CHAPTER 65……………………………………………..
“No way!”
Ever since recalling the events in the novel, affection had long since faded.
They hadn’t been all that close to begin with.
It had been ages since they had a conversation alone.
“Absolutely not!”
The only thought he had was wanting a quick divorce once the contract ended—what was she talking about?
She even felt uneasy, wondering if the Count might try to hold her back, using others’ eyes as an excuse.
I just can’t live with him anymore.
The only reason she had managed to endure until now was thanks to Alisa.
Kind, gentle, always willing to keep her company.
If it weren’t for Alisa, she might have considered something extreme.
“Um, Ortega… if what I heard is correct…”
Laseil hesitated briefly before continuing.
“It seems like no one took care of you when you were injured at the Count’s house.”
“That’s right! I didn’t think anyone would notice.”
It wasn’t intentionally hidden, but she didn’t expect to be pointed out like this.
It was also the first time she had ever told someone else about it.
“It’s been like that from the start.”
The staff at the mansion quickly realized the true state of the Count and Countess’s relationship.
Thanks to the Count’s strict rules, no word ever leaked…
But Ortega was always treated as someone who would soon leave the mansion.
Naturally, she had to handle almost everything alone.
“I only realized recently that this isn’t normal.”
A faint smile appeared on Ortega’s face, then vanished.
This habitual smile hadn’t gone away even after several years.
“I used to think that leaving that country would solve everything… and yet here I am.”
Of course, life now was much better.
The mansion was clean, the bed was soft, no one shouted at her.
She could even buy clothes and jewelry under the guise of maintaining decorum.
Though she didn’t really have a choice in the matter.
“If it weren’t for Alisa, it would’ve been even more frustrating.”
In fact, this situation could almost be considered funny.
The reason the mansion staff disliked Ortega was because of Alisa.
They said the Count’s attention should be on Ortega, not diverted to Alisa.
Yet Alisa seemed to have no need for that attention at all.
“…What did the Count say about me?”
With Ortega’s story finished, it was now Laseil’s turn.
I can guess, to some extent…
But hearing it directly would still be different.
“He said you might be possessed by a ghost.”
“So that’s the story he told?”
It wasn’t surprising—he likely said it to separate Ortega without conflict.
The Count of Gielea would recoil at the words “ghost” or “demon.”
“But the reason was… unusual.”
“Excuse me?”
“He thought you might have fallen in love with the Count.”
“What did you say?”
She had never imagined hearing something like this.
“To whom, about what… no…”
She was so dumbfounded that she couldn’t complete her sentence.
“Why would he think that?”
Her voice sharpened, more intense than before.
She knew Laseil hadn’t done anything wrong, but her emotions were hard to control.
“He thought that you stayed in the mansion because you wanted to spend time with the Count.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
She had shouted so much that her head felt slightly dizzy.
Ortega leaned back in her chair, calming herself for a moment, then looked away.
“So… should I just go back?”
It seemed confirmed that she wasn’t possessed.
There was no reason to stay any longer.
“Talking with the Count should solve this.”
“Before that, how about getting a check-up?”
Laseil suddenly brought up something unexpected.
“You don’t look well.”
“I’m fine.”
“You bumped into the chair on the left when you came in. You’ve closed your eyes several times during our conversation. You hardly touched the snacks, and even drinking tea seemed difficult. Or am I mistaken?”
“….”
For a moment, she forgot who was sitting in front of her.
You couldn’t easily fool a Swordmaster’s eyes.
“…Even if that’s true, why get diagnosed here?”
“To prove that your symptoms are caused by illness.”
“Even if I get checked myself…”
Ortega stopped mid-sentence, remembering the Count.
He won’t believe it.
If she went alone, he’d think it was manipulated—or that she was scheming to stay at the mansion longer.
It would be better to go with an outsider for credibility.
“…Is there a clinic nearby?”
Ortega quickly accepted the suggestion, sighing as she asked.
Laseil nodded slightly and immediately stood up.
“Follow me.”
“Why do you come here so often? And why are there so many visitors lately?”
Risena complained, looking displeased.
She didn’t like nobles frequently visiting the territory.
Of course, Laseil didn’t need to worry about that.
“And who’s this… oh, that’s the one who married the Count of Gielea, right?”
Even in the midst of this, Laseil quickly identified her guest.
“They don’t look well. How have you been holding up?”
Risena noticed Ortega’s symptoms at a glance.
She was remarkable in many ways.
“Have a seat. Wow, it’s been so long since I’ve done a full check-up.”
Risena continued to grumble for a while, then finally began the examination.
It was mostly just checking the mouth and heart.
“Can you really diagnose someone like this?”
Ortega seemed slightly taken aback.
It must have been very different from a check-up in the capital.
Risena relies on memory.
Specifically, memories from when the spirit was around.
At that time, the spirit made the diagnoses, and they never failed.
Based on that, she could naturally identify the illness that matched the symptoms.
“Hmmm… I can’t treat this. You’d need to go to the capital.”
After thinking, Risena gave her answer.
“Did you do the examination properly?”
Ortega’s suspicion remained.
“This hasn’t been going on for a day or two, right? Headaches were constant, dizziness when severe, shortness of breath in the morning, difficulty swallowing food or water lately, and sometimes vision issues?”
Risena rattled off the symptoms as if she had been waiting to be asked.
Ortega was too flustered to even comment on her manner of speaking.
“Yes… but what kind of illness is this?”
“The name is long, so I’ll skip it. Just think of it as terminal. That’ll make it easier.”
“What the heck…”
“You’d better go to the capital for a proper check-up. Recovery is nearly impossible.”
“Risena!”
“Alright, alright.”
Laseil interrupted mid-conversation, ending it there.
Ortega still looked skeptical but seemed to accept it in the end.
“…It’s not easy to get symptoms right away. Will you issue a diagnosis certificate?”
“Of course!”
Even retired in the capital, Risena’s name was well-known.
She had previously run a reputable clinic.
At least the certificate wouldn’t be doubted.
“Here you go.”
Unlike Risena’s personality, her handwriting on the certificate was neat.
It almost seemed like a skilled scribe had done it.
“Will you head there immediately?”
As soon as they left the clinic, Laseil asked.
Ortega didn’t seem keen on facing the Count.
“I’m not sure. I need time to think.”
“I’ll prepare a guest room for you… um, are you usually timid?”
Laseil paused, about to offer the lord’s room without thinking.
