Night of the Abandoned Duchess - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

“…The Madam has caught a cold.”

“A cold?”

Kyle slowly closed his eyes to suppress the rising emotions. It was frustrating to see his wife had been hiding her injured hand in a hurry, and now, she is sick.

She did so many things as if she wanted him to see her.

He twisted the tip of his lips as if he didn’t like it. Then, he began to move forward with a stride as if he had nothing more to listen to.

“How is she?”

“She has a bit of a fever, and she can’t even drink water properly, let alone eat.”

“It’s going to be difficult.”

He suddenly opened the door to her bedroom without knocking. Kyle stepped forward without hesitation to the place where her bed was, but when he met her face, his movements stopped without realizing it.

Rosalind was laying quietly on the bed lined with lace. He looked down at the woman who had turned white.

“The doctor.”

“According to the doctor, it is not a special disease, it is a severe cold. It is said that it is always good to eat well and rest well, but she can’t even eat well…”

“Bring me food and water.”

At his command, the maids began to move in a hurry.

Shortly thereafter, a round silver tray with water and soup was placed in front of him. The soup was cooled moderately, neither too hot nor too cold, and it was boiled for a long time by crushing even a small grain to make it easier to swallow.

But, Rosalind couldn’t even swallow it. She found it difficult to even hold it in.

Kyle picked up the soup bowl and spoon. While the maids were startled by the master’s direct movement, he placed a spoon to Rosalind’s lips.

“Eat.”

Rosalind opened her mouth slightly without answering. The soup was spilled into her gaping mouth, but it leaked out without being able to get into the mouth.

“Are you protesting against me for what happened that day?”

He mumbled low as if to himself.

“…Duke.”

She opened her mouth with a soft voice that seemed to be cut off at any moment. It was a weak voice that he couldn’t even hear properly.

It wasn’t as childish as he said that she was protesting, though it was true that she didn’t want to eat anything. Rosalind didn’t want to do or eat anything. She felt repulsed just by holding it and did not receive it well inside.

Only the images of the maids, who were not sure what to do while rolling her feet, came to mind, hazy like a dream, sporadically. But now, her husband was holding a spoon in front of her. He said he was going on an inspection, but he’s already back. Or, is the still hazy thing a real dream?

“…According to the doctor, if you feel too uncomfortable, drink water first…”

“Water?”

Blinking her eyelids that kept closing, she watched the maid and her husband.

Kyle frowned slightly at the maid’s words and scooped out the water with another spoon before bringing it right in front of her lips.

Her chapped lips were wet with the water, but Rosalind couldn’t get much inside. She didn’t even want to put water in her mouth to the extent that she couldn’t understand herself.

“Isn’t it better to eat? Eat some.”

“I’ve been trying, but she doesn’t even try to eat it as if her body is not receiving it.”

Shaking his head roughly as if frustrated, he brought the cup to his mouth. Kyle’s face draped over hers. Water rushed through the gaping lips.

At that, her eyes widened in surprise, and Rosalind swallowed the water without realizing it.

Uh…

Aside from drinking the water, she was confused and didn’t know what to do. The heat of the lips touching hers and the coldness of the water that came in succession seemed to make fun of her, who doubted reality.

Now, she’s drinking water from his mouth…

“If necessary, I’ll make the soup go like this.”

Unlike her, who was somewhat surprised and embarrassed, Kyle had a very calm face.

A friendly voice followed.

“I know you don’t like it, but try your best. Try to hold it, let alone swallow it.”

“But…”

“Don’t trouble me.”

Somehow, it was a softer voice.

Even in the midst of the sickness, astonished and not knowing what to do, Rosalind had such a question.

Why is her sickness bothering him? Was he worried about her? Isn’t it because he’s worried about her that he came here to give her water and soup…?

When she thought about it, her heart pounded faintly without pride. Even though things were still clear from the day before, her heart raced as if it was natural for him to show her the slightest bit of affection, like a dog well trained to fetch a ball.

“…Why do you bother when I am sick?”

As Rosalind barely opened her chapped lips, she asked him a question.

Perhaps, it was a question with the expected answer.

“If you don’t get better because you’ve been skipping meals, I will be in trouble. Did you forget that His Majesty’s dinner is coming soon?”

When the answer fell on her ears, she wondered, “Yes, yes.”

The foolish self quickly became funny. It felt really heartbreaking that she was foolish to have even a small hope for even a moment, and he did not give room for even such a small hope.

