IBVB 14

Chapter 14

After blinking several times and regaining consciousness, an unfamiliar ceiling came into view.

The moment she tried to move her body to understand what was going on, a throbbing pain made her squeeze her eyes shut.

“Ah… it hurts.”

“The assassin is dead. He was sent by the Marquis of Gonder.”

“Where is this…?”

“My villa.”

Unable to move due to her injured shoulder, she lay there as the Duke sat by her side and opened a packet of medicine.

“It’s a painkiller. Drink it all at once.”

Staring at the bright blue powder placed next to a glass of water, Frisia fell into deep contemplation.

Swallowing pills was manageable, and liquid medicine she could force down somehow, but powdered medicine? That was another level of torture.

The horrible sensation of it sticking to the roof of her mouth, and the bitterness that lingered no matter how many times she rinsed, was just too much.

“I’m not in pain.”

She would rather endure the pain than put that dreadful thing in her mouth.

“I had to cut out live flesh. By now, the anesthesia should have worn off. Of course, it hurts.”

“I told you, I’m really not in pain.”

Her pride was wounded by the Duke’s definitive statement. Her shoulder throbbed so badly that she felt like crying, but she bit her lip and resolved to endure it.

Unlike her suffering self, the Duke appeared completely unscathed, not a single scratch on him.

Facing her determined refusal to take the medicine, the Duke suddenly asked,

“Why did you save me?”

“Good question.”

What had she found so appealing about him that she went to such lengths? If anything, perhaps it was because they shared a kind of loneliness.

While she struggled through each day at work, enduring harsh words and pressure, the infamous villain never held back even the smallest anger and always sought ruthless revenge.

“What happened to the Marquis of Gonder?”

“He paid for the injuries he caused you.”

Knowing the Duke’s personality, there was no way the Marquis got off lightly.

But Frisia didn’t feel much sympathy.

Struggling to sit up, she fiddled with the shirt draped over the tightly bandaged shoulder.

“So your talk about joining hands with the Marquis was all a lie, huh.”

The Duke gave no answer.

Still, since she had saved his life, at the very least he wouldn’t harm her sister. That small bit of mischief was enough of a comfort.

“Well, whatever. Since the Marquis has paid the price, let’s just call it even.”

“Is your sister really that precious to you?”

“My sister and my younger sibling—both are important. They’re family.”

When she first regained consciousness in this unfamiliar world, she hadn’t felt happy at all.

She’d despaired, wondering why this had to happen to her. But the one thing that helped her hold onto this world was her family.

The more she thought, the more her head pounded and heat surged through her like she was sitting inside a steamer.

“The marriage will proceed as planned.”

“That’s just a temporary… ugh…”

She wanted to argue, but as the anesthesia wore off, the pain worsened.

“Are you alright?”

“M-medicine… please…”

Her mouth was so dry she couldn’t even swallow water.

As her vision spun, the Duke poured the powdered medicine into the water, filled his own mouth with it, and leaned close.

“Duke…?”

His face drew nearer, and something damp touched her lips.

Though the bitterness soaked her mouth, with their lips pressed together, she had no choice but to swallow the vile medicine.

“Ugh… mmph…”

“Tilt your head back.”

The way he parted her lips and synchronized their breathing—it was all too skillful to be coincidence. But could this really be called a kiss?

It had been so long since she’d experienced one that she barely remembered what it felt like, but this… this was bitter and nauseating.

“I always repay my debts.”

“So what I’m saying is…”

She wanted to beg him to just let everything go, but the strong medicine clouded her mind.

Her last conscious thought was: I don’t care anymore, just save me… And with that, Frisia finally closed her eyes.

* * *

Until this morning, Rose had been in a good mood. The annoying Marquis of Gonder was gone, and they had secured a massive investment.

Though the investor wished to remain anonymous, a discreet investigation revealed it was the Marquis of Roser, which brought her some relief.

