Chapter 38
Fortunately, finding the Count of Clou’s family doctor wasn’t difficult. Lucy knew the doctor’s name, and since he was well-known for his skill, Dake also knew where his clinic was.
“We’ve arrived, my lady.”
Yulia, feeling anxious, had barely eaten breakfast before hurriedly boarding the carriage. After a quick ride, the carriage stopped near the fountain on Diela Street. From there, they had to walk further into an alley where the carriage couldn’t go, so Yulia stepped down across from the building where Kayente’s office was visible.
“This way, my lady. Watch your step.”
“Okay.”
He’s probably in the middle of work, right?
It wasn’t wrong of him not to mention something that didn’t concern him, but Yulia still felt nervous, worried she might bump into Kayente. As Lucy guided her into the clinic, the doctor they met in the lobby immediately looked serious.
“Has the condition worsened?”
He seemed to think that nothing less would warrant such urgency. After Yulia explained the situation, the doctor finally relaxed and led her into the examination room. There, he unwrapped the bandage and examined her wound, his expression visibly brightening.
“I was worried there might be glass embedded in places we couldn’t see, but the wound seems to be healing well.”
“It hurts less than yesterday. Would it be okay to play the cello in this condition?”
“It’s not a functional issue, but playing the cello would stretch the skin on the back of your hand, so it will hurt.”
“I can handle that much pain.”
Though she said she was fine, the doctor didn’t give a clear answer.
“When you put pressure on your hand, you’re not feeling a sharp pull or tingling from deep inside, are you?”
“No, just a slight stinging sensation.”
“Then it should be alright.”
He examined her hand thoroughly a few more times, still hesitating to give a definite answer. It seemed he was worried about something other than her hand itself. Yulia immediately realized what was making him reluctant to say, “You’re fine.”
It wasn’t just the injury to her hand—it was the fear that if anything went wrong, he’d be held accountable in front of Kayente.
And this wasn’t just anyone. This was Kayente, infamous for his temper. If things went awry, the doctor would probably face an intense backlash.
“If something does go wrong, it’ll be because I wasn’t careful enough.”
Yulia subtly reassured him that she would take full responsibility. Only then did the doctor finally let go of her hand.
“As a physician, I’d advise you not to use your hand until it’s fully healed. But if you absolutely must use it for something like this, then stopping you might be too much. Just be sure to let me know right away if the pain gets worse or you feel something unusual.”
“I will. Should I keep the bandage on?”
“Leave it on today and tomorrow. But even if you absolutely need to take it off, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Got it.”
Even though there were ways to fix things if something happened, the best thing was for nothing to go wrong in the first place.
Hoping the wound would heal smoothly, Yulia left the clinic with fresh bandages. Feeling a little better, she wasn’t ready to return home just yet.
“Should we stop by that candy shop we talked about?”
“Shall we, my lady? Is there something you want?”
“I liked the cherry candies we bought last time. Let’s get those again and try some others too. Which one did you like best?”
“I liked the blueberry ones.”
Chatting with Lucy like before, Yulia momentarily forgot about her upcoming marriage, focusing instead on playing the cello again…
“Are you Lady Lufaire? A pleasure to meet you. I’m Charlie Jackson from the Principality of Esacudia. Wow, even dressed so simply, you shine. I can see why the Count fell for you.”
“Excuse me?”
“What business do you have with my lady? Huh? Count! Hello!”
Just as they stepped out onto the main road near the fountain, a man approached them and began talking. Right behind him, Kayente arrived, clearly following him.
“Brother… why are you outside?”
“Come with me.”
Kayente looked so urgent that Yulia had no time to respond. He grabbed her hand and hurried her away.
* * *
“My lady, may I have a word with you?”
“What? Wait, uh… Brother, slow down. I might fall.”
“Count, who is that man? Should I chase him off?”
Just moments earlier in the coffeehouse, Kayente had muttered, “What’s going on?”—and immediately regretted it. The reporter wasn’t someone to miss such a reaction. Following Kayente’s gaze, the reporter spotted Yulia, crossed the street, and approached her cheerfully.
Yulia, unaware, simply asked, “Yes?” She responded just as Kayente had predicted, slightly puzzled but with a smile.
