Chapter 72
“Is it going to rain? I’d rather the first snow fall.”
Luna blinked her large eyes and looked up. The sky had been painted in an almost suffocating gray, as if it had swept away all remnants of yesterday.
Fortunately, the incident at the opening ceremony had calmed down after just one day. Several buildings had been damaged, but they were repairable, and compared to the threatening explosion, the loss of life had been relatively minor.
She gazed far beyond Bahir Castle at the edges of the snowy mountains.
When will he come? If I ask about the jewel box…
Luna shook her head and licked her already dry lips. Thinking of him sent a cold chill racing through her mind. She didn’t have the courage to face a man colder than marble.
Feeling as though she had somehow stirred up trouble, she bit her lips nervously.
Luna picked up a small gardening shovel and sighed as she scooped up a mound of soil. She stubbornly stayed seated, wanting to put her touch into a new little garden bed.
Gardening suited her better than she expected. As she smoothed the soil and carefully planted the flowers she imagined would bloom, her scattered thoughts gradually dulled.
It’ll work out somehow. I just hope they don’t catch me going into that room yesterday.
Luna tried to calm her pounding heart and brushed off the soil-stained apron.
“Bring hot water quickly! And towels to wipe!”
Suddenly, several servants passing by the garden entrance became noticeably flustered.
One of them ran over as soon as they spotted her, eyebrows flying, and shouted,
“Milady! Milady! The master has been injured!”
“What?”
“Last night, while receiving treatment, it was beyond what the temple could handle, so he’s just been moved here.”
The servant stamped their feet and lowered their gaze like a frightened puppy.
“Miss Elfreze has also just arrived. The master still cannot open his eyes. You should go immediately.”
Luna’s eardrums tightened sharply at the worried voice.
He was injured…?
By whom…?
Her vivid pink eyes filled with bewilderment.
Although they hadn’t spent much time together, she had already seen and realized how strong he was.
Her fists clenched tightly. Without a word, she passed the servant and rushed toward his room.
It was impossible to believe without seeing it with her own eyes.
Unconsciously, Luna lifted the hem of her dress and ran. Even though her chest was tight with breath, she charged up the stairs and down the corridor to the Duke’s room.
The closer she got to his room, the more an unspeakable anxiety surged, making her heart pound violently. The faces of the servants and a few priests blurred and returned to focus. None of them could look at her directly, all weighed down with worry.
“Haste!”
“Milady…”
At the door stood the commander of the knights, shoulders slumped. Even greeting her, he looked a mess.
His voice was dry and cracked, and his uniform, stained with the black blood of the beast and sweat, reeked horribly.
“His Grace… is he all right? What happened?”
“….”
The huge man, like a bear, was uncharacteristically subdued and spoke little. Her heart, which had been racing, now sank.
It had all happened while chasing Raven’s crow. Luna felt queasy, as if it were her fault that His Grace was hurt.
And I didn’t even know, yet I went into that room yesterday…
In just one day, the gap between events had become painfully stark. She didn’t even know what to say to herself, having spent the day so casually with the eccentric magician and letting him sway her.
At that moment, the Duke’s bedroom door swung open.
Camilla appeared, her chest heaving as she took a breath. Having just finished treating Khalid, she swept her gaze over the room, taking in Haste and Luna at once, then spoke with a tone laced with contempt.
“My goodness. How can you two be in such a state in a place like this? I strongly request that you both wash and change immediately if you wish for His Grace to recover even a moment sooner. Step aside at once.”
Camilla’s voice was firm and restrained. Though she seemed on the verge of yelling, she barely held back, not wanting to wake the sleeping man.
She crossed her arms as if to chase the two away, impatient at their delay.
But Luna and Haste only took a few steps back. They couldn’t move without knowing His Grace’s condition.
“Take off that apron immediately. Are you trying to get dust on His Grace?”
“Right away, Milady.”
Camilla watched as Luna obediently removed the apron. Her fingers twitched as if she wanted to strike Luna’s cheek, frustrated by her old habits, but she restrained herself. That was how much she resented her right now.
“Luckily, he’s past the critical stage. You’ll need to clean the wound frequently, so be particularly mindful of hygiene. Keep hot water and towels ready at all times. And…”
Camilla’s face flushed as she struggled to suppress the anger swelling in her chest while Luna focused intently on her.
Observing quietly, Haste stepped in front of Luna, sensing that Camilla might cause trouble.
“Thank you, Milady. Is there anything else you need me to convey?”
Camilla had abandoned her usual elegance and could not calm her agitation. Breathing heavily, she glared at the unpleasant woman partially hidden behind Haste’s bulk.
It was the first time she had seen Khalid so badly hurt. She blamed this entire situation on the woman from the countryside who had come up relying only on her looks.
“Duchess,”
Camilla called Luna and roughly brushed her hair back. She took a deep breath and walked slowly toward her.
Even if she could not strike her, she wanted her to understand her place.
“You still don’t seem to realize. During hunts, I always accompanied him, just in case of accidents like today. Hearing that he barely survived at the temple is outrageous… What do you think, Milady?”
“Miss Elfreze, you should leave now,”
Haste blocked her path, trying to shield Luna. But Camilla unleashed her accumulated resentment like a dam breaking.
“I can’t believe something like this happened. But why was I absent? Who restricted my previously free access? How did this situation come about?”
Luna’s pupils froze on Camilla’s golden eyes. Other thoughts were shoved aside, leaving no room to extract the metaphorical poisoned arrow piercing her mind.
“Milady!”
Haste raised his voice, but it was merely a knight’s call. Camilla did not stop her verbal assault.
“If you truly loved His Grace, why didn’t you ask me sooner? I would have acted much faster than waiting helplessly, longing for him. If I had been by his side, this would never have happened. While His Grace… while His Grace was hurt, what were you doing, Milady?”
“….”
Camilla pressed on, full of resentment. Even as she flailed with her shoulders, she knew that the seat beside him would not change.
Tears streamed down her distorted face, silently.
Luna felt her heart burn painfully. She could sense how much the woman shouting at her loved His Grace.
The intensity of that love made Luna question whether her own feelings could even compare. Her tongue went dry, a bitter taste in her mouth.
Her eyes throbbed as if they might burst. She could not answer Camilla’s taunting questions. Memories of last night made her want to tear the cursed mark off her hand with her own skin.
“Hmmph.”
Suddenly, Chief Butler Gérard appeared and cleared his throat. The three turned their gaze toward him.
“The conversation seems to have become a bit heated. Perhaps it’s better to continue elsewhere. And His Grace has awakened. Miss Elfreze, I believe you must see him again.”
“Thank goodness. I’ll go now.”
Camilla rubbed her reddened eyes with a handkerchief she always carried. Straightening her back, she walked a few steps, then turned once more to warn the two.
“Do not approach until you have washed thoroughly and changed clothes. This is a request as a healer.”
After Camilla entered to check on Khalid, Gérard politely closed the door and approached Luna.
“Milady.”
“Is His Grace all right?”
“Yes. He seems to have passed the critical stage.”
Gérard answered with a slightly bitter expression.
“That’s a relief. How does he look? I should prepare and see him quickly.”
“Well… actually, there was a message from His Grace.”
“Huh?”
Luna looked up at Gérard. He averted his eyes slightly, fidgeting with his lips, appearing hesitant.
“It’s okay. What is it?”
Gérard finally exhaled sharply.
“For the time being, only Miss Elfreze may enter the bedroom.”
