Chapter 76
After I Died, My Little Groom…
Heinrich took Nadia to the Baldwin townhouse.
In front of the familiar townhouse—so welcoming yet heavy with memories—Nadia swallowed hard but forced herself to look straight ahead, pretending to be calm.
She had decided to shut out everything except Heinrich, to protect the self she had built as Nadia.
The moment she sat down on the soft chair, she fell asleep before she could even appreciate being there for only the second time in her life. To be exact, it was more like she had fainted.
Given how the carriage had been nearly destroyed, it was a wonder she’d stayed conscious as long as she had. Heinrich sat beside her and murmured quietly,
“Was it because of that magic…?”
The moment Heinrich had heard she might be in danger, he had gone after her—but by the time he caught up, the carriage was already being chased by a group of men.
Then an assassin dressed in black attacked the coachman, causing the horses to go wild and the carriage to shake violently.
Heinrich had spurred the horses on, kicking their flanks, but he couldn’t stop the carriage from tumbling down the hill.
Just as despair began to take hold, a brilliant light burst from the base of the hill, forming a sphere the size of a small hut. The light didn’t spread outward—it gathered inward, thickening as though to protect something within.
When Heinrich reached the bottom, the light had vanished—but he could tell something extraordinary had happened.
Half the carriage was gone, yet Nadia stood there unharmed. She was bruised and scratched, and his heart ached to see it—but it was a miracle she was alive at all.
The only one who died in that wreck was the assassin who had jumped in front of the carriage.
If Nadia had unconsciously used magic to protect those nearby, that assassin probably hadn’t been included. She’d been in no state to notice who had even leapt into the road.
Heinrich gently pulled the unconscious Nadia into his arms, brushing back the limp strands of her hair.
“How did you do it…?”
His voice was so soft it almost trembled.
“You told me once, remember? That there were only a few talents the gods didn’t give you—and magic was one of them. So how are you using it now?”
There were so many things he wanted to ask.
Why had her body changed?
Did she remember what had happened when she died?
And most of all—
“…Why are you still pretending not to know me? Are you really trying to disappear from my life forever?”
His whisper was full of pain, but the only person who could answer him was lost in deep, exhausted sleep.
Nadia’s breathing came slow and uneven, her body limp from the massive magic she had used.
Knock, knock.
At the sound, Alison entered with a maid and a doctor. Heinrich carried Nadia to the bed, tucked her hand beneath the blanket, and pressed a brief kiss to her forehead.
The doctor and Alison both coughed awkwardly, pretending not to see as they approached the bedside.
“See to her treatment. Alison, summon a mage as well.”
“Yes, Your Grace. Also, the young lady’s maid has arrived.”
“Vivian?”
Heinrich said her name as if it were obvious. Considering he didn’t usually remember the names of every Baldwin servant, it was surprising.
Alison quickly hid her startled look and nodded.
“Yes, Miss Vivian. It seems she rushed straight here as soon as she regained consciousness. Remarkable loyalty, really. But… should I send her away?”
She asked cautiously, as if feeling sorry for the maid.
Heinrich turned away as though uninterested, but then pressed a hand to his forehead with a sigh.
“What’s wrong, Your Grace?”
“Let her in—but assign a guard to watch her.”
“Yes? Ah—yes, Your Grace!”
“She’ll be worried about her mistress. Have the maid treated as well.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Heinrich lingered by Nadia’s side, reluctant to leave. But when he noticed the doctor’s trembling hands, he finally stepped out. There were still things Nadia had started that he had to finish.
When Heinrich left the room, Alison gave a few more instructions to the staff and followed him out.
It was impossible to tell how long she had slept. The heavy curtains blocked out all sense of time.
When Nadia opened her eyes and looked around, her gaze met Vivian’s.
Vivian, who had been pacing anxiously, hurried over and perched at the edge of the bed.
“Mmm, your fever’s gone down quite a bit.”
She checked Nadia’s forehead and then grinned mischievously.
“Not disappointed that the first person you see isn’t His Grace?”
Nadia’s face instantly flushed scarlet.
“What—what are you saying?”
“Oh, don’t act clueless! A few hours ago His Grace was here, holding your hand and everything.”
“Enough of that. …Are you all right?”
Nadia waved her hands to dismiss it and grabbed Vivian’s arm. Bandages were wrapped around the maid’s arms and legs.
After fighting assassins and then surviving a carriage crash, of course she’d be injured.
But Vivian just laughed brightly and tapped her bandaged leg.
“Doesn’t hurt one bit!”
Nadia gasped and tugged her hand back, but Vivian truly seemed fine. Given her past as an assassin, maybe these wounds were nothing to her.
Even so, Nadia’s worried eyes didn’t ease until Vivian asked cheerfully,
“Anything else you’re curious about?”
“Um… my father?”
It was the first thing she’d thought of when she woke.
Heinrich had said he would take responsibility for the Marquis of Desmond’s daughter, but Nadia still wanted to hear it for herself.
Fortunately, Vivian brought good news.
“Of course he’s been released! He’s at the Baldwin townhouse right now. Probably having tea with His Grace as we speak.”
Nadia immediately threw off her blankets.
“My lady?”
Vivian hurried to steady her.
“My father gets nervous so easily… He must be tense. He just got out of prison, I’m worried—”
Vivian burst into laughter at Nadia’s rambling.
“Oh no, he was actually quite spirited! Especially after realizing you and His Grace are… you know.”
Spirited?
Nadia blinked wide-eyed. It didn’t sound like the timid father she knew—but then again, there had been one time he’d shown real backbone.
When Baron Barden had tried to pair her off with that philandering count, Viscount Hess had scolded the man harshly and kicked him out of the estate.
Thinking of that memory, Nadia let out a faint laugh as she slipped her legs from the bed.
“Yes, that sounds like him. I guess I don’t have to worry.”
“Exactly!”
They shared a smile.
Vivian helped Nadia freshen up. There was no need for anything fancy, but combing her hair and putting on clean clothes felt necessary.
Vivian chatted as she dressed Nadia in a soft, light-green gown.
“Do you know where this dress came from? His Grace’s secretary brought it at dawn! I have no idea how he managed to get a boutique to open at that hour.”
“He must’ve worked hard. I’ll have to thank him.”
“Thank the dress first—it’s lucky to be worn by you! It didn’t look half this pretty until you put it on.”
Vivian grinned as she smoothed Nadia’s hair.
Nadia watched her through the mirror, then turned to face her directly, smiling softly.
“Vivian… I’m sorry for letting Conrad have my information. I didn’t realize you’d see it as a betrayal. But thinking about it now, you were right. If you think of me as your lady, you shouldn’t share anything about me with anyone.”
Her ears turned pink as she spoke.
But after deciding to truly become Heinrich’s lover, Nadia had realized something important—
Everyone has someone special they hold dear. It doesn’t have to be a lover, but to that person, the rules simply don’t apply.
Just like she had resolved to abandon everything from Rivenia—but couldn’t abandon Heinrich.
“If I truly thought of you as my right hand, I should’ve been hurt that you told someone about me. Because the trust between us matters. I was… a fool not to see it sooner. It wasn’t that you weren’t special to me.”
Vivian’s lips trembled before she suddenly threw her arms around Nadia. The brush clattered to the floor, and the hair she’d just finished combing came loose—but neither of them cared.
“It’s fine now, my lady! You understand, and that’s enough!”
Just like always, Vivian forgave her without hesitation.
As Nadia patted her back, the sound of a loud sniff echoed through the powder room.
She felt guilty for not realizing sooner—but Vivian was right.
What mattered now was never forgetting it again.
