The Maid's Contract Marriage - Chapter 21

Reina fell asleep in the carriage on the way back.

Perhaps because she cried a lot, or because she had exhausted her mental strength.

Her wet face was pale under the moonlight.

Arthur lent his shoulder to the sleeping Reina.

“……”

Arthur’s gaze lingered on Tristan’s handkerchief clutched in Reina’s hand.

He tried to gently pull it out, but it wouldn’t come out easily, perhaps because she was gripping it tightly while asleep in a tense state.

Her face was drawn, frowning as if uncomfortable.

……Is she unwell or fatigued?

Arthur let out a light sigh as he looked at Reina’s pale face.

“She might be a bit frail. She suddenly collapsed on the day of the inaugural ceremony too, didn’t she?”

Tristan spoke in a tone that was neither particularly negative nor sympathetic.

It was obvious he didn’t like Reina, but as per Arthur’s orders, he seemed to be trying to maintain courtesy without showing that he thought she was exaggerating or expressing any dissatisfaction.

“……Shall we move on our own tomorrow?”

That was something Arthur had been contemplating as well.

Leaving Reina alone would give her the opportunity to contact the Marchioness, which wouldn’t be good for Arthur……

“I’ll ask my wife’s opinion.”

“Yes.”

Tristan answered calmly and withdrew.

“……”

As for approaches from the Marquis’ side, they could be blocked to some extent now that the knights had been assigned to guard duty.

But the knights hadn’t properly settled in yet.

To be safe, it would be after some friction occurred once.

It would be safe after giving a clear impression that ‘there will be problems if you meddle’.

“……”

Still, if they approached cunningly or if ‘Reina’ showed willingness for voluntary contact, it couldn’t be completely blocked.

In any case, it was safest for Arthur to be by her side.

He could deal with situations.

And know what conversations took place.

“……”

Reina didn’t wake up even until they arrived at the mansion and Arthur carried her out.

Arthur lightly placed his hand on Reina’s waist to check if she had tightened her corset too much.

[This is the timeline separator]

On the way up to the bridal chamber, Arthur encountered a woman waiting in front of the knights.

The knights who had started guarding the floor where Arthur was staying didn’t let her pass, so the woman who wasn’t granted entry stood still in front of the knights’ swords and spears, holding a bag with an expressionless face.

When the knights’ eyes moved upon noticing Arthur, the woman turned around following their gaze.

“……”

And smiled with her face covered by a bonnet.

“Hello.”

A beautiful woman with blonde hair wearing a splendid dress.

And one such woman sleeping with her face covered by a shawl in his arms.

Arthur just smiled slightly in response to the woman’s greeting, then ignored her and walked past.

A knight glanced at the woman in the bonnet and asked Arthur.

“She was waiting for Your Excellency. Is she a lady you know?”

Arthur said.

“No.”

The woman laughed behind him.

“We’re not strangers. We met once a few days ago.”

“It seems too little to call us acquaintances.”

Arthur replied, turning around a beat late.

“The hour is late. I’m afraid I can’t commit the impropriety of warmly welcoming a virtuous lady who is merely an acquaintance.”

“……”

The woman laughed unreservedly.

“Indeed.”

Her face was calm and relaxed.

“I’ll come visit again formally. At a less late hour.”

I just came to say hello today.

―She added.

The woman lightly lifted her skirt, curtsied slightly bending her knees, then gracefully turned and left.

She didn’t even glance once at the woman Arthur was holding in his arms.

[This is the timeline separator]

The next morning at dawn.

When Arthur left the bedroom, Reina couldn’t get up.

She had vaguely woken up but her mind wasn’t clear as if she had a cold, and she had a fever.

Arthur briefly conferred with his knights who were waiting to accompany him for the day’s schedule, including Tristan, Lucan, and Kay, in front of the door, then pulled the bell rope to call a maid.

After giving the maid a few orders along with instructions to call the doctor.

Arthur decided to leave behind one of his most trusted subordinates who could be spared from today’s schedule and was suitable for the task.

And Arthur told the knights a few things they needed to know about her.

For a short time, there was a bit of commotion.

Arthur just smiled slightly, left the rest to Tristan, and returned to the room.

While waiting for the maid to bring the doctor, Arthur, dressed in full regalia, sat by the bed and wiped Reina’s wet forehead until it was time to leave.

The doctor will be here soon.

I’ll leave my maid and knight behind.

Arthur told her softly while gently cooling her feverish cheeks with the back of his cool hand.

Reina looked up at Arthur hazily and murmured faintly.

Let’s go together.

Arthur quietly stroked her hair while looking down at her.

Then, bending down, he lightly touched his lips to her hair as if to soothe her.

……I’ll be back soon. I won’t be late.

Closing the slightly open door.

Tristan quietly waited for them leaning against the door.

·

·

·

“There’s one thing I haven’t told you all.”

“I told Tristan, but it seems it’s time for you to know as well.”

“The woman lying in there now is not Christina Julius.”

“Julius judged that I wouldn’t return and sent out a different woman as Christina’s stand-in five years ago.”

“Reina Astarin.”

“That’s the name of my wife who’s in the bedroom now.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Chirp chirp.

