TVIOWHFW 16

The air grew so still that it felt heavy. I clenched my body tightly and looked at John.

‘Where did he hear that from?’

John’s red eyes stared at me intently, as if I were the only person in the world. He strode purposefully toward me. Betty naturally released my hand and stepped back. John then took her place. He sat on the edge of my bed.

“Madam, are you feeling alright?”

“Yes. I slept deeply and woke up, so I feel better.”

“Are you really okay?”

A cold shadow passed over John’s gaze. Whether because of that shadow or perhaps because he had stayed up many nights worrying about me, his face showed signs of fatigue unlike before. The carefully managed appearance now had subtle disarray, adding a decadent atmosphere. He slowly lowered his gaze and looked at my swollen wrist. I tried to speak, but John was quicker.

“It’s still swollen.”

“This…”

“There’s a slight fever, too. Do you think you’re okay even if you’re somewhat sick?”

John examined my forehead and muttered in a cold, reproachful tone.

“I’m just fine because I really am. I can’t say I’m not sick when I’m not in pain.”

“If you’re that fine, why didn’t you tell me honestly instead of hiding it?”

His tone was not much different from usual, but strangely, I felt like John was upset.

‘Is it because he’s happy to find out I’m actually sick and not just pretending?’

Thinking about it, from his perspective, it was understandable to be annoyed. He had carefully planned his revenge, only to find out that his target was seriously ill and might die. That must have felt pretty pointless.

“I was wrong. I just didn’t want to worry you over something that isn’t a serious illness.”

“So, you waited a week even though it’s not a serious illness, and now you’re fainting? The empire’s medicine has become so lenient?”

As soon as I woke up, I looked at Henry, who was sitting nearby, and asked, feeling a bit more relaxed than usual.

“It might have healed in a week, right, Henry?”

John looked at Henry with a subtle smile. Under pressure, Henry started sweating profusely, caught in the dilemma of having to choose sides.

“It’s possible, but… Madam, the truth is, that’s unlikely. Symptoms that would normally improve with light illness, but you were unconscious for a week, so it seems more serious.”

Saying “unconscious,” I looked truly ill. But for me, it still felt distant, like a story from another world.

‘I’ve fainted often enough…’

Since I wasn’t in pain right now, it didn’t seem serious. John lightly pressed Henry’s shoulder and asked. His low voice naturally carried a tone of authority.

“So, what was the cause of my wife’s collapse?”

“All… all I can say for now is that it’s due to a hereditary weakness.”

“So, you kept me waiting for a week, and that’s the best explanation you have?”

John’s attitude hadn’t changed much, but I couldn’t understand why I felt so scared. I was worried that Henry might get involved unnecessarily.

“Doctor, you’re right. I’ve been sick since I was a child. This kind of thing happened quite often.”

John’s lips curled into a more crooked smile.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“There was no need. The duke didn’t ask me, and it’s not a chronic illness.”

“…At the Libertan estate?”

“Exactly, I couldn’t really do anything about it.”

The Marquis of Libertan was a cruel oppressor. But I didn’t think all my illnesses were caused by him.

‘Most of my frequent illnesses started at the orphanage.’

They worsened after going to Libertan, but that was probably due to stress.

“Illnesses aren’t something you can fix just by effort. Even if a doctor treats you, there are things that can’t be cured.”

One clear example was Jessica, my biological daughter.

‘Jessica died from an incurable disease.’

Unlike me, she was the true princess of the Libertan estate, loved by everyone. If Jessica hadn’t died, I wouldn’t have been adopted by the Libertan family or suffered these hardships. Apart from that, there was no reason for the Marquis of Libertan to adopt an orphan girl after losing his daughter to a hopeless disease.

‘Was the disease called Sleeping Princess?’

It was named after a fairy-tale princess who sleeps forever. Unlike its name, it was a pretty severe illness. Patients’ bodies slowly deteriorated without them realizing, eventually dying in a state of apparent sleep.

‘I wish it was just sleeping for a long time.’

But it wasn’t. As soon as a patient fell asleep, all bodily functions stopped, and they would die just like that.

‘It’s not like I have that disease anyway.’

The Sleeping Princess disease was extremely rare. Even at Libertan, they were very sad that Jessica had contracted such a rare illness. John’s heavy, contemplative gaze darkened as he silently listened to my words.

“So, you want me to pretend I don’t know anything and not worry?”

“I didn’t say that.”

I tried to come up with the most plausible answer John might accept.

“It just means that there’s no need to waste unnecessary emotion on it.”

A faint crack appeared in John’s smile.

“Why?”

He slowly leaned closer, his handsome, languid face almost touching mine. As I looked at his sharp nose and involuntarily tensed, I clutched the blanket tightly.

“Because, it’s unnecessary.”

Somehow, he seemed to be in more pain than I was, who hadn’t woken up for a week. Flustered, I answered with a trembling voice.

“Well… because there’s no way to do anything about it.”

“…”

“Can the duke heal me if I ask him?”

“Yes. I will treat you.”

For some reason, John looked at me with a slightly desperate expression.

“I can grant anything you want. So, tell me anything comfortably, without hesitation.”

Suddenly, a silly thought crossed my mind.

