HIFH | Chapter 26

Episode 26

What am I even doing right now?

“Hm. You’ve accumulated a lot of fatigue.”

Thanks to everyone’s concern, I was now receiving a medical examination.

“At this level, it seems you’ve been under significant stress for a long time. Have you not noticed it?”

I let out a small chuckle at the physician’s words.

“Who in life doesn’t experience stress? Isn’t everyone living like this?”

The physician frowned.

“There are limits, though. With your condition, you must have had trouble sleeping, difficulty breathing, stomach pains, and frequent headaches.”

Oh. This doctor is good.

“And yet, you claim you’re fine?”

I shrugged slightly.

“I’ve always been like this, so I don’t really pay it any mind. I really am fine.”

“……”

The physician didn’t respond.

Instead, he alternated glances between the people behind him—Lu, Everlyn, and Agatha.

They looked somewhat troubled as they stared at me.

Their gazes felt somewhat embarrassing, so I turned my head slightly.

“I’ll prescribe you some pain relievers for your headaches and stomach medicine. Also, I’ll give you something to take if you have trouble sleeping. Remember, the most important thing is getting proper rest.”

“Oh… Yes. Thank you.”

Honestly, my drawers were already overflowing with medicine.

But if I refused, they’d just get angry and insist, so I had no choice but to accept.

“Also, you need to properly acknowledge your own condition, Lady Charles Courtney.”

The physician adjusted his glasses and stared at me intently.

“Take some time to objectively assess your physical state.”

And how exactly am I supposed to do that?

I wasn’t sure, but I nodded anyway—otherwise, I’d just get scolded again.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave. I’ll send the prescription separately, so have the medicine prepared then.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Before I could answer, Lu spoke in my stead. After escorting the physician out, he strode toward me.

“You drank poisoned wine?”

If looks could kill, this would be it.

I flinched slightly at the unfamiliar intensity in Lu’s gaze and darted my eyes around.

“If you were so eager to drink poison, you should have told me in advance. I could have poured it into a glass for you myself.”

He smirked down at me.

“I almost had to deliver your eulogy today. Isn’t that right?”

“H-ha ha. Well, the important thing is that I’m completely fine, right?”

“The important thing is that you recklessly ingested poison. When will you ever start making rational decisions?”

Hmm.

Lu’s eyes seemed crazed.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be talking like this when Agatha and Everlyn were right behind him.

It felt a bit excessive, so I whispered quietly enough that only Lu could hear.

“You know I’m fine.”

“And that justifies recklessly drinking poison?”

“It wasn’t intentional. It just… happened.”

“You really…!”

“There are people behind you!”

Shh!

When I placed a finger over my lips, Lu’s expression darkened even further.

But he didn’t say anything else.

He must have realized there was no point in arguing with me here.

Phew. I sighed and turned toward Agatha and Everlyn behind him.

“I grabbed the Countess’s glass by accident. But it’s fortunate, isn’t it? Because of that, she’s safe…”

“How can you say that?!”

Agatha suddenly shouted.

“You almost died! It was an incredibly dangerous situation!”

I’m getting scolded again.

I clicked my tongue and scratched the back of my head.

“Well, but in the end, I’m fine, and the Countess is safe.”

“That doesn’t justify the means! Just because the outcome was good doesn’t mean the process was acceptable!”

But I really am fine.

In the first place, poison doesn’t even affect me.

I’ve been ingesting small amounts of poison since childhood to build up resistance!

I glanced at Lu for help, but even though he clearly saw me asking for it, he ignored me.

That bastard.

Just then, the door opened.

A middle-aged man with neatly combed grayish-white hair and a monocle entered.

“Father!”

It was Count Lockwood.

I awkwardly stood up.

I couldn’t just remain seated when the Count himself had arrived.

“How is Mother? Is she okay?”

“Don’t worry. She was just exhausted and fell asleep.”

The Count reassured Agatha before turning his gaze to me.

His golden eyes locked onto mine, making me tense up.

“More importantly, Lady Charles Courtney.”

“Ah, yes.”

I clasped my hands together politely and responded.

“I am Count Lockwood. I should have introduced myself sooner, but I apologize for the delay.”

He extended a hand, and I quickly took it, shaking my head.

“No, of course, tending to the Countess comes first.”

The Count withdrew his hand expressionlessly and took half a step back before bowing lightly.

“And also, thank you for saving my wife’s life.”

“No! Please, stand up!”

Startled, I frantically waved my hands.

I was just a noblewoman from a remote countryside estate.

Yet, the head of a founding family, Count Lockwood, was bowing to me?

That made no sense!

I quickly added,

“It was just a coincidence. You don’t have to express such excessive gratitude.”

But the Count was firm.

Lifting his head slightly, he spoke in a deep, resolute tone.

“No amount of gratitude would be enough. Thanks to you, my wife is alive, and thanks to Sir Lu, the culprit was caught.”

As expected, I knew Lu would capture the sommelier.

I discreetly gave Lu a thumbs-up, but he just let out a dry chuckle as if he couldn’t believe me.

“I will never forget this debt. No, I must not forget it.”

The Count continued.

“The symbol of Lockwood is the rock. Just as a rock remains unchanged despite the passage of time, I will forever remember your aid and trust.”

Isn’t he overdoing it a bit?

“I hope you will become our eternal friend, Lady Charles Courtney.”

This is more than just ‘a bit’ over the top.

“Please, don’t refuse any future recompense.”

“……”

I glanced at Lu again, but this time, he outright ignored me.

Hahaha. What a jerk.

“…Thank you.”

So, in the end, I had no choice but to bow politely to the Count with a forced smile.

The Next Day

[A Conspiracy Unfolds at the Party – A ‘Hero’ of Both Beauty and Skill Saves the Countess of Lockwood!]

Yesterday’s events were plastered all over the newspapers.

Oh. Please, no.