Still, she suspected his physical condition was far from fine after rolling on the dirt ground from a running horse.

‘Someone should deliver the herb oil to him.’

Having made up her mind, Edith went out to the corridor to find a suitable servant.

It was already late and most had retired to their quarters, but fortunately, Cassius, who had just reported to Sophia, was passing by.

“Cassius, could you please deliver this to Walter?”

Then he seemed to ponder for a moment.

“Wouldn’t it be better if you delivered it yourself, madam? I can escort you safely.”

Upon confirming Cassius was indeed a highly skilled individual with keen combat instincts, Edith nodded.

‘I also have something to talk about with Walter.’

She was guided to a cabin beyond the stable.

“I’ll scout around the area for a bit; go inside.”

Cassius efficiently picked the locked door for her.

Carefully, Edith entered and spoke.

“Walter, are you in there?”

Assuming the visitor was Cassius, Walter, who hadn’t moved, suddenly burst out.

“What brings you here, madam?”

“I have something to talk about, and I brought medication. Come in.”

Edith instructed Walter to turn on the lamp and then awkwardly made him sit on the bed.

She sat beside him, examining his wounds. Though he acted unfazed before, his arm was scraped and messy from sliding on the ground.

“Your face is the only thing that’s fine.”

Walter joked in response.

“You said last time that my body is also worth looking at.”

“That’s not what I meant. How are your back and shoulders?”

“They’re not bad enough to worry about.”

“Really?”

Knowing that couldn’t be true, Edith lightly pressed his back and shoulders. He winced slightly.

“See? I’ll apply the medicine. It will heal faster than if you don’t.”

Edith urged him to take off his shirt. Treating the injured was a profession she’d been in for several years, so she was not hesitant.

“……”

But seeing Walter’s body felt different. She was acutely aware that she was looking at the bare body of a man, not a patient.

He had broader shoulders and a wider back than any man she had seen in her life.
Although she knew she should first examine any bruises or wounds, her eyes were irresistibly drawn to his more distinctly defined muscles.

Unconsciously, she reached out and touched his quivering back, and was suddenly startled that she had done so.

“Medicine, I applied medicine.”

Before he could ask, Edith blurted out an excuse and swiftly attempted to open a bottle of herb oil.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remove the cork and was eventually caught by Walter.

“It seems that working in the clinic for a long time lets you apply medicine without opening the bottle.”

Walter easily opened the lid of the herb oil.

The mischievous tone sounded as if he knew the real reason she had touched his back, causing Edith’s face to turn beet red.

She felt a strong urge to change the subject before he wrapped her around his finger.

“Before Jeffrey the gambler kidnapped me, he said something strange. He said he knows that the child I’m carrying isn’t the Earl’s but yours.”

Smelling the herbs, Edith was finally able to focus on her medical task.

She didn’t even notice that she was biting her lip due to Walter’s touch on her back as she continued to speak.

“It sounded like the Earl brought me here to bear your child.”

“…….”

Walter was somewhat puzzled.

Although he was listening carefully to the information Edith was providing, it certainly wasn’t something to be discussed while tenderly touching her bare skin.

Did she realize what she was saying while teasing a vigorous man like himself?

“Do you think that, well, the stork brings babies?”

Edith wanted to argue.

“I’m not a child, and I’ve even taken the medical entrance exam, so surely not.”

“I mentioned it because you talk as if you know nothing about how children are conceived.”

“I’ve read the section on sex and reproduction forty times, so what are you talking about?”

“……?”

Walter was once again perplexed by her words.

Why had she read that section so many times?

Only then did Edith realize what she had said and felt regret. To avoid his persistent teasing, she thought it would be better to speak boldly.

“……I also have desires.”

The moment she said that, Walter felt an intense impulse he had never felt before.

It seemed like he could satisfy her desires.

Just a while ago, he was rolling on the dirt floor, and his whole body was sore and stifling, but now only one part of him was.

His heart was pounding unbearably, and when he came to his senses, he had gently gripped Edith’s cheek and was closing the distance between them.