“It’s the law. Isn’t His Majesty’s body the foundation of the empire? Even a cold can be dangerous.”
“It’s just a common cold.”
I did my best to hide my disappointment.
But the fact that I said this meant that I was expecting a visit from Nikolai, making my face flush.
“Do you know about the Deathflower disease, Elizabeth?”
“I heard it’s a disease that put the empire in danger 20 years ago. It causes red spots like flower petals and a foul smell similar to a rotting flower, right?”
“Many people died from the Deathflower. It was so dreadful that rumors circulated that just making eye contact with a patient would kill you.”
“Hasn’t the Deathflower completely disappeared?”
“……Isn’t it better to be careful?”
But I was no ordinary patient.
Wasn’t I the hero who saved the Emperor?
He could at least send a handwritten letter, couldn’t he?
Is he busy again?
Casus casually spoke while watching me twist the bedsheet.
“Stress is not good for recovery.”
“I’m not contagious, so mind your business.”
“I wish I could, but it keeps bothering me.”
“?”
“I would have visited you to check on your condition even if His Majesty hadn’t ordered it. I’m curious about how you’re doing.”
“Why are you curious?”
“I’d like to know myself. It’s troublesome and awkward.”
‘Is Casus influenced by my continuous seduction since he’s a workaholic?’
I was curious about the new experimental result.
I wasn’t entirely without remorse towards Casus.
He would have gladly cooperated if he knew it was to prevent the impending disaster.
“His Majesty told me to give you this.”
Casus extended a small box.
My heart fluttered for a moment.
The box was the perfect size and shape for a ring.
“Isn’t it a longstanding custom in Hartman to not visit the sick emptyhanded?”
“So that’s why Franz was going to bring a gift.”
Casus cleared his throat as if displeased that I called the crown prince by his name.
I quickly changed the subject.
“Please tell His Majesty I’m grateful.”
“This is my gift.”
“You prepared a gift too, Casus?”
“Wasn’t it just a custom?”
Casus turned his head away and didn’t try to make eye contact.
His normally cold face was a bit flushed.
It was too clear to consider it a delusion.
Unlike Nikolai’s gift, Casus’s was large and heavy.
“It’s a book.”
“I’ve been bored lying around, thank you.”
“It’s the royal chronicles and Morasin theology.”
“It will be helpful.”
“I heard you’re quite interested in the goddess of healing. It’s a book obtained through Archbishop Arkanso, so it should interest you.”
“Is it a book not in the royal library?”
“Yes, I’ve completed my task. I’ll take my leave now.”
Kares gave a light bow.
It was a simple yet polite action, lacking nothing in etiquette.
‘Today is strange. He seems to be in a hurry?’
Turning my head slightly, my gaze fell on the box Nikolai had given me.
I wondered what was inside.
My desire to open it immediately conflicted with my curiosity to guess the content.
I shook the box next to my ear.
There was no sound.
It had almost no weight.
I suspected it might be empty.
As my heart pounded, I was about to untie the ribbon when knock, knock, the sound of knocking was heard.
“Douglas Nettleton, the Earl, and Lady Nettleton have come to visit.”
Upon hearing that I was unwell, the Deer siblings had expressed their intention to pay me a visit.
Only today was I in a condition to meet guests.
It had been just one hour since I sent the message.
My spirits lifted thanks to the two people who put everything aside to visit me.
“How are you feeling, Sister Elizabeth?”
“I’m glad to see you’re getting better, Elizabeth.”
The Deer siblings comforted me with their tender voices and radiant beauty.
Although their faces were full of worry, I felt they were being cautious not to make a fuss in front of the patient.
I was touched by their delicate consideration and was glad these good people cared for me.
“It’s a getwell gift.”
The Deer siblings had not forgotten to bring gifts.
With a delighted heart, I unwrapped the gift package.
“The pink potion must be Susan’s gift, and this is… a knife?”
I raised my eyebrows as I pulled out an exquisitely crafted dagger.
Douglas gave me a knife, a person who would dislike violence?
I removed the dagger, which was about a span in length, from its sheath.
Its bluish blade shimmered. It was small but clearly a masterpiece.
Pink and red gems were embedded in the silver hilt.
“It’s a selfdefense dagger. It’s light, so you should find it easy to carry.”
“An unexpected gift.”
“Having guards doesn’t mean you’re entirely safe. Always be cautious.”
It wasn’t only Nikolai who kept an eye on my every move.
Perhaps they had heard about the incident I had experienced in the slums.
Written in elegant handwriting on Douglas’s card was this:
[Dash]May you be safe wherever you are. Don’t hesitate to attack if need be. I’ll always support you.[Dash]Some men would have criticized me just for going to a dangerous place at a late hour.
They might have taken this incident as a lesson for me to behave more cautiously.
But Douglas gave me a dagger instead.
It conveyed his intention not to confine me to societal norms and to respect my choices, whatever they might be.
“Thank you so much, Douglas.”
“I’m grateful that you accepted it happily, Elizabeth.”
Douglas’s eyes softened considerably.
His deep, wide, brown eyes gently shook me.
It was as if he was whispering for me to remember that I’m not alone, that he’s always beside me.
Not wanting to lose to her brother, Susan chimed in.
“Please look at my gift too. I developed a surprising medicine for you, Sis!”
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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