“You clean the wound like this, then gently sprinkle the powder over it. Luckily, it’s not too deep, so that should be enough. I’ll apply a bit of magic over it afterward.”
Adrienne nodded as she listened to Tessa’s explanation.
[What is this powder?]
“It’s made from the ground root of the Tyr flower, Your Grace.”
As the healer Elle demonstrated, Adrienne followed along and sprinkled the remedy onto a girl’s wound. The thin child, a farmer’s daughter, was the youngest among the injured.
“Ugh…”
The girl let out a whimper as the medicine touched the cut along her side.
[You’ll be alright.]
“Her Grace says it’ll be okay. The powder will help the wound knit itself together as it dissolves.”
Tessa offered the words gently while checking on the patient beside them.
[What’s your name?]
The girl froze, unsure how to respond to the question in sign.
“She’s asking your name,” Yuria said softly.
“E-Ena…”
[That’s a lovely name.]
Reading the words on Adrienne’s lips, Ena looked up—and when Adrienne gave her a gentle smile, the child’s stiff expression slowly relaxed.
“You’re lucky, Ena,” Tessa murmured, his hand glowing faintly as he channeled healing magic into the girl’s side.
“Thank you.”
Ena, who had been watching Tessa, turned her gaze back to Adrienne. Her eyes now gleamed with clarity.
[You’re very welcome. I’m so glad it wasn’t worse.]
“She says she’s glad it wasn’t worse.”
When Ena glanced at Yuria, the maid smiled and translated Adrienne’s signing. Ena’s eyes curved sweetly into a smile.
“Well, that should do it. Let’s head out.”
[Thank you, Tessa. And Elle, too.]
At Tessa’s suggestion, Adrienne gave both of them a small nod. Tessa smiled warmly, but Elle looked visibly flustered.
[It’s the image people have of royalty, I think,] Tessa signed discreetly.
[What do you mean?]
[Didn’t you notice how tense everyone was? You startled them. When Your Grace entered, the whole room froze.]
She had seen it, too. All those eyes—startled, uncertain—had scattered, avoiding her gaze. Some had widened in alarm, some flicked about nervously.
[I just wanted to help. And I still do, if they’ll let me.]
“Her Grace says she wishes to continue helping, should you need another hand.”
Tessa relayed Adrienne’s message aloud to the maids and patients still lying on mats or benches. A few cheered in response.
But most only looked at her from the corners of their eyes, suspicion written plainly across their faces. That unspoken doubt seemed to reach Adrienne just as clearly as any words.
She smiled awkwardly and quietly left the infirmary with Tessa.
[You must get a lot of injuries here, judging by the size of the infirmary.]
[That’s why I never returned to the Crown Citadel with His Grace. Whether I’m there or here… I figured it wouldn’t make much difference for him.]
Tessa responded while walking beside her down the long hallway, fingers moving fluidly.
[Still, that place is far safer than here.]
[But didn’t you just say it doesn’t matter? In that case, I should be where my husband is.]
[That’s unexpected, Your Grace.]
[What do you mean?]
[I just assumed… you’d be a typical pampered royal. I think we all did. Tehevia was so wealthy, after all—and you were its only princess.]
[The mute princess, you mean.]
Adrienne smiled faintly, though her eyes were tinged with something bitter.
[That wasn’t what I meant. Forgive me if I misspoke—]
[No, you didn’t. It’s fine. I’m just… glad to have someone I can communicate with.]
Until now, she had only ever had Yuria. And before that, Yuria’s mother, Denise. There had been one teacher who taught her long ago, but that was a distant memory.
[You must have had so many things you wanted to say.]
[More than that—I had so many things I wanted to hear.]
[Then ask. I’ll answer whatever I can.]
[Tessa… do you trust me?]
The question came out unexpectedly. Tessa blinked, looking at her in mild surprise.
[I want to trust you, Your Grace.]
It wasn’t the same answer Jeord had given, but somehow, it felt just as comforting.
[Do you think Elle would teach me healing magic?]
[If His Grace allows it, yes.]
[Do I really need Lukas’s permission?]
[In theory, there are many things here one could do without the Grand Duke’s say-so, but… this isn’t one of them.]
Tessa rolled his eyes playfully and signed with exaggerated flair. Adrienne couldn’t help but laugh. Tessa scratched his head with an awkward grin.
After that day, the way people looked at her began to shift. They no longer completely avoided her or met her only with hostility. Some eyes even held faint traces of warmth.
