Despite removing the bullet lodged in his body and completing the suturing well, Cain was unable to wake up.

To the frustrated Jane, the attending physician repeated the same words.

“He has passed the dangerous crisis. Now it depends on the duke’s will.”

Jane forcibly swallowed the words “quack” that had risen to her throat. Then she separately asked Nathan to call in those rumored to be famous doctors.

For a while, Cain’s bedroom was crowded with doctors.

Doctors with different appearances and specialties said similar things to the attending physician of Hastings.

Only the person from the temple said something slightly different.

“Please pray for Duke Hastings. Your sincerity will help heal Duke Hastings.”

Even without him saying so, everyone in Hastings was already praying for Cain’s recovery with one heart and mind.

The most desperate ones were, of course, Jane and Joseph.

Remembering Joseph from the day he first saw Cain’s condition, a piercing headache arose.

Seeing the pale Cain, the child had an expression of losing the world. Jane silently hugged the child from behind, who was too shocked to even scream.

Jane empathized with Joseph’s feelings. When she learned that Count Whitney had passed away, she thought the sky had fallen.

Although Jane, who had been kidnapped and suffered psychological shock, found it difficult to take care of herself, she endured, unable to show weakness in front of the child.

Another duty was given to her.

“There are pending matters that need to be handled. When the duke is absent, the duchess should act on his behalf.”

Jane rather welcomed the work. Only then could she barely breathe, knowing she could do something in place of Cain.

It’s already been a week like this.

Every night, Jane stayed by Cain’s side, wondering if he would show even a small sign. But frustratingly, Cain’s quietly closed eyes never opened.

Knock knock, Jane opened her eyes at the sound. Her eyes met Norbert’s, who was turning the hourglass upside down.

“Norbert, you were supposed to wake me up.”

Norbert smiled awkwardly and checked the visitor. It was Nathan.

“I see you again, madam.”

These days, Nathan stayed in the guest room of Somnium House and helped Jane.

Jane adjusted her posture. The fact that he had returned shortly after going to work means he has quite important news to deliver.

“Madam, an important message has arrived from the palace.”

Nathan handed over a paper stamped with a golden seal.

As expected, it was very important content.

“What do you anticipate the content to be?”

“It seems they’ve learned that something has happened to His Excellency.”

Despite issuing a strict gag order, Hastings without Cain was full of holes.

Jane’s facial muscles stiffened. She carefully opened the letter.

Helena’s letter, which began with ‘Dear Duchess of Hastings,’ contained a little concern for Cain and reproach for the lack of a detailed report on how he was injured.

And the last sentence was a suspicion.

…I heard a very interesting story about the Duke of Hastings. Come to the palace when you have time.

Helena did not order Jane to enter the palace considering Cain’s condition. But no matter how many times she read it, it sounded like an order to Jane to enter the palace.

“Madam?”

Nathan looked worriedly at Jane, who had turned pale.

Jane pretended to be fine, looked at the letter, put it at the very bottom, and raised her head.

“I’ll have to go see His Majesty soon. Can you schedule it?”

“Are you saying to come in?”

Nathan frowned.

‘The old raccoon can’t even grasp the situation, while our madam is having a hard time.’

He inwardly cursed at Helena.

“If there’s nothing urgent to handle, I’ll get up for a moment. I promised to go see Joseph and Cain.”

Nathan and Norbert stepped aside. Jane glanced at the mountain of documents before leaving the office.

“Oh, mother.”

Joseph was in the hallway. The child was about to burst into tears. Jane was startled and picked up Joseph.

“Joseph, how long have you been waiting? Why didn’t you knock when you came?”

“Sob, mo-mother, I shouldn’t dis-disturb your work.”

Joseph tried to share the responsibility as a member of Hastings. The adults’ noses tingled at the admirable sight.

“Joseph coming to the office is not a disturbance, but a gift. Next time, don’t wait here, just come right in, okay?”

Joseph, with his face buried in Jane’s shoulder, nodded.

“But Joseph, is something wrong? Why are our son’s eyes moist?”

“I-I had a scary dream.”

Jane rubbed Joseph’s back. Since seeing the sick Cain, the child often had nightmares.

