CHAPTER~10
“…Frezen.”
At the sudden, deep voice cutting in, everyone’s gaze snapped toward one place.
The maids, realizing the voice belonged to Frezen, flinched in fear and hurriedly stepped back.
Ignoring the wary, frightened gazes directed at him, Frezen squeezed himself down right beside me.
“I clearly told you to go back. Why did you come all the way here?”
I leaned my body slightly to the side and whispered in a small voice that only Frezen could hear.
“I’m not the kind of bastard who leaves a sick person behind.”
He replied indifferently without even looking at me.
It was as if he were wondering why I would ask something so obvious.
His behavior was so natural that no one dared interrupt, leaving me staring blankly.
Feeling his stubbornness, I reluctantly decided to let it go.
What mattered now wasn’t Frezen— it was Mela.
“Just what kind of rash are you talking about…”
Still unconvinced, I checked Mela’s neck just as he said.
Gently brushing her delicate nape so she wouldn’t wake, I was struck speechless.
I hadn’t expected an actual rash.
I leaned in closer, even furrowing my brow to see better.
Small bumps dotted her skin as if from an insect bite.
“Lily, do you maybe know when this rash first appeared?”
“…It definitely wasn’t there this morning when she bathed. I–I’m certain of that! I think it’s some kind of allergy…”
Lily spoke with a face on the verge of tears.
The other maids looked no different.
If even one of them started crying, the atmosphere would sink even further.
I wondered if I should console them and say it wasn’t their fault when Frezen, who had been silently listening, cut in.
“Did you call the physician?”
The maids who had been sniffling stiffened at his stern tone.
“Ah! T-the physician… the Count said that if Mela’s presence were revealed, it would be… oh—”
Lily stopped mid-sentence, realizing she had slipped, and slapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes darting around.
Not wanting Frezen to misunderstand again, I quickly continued.
“We recently hired a new physician, that’s why. Mela’s very shy with strangers… haha.”
Already mistaken that Mela was his child, hearing that would only deepen Frezen’s suspicion.
I glanced at him nervously, curious about his reaction.
Frezen, who had been silent with a grave expression, murmured quietly.
“She resembles me… that too.”
…Resembles what again?
This was getting ridiculous.
Fortunately, he didn’t press further given the situation.
“Then I’ll call my personal physician. It’ll be better for you and that child, Mela.”
“Your personal physician? …No thank you. What if someone finds out and your elders make a fuss again?”
I instantly rejected his help without a shred of hesitation.
“…”
Frezen’s eyes twitched as if he hadn’t expected such a firm refusal.
He let out a heavy sigh through tightly pressed lips.
“Don’t worry. I won’t let anything like that happen.”
“…”
Even with his confident assurance, I couldn’t accept his offer easily.
It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Frezen.
His influence and authority within the Decart Duke’s household were immense.
But I couldn’t accept it—because of the fear carved into me after years of living there.
‘How could a lady of such an insignificant household become the Duke of Decart’s wife!’
‘Don’t you see why the Duke leaves for war so often? He probably can’t stand the sight of you.’
‘A useless family with debts and no heir…’
‘Completely worthless.’
“Worthless.”
That was what I heard most while living in the duchy.
The elders constantly criticized my family’s debt, called me frail and useless for not bearing a child, and nitpicked endlessly.
There were even days I wished Frezen wouldn’t go to war—so the elders wouldn’t scold me.
Even after five years, their words still echoed in my ears like hallucinations.
So the last thing I wanted was getting entangled with them again.
“…I’m not someone who should be receiving the Duke’s help. But thank you for the offer.”
I delivered my refusal firmly.
The atmosphere, already heavy, froze further.
I hurried to call for another physician when—
“Ugh…”
“Mela!”
Mela grimaced painfully and let out a pained whimper.
I rushed over, and her condition was visibly worse than before.
“Lily, Bailey! Contact any physician you can find, quickly!”
Then Frezen grabbed my wrist mid-air and pulled it down.
“Listen to me, Evelyn. My physician is nearby and can get here quickly.”
“Let go! If we don’t call someone soon, something might happen to Mela—!”
Before our argument could escalate, Mela whimpered again, tears slipping down her face.
Everyone’s attention fell on me.
Meeting Frezen’s gaze for a moment felt like he was telling me not to be stubborn.
In the end, I swallowed my pride.
“…Fine.”
***
Mela’s condition improved temporarily thanks to the physician Frezen called.
He said it was a simple allergic reaction and prescribed herbs but noted that he had never seen symptoms that progressed like this.
He repeatedly warned us to monitor her closely.
Only after Mela fell into a deep sleep did I sigh in relief.
After instructing the maid carefully, I stepped into the hallway, where long shadows hinted that quite some time had passed.
While I gazed at the orange-tinted sky with tired eyes, a familiar voice sounded behind me.
“It’s a relief she’s stabilized.”
It was, of course, Frezen.
He still hadn’t returned and remained in the villa.
“My physician is skilled. Trust him. He’s from the Valum Empire and only recently settled here—he’s discreet.”
His tone implied I shouldn’t worry about rumors spreading.
I didn’t have the energy to reply and only nodded.
Regardless, Frezen had helped avert a crisis.
“Thank you, Duke.”
“What?”
Frezen twitched as if he’d heard something surprising.
Then he chuckled faintly with a nod.
“Ah, and please—absolutely make sure nothing reaches your household. I don’t want any more trouble.”
As I grimaced in disgust, Frezen’s lips twisted sharply.
That was definitely a smirk.
As I glared at him in annoyance, he avoided my gaze and changed the topic.
“My physician told me there’s an illness going around the capital these days.”
“…An illness?”
“There aren’t many cases yet, so it doesn’t have a proper name. It’s not confirmed. But after eating certain foods, it begins as an allergic reaction, then worsens into seizures.”
I fell silent again, deep in thought.
An epidemic?
Could Mela have caught it?
Something felt off. Uncomfortably familiar.
Then a realization struck.
‘After eating certain foods.’
I recalled the conversation earlier.
‘Lily, can you tell me exactly what Mela ate for lunch? Ingredients too, if you can.’
‘Yes! She had vegetable soup made from ground carrots and walnuts, rye bread, and some apples and berries.’
‘She ate all of that… alone?’
A thought surfaced, and my face turned pale.
Sudden allergic reaction.
An epidemic spreading in the Empire.
This might be *that incident* from the original story.
‘If that’s true…’
I stared blankly into space in fear when Frezen spoke, noticing my expression.
“…Evelyn, you don’t look well. Are you sick?”
His worried question only made my complexion worsen.
Of course it did.
If that incident was really happening—
it meant I would inevitably become entangled with Frezen again.