It wasn’t much, but it was something.
As Adrienne wandered through the fortress going about her day, people no longer shied away from her like before.
For the first time, she felt truly alive. Even if her husband barely acknowledged her, Rantschka made her feel like she existed.
Aside from her childhood—those few fleeting years of happiness—she had never felt such freedom.
Freedom…
She’d never even dared to dream of it before.
Freedom, of all things!
If she hadn’t died locked away in the northern castle of Tereze, she would’ve died instead under her stepmother’s schemes.
The mute princess imprisoned in a tower—that’s how people in Tehevia had seen her. And that perception had been enough to stir pity in the hearts of her people.
The new queen’s power had grown stronger by the day. The factions that supported her moved as if Tehevia were already theirs. The people had begun to miss the Tehevia of old.
They had loved Hirsie, Adrienne’s mother. Unlike the new queen, Hirsie had been kind, modest, and warm, even extending her hand to serfs.
[You’re here often. Do you like this spot?]
Tessa’s hand landed gently on her shoulder. Adrienne turned, surprised, and saw him smiling.
[Tessa, when did you get here?]
[Just now. I saw Your Grace standing here on my way back into the fortress.]
Tessa smiled brightly, his eyes crinkling.
[How was your training?]
[How did you know I went for training? Ah… Jeord must’ve told you.]
[He did. You weren’t around, so I asked.]
[I still lack the magical strength to properly support His Grace. So I’ve been trying not to neglect my studies.]
[Isn’t it dangerous to go to the Forest of Shadows?]
[It’s the only way to reach the White Tower.]
Adrienne had heard of it. The White Tower—a place built by the descendants of Kiel, at the heart of the primeval forest where magic was first born.
Once, it had been seen as a school for mages. Even some priests from the Ascro Temple had studied there with the Kiel bloodline.
[I didn’t know one could still train there.]
[The magic protecting the White Tower is eternal. The forest may be gone, but the tower remains.]
[Are you… one of Kiel’s descendants, Tessa?]
[No. I’m just a priestess of Ascro, Your Grace.]
It made sense. Anyone with Kiel’s blood would be hesitant to say so. That lineage was still too easily equated with dark magic.
[Would it matter if I were?]
Tessa’s hands moved faster as he studied Adrienne’s expression. But Adrienne slowly shook her head.
Of course not.
Even if he were of the same lineage as Mother, what would that change?
Her fingers brushed the necklace resting on her collarbone, a habitual gesture by now.
[That necklace… is it important to you?]
[It’s just… something of my mother’s.]
[Was she also a descendant of Kiel?]
Adrienne bit her lip at the question. Perhaps she shouldn’t have let that slip.
[I saw a light. The day I first met Your Grace.]
[A light?]
[It came from the necklace. A white light—it was magical.]
So it hadn’t been her imagination. What she saw that day… it wasn’t Tessa’s magic. It was from the necklace—her mother’s keepsake.
That had never happened before. So why now?
[So I assumed it had a magical enchantment.]
Her mother had once said it would protect her. That was all she ever said.
[That was the first time it ever happened.]
[So I wondered if Your Grace might be one of Kiel’s descendants.]
[…You’re right. My mother was.]
Adrienne hesitated, then confessed softly.
[I thought so.]
[But no one else knows.]
[Don’t worry. This is Rantschka.]
Tessa offered a comforting smile.
[Right now, the woman standing before me isn’t the mute princess of Tehevia or a daughter of Kiel—she’s the Grand Duchess of Rantschka.]
[Thank you, Tessa.]
[It’s my pleasure, Your Grace.]
Adrienne mirrored his smile, a warm, genuine expression lighting her face.
“What are you doing here?”
A sharp voice sliced through the air. Tessa whipped his head around. There had been no sound of footsteps, but Lukas was now standing at the end of the corridor.
“Your Grace,” Tessa said, bowing. Adrienne also dipped her head in greeting.
“When did you arrive? I don’t recall hearing of your return.”
“I arrived just a short while ago, Your Grace.”
Lukas’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked sidelong at Adrienne, then addressed Tessa.
“‘A short while ago,’ huh… Interesting. So instead of reporting to me, you came here first to see the Grand Duchess?”
“Your Grace, I didn’t mean—”
“Tessa, don’t give anyone the chance to misunderstand you. Sometimes, a misunderstanding can turn into a blade.”
His sharp gaze turned from Tessa… slowly shifting toward Adrienne.
