Chapter 35……………………………………….
“Oh my goodness, dear! Your hand…!”
Karina carefully took hold of Ivelina’s hand.
Her touch was so delicate it felt like feathers brushing against Ivelina’s skin, making her squirm from the ticklish sensation.
Misunderstanding, Karina panicked, thinking she had hurt her.
“I’m sorry, dear. Did I grab you too hard?”
“N-no! It just tickled, that’s all.”
At that moment, a quiet cough sounded, followed by a husky voice.
“Ahem, excuse me. May I take a look at the injury?”
As Karina stepped aside, a woman approached Ivelina.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, My Lady. I’m Anais, the Grand Duke’s personal physician.”
“Oh… nice to meet you, Anais.”
“Please speak comfortably, My Lady.”
Anais smiled warmly. When Ivelina nodded slightly, Anais spoke again.
“May I take your hand for a moment?”
Ivelina offered her hand, and Anais examined it closely.
“Fortunately, it isn’t cut very deeply. I’ll disinfect it, apply medicine, and wrap it with a bandage. It must be disinfected and rebandaged every day so the wound doesn’t worsen.”
Anais opened her bag and took out cotton and disinfectant.
She skillfully soaked the cotton.
“It may sting a little.”
Before Ivelina could even nod, Anais dabbed the cotton onto the wound.
A sharp pain shot through her, enough to make her back tingle, and Ivelina flinched and bit down on her lip.
She didn’t make a sound until the treatment was finished.
As Anais packed up her things, she said,
“All done. Make sure water never gets on the wound. And disinfect and change the bandage every single day.”
She repeated it twice, perhaps worried they might forget.
“Y-yes— I mean, okay. Thank you, Anais.”
Ivelina wriggled her fingers gently and smiled.
“It won’t leave a scar, thankfully. I’ll leave more disinfectant and bandages here for you.”
Anais placed the new supplies on the table.
After hesitating for a moment, Ivelina asked quietly,
“Will I… not be able to practice archery until it’s healed?”
Anais thought briefly, then replied,
“You can, as long as you wear gloves. But even with gloves, practicing for hours will definitely irritate the wound, so don’t overdo it.”
“Oh! Okay!”
Ivelina nodded vigorously, relieved.
She had worried she wouldn’t be able to practice at all.
Anais bowed and left the room.
As soon as she did, Karina sat down beside Ivelina.
“Are you alright, dear? It doesn’t hurt?”
“I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Karina sighed softly in relief.
Beside her, Arsen—who had been staring at Ivelina’s hand with a grave expression—finally spoke.
“We should stop practice for today. If you push yourself, the wound may worsen just like Anais warned.”
“Oh… I’m disappointed, but yes. I had fun…”
Ivelina murmured, nodding.
“I’ll get you a pair of gloves. For now, please rest. Since your clothes are stained with blood, I’ll call Berry to help you change.”
Arsen’s face remained stiff.
Thinking he must be annoyed by her injury, Ivelina’s shoulders drooped.
She must have looked so clumsy to him—getting hurt so carelessly.
Berry arrived quickly when Arsen pulled the bell cord.
“You called? Oh my! My Lady, your clothes are covered in blood!”
“Oh— it’s not serious. I’ve already been treated.”
Karina rose and patted Ivelina’s shoulder gently.
“Change your clothes and rest well, dear.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Karina left, but Arsen lingered awkwardly.
When Ivelina tilted her head in question, he finally said,
“…Please rest well.”
“Ah… yes…”
Without another word, Arsen left the room.
He seemed upset, and Ivelina let out a sigh.
Berry rushed forward immediately.
“My Lady, are you feeling unwell?”
“Huh? No, I’m fine.”
“Then why sigh like that? Your expression doesn’t look good…”
“It’s nothing. Can you help me change, please?”
“Yes, My Lady.”
With Berry’s help, Ivelina changed into clean clothes.
Berry also brought a wet cloth and carefully wiped away the bloodstains.
“If anything happens, please call me, My Lady.”
“I will.”
