Kay opened the door and entered, saying, “Don’t come in without permission, Mr. Taylor Lorenson.”

“If there’s permission, the lady has granted it, Sir Kay.”

Kay spoke with a displeased expression, “It would be better not to allow Mr. Taylor to come in when there are no knights, miss.”

Taylor, without blinking, pulled out the chair for Reyna to sit in and said, “Is it a usual order for knights to command the lady like this?”

“…”

Kay, who had closed his mouth, sighed and took a step back. Then, he apologized to Reyna, “I didn’t give any orders. I’m sorry if it sounded like that.”

“…”

After apologizing to Reyna, Kay stepped back, and Reyna missed the timing to say it’s okay.

Reyna greeted Kay with a nod, then sat in the chair Taylor had pulled out, whispering a few words as if murmuring.

“…Kay, don’t be too strict with me.”

Taylor shrugged and smiled. Then, as if nothing had happened, he examined Reyna.

“I’ll recheck your temperature. Ah.”

Taylor swabbed Reyna with an alcohol thermometer.

“…”

The high temperature is likely due to the red liquid.

Taylor, while looking at the slowly rising scale, calmed his mind and estimated the amount of tea Reyna had drunk so far.

Then, he began preparing some detoxifying agents to prescribe to Reyna.

“The temperature isn’t high, but it seems like you often have a fever.”

“…Really?”

Reyna touched her forehead.

There was a slight flush, but she didn’t realize it herself.

Unintentionally, Taylor found himself speaking comfortably.

“Hold on a bit longer. It should take about 5 minutes.”

“Yeah.”

“Other than what I give you, are you taking any other medicine?”

“No, I’m not.”

While Taylor examined Reyna, Kay stood by the window watching them, as long as there were no other people around, Kay allowed Reyna to speak to him not as a lady but as ‘Reyna.’

“…You suddenly seem like a doctor.”

Taylor chuckled.

“I am a doctor.”

Reyna rolled the thermometer in her mouth with a somewhat strange feeling.

“…Is this your first time using a thermometer?”

“Stop talking. You might bite that.”

Reyna laughed with the thermometer still in her mouth.

“Little Dr. Lorenson.”

“Don’t use honorifics that don’t suit me.”

“I suddenly feel a bit respectful toward you.”

“As much as I like to hear that, stop talking. You might really bite it.”

Taylor continued with his work while smiling.

It took some time for the thermometer to measure.

During Taylor’s efficient preparation of detoxifying agents, he made tea.

Then, he offered two cups to Reyna.

Dahlia… Dahlia.

Two cups of tea were placed in front of Reyna.

One was a red liquid, and the other was a normal flower tea brewed with red flower petals.

“Please drink only one of them.”

“…”

After Taylor prepared two cups of tea like this, Reyna no longer drank the red liquid.
Taylor gave Reyna the option without directly asking about the matter with Arthur.

On days when the red liquid was needed, she could have the red liquid, and on other days, she could drink a different tea.

As always, Taylor added, “You don’t have to drink it when I’m around, just for today.”

Reyna nodded, thermometer in her mouth. She didn’t confirm what kind of tea she was drinking. In case she needed to drink the red liquid, it was a considerate statement, ensuring she could choose that tea without feeling embarrassed.

“Dispose of any tea you haven’t drunk immediately.”

“Yeah.”

“After some time, this tea can become toxic, so don’t keep it; dispose of it immediately,” Taylor informed her.

After Taylor’s instructions, Reyna disposed of the red liquid in the potted plant, just as Dr. Lorenson did. Given that it was expensive medicine, she almost thought of keeping it in case someone needed it.

After some time had passed, Taylor checked Reyna’s temperature, recorded the medical records, and provided explanations about the prescribed medicine.

After the examination, Taylor and Reyna engaged in a bit more conversation. When Reyna mentioned that Kay wasn’t around when she came in the morning, she went out to buy a few sets of clothes and prepared winter clothes to send to her grandmother.

Then Reyna asked Taylor about her grandmother. Taylor told Reyna that her grandmother had safely moved to a new place under the protection of the knights. He suggested a schedule and method for meeting her grandmother and confirmed if there was a way for Reyna to secretly go out without attracting the attention of others or Lady Hujak.

Watching from the side, Kay silently accepted Taylor’s suggestions.

Kay bid farewell to Reyna and watched Taylor’s departure, staying in his place. Fortunately, Kay’s conscience seemed to bother him a bit, but Taylor Lorenson seemed to be a fairly decent man. If only he had the ability, was not worse than trash, had good looks, was respected among nobles, had enough wealth and determination to protect her, was mild yet deep-hearted, objectively handsome, and had the sense not to trouble his wife too much.