The Emperor’s Dinner, held once a year, was a very important event. Besides, this time right after the emperor’s wedding, much more attention was paid to it. Since she had to go to such a place, it was only natural that she had to recover her health quickly.

However, as the wife of Kyle, one of the country’s most powerful people, Rosalind didn’t necessarily have to be present.

The Spencer family had such a high name that no one but the emperor could match it, and their authority was strong, so even if he said that she had to leave because of her illness, there would be no harm.

Still, nevertheless.

How ridiculous and insignificant it was that she had to restore her health because she had to participate in the Emperor’s Dinner? If he really cared for her, he would not have used expressions like ‘trouble’ in the first place.

He would say, ‘worry.’

He must have been worried about her being sick…

“…Until then, I will try to get better.”

“Take care of yourself until then.”

She nodded her head at the words that sounded like a command. Then, she said to herself.

…Yes, she should be fine until then, as he said.

“Now, open your mouth again.”

Quickly.

Soon, Kyle brought the spoon back to her lips.

After passing the water for the first time, the second time was a little less repulsive. As soon as the water entered her body, she felt cool, so Rosalind began to swallow the water he gave her little by little.

She drank all the water for a long time, and this time he lifted the soup. She stopped eating the soup without even two spoons, although she could hear the people around her saying it was a relief to be able to eat it anyway.

So, thanks to Kyle, she barely finished a meal and fell asleep quickly.

* * * 

Rosalind opened her eyes with a feeling of freshness and lightness.

Her body, which had been boiling with heat, cooled moderately, and the feeling of a thick blanket wrapped around her was soft and cozy.

Earlier, she was just hazy without even knowing whether it was a dream or reality, but now everything around her felt clear. Sensing that her condition had improved, she got up to her feet and a maid hurried to her and spoke to her.

“Madam, you woke up! Are you okay?”

“…Yes, I’m fine.”

She lowered her voice that didn’t come out well, and barely answered. The maid picked up the cloth from her forehead and twisted it over a bucket of water. And, after she wetted it again, she began to gently wipe her cheek.

“The doctor said that the fever has gone down a lot, and it keeps getting better.”

“Really?”

“Yes, yes! The doctor was here earlier, and you’re getting better.”

Rosalind raised her body. As she lay still and leaned against the head of the bed, it felt like the frustration was going away.

Then, she suddenly looked down and saw the cloth wrapped around her fingers. It must have been that a cloth was placed over the wound she had got while sewing. It’s a very meticulous doctor.

She smiled faintly.

“That’s a relief.”

“Since you should take a break, so first of all…”

“…Did anyone else come and go?”

At that, she asked the maid carefully, as if puzzled.

“Who?”

“Duke…or anything.”

“Uh, well, I haven’t really seen him except the day he came back from the inspection. Shall I ask the other maids?”

Umm, there was a bit of embarrassment in the voice of the maid who answered.

The maids who worked in this castle knew the relationship between the two well. Even if they deceived the nobles outside, they could not deceive even the servants and maids who permeate their everyday life.

Not too long ago, the maids who saw her swallowing tears in the nanny’s arms were whispering to each other that they were sorry. They knew better than anyone that, despite her seemingly arrogant feelings, it was a one-sided heart, and that Kyle didn’t love her.

“I think he is very busy with work at the Imperial Palace. So, wouldn’t it be difficult to check around? And again, it’s not good to be too busy, so in terms of being considerate on purpose…”

“I know. He’s such a busy person. I also don’t like being too busy.”

The maid hurriedly began to surround her with one and other words as if comforting her.

Even though she knew it was meant for her, maybe it was because of her twisted heart, it made her feel miserable.

Rosalind didn’t want to be too miserable, so she adjusted her tune appropriately. A shallow heart that wants to cover up the reality that everyone knows implicitly, even with plausible words.

Moments later, the maid questioned, raising her voice as if she had a good idea.

“Or, should I tell the Duke that you are awake now…?”

As she turned her head towards the door, she suddenly saw her reflection in the mirror. She had been sick all the time, so her complexion was pale, and her skin texture was dull. Maybe, she was glad he didn’t come to see her…

‘Still, he came to take care of my meal himself, so maybe he was a little worried about me.’

In the barren land, a crawling small life grows, hope was always looking for a place to dig. That fact was funny, but at the same time, it was the most difficult.

She can’t give up on him like this.

He came to her at least once. Even if it’s for His Majesty’s dinner, Kyle came to see her once… so that’s enough.

Even though Rosalind knew it was of no use, she gave it a meaningless thought.