“Anyway, it’s difficult to make a judgment right now. Whatever it is, it remains a miracle. Let me give you some prescriptions that are good for the body.”

He said as he packed up his bag spread out on the floor. Adel hastily took a step towards him.

“Instead of that, could you stay in the domain and look after His Highness for a few more days?”

Adel pleaded, deliberately avoiding Valentin’s gaze fixed on her face. Keeping a healer in the domain required a considerable amount of money. It would be absurd given the usual financial state of Ansgar, but now they had gold received as spoils of war.

“If you’re not in a hurry, just for a couple more days…”

Adel’s voice gradually lost confidence and became subdued. Is this alright? It was an impulsive act without consulting the steward. However, she couldn’t ask for permission from subordinates for every matter related to the Grand Duke’s well-being.

And the healer’s expression was as if he might let out a joyful cheer.

“Of course, I’d be delighted. Just to be able to serve His Highness up close for this precious experiment… I mean, it’s a great honor.”

“Then, the money… how much…”

Adel’s cheeks flushed slightly. The financial authority was still held by the steward, not the Grand Duke who had just regained consciousness. If the healer demanded an unaffordable sum, she would have to ask the steward after all.

Adel glanced at the head maid standing silently by the door. Immediately, she felt a strong grip on her wrist.

“Uh…”

It was just when Valentin’s gaze had started to turn fierce. Thinking that the head maid and the healer were making her nervous, he turned a sharp face towards them.

Startled by that menacing aura, the healer hurriedly spread out five fingers.

“I, I’ll take just five gold coins a day, since I’ll be gaining valuable data as well.”

Adel inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. That amount could be managed with the money she had saved bit by bit from selling embroidery.

Just then, there was a stir outside the door. When permission to enter was given, a maid carrying a tray appeared.

“I’ve brought something light for you to eat.”

On the tray were soup, soft bread, and water with honey. All easy on the stomach for a long-awaited meal.

As the tray was placed on the bedside table, Hermann naturally prepared to serve. Adel gently pushed Valentin’s shoulder.

“Then, Your Highness. Please rest now. I’ll take my leave…”

“No… Don’t…”

As soon as Adel made a move to pull away, Valentin almost kicked off the blanket he had been covering himself with and hastily grabbed her forearm. Forgetting he was barefoot, he stepped on the cold floor carelessly.

“No… Don’t go…”

Irregular sounds burst from Valentin’s mouth. He was almost on the verge of kneeling. A desperate hand grasped Adel’s slender waist, while the other caressed her soft cheek and nape. Valentin’s elegant eyes instantly filled with resentment.

As if asking how she could say such a thing to him, as if she was trying to abandon him forever.

“Adel, no, Adel…”

The only thing he could pronounce correctly was her name. In that awkward moment when Adel’s body went limp, he pulled her forcefully into his embrace. Adel momentarily stumbled and fell into his arms.

“Grr, ugh…”

It was almost like the growl of a beast. It was the action of one left only with the instinct not to let go of what was his.

Adel didn’t see what kind of murderous expression Valentin directed at the others in the room. Her cheek was pressed against his firm chest, and he was a full head taller than even ordinary adult men.

“Then, if you’ll excuse us, Vice-Highness, please oversee His Highness’s meal. We’ll withdraw now so you can rest…”

Even the usually stiff head maid barely managed to string together a few words with a pale face, before closing the door and disappearing.

Adelheit glared at the door they had shut and vanished behind with an incredulous expression. Silence quickly settled in the room.

“Adel.”

Valentin, resting his chin on the crown of her head, exhaled with utmost satisfaction. Her name pronounced from Valentin’s lips sounded almost like an exclamation. He very carefully stroked Adel’s disheveled golden hair with his fingers.

His embracing arm gradually tightened. Bit by bit, it became hard to breathe. When she squirmed, Valentin quickly released her.

“…”

“…”

Their gazes met. It was a natural occurrence since Valentin had been fixedly staring at her from the beginning. Even during this brief confrontation, the food was rapidly cooling. Adel swallowed a bewildered breath.

‘Oversee the meal, they said.’

What on earth did they expect her to do…

As Adel, after a moment’s hesitation, moved towards the table, Valentin almost reflexively grabbed her wrist. The deep furrow between her husband’s brows seemed to express endless worry for her.

