ILTDAMH|CHAPTER 108

CHAPTER 108

Marican’s Recuperation

Lucy is dying?

Marican had long severed ties with Lucianne and never wished to see her again—but she had never wanted her dead.

All she’d wanted was for Lucianne to live her life far away, without ever crossing paths again.

She remembered Lucianne’s face the last time she turned away from her—smiling so brightly, so serenely.

And yet that same woman had hypnotized the former Empress Dowager, wishing only for Marican to suffer.

What did I ever do to deserve that?

Ever since she left the viscount’s house and married into the ducal family, Marican had never once wronged Lucianne or Penelope.

So why had they continued to slander her, to harm her at every turn?

Ruan stepped closer to her as she sat lost in thought and gently wrapped his arms around her.

Then, in a quiet voice, he began to tell her everything he had uncovered.

How Lucianne had used the servant badge of Anne—the maid who once worked for the viscount’s family—to infiltrate the Empress Dowager’s palace as a dining attendant.

How she had gained the Empress Dowager’s trust, and using the hypnotic candles, brainwashed her into believing that Marican was the one who had murdered Daimond Kymon.

As Ruan spoke, Marican listened silently.

Though she had suspected as much, hearing the full details left her trembling with anger.
This time, she wanted Lucianne to pay for her sins in full measure.

The repercussions of Antwatte’s scheme were far greater than those of Daimond and Kymon’s rebellion.

And because Marican was not a mere citizen of the Empire but a royal of the Kingdom of Allomande, Lucianne’s crime was now formally charged as attempted regicide.

***

“What do you mean, regicide? That’s absurd!”

Penelope’s voice shook as she read the morning paper.

According to the article, Lucianne had been consumed by jealousy over Marican’s royal marriage to Ruan.

Driven by envy, she had conspired with the deposed Empress Dowager to kill her own sister.

Penelope’s heart had nearly stopped the moment Marican stepped in front of Ruan and was stabbed.

She had never liked that girl—but she was still her daughter.

Yet when Marican, bleeding, was carried away by Ruan and Lucianne was seized on the spot, Penelope found herself worrying not for the gravely wounded Marican, but for Lucianne.

Marican had Ruan, who cherished her more than life itself.

Lucianne, however, had no one but Penelope.

And now, stripped of her noble title, Penelope knew exactly what awaited her daughter, even without understanding all the laws of the Empire.

No matter what Lucianne had done, Penelope couldn’t bear to lose her.

She gathered all the jewelry and valuables she could find and rushed out of the viscount’s mansion.

The entire Empire buzzed with scandal—but the Duke of Canoluf’s estate remained eerily quiet.

Ruan had ordered every servant to keep silent, fearing that news of the affair might trouble Marican’s peace.

Even without his command, the servants who had once witnessed Lucianne storming the mansion and insulting their mistress wanted nothing more than for Marican never to hear of her again.

In truth, they secretly hoped Lucianne would be sentenced to death like everyone else expected.

***

“Ah… I didn’t realize walking in the garden could make me so happy.”

After days confined to bed under Ruan’s strict orders, Marican was finally allowed outside.
Her physician had confirmed the wound had closed, and she could at last breathe the fresh air.

“Madam, you should still rest a few more days,” Charles said as he poured her tea, worry etched in his tone.

“Charles, the doctor said it’s healed enough not to reopen. Don’t worry so much. Ruan just likes to fuss. It’s really not that serious.”

“Not serious?” Clae exclaimed, draping a blanket over Marican’s lap. “That blade was poisoned, my lady! It could have been fatal!”

“I still tremble when I think about it,” Charles added, clutching his chest. “Ever since that day, I can’t even look at wedding dresses anymore.”

Marican smiled apologetically. “Charles, the dress isn’t to blame.”

“Please, my lady, never scare us like that again,” Clae pleaded.

“Yes, yes. I promise,” Marican said softly. Their concern didn’t annoy her—it warmed her.

***

“Does it hurt?”

That evening, Ruan returned from the palace and gently applied salve to her wound.

Though it had closed, the red mark still pained him to look at.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore,” Marican assured him. “It’s just… itchy now. That means it’s healing, right?”

“Marican,” he said quietly, his voice strained, “please… don’t ever do something like that again. I’m stronger than you think. You don’t have to protect me like that.”

She reached for his hand, her eyes gentle.