“Brother, I think I’m going to fall…”
“Careful, my lady. There’s a step.”
“Thanks, Lucy.”
Even while Kayente held her by the arm and led her quickly, Yulia kept glancing back at the reporter. Probably just curious about who he was, but even that irritated Kayente.
What kind of article would he write about her now? What would people say after reading it?
It infuriated him to think that people gossiped about his personal life. And now, seeing Yulia look back at the reporter with those gleaming golden eyes—it infuriated him even more.
“Brother!”
“Oh!”
Wanting to get Yulia inside his office—away from the reporter’s gaze, and to stop her from looking back at him—Kayente made a snap decision. He lifted Yulia up. Slipping one arm under her knees and the other around her back, he picked her up in one swift motion. The reporter let out a loud whistle.
“I can already see the headline!”
Kayente could imagine what it would be:
“Count Clou sweeps his fiancée off her feet in the town square! The Enchanting Lady Who Stole His Heart—Who Is She?”
Followed by a ridiculous love story and praises for Yulia’s beauty… and some wild speculation to sell the next issue.
“My lady, is this what made you fall in love with the Count?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t say a word.”
Yulia, nestled in his arms, and Lucy, trotting behind them, both flushed red. But Kayente had no intention of putting Yulia down. Instead, he held her more firmly, worried she might slip as he strode toward the office.
* * *
As Lucy rushed ahead to open the office door, Henry, who had been standing in the lobby, widened his eyes at the sight of Kayente carrying Yulia.
“My lady? Count? Why are you two arriving together like this?”
Even now, with the man still outside, Kayente didn’t set Yulia down—even after Lucy closed the door behind them.
“Brother, please. Put me down now.”
Embarrassed, Yulia spoke up, and only then did Kayente, startled, lower her to the ground.
“What happened out there?”
“My lady and I were together when some man approached us and followed us here.”
At Lucy’s answer, Henry cracked the door open to peek outside, then shook his head grimly.
“He followed you all the way here? Persistent fellow.”
“Who is he, Butler?”
“Uncle Henry, do you know him?”
“He’s a reporter for a tabloid in Esacudia called Tavl. It’s notorious for snooping into people’s personal lives and fabricating wild stories. That guy, in particular, is the worst of the lot. He digs into people’s wounds and spins stories—disgusting behavior.”
“So he’s a reporter…”
“What did he say to you? Did you answer him?”
“He didn’t ask anything special, and I was too flustered to answer.”
“You did well. From now on, if you even spot him somewhere, don’t make eye contact—just walk away.”
Even Henry, who rarely frowned, looked upset. They must’ve dealt with that reporter more than once in the Principality. Though she hadn’t experienced it firsthand yet, just the fact that he followed her all the way here showed how persistent he was.
So… the reporter spoke to me? Is this marriage drawing public attention even in the Principality?
“Wouldn’t it be better to just answer his questions clearly and tell him not to come back?”
Yulia briefly feared that if the reporter published an article based on rumors in the Empire, things could get messy. So she thought of simply saying: “Our family fell on hard times, and Kayente, whom I’ve known for a long time, offered to help. That’s how we ended up engaged.” But Kayente shut that down instantly.
“No.”
“My lady, I’ve picked up Tavl a few times when people threw it away. Even if you read it just for fun, the stuff in there is seriously twisted.”
“Really? But wouldn’t telling the truth prevent any misunderstandings?”
“I said no. Henry, arrange for a bodyguard to stay with Yulia for now.”
“Yes, Count.”
“No, wait. That’s not necessary. I’ll handle it myself.”
He wasn’t giving much detail, but judging by his firm tone, it must’ve been really bad.
Could the article about Lord Bain’s murder have been published there too?
“But why were you out today, my lady? Were you handling something for the wedding?”
“My lady was―”
“Just getting some fresh air.”
Yulia quickly cut Lucy off with a smile. She figured she probably shouldn’t bring up the cello.
A cello… something like a cello…
Ever since that day, Kayente hadn’t brought up the cello again. But Yulia had a feeling that if she asked whether it was okay to perform in front of the Emperor, he’d firmly say no—just like now.