Known for his good character, she had willingly sent Frisia to him. But now she was dumbfounded to learn that it had actually been Duke Cromford all along.

“Frisia said that?”

“Both Lily and I heard her clearly. Even the night she found out about her debt, she went to meet the Duke.”

According to Matthew, the elderly stable keeper who drove Frisia had received excessive thanks for his simple task and kept bowing in gratitude.

“This doesn’t make sense.”

The Marquis of Gonder was malicious, but the income from his large casino granted him massive influence in the capital.

For Duke Cromford to make such an enemy, the reason was obvious: Frisia.

Realizing even the mysterious benefactor had been the Duke all along left her dizzy.

Something was clearly happening behind the scenes, but she had no way to even find a single hair of her sister’s whereabouts.

“I want to see my sister. Please, just let me see her face.”

“She’s still unconscious.”

“That’s why I must see her even more. I’m her sister!”

“Without His Majesty’s permission, nothing can be done.”

At the villa where Frisia was staying, she hadn’t even caught a glimpse of her sister before being driven out.

Grasping at straws, Rose visited Matthew’s father, the Marquis of Napier, but he too sighed deeply and shook his head.

“His Majesty already gave his blessing. The Duke’s will is too firm. There’s no stopping him.”

“To be honest, we’re disappointed too. Announcing a marriage out of nowhere like that…”

Even the Marchioness of Napier, who had silently marked Frisia as a future daughter-in-law, looked troubled.

Though she had repeatedly vowed to keep Frisia by her side for life, the Marchioness had long considered Frisia the perfect match for Matthew.

There’s no such thing as selfless kindness. Frisia was the only one unaware of the true reason behind all the dresses and shoes given to her as if she were a real daughter.

“There must be some misunderstanding.”

Denying reality changed nothing.

Exhausted, Rose returned home to find the nanny teary-eyed, announcing a visitor.

“My lady… the Duke of Cromford is here.”

Grinding her teeth, Rose went to meet the man she had been desperate to find. Without greeting him, she grabbed his collar and unleashed her pent-up fury.

“What on earth did you do to my sister?!”

Even faced with her harsh interrogation, the Duke remained unflinching and calmly explained Frisia’s condition.

“She briefly regained consciousness. After taking medicine, she fell asleep again. She should wake properly by tomorrow.”

Even hearing that the wound had been well-treated and that there’d be no scars thanks to the temple’s healing, her anger wouldn’t fade.

Standing before the towering man, Rose poured out endless resentment.

“Why… of all people… why her?”

If he’d proposed to the famous Lily, she wouldn’t have been surprised.

But why Frisia?

To Rose, Frisia had always been the one finger that hurt most when bitten.

Her younger sister had followed her devotedly since childhood.

Always calm, always sacrificing for the family from the shadows. Rose had vowed she would personally ensure Frisia’s happiness.

“She saved my life.”

The Duke’s heavy voice made her heart sink.

She knew in her head. Whether gratitude or grudges, Cromford was famous for always repaying them in full—a reputation that far outstripped anything in Deblanc.

If Frisia truly became Duchess Cromford, she would enjoy honors second only to the Imperial family. But Frisia, so gentle and kind, might not survive such a life.

Even so… why her?

Amid her overwhelming resentment, Matthew’s words resurfaced.

“I’ve heard that our Frisia admires His Highness… but…”

“I know. I also know how much she treasures her sister.”

Rose didn’t know when their connection began, but one thing was clear: everything that happened was for Frisia’s sake.

To protect her sister.

Before the sobbing Rose, the Duke knelt and made a formal proposal.

“To the head of Deblanc, I, Wilfred of Cromford, humbly ask for Frisia’s hand.”

Looking back at how thoughtlessly she had badmouthed him, Rose could say no more.

Recalling how her sister always grew quiet whenever the Duke was mentioned, she had no more grounds to oppose.

“If you make her cry… I’ll never forgive you.”

“What’s heavier than a life-debt?”