He probably thought Adel might suddenly collapse while walking.

‘Who’s worrying about whom…’

To Adel’s eyes, no, to anyone’s eyes right now, Valentin would look more concerning. She gently pulled him using the wrist he had already grabbed.

“Please sit over here.”

Though hesitant, Valentin obediently sat in the chair Adel indicated. With people around them gone, he seemed to regain a bit more composure. Even with food in front of him, he spent a long time just gazing at her with his chin propped up.

Growl.

He didn’t seem to hear even the sound coming from his own stomach. Despite being ‘frozen’ for over ten days, he should be terribly hungry. Adel tilted her head.

Does he not know how to eat? Or does he not even understand the concept that he needs to eat? Since it was said he had forgotten even his instincts, perhaps it was something like that.

Adel hesitated a little. But unless he was a small child… She couldn’t exactly hold a spoon to the mouth of a well-built young man.

“Please eat.”

When she gently pushed the tray, this time Valentin tilted his head. Adel had no choice but to pick up the pewter cup filled with honeyed water and pretend to drink.

“Like this…”

Valentin watched her actions intently. The way she held the cup, the angle of her arm as she brought it to her lips, the shape of her mouth, even the motion of setting the cup back down…

His gaze was so thick and slow that it felt as if time itself was moving slowly.

Adel pushed the pewter cup in front of him.

“Try it.”

Valentin narrowed his eyes as if faced with an unprecedented challenge. He slowly reached out and touched his fingers to the pewter cup.

Crunch.

Adel’s eyes widened in surprise. That sturdy pewter cup was instantly crushed beyond recognition. If it weren’t for the water dripping from Valentin’s large hand, she might have thought she was imagining things.

“…”

Valentin placed the crumpled cup on the table, looking a bit embarrassed. The flattened shape was glaringly obvious. Adel’s lips trembled in shock. Come to think of it, these were the same hands that had been holding her forearms and waist just minutes ago.

Realizing that her wrist could have ended up in that state if he had made a mistake, a chill ran down her spine.

‘I knew His Highness was a bit strong, but… I never imagined he couldn’t gauge his strength to this extent.’

Are all men’s hands like this? It was hard to judge. Even when Oscar occasionally grabbed her wrist, it was rough, but not to this degree…

As Adel pondered, she saw Valentin reaching for the spoon. She hurriedly grabbed his wrist. This time, he looked at her in surprise.

“I, I’ll do it, Your Highness.”

Adel wasn’t sure if he understood her meaning exactly. He just seemed pleased that she had initiated contact, his eyes curving prettily.

Really, could this be the same husband who had been so cruel to her?

“…”

Adel suppressed unnecessary doubts and scooped up a large spoonful of soup. This was better than having the spoons and dishes shattered and the room in chaos.

She carefully lifted the dish with the soup and brought a large spoonful towards Valentin. He leaned his head back slightly, as if trying not to obstruct her path. Adel was perplexed, holding the spoon in mid-air.

“Um, Your Highness… Please lean your head a little closer.”

“…?”

“Even if you don’t like it, please try to eat it. That way, you’ll be able to take medicine too.”

He seemed uncomfortable with these objects coming between him and Adel. He might not even understand. His arrogant eyes seemed to ask: You tell me to come closer, but what are all these unnecessary things?

As Valentin reached out in incomprehension and Adel brought the bowl of soup closer to his mouth, they collided in mid-air. The soup bowl spilled all over her hand.

“Ah…”

Adel’s eyes crumbled slightly in dismay. Soup dripped from her hand to her forearm. A few drops even splashed on her face. It was when Adel reflexively licked the soup that had splattered on her lips.

He grabbed her wrist, which was covered in soup, and lifted it.

His lips, which had remained closed despite her desperate urging to eat, gently touched her fingers.

“Your, Your Highness!”

Adel cried out in shock. Those lips parted and a devilishly red tongue licked her fingers. Adel squeezed her eyes shut. Her lips, her chin, trembled uncontrollably.

It was hot. It also tickled. Sticky, moving slowly, gently scraped by sharp teeth.

His lips moved very leisurely. From fingers to palm, from palm to wrist, and below…

“Adelheit.”

At his call, she finally exhaled and opened her eyes.