Chapter 14

“Hasn’t it been a little noisy for a while now?”

“Pardon? My lady?”

In the end, I had laid out the mat and sat in the back garden, resting in the shade to escape the sun.

As much as this frail body couldn’t remain weak forever under the sunlight, I had come out to gradually adapt to it—but hoping to do so in one go had clearly been too ambitious.

Eventually, the stinging sensation on my skin forced me to quickly retreat into the shade.

“There’s this buzzing sound that keeps bothering me.”

And then, there was another problem.

While I sat quietly, feeling the breeze in the garden, something like the sound of the wind kept catching my attention.

“I don’t hear anything, my lady. Just the birds chirping,” Karlin replied, tilting her head.

So this strange sensation—was it just me?

“What an overly sensitive body I’ve got.”

Beyond being physically weak from birth… was there also something wrong with me mentally?

“Are you feeling unwell?” Karlin asked, concerned.

“It’s the wind that’s bothering me.”

More precisely, it was the wind-like ringing in my ears.

In this otherwise still garden, it almost felt as if someone kept whispering my name.

“Maybe you’re just a little more sensitive today? But look at the flowers and trees over there. Spring at the Mergen estate is more beautiful than any painting.”

“This is your first spring here, isn’t it?”

Since Karlin hadn’t been with the household for long, this must be her first time seeing the estate in bloom.

“Yes. It’s incredible. How can it be this quiet and peaceful?”

“Peaceful…”

That didn’t feel like the right word.

Maybe the calm before a storm was more fitting.

“But really—do you think sitting out like this is good for your skin? What if it makes it worse…”

Karlin glanced at my arms as she spoke.

She must’ve been worried, especially after how much ointment I had to apply following yesterday’s outing.

“I’ll adapt over time. Whether it’s something good or bad, people evolve that way.”

“Please make sure you get checked by the doctor tomorrow.”

“I will. Let’s do that.”

The way she acted like I’d shatter at a touch—it was oddly endearing.

“Tomorrow, I think I’ll go out for a proper walk.”

“For stamina building!” Karlin said, clenching her fist with determination.

“I might even visit the place you used to live.”

“Really?!”

Her eyes widened in surprise, clearly taken aback.

“Yes. And while we’re at it, you can visit your family.”

“You don’t need to be that considerate…!”

“I’ve got my own business to take care of, too.”

“Business?”

Was it a habit of hers to be surprised at everything I said?

“My schedule’s gotten quite full lately.”

So much so that sitting here getting a light sunburn barely even registered as “work.”

“Today’s report will probably read: ‘lounged around on a mat in the back garden.’”

“Ah…”

“Well, it’s not a lie.”

I stretched both legs out and leaned back.

Looking up, I could see the white sky through the gaps between the leaves.

With each sway of the branches, the sunlight would flicker in and out.

Just how frightening must that sky have looked to you?

I finally understood why Irene had always looked so pale, as if something was haunting her.

And still, that strange, indistinct ringing in my ears hadn’t stopped.

‘No wonder anyone would go mad.’

The world that had always seemed so serene around her… must have actually been unbearably loud.

And it made me realize just how little I knew about her.

* * *

I must’ve fallen asleep at some point.

But strangely, I felt wide awake.

Or perhaps I was still asleep, since I couldn’t move my body.

— Irene has awakened!

— You fool! She’s not Irene anymore!

— But her light is still there!

— They were always the same light from the beginning!

Were there people near me?

Faint voices echoed in my ears like the chattering of children.

— This place is safe!

— It’s not dangerous!

— It’s safe!

What… is all this?

Why were these unknown voices insisting that I was safe?

— At last, we’ve found her!

— She can’t hear us yet!

— But she will soon!

— Follow the light! We’ll be there!

What a bizarre dream.

So much shouting and chaos… this was unsettling, in every sense of the word.

* * *

Just a few days of pushing myself, and my body was already worn out.

Did this body not even have the bare minimum of stamina?

And to make matters worse, I’d experienced something close to sleep paralysis too.

If even my dreams were going to be this restless… well, what hope was there?

“You need to get plenty of rest. If you apply the ointment regularly, your immunity should gradually improve.”

I’d changed my personal physician.

Since it didn’t seem like there was anyone currently in charge who could object, I made the decision on my own.

There was no way I was going to entrust this body to a doctor who answered to Chloe.

“The medicine you’ve been taking… much of it is questionable. It would be best to discard it all.”

As the examination continued just as I expected, Karlin—who had been holding the basket filled with medicine I hadn’t touched for days—gasped in surprise.

