled and resolved to wear a fur cloak tomorrow.

Then, at that moment.

“Are you okay?”

Kantard who had come out of the guardhouse turned me around. Just then, the last of my mental strength snapped.

“No, I can’t…”

The last thing I saw was Kantard’s warmlooking fur cloak.

(Time separator)

Kantard yelled when Anette suddenly collapsed before his eyes.

“Snap out of it! You can’t die!”

Anette lost consciousness completely, her eyes rolling back.

In his panic, Kantard just stood there frozen, yelling for her to wake up. He didn’t know how to handle this situation.

But not for long.

“Will you keep your voice down?”

Someone snatched Anette away. It was a man with black hair and pale skin.

The man, carrying Anette lightly, placed a warm shawl over her. The touch seemed rather familiar.

That man glanced at Kantard with an indifferent eye and then walked towards the village.

Unknowingly, Kantard crossed the border and followed him to the village.

Forgetting even the illegality of it.

As they followed, familiar faces from the village of Lequies appeared.

The villagers bowed their heads at the sight of the man and led him into a house.

The man laid Anette on a bed, covered her with a thick blanket, and watched her for some time. Only after her color started to return did he look away.

Then, the villagers, who had been fidgeting behind him, all came out and bowed deeply.

“We are without excuse. We knew she was not well but could not dissuade her from going to the guardhouse.”

“We are deeply sorry. Despite all your kindness, and despite your explicit instructions, Duke.”

It was at this point that Kantard caught his breath, they had called him ‘Duke.’

In the light, his attire seemed different from the commoners. No, it was not his attire but the aura he exuded.

Kantard had met many Lequiesans but had never met a man who exuded such an aura.

“Let’s talk about this later.”

At the man’s words, all the people went out at once.

And then the man, who almost seemed like a doll, turned his eyes towards me.

Though he knew, Kantard still asked.

“Are you the new lord of this place?”

“Yes.”

His tone was cold, as befitting the lord of the North.

“It seems the lord of this place is unexpectedly fond of his subjects.”

Hertian tilted his head at that. Then Kantard added an explanation.
“That woman. I heard she’s the wife of the Duke. Isn’t the Lord taking care of his wife’s people himself?”

It was more of a criticism than a compliment. For a Lord, who should be in the castle, to come to the border and embrace his subjects—there was ample room for misunderstanding.

‘I should be taking care of my wife instead.’

Cantard found the man standing there as if to guard the woman subtly irksome. So, just as he was passing him to go stand beside her, Hertian roughly blocked him.

“I’ll look after her until she wakes up, as she’s also my business partner….”

“It’s because I’m not just her lord, but her husband.”