Chapter 11
“Are you talking about the Imperial Court Physician?”
Karsiel asked.
“It would take time for someone who only studied on the Western Continent to learn a treatment method…”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“Find Sir Aster Edith of the 3rd Imperial Knight Order. His father runs an herbal shop now, but he used to be a doctor on the Eastern Continent.”
Aster was one of the members of the hunting guild I formed in my first life. He was expelled from the knights twice due to brawling incidents, but right now, he should still be part of the Imperial Order.
When we first started hunting magical beasts, not just me but the entire guild had been treated by his father.
He had a nasty personality, but his skills were the best on either continent.
“……”
Karsiel didn’t respond immediately and just stared at me before opening his mouth.
“How do you know all this?”
“……”
“I find it hard to believe you diagnosed the illness just from complexion and pulse. Everything you’ve said… it wouldn’t make sense unless you were trained for years or had prior information.”
I swallowed hard. I thought he wouldn’t ask sharp questions so suddenly.
“…There are many ways to train,” I said after a brief pause.
“There’s knowledge and information you can gain even without attending a professional institution.”
“So you’re saying, in a roundabout way, that you won’t deny it’s suspicious and are asking me not to press further.”
Karsiel smirked as he interpreted my words.
Unlike his sharp sarcasm, the corners of his mouth curled softly.
For a fleeting moment, he looked like a young boy.
Just as I was about to say something else, the back doors of the banquet hall burst open and several men and women stepped into the garden.
Instinctively, I tried to take a step back from Karsiel, but he grabbed my wrist — the one holding the handkerchief — and held it in place.
His smile deepened.
“Didn’t you say publicly that you admire me? If you keep your distance, people will think there’s something suspicious going on.”
“That’s…”
I had nothing to say. He was right.
“…I see.”
Taking a deep breath, I stepped closer to him. Then, leaning in so our faces were aligned, I pressed the handkerchief gently against his cheek.
“This would look more natural for a goodbye, wouldn’t it?”
“…Goodbye?”
Perhaps because our faces were so close, Karsiel’s eyes wavered this time. I leaned even closer and whispered in his ear.
“When you’re healed, please trust me, Your Highness.”
“……”
“There are many things I want to give to you, and many things I want from you.”
It was just a move to avoid suspicion from onlookers, and Karsiel surely understood that.
So when I pulled my hand away, the warmth that remained on his cheek — growing hotter than before — was undoubtedly not just my imagination.
“Have you gone insane?!”
The moment we arrived back at the ducal residence, Bartol exploded.
“His Highness Balthazar didn’t even look at me after returning to the banquet hall! He didn’t even acknowledge my greeting!”
He tore off his vest and threw it to the floor, then stomped on it in frustration.
“He was angry because of you! What are you going to do to fix this?!”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
I replied coldly.
“Balthazar didn’t ignore you because of me. He’s trying to avoid rumors that he’s involved with men like you and Damon Gideon. That’s why he kept women around him all evening. Use your brain.”
“Shut up! None of this would’ve happened if not for you! All my efforts to win His Highness over are now wasted!”
Bartol snapped.
“Brother is right. Anthony said the same.”
Demeira, who was standing nearby with a sour expression, interjected.
She didn’t look happy either. I wondered if Anthony Morin had rejected her again, but it seemed she had her own reasons this time.
“Thanks to you, our family will be on His Highness Balthazar’s blacklist! What if he thinks I’m worthless now? How will you take responsibility?!”
“I suppose we should praise Count Morin’s judgment—”
“Shut your mouth!”
Demeira flared up at my honest remark.
“Marie, lock that wench in her room.”
“Yes, and don’t feed her until Mother and Father return.”
Bartol and Demeira issued their orders one after the other. Marie, who had come to greet them and collect their coats as usual, stiffened.
Normally, she would’ve dragged me off immediately. But today, she hesitated and looked at me instead of answering.
“Marie, are you deaf? Take that wench away! I won’t punish you even if you slap her a few times on the way. She tried to turn you against us earlier today.”
“……”
Marie still didn’t say anything. Her brow twitched slightly, and her gaze toward Bartol was strangely empty — even cold.
“You’re the one who deserves to be punished, Bartol.”
I cut in. If Marie was still on the fence about whose side she was on, I needed to force the decision.
“You betrayed me, and now, just a few hours later, you expect things to go back to normal? My maid may not be the brightest, but she’s not that stupid.”
“What did you say?!”
Bartol fumed.
“You think she’s your maid just because she followed one of your orders today?! She’s a servant our family hired. She’s basically our property!”
“Maybe she started with the Penton family, but her current contract is under the name of Apellemeon. Not that it really matters.”
“Then what does matter—?”
“First, if Marie has any ability to judge the situation, she won’t listen to you. Just because you’re Balthazar’s lapdog doesn’t mean others will be yours too.”
Sure enough, Marie was glaring at Bartol with a hard face, ignoring his commands.
“Second, after this moment, neither you nor Demeira will be able to order her around. If you so much as ask her to bring tea, I’ll tell your uncle, aunt, and all of the capital how much debt you’ve racked up from gambling.”
“W-what?! Are you threatening me—?!”
“Yes, I am. And tonight’s fiasco with His Highness Balthazar — especially how Madam Wymer and her son mocked you in front of everyone — I’ll be sure to tell your parents every detail. Give up on Marie if you don’t want that.”
“Y-you…!”
Despite his furious expression, Bartol couldn’t respond with anything beyond meaningless curses.
“Fine! Do whatever you want! It’s not like losing one servant is the end of the world! Let’s go, Demeira!”
With that, he stomped upstairs, and Demeira followed in confusion.
“Marie, did Bartol threaten you a lot?”
I asked as I watched them leave.
“He often said he’d have me kicked out. I didn’t think he meant it, though…”
“That’s unfortunate.”
Marie’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting sympathy. But I continued.
“My threats are scarier. I don’t sneak up and hit maids like Bartol. If you betray me, I’ll break your limbs myself.”
“L-Lady…”
“I’ll also collect payment for everything you stole from Apellemeon — even if I have to track down your family. Don’t forget the damage you’ve caused me.”
“……”
“Because of you, many valuables from this residence were pawned off to some filthy shop. You’ve tarnished the duke’s name.”
Marie paled as she listened.
“Of course, if you behave, the rewards I give you will far outweigh whatever Bartol offered.”
Marie was simple. Which meant both sticks and carrots worked well on her — she was an easy servant to control.
“Do you understand?”
“I understand, my lady.”
As expected, she swallowed hard but answered without hesitation.
“I will never betray you again.”
Her tense yet determined eyes told me she wasn’t lying.
“Then let’s see something.”
“Pardon?”
“What’s under your bed? Among the stolen goods, there must be something valuable, right?”
I finally asked the question I’d been holding back.
“Clothes probably aren’t worth much… What else? Don’t tell me you only managed to steal some silverware and a few gold coins?”
Marie’s eyes grew wider, but I didn’t care.
“W-Weren’t you telling me to return them?”
“Return them? Of course not. Sell them. If we keep them here, Demeira will tell her mother. Sell them now.”
“The Apellemeon family’s property? I thought you said the family’s honor was at stake?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
What did honor matter right now? What I needed was emergency cash.
And the first thing I needed for that was the address of the pawn shop Bartol used to trade with.