“Ruan, don’t apologize. Even if I could go back to that moment, I would still stand in front of you. When I saw that sword, I didn’t even think—my body just moved.”

“Marican…”

He pulled her close, holding her tightly.

“I won’t ever let you be in danger again.”

Marican blushed and quickly changed the subject. “What happened with the trial?”

Ruan sighed and took her hand. “The court has set a date. The viscount’s daughter and the former Empress Dowager will both stand trial next week.”

“Next week?”

“Yes. You’ll need to testify, but if you’d rather not—don’t worry. There’s already plenty of evidence.”

“Do I really have to go?”

“You don’t,” he said softly. “Not if you don’t want to.”

Marican looked up at him, her eyes firm. “No, I do want to go. I want to see her punished with my own eyes. I just… hope that this time, she truly understands her sins.”

Ruan gave a bitter smile. He doubted Lucianne ever would.

“If that’s what you wish, I’ll go with you,” he said. “Now, let’s change your bandages.”

Marican blinked. “Bandages? But it’s already healed!”

Ruan’s tone turned serious. “We can’t take chances. If it festers again, I might have to cut—”

“Alright, alright!” she interrupted quickly. “You win. Bandage it.”

He chuckled softly and began to wrap the clean cloth around her waist with care.

***

“Tomorrow after breakfast,” he said, “we’ll leave for your recuperation.”

“Recuperation?” she echoed in surprise.

“Since the trial isn’t until next week, there’s time,” Ruan explained, tidying up the medicine box. “I’ll take you to the ducal villa.”

“The villa?”

“Yes. The Canoluf family has four of them. I’m sure you’ll love this one.”

Recuperation? For a wound that’s already healed?

“Ruan,” she asked suspiciously, “this isn’t because of my injury, is it?”

“Of course it is,” he said smoothly. “I wanted to take you sooner, but I didn’t want to risk reopening your wound. Now that you’re better, you can rest properly there.”

Rest properly? I’ve been resting nonstop here already!

“That’s not excessive,” he said before she could even protest.

Her eyes widened. “How did you—”

“It’s written all over your face,” he said with a teasing smile, drawing her gently into his arms.

“The truth is,” he murmured, “I wanted to take you there after our wedding. But things got… complicated. There’s something I’ve always wanted to show you. So, I suppose I’m using this as an excuse.”

Something he wants to show me…?

Marican’s lips curved into a smile. “Alright then. Let’s go, Ruan.”

“Everything’s ready,” he said, brushing her cheek. “We’ll leave right after breakfast.”

***

The next morning, after their meal, the two of them boarded the carriage.

The journey took nearly four hours from the duchy, and before long, Marican dozed off against Ruan’s shoulder.

When the carriage finally stopped, Ruan gently woke her.

“Wake up, Marican. We’re here.”

“Wow…” She stepped down, her hand in his—and gasped. A salty breeze brushed her face, and the endless blue stretched out before her.

“What is this place?”

“This,” Ruan said softly, “is the sea.”

“The sea…” she whispered in awe. “I’ve only read about it in books. I thought lakes were the biggest bodies of water, but—this has no end! What lies beyond that horizon, I wonder?”

“The horizon?” he repeated with a small laugh.

“Yes! Is it a cliff? Another world?”

Her voice was bright and curious, almost childlike.

Ruan smiled. “I’ve never been that far myself. But they say the sea goes on forever—that beyond it lies another continent. One day, we’ll take a ship and see it together.”

“Another continent…” she breathed. “How amazing that sounds.”

He wrapped a soft blanket around her shoulders. “Seeing you this happy makes it all worth it.”

“Thank you, Ruan.”

“Master, the villa is ready,” Edward announced as he approached.

Ruan nodded. “Good. Leave the supplies here, then you may return.”

Edward hesitated. “Are you certain you’ll be alright alone?”

“We’ll be fine,” Ruan replied. “Just send bread and soup every morning.”

“Yes, sir. And if anything happens—”

“Don’t worry, Edward.”

The man bowed. “Understood. My lady, I’ll take my leave.”

“Thank you, Edward,” Marican said warmly.

Once the carriage disappeared down the hill, Ruan turned to her with a gentle smile.

“Come, my love. We’ll admire the sea later. Let’s eat first.”

At that, Marican’s stomach growled, and she laughed.

“Oh, now that you mention it—I am starving.”

Hand in hand, she followed Ruan into the villa, the sound of waves echoing softly behind them.