‘He probably won’t grant what I really want anyway.’

So I asked John indirectly, recalling the promises he had made.

“May I visit my parents?”

A faintly menacing smile started to form on John’s face.

‘Did I go too far?’

Since my question was somewhat impulsive, I hurried to recover and spoke to John.

“Can I go see my parents?”

John’s smile looked a bit frightening now.

‘Did I overstep?’

In that moment, I tried to keep calm, but he grabbed one of my hands and spoke.

“Go ahead. Visit them.”

~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~

John left after kindly putting the death into my mouth, then departed. But the words he left just before leaving kept echoing in my mind.

‘Since I also worry about your health, try to think of a way to reassure me, too.’

I knew he wouldn’t let me go easily! Betty, who had gone outside earlier, returned with a worried look.

“Lady, the maid has come to apologize to you.”

“The maid?”

Suddenly, I remembered the moment I first saw Patricia.

‘I couldn’t even greet her properly before I collapsed.’

She probably disliked me from the start, but after our first meeting, she must have hated me even more. Now, I needed to be firm with Patricia. She entered with elegant steps and bowed politely. Her expression was still impassive, and her carefully styled hair made her look just like on that first day.

“Good day, Lady. Are you feeling better?”

“Yes. I’ve gotten better.”

Patricia nodded and slowly knelt.

“As you might already know, everything that happened was because I neglected my duties as a housemaid. I am truly sorry. Whatever punishment you deem fit, I will accept it humbly.”

I was taken aback as I looked at Patricia’s bowed head.

‘She’s not like this normally?’

In the original story, she did apologize, but she wasn’t this submissive. Patricia was born a noble, after all.

‘Did John order her to do this?’

I couldn’t tell if it was a good or bad thing.

‘But this is a good opportunity.’

I looked at Patricia silently, then calmly spoke.

“You came to apologize to me, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Patricia slowly lifted her head. I looked at her expressionless face and eloquently spoke.

“Then I won’t accept Lady Giletta’s apology.”

“…What?”

She seemed very surprised at my response. I just smiled sweetly.

“Because Lady Giletta still doesn’t realize what her sins are.”

Patricia’s turquoise eyes flickered.

“What do you mean…?”

“Do you think your negligence was only this time?”

Honestly, the original doesn’t say much about Patricia’s circumstances. But she did say things that hurt or attacked me.

‘Do you really think it’s right for the lady to act like this? A housemaid who hasn’t won anyone’s favor, do you think she can fulfill her duties?’

‘If you don’t understand, then do nothing. That’s the only way to bother the master less. Maybe even make that your duty.’

And the words she kept saying while tormenting me: ‘duty.’

“I understand that you might dislike me or not want to be close. Everyone has their own stance. But, Lady Giletta, you are the housemaid of Duke Blanchet.”

“…Yes.”

“Your sin isn’t disrespecting me, but neglecting your duties as a housemaid.”

“…”

“Isn’t that why such things happen?”

Patricia bit her lip hard and bowed her head.

‘It seems my words hurt her pride quite a lot.’

Still, I saw no reason to acknowledge her. Even if it was John’s order, it was Patricia who carried it out.

‘Honestly, I can’t just dismiss someone who was John’s close confidant.’

That would be too dangerous. It would completely ruin the image I’d tried to maintain of John being harmless.

‘Better to discipline her now and take over the duchess’s responsibilities.’

“I will take over the role of the duchess of Lady Blanchet from now on. Do you have any objections?”

“No, I don’t.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Patricia spoke.

“Master has already instructed that all responsibilities of the duchess be transferred to you, madam. So, that matter was already settled while you were unwell.”

‘John said so?’

My mind, which had been clear, became complicated again.

‘What on earth is John thinking?’

I couldn’t understand his hidden feelings at all. Was he secretly moving ahead, expecting Patricia to step down and gain my trust?

“…I see.”

I responded late, trying to compose myself, and spoke to Patricia.

“Now I will tell you the punishment I will give to you. You have failed to fulfill your duties as a housemaid and housekeeper, and you’ve disrupted the order of Duke Blanchet’s household. You have caused trouble for the duke.”

“…”

“So, decide for yourself what punishment is appropriate for your sins.”

With this, I wouldn’t need to use my hands to punish her. I wouldn’t even have to hear complaints about being too harsh.

‘What if I gave her a punishment that was too lenient?’

That might be fine too. Now that I could take over the duchess’s role, I could use that as an excuse to cut her off. Either way, Patricia’s way of tormenting me in the original story would be blocked.

“Thank you, madam.”

Her gaze looked a bit dazed.

“I will remain on probation and be demoted for ten years for disrupting the household’s discipline.”

At that moment, she suddenly struck her own cheek hard with her hand. Thwack! Just one slap, and a streak of blood appeared at the corner of her lips.

“…Cruel…”

Though I kept thinking she might glare at me with a terrifying look, her eyes surprisingly sparkled with a strange liveliness.

‘Why does she seem not to hate me?’

But that was probably just my imagination. After all, we had fought so fiercely; there was no way she wouldn’t hate me. Even in a good relationship, hatred can sometimes sprout.

~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~

Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉

Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

~~~Next Chapter~~~

Next chapter will be released Tomorrow.

See you then!!