By the time dusk began to fall, the Black Knights who had gone out to battle were returning to the castle. Standing in the corridor above, Adrienne watched as they arrived, quietly counting how many among them were injured.
[Yuria, let’s go down now.]
She descended at once. Passing the shelters, she stepped into the infirmary. Inside, Tessa and Elle were moving quickly among the attendants, tending to the wounded.
“Your Highness.”
[Are you all right?]
“As you can see, quite a few are injured. The fighting must have been more intense than usual.”
[What about you, Tessa? You weren’t hurt, were you?]
“I’m fine. I was just casting shields from a distance, like always.”
Tessa offered a wry smile.
[I’m glad you weren’t hurt.]
She seemed frustrated that she hadn’t been of more help in the thick of battle—but now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.
Adrienne gave him a faint smile, then walked over to Elle, who was treating a knight nearby.
[What can I do to help, Elle?]
“Please apply this ointment to the knights with less severe wounds, Your Highness.”
[Of course.]
Taking the salve from Elle, Adrienne began examining the knights’ wounds with Yuria at her side. Seeing Adrienne step in to help, Tessa joined them as well, using his healing magic on the more serious injuries.
[The Grand Duke… he wasn’t hurt, was he?]
Adrienne signed carefully, glancing toward Tessa as she applied the medicine. Tessa gave a nod, prompting a faint smile from Adrienne.
[It’s true we always need more hands, but if His Grace finds out, he might scold you, Your Highness.]
Tessa spoke only in signs, likely to keep the knights from overhearing.
[Even if he does, I want to help however I can. So many were hurt today. I can’t just sit comfortably while everyone else is suffering.]
It wasn’t as if she’d be executed for helping treat injured knights. Being disliked wasn’t a new experience for Adrienne anyway.
Her mother had died. Her father had cast her aside. And her stepmother, along with others who followed her lead, had long since turned cold toward Adrienne.
Hatred held no real power over her anymore.
Despite all the disdain and mistreatment, Adrienne had grown up whole—because of the few who had truly loved her.
Hatred holds no weight.
“I love you, my child. I give you the power and blessings of the spirit that dwells within me. Adrienne, you are a child who will be loved. Believe your mother’s words.”
That love had taken root like a seed in her chest. Her mother might be gone, but the love remained.
Adrienne quietly clutched the necklace around her neck.
She wasn’t afraid of Lukas’s scolding. Of course, his cold gaze might hurt—but she believed that, with time, even that would change.
After all, if she were in his position, she wouldn’t trust herself easily either.
[…]
Suddenly, the room felt unsettled. The knights who had been lying or leaning back began to rise, their gazes turning toward the infirmary entrance.
A sharp, piercing presence filled the air.
Adrienne, who had been applying ointment to a knight’s wound, slowly stood up. At the same moment, Lukas strode straight toward her. Behind him followed Commander Jackson and Steward Jeord.
“So, my consort is quite the stubborn one.”
[…]
“It was a larger battle than usual. There were many casualties.”
“And so the lady of the castle rolled up her sleeves to help?”
Tessa stepped forward in Adrienne’s place. Lukas’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
Jeord glanced at Tessa, concern written plainly across his face. He must have already explained everything about Adrienne on the way here. That he was now defending Adrienne would only stoke Lukas’s ire further.
“You already draw enough attention just by being here in this barren land. And now you’re treating the knights yourself? How am I supposed to face Lord Claudius?”
[I apologize, Your Grace.]
“She says… she’s sorry, Your Grace.”
Yuria, shoulders hunched, nervously translated to Lucas, who was staring down Adrienne.
“Is the treatment mostly finished?”
Ignoring the previous remark, Lukas looked around the infirmary and addressed Elle and Tessa.
“Other than the severely wounded, yes. Most of it is done.”
“Thanks to the Grand Duchess’s help, we were able to finish much faster.”
Elle glanced briefly at Adrienne as she added to Tessa’s words.
A short, dry chuckle escaped Lukas.
