#4
I accidentally said what I was thinking.
But the Count didnāt care about me at all. He just kept yelling at the Empress, holding onto her. I quietly covered my mouth and observed them.
Although their eye shapes were different, Ruslanās light gray eyes were definitely from the Count. Ruslan really looked a lot like him.
Now that I think about it, when Ruslan died, the Count wasnāt even at the funeral.
Did I see him at the wedding?
My memory is blurry.
“That child is dying, and youāre here messing around!”
The Countās face turned bright red, as if it might explode. He was pushing forward without taking a breath, and I was worried he might collapse.
“Should I have heard about my childās critical condition from someone else?”
That was a bit too much.
The Empress must have thought the same because she lowered her head.
The room was filled with a suffocating silence.
The Count wiped his eyes and yelled at the head maid, who didnāt know what to do.
“Iām going to see Ruslan now. Where is he?”
Just as he was about to storm into Ruslan’s room, the Empress stopped him.
“He just had a fever break, so heās resting. If you go now, you might wake him up.”
“I canāt trust your words anymore. I need to see it with my own eyes.”
At his doubt, I stood up and gently tugged on his jacket. His cold, piercing eyes looked down at me.
“… Count, Ruslan is resting. Heās much better now.”
“That doesnāt seem like something that can get better.”
I gathered holy power at my fingertips and showed it to him.
For a moment, the Count, who had been doubting just moments ago, was speechless.
He stopped talking, hesitated, then knelt in front of me.
“Are you really the saintess?”
“I donāt think Iām a saintess.”
To be a saintess, I would need a divine revelation, which I hadnāt received.
My holy power wasnāt that much either.
“But I think I can help Ruslan.”
At my answer, tears filled the Countās eyes.
I couldnāt fully understand the pain of a parent with a sick child, so I just waited for his tears to stop.
After sending Melisa away, Count Orleans and Hestia sat down for the first time in a while.
In the short time since their emotional highs and lows, the Count had calmed down, but there was a long silence.
“So, what do you plan to do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“Iāve heard the news. The Allied forces have reached the border.”
“Sigh…”
Hestia propped her chin on her hand and stared out the window.
The summer garden was bathed in bright sunlight, its deep green color glowing.
“Itās been so long since we sat down like this.”
“Youāve always avoided sitting with me.”
He pouted and grumbled.
“Yeah, I guess.”
Since Ruslan got sick, the relationship between the two of them had become strained. As Ruslanās health worsened, they became more sensitive and eventually ended up divorced.
After that, it was a time of pain. They fought to protect themselves and hurt each other.
But now, with hope for the first time, they could sit and talk logically.
Hestiaās eyes returned to Martin.
“I already know, so donāt bother asking.”
Martin asked, his face showing cynicism.
“Why, do you think weāre going to lose the war?”
“Me? Ha, donāt be ridiculous.”
Hestia was confident in the war.
The Countās divorce, Ruslanās incurable illness.
Maybe the Empire thought the Empress had been distracted by family matters, causing cracks in the once-strong imperial authority.
Kingdoms in the southern part of the continent formed an alliance and turned their swords toward the empire. They began attacking the capital by land and sea.
“So, whatās the request? Donāt tell me you want me to go to war.”
Count Orleans was one of the greatest wizards in the world.
Originally, he should have been in the Magic Tower, but he only received a title from the empire for the sake of his marriage to Hestia.
“Iām not asking for that.”
“Then what?”
“I want you to come into the palace while Iām gone.”
“What?”
The Count looked clearly surprised.
Realizing there was something wrong with his statement, Hestia waved her hands.
“Ah, donāt misunderstand. Iām not asking you to remarry me.”
“Why then?”
“Because of Ruslanās illness.”
He tilted his head as he thought about the young boy he had seen earlier.
“Why him?”
“Itās fine to leave internal matters to Danilo, but it might be hard to leave palace matters to him alone.”
“Hmm.”
Martin hesitated for a moment.
He didnāt want to go back. After all, he was divorced, and if he returned to the palace, people would talk.
But he wasnāt someone who worried about what others said. He was more concerned that Ruslan, now used to living apart from his parents, might be confused.
Plus, he wasnāt the only child he had to care for! Honestly, he wasnāt sure.
“Martin.”
“Only when you want something, you call me by my name.”
“I know you didnāt like Ruslanās marriage. But the holy power of the saintess helped relieve his symptoms.”
“It wasnāt a complete cure.”
“But he survived the near-death situation. The doctor and priest said there was no hope before.”
At her words, Martin narrowed his eyes. He was angry that she hadnāt told him that his son might die soon.
“Just until I get back. Please.”
Hestia stood up and bowed.
Since she was away, someone might approach Melisa and manipulate her without anyone knowing.
If a family member noticed Melisaās holy power and started giving her strange advice…
“Hestia, you worry too much.”
“That worry is what made me the Empress.”
Martin thought for a moment before nodding.
“Come back quickly. I wonāt wait long.”
“Please.”
Hestia let out a short sigh of relief.
The news of the war came quickly.
The sudden news made me think back to my past life.
In my past life, the war, which I thought would end quickly, lasted much longer than expected.
The war lasted over a year, and while the empire won in the end, Ruslanās condition worsened beyond saving.
In the end, he died six months after the Empress returned.
āI wonder if itāll drag on like that again.ā
The empire struggled because the Allied forces were stronger than expected.
But Melisa wasnāt worried about the warās defeat.
Though it took a long time, it was a war they were sure to win.
Still, I hoped that Ruslan would wake up before the Empress left.
There was no clear reason for his condition; he was still lying unconscious, only sleeping.
Would a short visit and treatment from the Empress be enough?
The Empress had told me not to overdo it, but hearing about the war made me anxious.
“Nana.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
Nana was a new maid.
After the last incident, all the maids had been replaced.
The new maids were chosen by the head maid and had passed Daniloās interview.
Of course, not all of them could be trusted, but they were probably better than the old ones.
“Can I go see Ruslan now?”
“Right now?”
Nana checked the time.
It was just after dinner, around 7 p.m.
Wanting to go by herself was a good sign for us as a couple.
Nana smiled and nodded.
“Youāre His Highnessās wife. Itās still early, so of course, you can.”
“Really?”
I quickly prepared. It was just fixing my slightly messy hair and putting on a ribbon.
“Shall we go?”
With Nanaās guidance, I went up to the third floor.
It was the first time I went up alone, without the Empress.
At Ruslan’s room, the nurse who had been taking care of him stood outside.
“Princess wants to see the Prince. Please open the door.”
The nurse, with a firm expression, spoke.
“No, you can’t.”
“…?”
Why is she saying no?
I turned to Nana, who seemed just as confused.
“How dare you refuse His Highnessās wife from seeing her husband?”
But the nurse shook her head again.
“Iāve taken care of the Prince since birth. I know his condition better than anyone. Today, he doesnāt look well, so please understand.”
She bowed deeply, and it didnāt seem like she was lying.
In a way, she seemed closer to Ruslan than the Empress.
And yet, she was saying his condition wasnāt good.
Since my holy power was a secret, forcing my way in would only lead to rumors about me doing whatever I wanted in the palace.
It wasnāt even necessary to see him today, so there was no need to take the risk.
“Alright, letās go back today. Let me know when Ruslan gets better.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
The nurse seemed visibly relieved.
That left me feeling uneasy.