“Throw it all away? But this medicine is expensive!”

“Yes. Honestly, I don’t understand who could’ve prescribed this…”

The physician glanced at me mid-sentence and trailed off.

“Feel free to speak openly. It’s just me and her here.”

“…Yes, well, in any case, aside from fatigue and weakened immunity, there’s no other illness present, my lady.”

“I was always sickly growing up.”

“That would be due to a suppressed immune system. Anyone would become that way if they took such potent medicine over a long period of time. And for it to be administered long-term… this sort of thing is…”

“What sort of thing?”

The doctor answered with an uncomfortable expression.

“…It’s the kind of thing meant to kill someone.”

I had expected something like that, but it still surprised me.

If Chloe had been using Irene’s blood for her own purposes, then having her die quickly should’ve been inconvenient.

“Is there any other effect the medicine might have had?”

“It can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, to alter a person’s internal flow of energy.”

“Altering one’s energy?”

“Yes. There are families like the Mergens, who are known for possessing special abilities. I’ve heard that medicine like this is sometimes used when such people need to forcefully extract or sever their power.”

“Hm.”

That would make sense, if I think of it from that angle.

“I can’t say exactly what effect it had on your body, since I don’t know all the ingredients in the medication. The effects can vary depending on how the herbs are combined.”

“And what about withdrawal? Are there any side effects from stopping the medicine?”

“There may be sudden changes in your body’s internal flow.”

“Oh, right—my ears have been bothering me. I keep hearing this ringing.”

“What kind of sound?”

“Like… the wind blowing while I’m buried under blankets?”

At my answer, the physician tilted his head slightly.

“It gets worse whenever I go to the garden.”

“If it’s particularly bad in a certain place, it may be psychological.”

Perhaps there were unpleasant memories tied to the garden?

I really knew so little about this body.

“Thank you for your care today.”

“Of course, my lady. I’ll leave the prescription here.”

“I’ll be relying on you again.”

The doctor stood, lifting his bag.

I also rose from the bed where I had been leaning.

As the doctor exited, the door opened—and Elliot stepped inside.

“Have you finished your checkup?”

“Yes, it’s all done.”

“I’ve arranged for a carriage so the physician can leave quietly.”

“Thank you.”

I slipped off the loosely tied robe and handed it to Karlin.

“Oh my, my lady! Sir Elliot is here!”

Karlin, flustered, quickly threw the robe back over my shoulders.

Judging by her reaction, it must’ve been something perfectly normal during my days as Deborah—but not anymore, it seemed.

Not like I was naked—I was wearing sleepwear underneath, clear as day.

“Well then, I suppose you’d better speak quickly, before I get scolded any further.”

I turned to Elliot, dodging Karlin’s sharp gaze.

“Thanks to your preparations, all the documents were delivered this morning. His Highness the Prince has scheduled a meeting three days from now.”

“What time?”

“He said he would arrive around lunchtime.”

“How considerate,” I muttered.

Either he was completely oblivious—or just plain spiteful.

“Got it. No other schedule today, right?”

“No, nothing else, my lady.”

“Then I’ll be going out.”

“Where to?”

“Just a bit of fresh air. You know—for stamina building or something.”

I glanced at Karlin, who was still fussing over my robe.

“I’ll accompany you,” Elliot said.

I frowned slightly.

“Isn’t your schedule packed? I imagine the Lord Patriarch must be eagerly searching for you.”

“……”

Elliot, who had spoken so confidently, now seemed to face reality.

“It’s nothing important. Karlin and I can handle it just fine.”

At that, Karlin nodded in agreement.

“And there’s something else I need you to do.”

“Of course. What is it?”

“I want you to look into Uncle Milles. A bit of background digging.”

“To what extent do you require the information?”

“Hmm… from his recent activities to the tiniest speck of dirt on his family?”

Basically, I wanted him thoroughly stripped clean.

It seemed there was quite a bit worth knowing about that man.

“And… no, never mind. I’ll handle the other matter myself.”

That one required someone dirtier and more persistent than Elliot.

Fortunately, I’d be heading out today anyway—perfect timing to take care of it.

“You should go change. You’ll catch a cold at this rate.”

“You act like I’m some fragile patient… which, I suppose, I am.”

Karlin’s worry clearly wasn’t unfounded.

“Well then, I’m counting on you.”

I gave Elliot a few light pats on the shoulder as I passed him.

Now then—let’s see what kind of delightful day I can stir up today.