She knew he woke up startled at night and couldn’t fall into deep sleep again, but she didn’t know he had nightmares even during naps.

“Norbert, Joseph seems to have lost a lot of energy. Tell Pudica to compose Joseph’s diet with nutritious foods for the time being.”

“Yes, madam.”

Jane patted Joseph and headed to Cain’s bedroom.

The area around Cain’s bedroom was so quiet that you could hear dust settling.

The knight guarding the bedroom door opened it when he saw Jane.

Glen, who was wiping Cain’s body, bowed his head when he saw Jane.

“You’ve come, Duchess.”

“Glen, I’ll finish the rest, so leave it and go out.”

“It’s almost done. Only the right arm needs to be wiped. I’ll do it.”

“If only the right arm needs to be wiped, I’ll do it.”

Jane put Joseph down and took the wet towel from Glen’s hand.

Joseph, not interested in the adults’ argument, clung to Cain’s bed.

And gazed at Cain endlessly.

“I’ll just change the water.”

Unable to break Jane’s stubbornness, Glen filled a basin with clean water.

“Joseph, your father would be curious. You should tell him what you studied today.”

Jane held Cain’s right hand. His hand was still large and warm.

She gently wiped down his arm with the warm wet towel while listening to Joseph’s chatter.

“Today, I did a very, very fun math study. I made animals and flowers and various things with squares and triangles. The teacher cut colored paper for me. She, she is a really good teacher. Th-thank you for finding a good teacher for me, father.”

Joseph paused for a moment and looked at Cain. Then he made a sad face.

“Mo-mother, it seems fa-father can’t hear my voice.”

“No, he’s hearing everything. So keep talking to him.”

Joseph puckered his lips and quickly wiped away the tears that had welled up in his eyes.

He remembered what Jane had told him.

“Joseph, he’ll see you crying too. He’ll be upset, so let’s not cry in front of our father.”

They even made a pinky promise.

So Joseph cried in secret. Though Jane always caught him.

“And… ah, I started learning an instrument, and I he-heard that fa-father is good at violin. So, so I decided to learn the violin too. La-later, mother said she would ac-accompany me… Let’s play together, father.”

Joseph carefully held Cain’s pinky finger. Jane looked at Joseph fondly and put away the wet towel.

After tucking Cain’s arm under the blanket, Jane sat in the chair next to the bed.

Cain’s face looked very peaceful. If not for the bandage crossing his shoulder, it would seem he was just in a deep sleep.

But Jane knew. The fact that Cain was fighting hard alone.

Jane gripped Cain’s hand tightly. She wanted to help him in his arduous battle, but there was no way. She lowered her head in helplessness.

“Mo-mother?”

Joseph looked at Jane with anxious eyes. Jane quickly created a fake smile.

It wasn’t just Cain she had to protect.

“Yes, Joseph?”

“Will fa-father wake up?”

“Of course. He will wake up.”

“When, when father wakes up, I’ll be an even better son. I’ll li-listen well, study hard. I’ll get fi-first place in the academy exam! What about you, mother?”

“Hm?”

“What will you do for fa-father when he wakes up?”

“Well.”

What should I do for Cain when he wakes up? It’s a thought I’ve never had before.

“Do so-something father likes!”

What did Cain like?

In the past, I could say it with confidence, but now I don’t know at all.

So when you wake up, I…

“I’ll do whatever you want.”

Jane whispered in Cain’s ear. At that moment, Cain’s fingertip twitched slightly.

That small movement was not noticed by Joseph, who was only looking at Cain’s face, nor by Jane, who was tidying his disheveled hair.

* * *

On the ninth day since Cain lost consciousness, Jane headed to the palace.

Nathan had been watching over Cain’s nights since two days ago. Thanks to this, Jane was able to make time to visit the palace today.

Just as Jane was about to doze off, the carriage stopped. Jane, who got out of the carriage, was guided inside by a court official.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Duchess.”

Upon arriving at the reception room, Helena greeted Jane very warmly.

“May the goddess’s glory be with you.”

And beside Helena was Scarlet. Scarlet approached and hugged Jane.

“How can you show your face so shamelessly after putting the duke in danger?”

Scarlet whispered quickly so that only Jane could hear.

A chilly wind blew between Jane and Scarlet.