But it faded as quickly as it came. His expression hardened again.
“Don’t skimp on the medicine. And make sure there’s enough food to go around, Jeord.”
“I’ll see to it, Your Grace.”
“Adrienne, you too—step outside now. Elle and Tessa can handle the rest.”
Turning swiftly to her, Lukas addressed her directly. Adrienne nodded as she read his lips.
Thud.
As Lukas began to walk away, Adrienne quietly reached out and grabbed his arm. Surprised, Lukas stopped and turned to her.
“What is it?”
Jackson, walking behind them, watched them with wary eyes.
[You’re bleeding.]
Adrienne pointed to the spot where Lukas had flung his arm earlier. Blood had soaked through.
“Are you injured?”
Jackson asked, concern rising in his voice. The red stain was clear enough without words, so Yuria didn’t bother to interpret Adrienne’s sign.
“Shall I call Elle?”
“It’s nothing.”
“But still…”
[I can… do it.]
“Her Highness says she’ll treat it herself.”
Even after Lukas had banned her from such things, Adrienne had sought out Elle to learn about medicinal herbs and basic treatment. She wasn’t highly skilled, but she knew which herbs worked for which wounds and how much salve to use depending on how deep a sword cut ran.
She’d even been diligently reading the books Elle had recommended.
“You?”
Lukas eyed her doubtfully. Adrienne nodded vigorously.
“…Very well. Suit yourself.”
Still skeptical, Lukas allowed it.
He gestured for Jackson and Yuria to stay outside and leaned against the windowsill. Though the door had been shut for a while, Adrienne stood at the threshold, hesitating.
“You’re the one who offered to help, not me.”
[…]
“So, how long are you planning to stand there?”
With a lazy glance, Lukas rolled up his sleeve. At that, Adrienne stepped over to the window where he stood.
She frowned slightly at the deep gash on his arm.
Lukas looked down, silently observing the way her smooth brow furrowed. She was completely focused—carefully applying the salve as though afraid it might hurt him.
“This much…”
He started to say it was nothing, but stopped. Strangely, he felt stifled. He’d never thought words mattered. He’d never cared whether this woman could speak or not.
[…]
Adrienne looked up at him as she finished.
Her face was pale, almost too pale—but those sapphire eyes of hers were vivid and piercing.
Was that why?
Whenever she looked at his lips with those eyes, he was overcome by a strange feeling.
“If there’s anything wrong with this ointment… you’ll die for it.”
He said it sternly on purpose. Adrienne blanched, her face going ashen blue, and frantically shook her head.
“Hm. I really will need parchment and a pen if I want to talk with you.”
She eagerly nodded at that, in stark contrast to her nervousness just moments ago. Lukas let out a faint chuckle and handed her a sheet of parchment and a quill.
‘The ointment is completely safe. It’s the same kind we used on the knights. I would never—’
Tap, tap.
Lukas tapped on the parchment with a finger. Adrienne looked up from her writing.
“I know. You’re not the type to do something that foolish.”
[…]
“And I know you’re smart enough to earn the favor of many in the castle.”
[…]
“But I also know this.”
Lukas suddenly leaned in. Startled, Adrienne leaned back, her eyes going wide. Her deep blue eyes shimmered in front of his own.
He gave another soft, quiet laugh.
“You’re not on my side.”
‘No matter what anyone says, I am a daughter of Rantschka. And I am your person, Your Grace.’
Adrienne pressed the quill firmly against the parchment, as though the strength of her strokes could carry her feelings.
Lukas’s gaze lingered on the words for a moment before slowly rising to meet her face.
“We’ll see… That’s for me to decide, not you.”
[…]
“I’ll allow you to continue learning treatment from Elle.”
‘Thank you, Your Grace.’
“But leave the men’s injuries to Elle as much as possible. I can’t stand rumors.”
He added that last part with a faint scowl before walking past her.
Adrienne, unaware that her dazed gaze was still trailing his retreating back, remained standing in place.
