Chapter 44
“…My lady, please wake up. You need to have breakfast.”
I woke up to Olivier’s voice which sounded distant. Even though I had gone to bed early, I still felt exhausted. I hadn’t expected that just going to a few places yesterday would leave me feeling this worn out. It seemed that my stamina was gradually declining.
I struggled to open my eyes and sat up. After washing my face with the cold water that Olivier had prepared, I felt my drowsiness dissipate.
When I finally came to my senses, I noticed that Richard had already left. Since I had fallen asleep first, I hadn’t realized he had come in, so it crossed my mind that he might have stayed out overnight. After all, he was such a busy person; it wasn’t unusual for him to be caught up in his hectic schedule.
I nodded briefly to myself and got up to change my clothes.
“Today’s schedule is just to attend the trial. There’s nothing else, so if you’re feeling tired, why not return straight after the trial and rest?”
“Yeah. That sounds like a good idea.”
Having already gone through one trial yesterday, I didn’t feel as burdened or tense as before. Yesterday, my heart had raced so fast that I thought it might jump out of my mouth, but now I felt more like I was nervous before a test.
It seemed that my positive outcome from the trial the previous day made me feel even more at ease.
After changing, I left my room and headed to the dining room. Richard was already there, just as he had been last time.
I sat down across from him and looked directly at him. How could he seem so vibrant, as if he lived a busier day than I did, while I always felt so tired?
Was this the difference in stamina?
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Richard, who had been skimming through some documents even while in the dining room, suddenly asked me, noticing my curious gaze.
“Aren’t you tired? It seems you didn’t return to your room until after I fell asleep.”
“I don’t really think I’m that tired.”
“That must be because you take good care of your stamina, right?”
He looked at me as if wondering why I was asking such things. To him, these matters probably weren’t significant. But I was different. I was so weak that if I overexerted myself during my daily activities, I would collapse on my bed that very evening.
I hadn’t inherited much physical stamina, and I had also been weakened by Darnnella’s disease.
So, it felt strange to me that someone with good stamina, like Richard, was such a different kind of person.
“Why, are you envious?”
“Of course, I am. As you can see, I’m always exhausted and prone to collapse with just about anything I do.”
When I answered with a face of regret, Richard put down his documents and gazed intently at me. His bright blue eyes captured only me.
“Then how about you try exercising?”
“Exercising?”
I opened my eyes wide at his unexpected suggestion.
He was right. To build stamina, I should indeed exercise.
That obvious thought was something I had hesitated to commit to properly until now.
“Maybe I really should.”
When I responded with interest, he let out a soft laugh, as if he found it amusing.
“If you want, I can teach you how to exercise.”
“…Richard, can you?”
“Yeah. Just let me know if you want to.”
He readily responded to me. I was surprised that he wasn’t just asking someone else but was directly offering to teach me, which I hadn’t anticipated given how much he had become more kind lately.
“Don’t you want to?”
He raised one eyebrow, as if his mind had quickly changed.
“No, I do! I’d love that!”
I quickly responded to his words before he could back out.
“Really, you’ll teach me. No backing out, okay?”
“Sure.”
Fortunately, Richard didn’t seem to have any intention of backing out as he nodded agreeably.
As our conversation ended, breakfast was served. We began to eat quietly. The sounds of conversations and laughter around us felt like background music.
“Are you feeling okay today?”
As we were almost done with our meal, Richard asked me. I looked up at him. He was focused on his food as usual.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
When I asked back in confusion, he finally looked up to check on me.
“You were busy running around here and there even after the trial ended yesterday, right?”
“Oh, that’s right.”
Somehow, I had ended up visiting the Wizard’s Tower to check on the buds in the Rosier pot, and on my way back, I encountered Dave, who had tried to kill me.
After returning to the hotel room, I had just slept the whole time, so I guessed Richard wanted to see if I was okay.
“I’m fine. I’ve rested enough, so it should be okay.”
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
Realizing late what he intended to say as he trailed off, I remembered that I had revealed to him something I didn’t want anyone to know. The reason was my trial against Duke Tristan.
I paused for a moment in silence before speaking.
“I’ll be okay. No, I have to be okay.”
I couldn’t remain weak forever. Since I was going to fight Duke Tristan, I had to see it through to the end. And yesterday, I had come to a clear realization: I could never be his daughter forever.
Despite the days I endured his abuse, it became clear that he never opened his heart to me at all.
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
Richard spoke nonchalantly, but his words carried his concern. I fidgeted with the end of the spoon I was holding and nodded.
“Okay.”
After finishing our meal, I returned to my hotel room for a moment to rest. Just like yesterday, the trial was at 11 o’clock, so I still had some time.
In the meantime, it seemed that others had also finished their meals, and Dave entered the bedroom.
“Are you feeling a bit better?”
I asked, remembering how he had looked so gaunt yesterday. He approached shyly, bowing his head.
“Yes, I… um…”
He carefully called out to me. I looked at him intently, encouraging him to speak.
“I’m really sorry about yesterday.”
Dave said with his upper body bent low as he apologized to me.
It seemed he wanted to apologize for trying to kill me.
“Do you even know what you did wrong?”
“… Yes. It was something I should never have done… I almost made a big mistake because I was blinded by money.”
He couldn’t even lift his head properly due to his guilt.
“Do you want to come here?”
I called Dave over to my side. He hesitated but slowly walked closer to me. As soon as he was right next to me, I reached out to touch his head.
Thinking I was going to hit him, he flinched and shut his eyes tightly. However, I had no intention of hitting him. Instead, I gently stroked his head.
“If someone else had caught you, you would have been in real danger.”
“…”
“But since no one has died yet, it’s okay, Dave. I forgive you.”
At my words, he trembled slightly.
“Thank you for forgiving me.”
He then expressed his gratitude in a small voice.
“No need for that. And I’m glad to see you’ve had enough to eat. How’s your sister?”
“She’s okay. Thanks to you, she’s feeling much better. This… luxurious food is the first time for us…”
He trailed off at the end of his sentence. It seemed he was still moved when he thought back on it.
“Right. That’s good. Just do well in the trial later. If you do that, I won’t hold your crime against you.”
“Yes! Understood!”
With a look that showed he was completely relieved, Dave smiled shyly.
“Then go get ready. We’ll leave once it’s time.”
“Yes!”
His expression completely brightened. I gently nudged him to prepare for the trial, and he hesitated for a moment before leaving the room.
“Are you really sending him off like this?”
Richard walked into the room, having entered without me noticing. It seemed he had a rough idea of who Dave was and how he ended up here.
“He’s still a child.”
“Still, he’s the one who tried to kill you.”
“It was because his sister was sick; he had no choice.”
“Not everyone acts out just because their family is sick.”
“… That’s certainly true. No matter the reason, Dave’s actions can’t be justified.”
Richard was right. Not everyone commits evil deeds for a reason.
“Even so, Dave probably couldn’t distinguish that. Plus, it all ended up being an attempt. He’s still young, and I think he deserves another chance. If Dave testifies this time, it should make the trial easier.”
“… Do as you wish. If that makes you feel better. But next time, it would be better to be a bit more rational.”
“Understood. I’ll do that next time.”
I smiled brightly at Richard, signaling him not to worry. He continued to look at me with some dissatisfaction before nodding.
“Then I’ll take my leave. It’s almost time.”
Richard reached out his hand toward me. I also extended my hand and took his. He then pulled me up with a bit of strength. Rising from my seat, I promptly accepted his escort as we left the hotel.
Today was the second round of the trial.
