From Etienne, there flowed the labored breaths of someone suffering from a fever. Even though Lady Claire frequently came to check on Etienne, confirming her condition by touching her forehead, the Marquise did not leave her side. Once passing through the gateway that only direct descendants could pass, one could perfectly use the power of restoration. However, knowing that didn’t make the time engulfed in the fever any more comfortable.

“Hmm.”

Etienne bit her lips, her expression contorted. The heat felt on her skin was considerable, so hotter waves of fever were likely raging within her body.

As tears streamed down Etienne’s eyes when she turned her head to the side, the Marquise, as if sympathizing, used a handkerchief to wipe them away.

“It’s already been a day; why hasn’t the fever gone down yet?”

The maid who had been nursing Etienne alongside the Marquise paused, still holding a towel in water. It was frustrating muttering, probably not meant for me, but I couldn’t easily overlook it.

“Even for him, the fever hasn’t lasted this long. Do you happen to know anything?”

“I only know that the duration of the fever varies.”

The maid’s expression, speaking as if she didn’t know anything else, was subtly peculiar. It was as if there was something she couldn’t tell the Marquise.
The maid gently wiped Etienne’s forehead with a towel that had been thoroughly wrung out. No one knows how long the fever will last. However, Miss Etienne seemed to say something as if she knew.

But I couldn’t tell the Marquise what I heard, so the maid silently wiped away the sweat on her forehead.

“Please wake up.”

Miss Etienne.

Looking out the window, there was only one person in Fernando’s mind.

Etienne.

Since she told me not to come for a while, I’ve been thinking only about her and refrained from any external activities.

If I go to the Marquis’s house now, would Etienne dislike it? But whenever I approached, she always pretended to be defeated, so maybe it would be okay to go…

A day without seeing Etienne felt like a year.

“Fernando, are you listening?”

Fernando’s gaze slowly turned to his mother, who had suddenly come to find him, inviting him to have tea and then continuing to drag out time with pointless chatter.

“I’ve been thinking about Etienne and Hana for a long time. Both are talented and well-raised, but I prefer Hana.”

Between sips of tea, the Duchess paused for a moment, and Fernando chuckled.

There was a thought that Hana’s confession was abrupt. Looking back, there was nothing different about that day compared to any other day.

But I never expected such a surprise gift to come.
“How beautiful and admirable it is that you confess your feelings like that. I tried to lean my heart toward you because you like Etienne, but…”

The Duchess looked at Fernando with eyes full of words.

“There should only be one person who has an interest in that girl.”

“Prince…”

At the Duchess’s words, one person immediately came to mind. Hearing Fernando muttering, the Duchess slammed the teacup down roughly. When unpleasant sounds echoed from the teacup, Fernando frowned.

“Fine. Honestly, has anyone not known that the two have been close for the past two years? Don’t dismiss it with such nonsense that Claire supports the prince, so she’s close to Etienne. I’ve been watching. Even before the gatherings, the prince had a liking for Etienne.”

The Duchess narrowed her eyes and spoke with a confident expression.

“I’m very close to the Marchioness, so I know well. Etienne said she had met the prince before. Even during gatherings, no matter how much the prince sought Etienne out. How do you think those who saw it would feel? The prince has been waiting all this time.”

“…”

“In society, there’s a rumor that the prince has feelings for Etienne.”

By the way, there were also rumors in society that Fernando liked Etienne, but the Duchess did not mention that.

“But…”

“What?”
“Is the reason my mother chose Hae-na because of the aristocrats who like Etienne?”

“…It’s not just the Crown Prince. Even Prince Rudvi has feelings for Etienne. I don’t particularly want you to interfere in that.”

“Then, what about my feelings?”

Fernando asked vaguely, tilting his head to one side.

“Fernando.”

The Duchess tried to stop him, but Fernando’s indifferent words were faster.

“Mother. How was I before I met Etienne?”

Although the Duchess’s face subtly stiffened at the meaning behind his question, she did not avoid the conversation.

“He was a child who struggled a lot with training.”

“After meeting Etienne?”

“He became a child with a strong heart.”

So, he made an effort not to fear his father and actively approached training. As his heart changed, his abilities became noticeable, and he became stronger in an instant.

Once he completes the coming-of-age ceremony, he will qualify to enter the palace as a knight and take on important missions.

But he didn’t want to admit that it was thanks to Etienne. Because then, he wouldn’t be able to push Hae-na forward.

“It’s Etienne who makes my heart strong.”