~Chapter 108~
Bianca nodded at Nathan’s trustworthy reaction.
“Alright. I’ll believe you.”
“Then why didn’t you join us from the start?”
Nathan finally realized Bianca had been the woman in the robe, and he questioned her.
Bianca had hesitated to appear, thinking Nathan might have been involved in the guard’s death. If he wasn’t, then there was no reason to cause unnecessary fear.
“I suspected you, Nathan. And… I wasn’t sure about Madam’s true feelings. But from now on, I’ll help properly.”
“Thank you.”
They immediately entered the room where Ancia was lying. Bianca boldly examined her condition, and Nathan asked,
“Are you a physician?”
“No, but I’m responsible for Madam’s health care.”
From their conversation, Nathan could see that Bianca put Ancia above all else. He stayed quiet so she could focus on examining Ancia.
“As I thought… I need to get some herbs.”
Bianca, seeing how Ancia’s condition had worsened, was convinced that the herbal water and medicine she had given before had been effective.
The problem was that unlike the Duke’s household—where herbs were plentiful and cheap—here it was different. Once the heavy snow fell, the price of herbs and all supplies would double. Villagers were prepared for it every year, but outsiders would inevitably suffer losses.
“Uhh…”
Ancia curled up, sweating coldly, and Bianca grew more anxious.
“Nathan, earlier you pulled out hot packs, didn’t you?”
“Hot packs?”
“Oh—sorry. Madam sometimes calls the warming magic stones that. How many do you have?”
“About ten were attached to the robe.”
“…As expected of Madam. Give me three.”
“Wouldn’t that be too little to pay for this house?”
“One stone is enough. It’s just an empty house that would have fallen apart otherwise. I’ll exchange two more for money.”
Nathan handed her five stones.
“I said three is enough.”
“The price can change. Better to keep one extra. And one for you to use.”
Without hesitation or pretension, Nathan gave them to her. Bianca’s lingering suspicion faded completely.
She had learned in the Duke’s house how absurdly generous Ancia was. And now, Nathan was the same—freely giving expensive magic stones so a maid wouldn’t feel cold.
Their temperaments were strikingly alike.
“Thank you. But really, I’m fine. Madam already gave me some, and I still use them well.”
Now with peace of mind, Bianca could leave the house to buy what they needed.
The sky warned of snow. Once it started, it would fall for days, cutting off this small mountain village from the outside world. Villagers always stored enough food, but outsiders had to leave before it came.
Even if the Duke’s household searched for Ancia, they would never think to come to such a remote village deep in the forest. And by the time any message or carrier bird arrived, snow would already be piling up. They needed to move before then.
“We must get Madam well quickly.”
First, Bianca needed to pay for the house and buy food and herbs. She hurried her steps.
Inside, Nathan stayed by Ancia’s side.
Her face flushed with fever, breathing rough, unable to wake—his eyes turned red. He had feared that the warmth in his arms might turn cold as they wandered searching for shelter.
He regretted coming to find her, wondering if that was why this had happened. If this was an attempt to harm Ancia, at least he was here. Still, he was angry at his own helplessness.
Nathan gently took Ancia’s hand that lay outside the robe. It was small and soft, fitting in his palm.
“With this little hand, you caught a snow rabbit. I worried you would suffer after marrying into the North, An.”
Her hand was still warm, still tender. Knowing this hand had once saved him pained his heart.
Without Bianca, would they have found this rest at all? He felt deeply grateful to her.
But he couldn’t just sit and wait while she did everything. A maid might serve a noble, but in times like this, he couldn’t let Bianca work alone.
Staring endlessly at Ancia wouldn’t lower her fever. Nathan stood quietly.
He looked around the small house. Dust covered the old furniture and floor, bad for Ancia’s health. He searched and found some cloths—rags or towels, it was hard to tell. A rusty knife was set aside as dangerous. The chairs and table, though old, were still usable.
Thankfully, the house had a working water supply.
Nathan wet the cleanest cloth and placed it on Ancia’s forehead. Then he began wiping the dust.
As he worked, Bianca returned with a loud clatter.
She dropped a load of supplies on the table and floor—herbs, food, even firewood. It was far too much for one person to carry.
“My goodness, you carried all this alone?”
“I’m pretty strong. Oh? Did you clean, Nathan?”
Seeing the rag in his hand, she looked surprised. Nathan gave a shy smile.
“It’s clumsy—just wiped off some dust.”
“Honestly, I thought you wouldn’t move at all. I figured I’d be running around alone all day. This is a relief.”
Nathan gave a faint laugh at her bluntness.
“I can’t be shameless after receiving so much help.”
“Then help me more. Light the stove, fill the pot with water, and wash these ingredients.”
Nathan’s eyes widened nervously, but Bianca was already heading back to the door.
“I’ll check for clothes you two can change into, and see if there’s a carriage.”
“Ah—buy something for yourself too.”
Nathan quickly handed her another magic stone.
“It’s Bianca. And I have enough money.”
Only then did Nathan realize he hadn’t remembered the maid’s name.
“Ah, sorry. Thank you, Bianca.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m thankful too.”
She winked playfully before running out. Nathan was left speechless—what would others think, seeing a maid wink at a noble? Yet it was pure mischief, not temptation.
She was so different from Ancia, yet somehow they felt alike.
Her cheerfulness lightened Nathan’s sinking heart.
“Well then… I’d better start with the fire.”
He set about doing what Bianca had asked.
The small mountain village, deep in the black forest.
Several days passed, but Ancia had not regained consciousness. They barely managed to feed her porridge and medicine.
Bianca used precious herbs she had learned to mix at the Duke’s house, trying to restore Ancia’s strength. But after a week of hardship, her frail body could not endure.
Luckily, while shopping yesterday, Bianca overheard news that among some travelers who had lost their way, there was a physician. She hurried out before they left the village.
“Brr, it’s cold.”
Even strong Bianca, usually resistant to cold, shivered in the icy wind. The midday sky was dark with heavy clouds, a sign that snow would soon fall. Outsiders were already leaving the village quickly.
As she hurried, Bianca noticed two men peeking into a window and shouted angrily.
“Hey! Why are you spying on someone’s house?”
“We—we weren’t spying.”
“Oh? Bianca, long time no see.”
She could never beat two men at once, but luckily one face was familiar. Bianca snorted.
“This isn’t the time for greetings. Still chasing after women like before?”
“You know there aren’t enough women in this village. This is natural courtship.”
Most of the men in this village were rough, used to fighting beasts in the mountains. When a woman from outside appeared, they never missed a chance to flirt.
Some looked for real brides, but travelers rarely cared for such men.
And showing interest in Ancia, a noblewoman—it made these two seem even more foolish.
“Tommy, your father tried to cheat my sister. So I don’t like you either.”
“Sister? You had a sister?”
“Yes. She rarely comes outside, so you wouldn’t know. But as you can see, she’s delicate and lovely.”
“She looks more like a noble…”
“She is. She married a noble, so now she’s one too.”
Bianca skillfully lied. Tommy, big but simple, easily believed her words.
“Ah, so she really was married to that pale nobleman.”
“See? I told you. We were wasting our time.”
The other man grumbled and walked away, and Tommy reluctantly followed.
It seemed the men of the village had at least been keeping each other in check when it came to Ancia.
Still, Bianca knew her lie wouldn’t stop them for long. Even if she said Ancia was married, men like that would still try if her husband wasn’t around.
She glanced at the window shutters, one of which had fallen off, and decided to buy curtains after meeting the physician.
