Chapter 22
The warm, cozy heat unique to a newborn quickly calmed Eleanor.
Where am I…?
She stopped crying and quietly rolled her eyes around.
The place she was in was a stone building. Despite it being summer, woolen tapestries hung on the walls. The room was spotless, without a speck of dust.
It didn’t look like the kind of place where someone simply forgot to take down the winter decorations.
A region that decorates walls with tapestries… that would be the northwest of the Empire.
And in the northwest of the Empire was the Hilliard Duchy.
Could it really be that she was in the Duchy?
Eleanor glanced at Mathias.
Their eyes met, and Mathias furrowed his brows with concern.
“Are you feeling alright?”
“Yes… but… my arm…”
Eleanor’s gaze fell on Mathias’ arm, tightly wrapped in bandages.
She frowned, and Mathias spoke lightly.
“It’s not a serious wound.”
“Was it a burn?”
“Yes, but it’s not because of the baby’s mother, so don’t make that face. The doctor said it will heal quickly.”
But contrary to his words, the bandages looked fairly thick.
Did the Duke set the fire…?
In the blaze, Eleanor had thought Mathias might have started the fire to claim Charlotte’s baby for himself.
But seeing him injured, such thoughts completely vanished.
If he had set the fire to take the baby, he wouldn’t have saved her.
If the Duke hadn’t saved me, I would have died already.
And then she would never have seen the baby again.
Seeing his injuries, a wave of guilt swept over her.
She sincerely thanked him.
“Thank you for saving me.”
Mathias smiled gently.
“I’m just glad both the baby’s mother and the baby are safe.”
“Where am I? How long have I been unconscious?”
“You’re at my villa in Lupella. It’s a safe place.”
Not the Hilliard Duchy…?
Lupella was a southern region, not far from the village where Eleanor had originally stayed.
“And it’s been ten days since the baby’s mother collapsed.”
“Ten days?!”
Eleanor’s eyes widened in shock.
So much time had passed?
She bowed her head and looked at the baby.
“Kyaa~”
Now that she noticed, the baby seemed a little bigger than the last time she saw it. Of course, babies grow so quickly day by day.
“You fainted from inhaling too much smoke during the fire,” Mathias explained.
“To examine both you and me, Sophie called a doctor. But no matter how much time passed, you didn’t regain consciousness.”
“Ah…”
“They decided to move you here to show you to a better doctor. The doctor said it seems like psychological shock. Physically, you weren’t badly hurt, so the lingering unconsciousness was due to mental trauma.”
“Psychological trauma…?”
“I was worried since you were taking so long to wake up. I’m just glad we can finally talk face-to-face.”
After a moment of thought, Eleanor asked him,
“Do you know why the fire happened?”
“James set it.”
“What?!”
Eleanor coughed violently, and Mathias handed her a glass of water.
“It seems he was frustrated from being rejected by the baby’s mother.”
“What a madman…”
Eleanor cursed for the first time, and rightly so. The fire could have involved the newborn, and Sophie too, who owned the inn.
Eleanor’s trembling hands betrayed her agitation.
“How could anyone think of setting a house on fire where people live? What if everyone had died?!”
“You can’t try to understand the mindset of a madman,” Mathias said.
“Was James punished?”
“He was caught red-handed at the scene.”
“We absolutely cannot forgive him,” Eleanor ground her teeth.
“He tried to kill people. People! And that inn was Sophie’s life savings. She once told me it had been her lifelong dream to run an inn in her later years.”
Eleanor held the baby tightly to her chest.
“She must have been deeply traumatized…”
“Very much so.”
“I want to meet Sophie.”
“That’s probably not a good idea,” Mathias said, folding his arms.
“I think it’s best if the baby’s mother stays away from that village. That’s why I brought her out of the village.”
“But…”
“What if you go back and meet James again?”
Eleanor faltered.
Mathias clicked his tongue.
“James is a madman. I warned him as politely as possible, but he still set the fire. Who knows what he would do next?”
Mathias was right. Given his history, it wouldn’t be surprising if next time he came with a knife.
“The baby’s mother leaving the village was something the innkeeper agreed to as well.”
“So if we meet somewhere else…”
“Do you want to call a woman whose house just burned down for her youngest daughter’s wedding?”
Eleanor fell silent, caught off guard.
Mathias let out a small sigh.
“Don’t worry about Sophie. She’ll be compensated for the damages by James. His punishment will be properly enforced. This involves not only the baby’s mother, an outsider, but also Sophie and the villagers, so the village head can’t ignore it either.”
“…”
“So for now, focus on recovering your health. You’ve only just woken up after ten days.”
“…Alright. I will.”
Eleanor nodded, conceding to Mathias’ words.
Fiddling with the baby’s fingers, she asked carefully,
“If I write a letter, could you deliver it for me?”
“Of course. Sophie will surely be happy to receive a letter from you, worrying about the baby’s mother.”
This was a place Mathias had considered safe for her and the baby, yet in the end, they had to leave. Life doesn’t always go according to one’s wishes. Eleanor sighed, feeling the sudden farewell keenly.
After regaining consciousness ten days later, Eleanor, curious, asked Mathias many questions. Eventually, her body couldn’t keep up, and she fell asleep.
“Abya abya.”
The baby tapped her cheek playfully. Eleanor’s brows twitched slightly.
As she stirred, Mathias picked the baby up.
“Enough.”
“Uwaa.”
“This little rascal. I understand you’re happy to see your mother after so long, but you shouldn’t hit her face.”
Mathias carried the baby out of the room.
In the hallway, a maid waited.
She was actually one of Mathias’ direct subordinates, disguised as a maid.
“Your Highness,” she greeted.
Mathias extended his arm. The maid loosened the bandage on his left arm, revealing an unscathed, perfect arm beneath.
He had never really been burned. It had all been a disguise for Eleanor’s sake.
Handing the baby to his subordinate, Mathias said,
“Take good care of the baby and her mother.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And…”
Although he told Eleanor that this was his villa in Lupella, it was actually the Hilliard main estate.
I can’t reveal a useful card for when we look for Charlotte.
In a corner of the estate was a seldom-used annex, once used by his great-grandfather for secret meetings with his mistress.
