After brushing off the remaining dust, Layla placed the coat back in its original place.

Pulcheria entrusted every single piece of clothing she wore entirely to Layla’s hands. In the toilette rooms of most noble ladies, it would have been impossible for a single person to manage the vast quantity of dresses.

However, Pulcheria was quite frugal and had little interest in adorning herself, so even though it was a bit challenging, Layla could manage all of her clothes by herself. So much so that even Layla suggested that Pulcheria get new dresses made.

“Shall I bring you some more tea, lady?”

“No, that’s alright.”

Although she could go upstairs to her bedroom and rest, Pulcheria always watched Layla organize her clothes like this while drinking tea. Rather than surveillance, it was closer to a hobby to pass the idle time.

Watching Layla, who never stayed still and diligently moved her body, reminded her of a squirrel, and she would laugh with joy. Just watching her was never boring; that was how Layla was.

“Isn’t it tiring?”

“Tiring, lady? Not at all.”

It was amusing that the very person who gave Layla so much work was asking if it was tiring. Pulcheria let out a chuckle.

There were quite a few people who criticized Lady Pulcheria’s bad taste in keeping Layla by her side and exploiting her. Even if she was her husband’s blood relative, she was still her niece after all.

Pulcheria was aware of the rumors circulating about how she could exploit her poor niece, who had lost her parents and was all alone.

But there was something they misunderstood. Pulcheria never treated her niece carelessly or exploited her. Rather, it was the opposite. She relied on Layla for everything. Pulcheria couldn’t even imagine a life without Layla.

There were good reasons for her to depend on Layla so much. Pulcheria fundamentally did not trust people well. No matter how much she employed someone, she never fully shared her personal matters with them.

She originally had a suspicious nature, but after losing her child, her distrust of others reached its peak. Sometimes she was plagued by the fear that everyone in the world was trying to harm her.

Layla’s help was instrumental in overcoming that difficult period of hardship. In a way, Layla was like a lifesaver to Lady Pulcheria.

“You should also find a good match.”

With each passing year, Layla blossomed like a flower in full bloom. Whenever she attended a banquet or formal gathering, Layla always became the center of attention. Wherever she went, there was no man who didn’t turn to look at her.

However, her ambiguous status was hindering Layla’s marriage prospects. For a noble man to propose, Layla had too little to her name, but then again, her status was too high to be matched with a commoner. After all, she was a young lady of the Tupper family.

It was unknown whether she was aware of that fact herself, but Layla was truly a beautiful woman who was too good to be left to grow old alone.

“I am happiest right now, serving by your side, lady.”

She answered with a pretty smile. How could even her words be so pretty? Pulcheria also smiled, following Layla.

Carl couldn’t even wait for the carriage to be prepared and directly mounted a horse. Without even checking if Clovis was following, he galloped and arrived at the count’s residence in one breath.

“Celeste!”

The residence was in chaos. As if they knew he would come, all the doors leading into the residence were left open. Thanks to that, he was able to enter quickly without any delay. As he dismounted from the horse, Celeste’s assistant, Hannah, greeted him.

“You’ve come, Your Highness.”

“How is Celeste’s condition?”

“As I mentioned, it’s similar to last time on the train.”

He walked into the residence without hesitation. Hannah also guided him to where Celeste was with quick steps. Carl’s gaze was busy searching for Celeste. He was anxious. Not knowing what had happened to Celeste while he was away made him even more worried.

“Her face and lips are pale. Her hands and feet are as cold as ice, and her breathing is shallow and very fast. I checked and her pulse is also beating very rapidly.”

He recalled Celeste boarding the train in the middle region after buying lots of delicious desserts.

“Thank you for contacting me quickly.”

“Not at all. I’m just grateful that you came like this.”

To investigate the incident in Urentum, Celeste’s testimony, who had stayed there directly, was absolutely necessary.

Carl entrusted that task to Hannah, Celeste’s assistant, and Hannah also found the explosion in Urentum very suspicious, so she promised to actively cooperate with the imperial investigation team.

Since there were too many eyes watching if he went to the palace every time, Carl instructed Clovis to contact Hannah via transceiver.

Thus, whenever they needed to ask questions or share new information, Clovis and Hannah stayed in close contact. Thanks to that, they were able to quickly learn the news of Celeste collapsing without delay.

“Y-Your Highness, the Grand Duke.”

Liv was startled to see Carl suddenly appear in front of Celeste’s bedroom.

“Where is Celeste?”

“She is asleep.”

Carl’s expression was unusual. It seemed he had rushed over, worried upon hearing that his fiancée had collapsed.

Oh my, just look at that sweat. How much did he run? Liv covered her mouth with both hands.

Was Grand Duke Albrecht always this romantic? To the point of losing his mind in love and dropping everything to move? Realizing it wasn’t the time to be moved by such things, Liv guided Carl deeper into the bedroom.

“Why this happened so suddenly… The attending physician says it seems to be neurological. That she must have experienced something mentally stressful recently.”

“It’s not a matter of calling a doctor.”

“Pardon?”

Carl turned around abruptly. He was gasping for breath, looking for Clovis who had followed him.

“Clovis, is Rinke not here yet?”

“Yes. Before leaving the imperial palace, I sent word requesting Duke Rinke to come to the count’s residence. It will likely take a bit more time for him to arrive.”

Rinke was the head of the Magic Department. Knowing from past experience that the reason for Celeste’s collapse was not simply due to a physical illness, Carl had summoned Rinke to the count’s residence just before leaving.

The surroundings were too chaotic. It made sense, as the lady of the house had collapsed for an unknown reason. Carl continued his conversation with Hannah.

“Since when has Celeste shown these symptoms?”

“Today.”

“She showed no similar symptoms until the day before?”

“Yes. None.”

“Around what time did the symptoms appear today?”

Cecil, who had been constantly wiping Celeste’s forehead with a wet towel and rubbing her arms and legs, burst into tears upon seeing Grand Duke Albrecht arrive.

Receiving a detailed report from Hannah about everything that happened today, Carl made his own speculations about the reason.

“But why today of all days? Was there a schedule different from usual?”

At those words, Hannah closed her mouth.

A schedule different from usual. Unlike before, today was a day when they had two visitors. Three, if you counted Carl.

While there wouldn’t be much issue with Lady Layla’s visit, the fact that Grand Duke Toskur came… Should I tell him or not?

“Guests came to visit.”

“Guests?”

“Young Lady Tupper came with a gift from Lady Pulcheria.”

He had also heard that his aunt was conducting a gift offensive on her prospective niece-in-law. More accurately, it would be to her daughter Valerie, not her niece-in-law.

“And?”

“And…”

She seemed troubled somehow. Carl sensed that there was something about the second guest.

“His Highness Grand Duke Toskur came to visit.”

This was unexpected news. Carl’s brow furrowed.

“I do not know what they discussed. However…”

“However?”

“His Highness Grand Duke Toskur, who had entered the drawing room saying he had something to discuss, came out carrying the collapsed Countess in his arms. It must have been less than ten minutes after they entered the drawing room.”

Franz carried Celeste out in his arms. The veins on Carl’s forehead bulged and disappeared.