Chapter 72
Fortunately, after staying one more day, her body had recovered enough to ride in a carriage.
“I still think it would be better if I rested a little longer!”
“I also recommend that option.”
Although the doctor and the knights protested, the schedule couldn’t be postponed any further.
It wasn’t because of a trivial reason like visiting the temple or meeting Berry.
With the Grand Duke away, even the Grand Duchess couldn’t afford to be absent for long.
Noah, who had returned earlier than her, could probably handle minor tasks, but he was merely an aide. The person in charge should remain present.
Moreover, the welcoming ceremony was fast approaching.
Under normal circumstances, she might have focused more on recovering, but now was not a good time for that.
“Once we return, you can rest properly. For now, everyone, prepare to head back to Tisther.”
It seemed the others realized her determination was unshakable. Despite worried expressions, they packed their belongings.
Climbing into the carriage, Cecilia immediately closed her eyes and tried to sleep.
Though she hadn’t fully rested the previous day, this was at least to regain some strength.
Seeing her about to rest, Eli wisely kept quiet instead of nagging.
Thanks to that, the ride back was quite comfortable. Once she returned, she could get the progress reports from Noah and check if anything had happened in the castle during her absence—and finally get some proper rest.
‘I also asked the knights not to tell my husband.’
It was fortunate that he was at the border.
She could at least temporarily hide that her health had worsened.
Cecilia’s face softened a little, relieved that, considering the sudden accident, things had ended quite well.
Thanks to Cecilia’s careful handling, the situation had quietly resolved despite her collapse.
Her companions occasionally looked anxious but obeyed her commands well.
After receiving reports from servants who had returned from other areas and selecting someone to send to Todden for a final check, she finally had a moment to breathe.
Stretching her arms, she felt her joints crack and frowned.
At that moment, Eli, entering the room, exclaimed in dismay:
“Oh my, my lady! That sound—really!”
“Sorry, Eli, but it’s not something I can control. I don’t feel any pain at all.”
“How long have you been sitting? You really should rest.”
“Not long.”
Cecilia waved her fingers against the table, brushing it off.
The urgent tasks were done, and the weather was quite pleasant.
‘Since I have the time, maybe I should go out now.’
Even if she went out today, she likely wouldn’t get scolded.
It was a little funny that the Grand Duchess could get scolded by a servant, but she understood it came from concern, so she felt no resentment.
She wanted to ease their worries if possible.
‘Anyway, this outing is for my health too.’
Eli would probably not try to stop her once she told her destination.
Having made up her mind, Cecilia paused her fingers midair.
“Eli, could you go to the kitchen and ask them to bake a pie with wild berries?”
“You want a pie? You should have said so!”
“No, not for me. I need to visit the temple.”
Judging by her previous visits, she knew the elderly priest liked that treat.
Upon hearing the word “temple,” Eli let out a brief, impressed “Ah.”
“Yes! I’ll hurry!”
As Eli’s footsteps hurried away, Marcus quietly stepped into the vacant space.
“You’re going to see the reverend?”
“Yes. His health hasn’t been great recently, and it’s about time for a visit.”
“Good idea. I’ll get ready too.”
“Please keep this visit a secret from my husband.”
Marcus hesitated briefly, then gave a relieved smile.
“Yes! Leave it to me.”
With a playful salute, he strode off.
Cecilia turned her gaze to the window.
The round sun hung high in the sky, looking down on her.
It was not a bad way to start the day.
Perhaps thanks to her offerings, the Morvena Temple was becoming cleaner and more well-kept.
“They don’t seem to be wasting money frivolously, my lady,” Eli whispered beside her.
Cecilia nodded subtly, surveying the interior with her eyes.
Indeed, compared to her first visit, the temple was noticeably better maintained.
‘At first, I almost doubted it was really a temple.’
The small side room, guided by the elder, also felt cozier than when she had visited last month.
The elder led her to a soft cushion. Cecilia placed the basket on the table and lifted its cover.
“I prepared a little treat today. I hope it suits your taste.”
“Berry pie! You have good instincts.”
The elder, clearly pleased, poured tea with eager hands. Once ready, he sat across from Cecilia, raising his eyebrows slightly.
“So… how did your health come to such a state?”
It seemed he had noticed something. Cecilia pursed her lips.
“It wasn’t too serious, was it?”
“It’s just that the suppressed energy weakened and rebounded. If there’s a problem, it’s that your body had grown too weak.”
The elder placed a hand over her head and let out a soft sigh.
“It’ll take a while to fully calm it.”
He focused, leaving the pie aside, concentrating on checking Cecilia’s health.
Over time, she could feel her body stabilizing.
The heavy, burning sensation within gradually lightened.
“Make sure to eat nourishing food. Right now, managing your energy and preventing further decline is most important.”
Cecilia, surprised at her lighter body, listened as the elder continued hesitantly.
“And if you can visit more often than now, it would be good to come whenever you have time.”
“Hmm, though I can’t really give more offerings here.”
The elder chuckled at her playful remark.
“Even so, come as often as you like. I’ll be waiting.”
Having someone trustworthy to rely on was a comfort. A warm smile spread across Cecilia’s face.
After finishing the tea and pie, the elder waved goodbye, promising to see her again.
Cecilia waved back, thinking that she had never imagined this reaction when she first visited.
Neither she nor the elder had expected this.
‘At first, I thought I’d been fooled by a scammer.’
Now, it felt… like meeting a grandfatherly figure she had never known.
Perhaps it was the improvement in her health that allowed her to be more generous in spirit.
It was also proof of the elder’s exceptional abilities, so there was no reason to hold back.
She could now understand why Marcus casually called him “reverend” with such familiarity.
A small smile lingered on her face as she returned to the castle.
Feeling better, she naturally thought of the next task.
Cecilia’s pale green eyes glanced at the knights standing nearby.
It was time to tell them about Berry.