“……”

Reina opened her eyes without being startled by the morning sunlight and birdsong.

For the first time in three days, she woke up in bed calmly without being startled.

Reina blankly stared at the white sunlight cast over the bed sheets.

“……”

For the first time, she thought the bed felt cozy.

Reina rolled over as if tossing and hugged the fluffy blanket.

The wet towel that had been placed on her forehead fell off to the side.

“……”

Reina blankly stared at the wet towel that had rolled off and fallen beside the pillow.

“……”

Vague memories of last night flashed through her mind.

On the way back after finishing visiting the bereaved families while touring the Julius territory.

Dozing off tiredly in the carriage, he silently lent her his shoulder, she recalled in order.

Her body that wouldn’t move like waterlogged cotton at some point.

And in the early morning, the feverish cold symptoms that made her unable to get out of bed all seemed like hazy memories from a dream.

“I’ll be back soon. I won’t be late.”

“……”

Was that a dream?

Reina blinked blankly and covered her forehead with her own hand.

Only the damp, cool sensation of the wet towel that had been placed there remained.

“……”

Reina stirred to get up.

She was in comfortable sleeping clothes.

Her body was slightly damp with sweat but it didn’t feel too bad.

Just her stomach didn’t feel very good.

I feel nauseous…..

Reina propped herself up on her elbow and raised her body.

She saw Brody and an unfamiliar knight leaning by the door instead of Arthur.

And Dr. Lorenson, the court physician, was there.

Arthur was not in sight.

Her eyes looked around searching for Arthur.

……Where did Lord Arthur go?

“You’re awake.”

Dr. Lorenson approached as he saw her get up.

Before him, Brody hurried over and draped a shawl over Reina’s nightgown.

Brody tidied up the fallen towel and wet pillow on the bed and helped Reina sit comfortably.

“How are you feeling?”

The doctor asked.

Her gaze that had been searching for Arthur turned to Lorenson.

“Good.”

She answered habitually but actually didn’t feel good.

Her throat was hoarse.

Ahem, as she cleared her throat, her stomach churned and Reina couldn’t help but press her chest with an uncomfortable expression.

As her expression frowned, Dr. Lorenson approached Reina’s bed closer and held out his hand.

“Please give me your wrist. I’ll take your pulse.”

“Ah…… Yes.”

Reina held out her wrist to Dr. Lorenson.

Lorenson placed his fingers on Reina’s wrist.

“……”

Lorenson began his examination.

“Is your stomach uncomfortable?”

“……Yes. A little bit.”

“Since when?”

“For the first time today. After waking up……”

“What did you eat yesterday? How many hours did you sleep?”

The questions continued.

Feeling honored that such a renowned physician was asking in detail, Reina answered one by one.

“Have you been eating regularly these days?”

“Ah, yes. Better than ever……”

“Do you eat a lot?”

“I don’t have much appetite so not a lot…… But more than usual.”

“How about sleep?”

“That too, much longer than usual……”

Reina pressed her nape in embarrassment.

Her gaze went to the unfamiliar knight, feeling conscious.

Aren’t these answers revealing too much how her life changed from a maid to a lady?

Reina awkwardly pulled up the shawl Brody had draped over her.

“Do you have trouble sleeping?”

“I have trouble sometimes…… But I’m sleeping much better than usual.”

“How about your menstrual cycle? Is it regular?”

“……I don’t keep track so I’m not sure……”

Reina answered in a small, unsure voice.

“Hmm……”

After a while, Dr. Lorenson quietly withdrew to the tray placed on the trolley.

There was a clattering sound.

“How much of the tea did you drink the day before yesterday?”

She realized he was referring to the reddish-black liquid.

“One full cup.”

“……”

The clattering sound paused for a moment.

“……You drank a lot.”

“……”

For a while, Dr. Lorenson stood there rattling.

Clatter.

The sound stopped as the doctor turned around.

“It seems your body is not adapting well to the unfamiliar medicine. It looks like it’s having a strong effect as the medicine entered while your body’s accumulated fatigue hasn’t been relieved.”

Alvin Lorenson left the reddish-black liquid on the tray and only brought over the pills that were served with it, along with a cup of water.

“Just take this today.”

It was clear water.

Reina looked at Dr. Lorenson dazedly, unable to accept it.

“……”

Reina glanced towards the reddish-black liquid, reading the atmosphere.

……Will this not be reported to the Marchioness?

“It’s fine for just one day.”

Dr. Lorenson raised and lowered his hand again as if urging her.

Reina accepted it.

After that, Lorenson took the medicine bowl from the tray, went to the window, and poured it out onto the potted plant.

“!”

Reina was startled.

The ‘reddish-black liquid’ was quite an expensive medicine.

Even though the maids’ weekly wages at the Julius mansion were quite generous, she had seen many girls who needed that medicine stomping their feet in financial distress.

To throw it away like that?

“Rest today.”

Lorenson said calmly.

Creak.

“Your Excellency.”

Along with the knight’s voice, the air changed.

She heard someone saying, My lady just woke up a little while ago.

As he entered the room and turned his head this way, their eyes met.

It was Arthur.