Adel’s mother’s death had also been a terrible thing to Christine. She had been like a mother to him.

In the village, it was handled as if she had been attacked by a beast of the forest. Christine had thought so too.

But could a silver wolf have killed Adel’s mother?

Could Adel possibly believe that?

…Why?

But he couldn’t completely ignore Adel’s words.

It was around the time her mother had an accident that Christine’s transformation into a wolf began.

Everything was confusing, and he was not easily able to control himself.

Above all, the problem was that he didn’t remember what happened when he transformed.

Wouldn’t I have killed her mother with my own hands?

Such a thing could never have happened…

While lost in thought, it was time for him to swiftly mount the horse.

“Help me, Count!”

Mia ran out of the house, shouting.

“Adel has collapsed and is unconscious!”

When Christine rushed in, Adel was lying on the floor. A broken wine bottle and red wine were wetting the floor as if she had been trying to drink it.

“Adel, wake up! Adel!”

Mia hugged her and slapped her cheek, but she remained limp and did not regain consciousness.

She looked perfectly fine just moments ago…

“Stand aside!”

Christine quickly took off his cape, covered Adel, and picked her up in a flash. Her body was feverish like fire.

Damn, in this state, she’s…

“Where is the nearest clinic?”

“It’s over 30 minutes away by carriage. But with the scarlet fever epidemic, it won’t be easy to see a doctor.”

“Then let’s take her to the imperial palace.”

That would be faster.

“But the palace is too far away. Instead, take her to Mark.”

“Mark? The veterinarian?”

“He will probably diagnose her better than most doctors.”

Christine’s hesitation did not last long.

With every breath, Adel’s shoulders heaved in pain. It was a priority to alleviate her suffering as quickly as possible.

“You might as well pray for Adel to recover quickly, for Mark’s sake too. Elyaha!”

He shook the reins of the horse sharply with Adel sitting in front.

“Lay her down here!”

Mark, the veterinarian, shouted, folding back the sheet of the examination bed.

As Christine laid her down, Adel remained limp, gasping for breath.

“How is she? Will she be all right?”

Anxiously, he asked, and Mark, who had been examining her, responded grimly.

“It seems to be scarlet fever. It’s common in children, but adults can catch it if their immunity is low. But her body is so weak…”

Staring at Adel, Mark clicked his tongue. In just a few days, she had visibly withered, and her nutritional status seemed poor.

“So you can cure her, right?”

Quite a few children died from scarlet fever.

“A doctor cannot guarantee anything for any patient. I will only do my best.”

Christine didn’t like that coolheaded response.

“If something goes wrong with this woman, you won’t be safe either.”

But Mark seemed unaffected by that threat.

“First, let’s bring down her fever and talk. Please strip her down to her underwear.”

“Adel’s clothes, by me?”

“If you can’t, I will.”

“……!”

Christine’s murderous look answered for him.

“When her clothes are off, wipe her body with a lukewarm towel.”

Leaving those words behind, Mark quickly headed to leave the examination room.

“Where are you going?”

Blocking his way, Christine pointed to the opposite examination room.

“I’m a very busy person. I’ll bring the fever medicine soon.”

There were a few more beds in the examination room across the hall. Scarlet fever was indeed spreading, as there were young patients lying there.

After Mark left, only Christine and Adel remained in the small examination room.

The fever had risen, and Adel’s whole body was flushed red. Removing her clothes was the task given to Christine.

The problem was that her body odor was too strong due to the increased body temperature. That fragrance, which had always stimulated him.

“Damn……”

Christine grumbled with a disgruntled face.

He had no choice but to hold his breath and start to unbutton Adel’s blouse.

As the front of the blouse opened little by little, the white chemise she wore inside was revealed. Her flesh slightly shone through the thin fabric of the underwear. A body with considerable volume, unlike her pitifully slender arms and legs……

“……!”

He couldn’t help but close his eyes tightly.

He had just managed to take her blouse off her body. However, untying the string tied at the waist of her skirt was something he couldn’t do with his eyes closed. So, he opened his eyes for a moment, and a disheveled Adel came into his view.

Her hair tangled, her face flushed red and damp with sweat……

“Inhale!”

He closed his eyes again and held his breath.

Wasn’t it unfair for a sick patient to look this seductive?

In any case, he had to undress Adel. But his current state was too dangerous. His patience was almost at its limit.

If this went on, he might lose control again……

At that moment, someone entered the treatment room. It was Judy, Mark’s assistant, who came in with a fever reducer and a lukewarm towel.

Christine grabbed her hand as if he had been saved.

“Take care of Adel instead. I’m begging you.”

At his earnest request, Judy stared at him, her face flushed and her soul lost. But she soon shook her head and came to her senses.

“I’m sorry, but I have to help the Viscount……”

“I’ll help the Viscount.”

“What?”

“You’re responsible for taking care of Adel from now on.”

Christine commanded threateningly and fled the treatment room.

“Need any help?”

Mark, who was looking after the young patients, looked back as if he doubted his ears.

“Where’s Judy, and why the Viscount……?”

“I thought her help would be more necessary for Adel.”

Then Christine took off the jacket of his uniform and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt.

“Do I just have to wipe the feverish children’s bodies with a wet towel?”

“That’s right.”

Christine fetched a towel from the water jug, wrung it out with appropriate force, and began to wipe the bodies of the feverish children.

It didn’t stop there. He cleaned up the vomit of the children who had thrown up, mopped the floor, washed the mop, and even comforted the crying children.

Mark, who had been watching anxiously at first, was reassured by his surprisingly skilled actions. He had thought of him as an arrogant nobleman who only knew how to wield a sword; this was unexpected.

“Are you surprised that I’m doing so well?”

Christine, feeling his gaze, asked in a boastful manner, to which Mark chuckled.

“I’m just glad you’re not getting in the way.”

As Christine glared at him, Mark busied himself with treating the patients.

But it was strange. He acted like he couldn’t even touch Adel, so why didn’t he take care of her himself? He didn’t understand.