After tidying the bedding, Berry bowed and left.
When the door closed, Ivelina was alone.
Sitting on the bed, she recalled Arsen’s expression from earlier.
He looked really upset… I should have been more careful. It’s my fault.
She had tried so hard not to cause trouble, but she had still messed up.
Maybe he thought she was careless and clumsy—maybe he regretted living with her.
After all, taking care of someone like that was a nuisance.
She felt she should apologize when she saw him.
Tossing and turning, she finally sat up.
Careful not to disturb the bandages, she put on a shawl and quietly opened her door.
He had said nothing about going out, so he was likely in his office.
She’d never been there, but she remembered the location.
After going downstairs and turning several corners, she stood before a door.
If her memory was right, this was his office.
Taking a small breath, she knocked.
“Arsen…?”
Silence.
Maybe he hadn’t heard her, so she knocked again, harder.
“Arsen? Are you inside?”
Still no answer.
She couldn’t just barge into an empty office, so she stood there, unsure what to do.
At that moment, Noel happened to pass by and approached her.
“My Lady, you’re injured—you shouldn’t be up and about. What brings you here?”
“Oh, Noel. Is this Arsen’s office?”
“Yes, it is.”
Relieved, Ivelina sighed.
“I wanted to apologize to him, but he’s not here… Do you know where he went?”
“Ah— His Grace went out earlier.”
“Went out? Suddenly?”
“Yes.”
Noel nodded.
“But you’re injured—please return to your room. I’ll tell His Grace you were looking for him when he returns.”
“Oh… it’s just a small cut…”
“Injured is still injured. He’ll be back soon, so don’t worry.”
She had no choice but to return to her room.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she was filled with anxious thoughts.
What if… he didn’t want to see me, so he left on purpose?
If Arsen knew what she was thinking, he would probably demand to know why his image had been reduced to that of some heartless villain.
The chance of that being true was about as likely as the empire collapsing overnight—yet Ivelina didn’t realize it.
I’m the outsider, so maybe I should leave… When he gets back, I’ll apologize and talk to him properly.
Unable to rest, she waited anxiously for his return.
Hours passed until finally—someone knocked on her door.
Startled, she flinched.
“Wh-who is it?”
“It’s me.”
Recognizing the voice, Ivelina jumped to her feet and hurried to the door.
When she opened it, Arsen stood there looking slightly surprised—probably because she opened it so suddenly.
But the surprise vanished quickly, replaced by his gentle smile as he stepped inside.
“How’s your hand?”
“I’m fine. It wasn’t a big injury—just a small cut.”
As she sat on the bed, Arsen sat beside her.
“May I take a look?”
“Of course.”
She offered him her injured hand.
Arsen gently touched the bandaged area, frowning.
It didn’t hurt, but it tickled, and she flinched—making him worry.
“Did I press too hard? I’m sorry. I tried to be gentle—”
Ivelina shook her head quickly.
“No, it just tickled. Anais treated it so well that it doesn’t hurt at all anymore.”
Even so, Arsen’s expression didn’t ease.
Watching him carefully, Ivelina hesitated, then spoke.
“…I’m really sorry.”
“What?”
Arsen’s eyes widened at the sudden apology.
“I should’ve been more careful… It was my fault. And I’m sorry for showing such a messy, undignified side of myself.”
Arsen stared at her as if wondering what on earth she was talking about.
“How is any of that your fault? I should have prepared better. It was my negligence.”
Ivelina shook her head firmly.
“No, it was my mistake. And… if you went out today because you didn’t want to see me—”
“Wait. Wait just a moment. What are you talking about?”
Ivelina blinked in confusion.
“You… didn’t want to see me, right?”
“Because I’m careless and troublesome…”
Arsen’s expression hardened—not with anger, but with incredulity.
“Absolutely not. I don’t know why you thought that, but I did not go out because I didn’t want to see you. I went out because I had something to buy.”
Ivelina blinked at him, puzzled.
Seeing her expression, Arsen smiled gently and reached into his coat.
Then he pulled something out… and offered it to her.
