Chapter 44
Holding his swollen, reddened cheek, the doctor wiped away his cold sweat and said,
“Count, we’ve tried every method at our disposal! We even resorted to ancient medical techniques, but we’ve never seen an illness of this kind before. All I can say for now… is that you’ll have to wait.”
“So you’re saying she could stay like this for the rest of her life?”
“B-based on our current opinion… yes.”
“Ah! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!”
Zeppelin spat out a stream of curses, then turned tear-filled eyes toward Rebecca.
Rebecca only gazed back at him with a sorrowful expression.
“Zeppelin… it’s alright. I’ll recover soon…”
“Of course you will. I’ll restore you perfectly to how you were before!”
“Th-then, I’ll trust only in you… ahh…”
Rebecca fainted on the spot.
Kanna touched her forehead, then quickly checked her temperature.
Seeing the numbers, Kanna exclaimed in alarm.
“This won’t do. Her fever is much higher than yesterday. Her breathing is also rough.”
One of the attending physicians cautiously addressed Zeppelin.
“My lord, the lady needs absolute rest right now.”
Zeppelin glared at him, but perhaps realizing the logic, he let out a sigh and spoke.
“Fine. We’ll talk in the study. If you value your lives, you’d better bring me a cure.”
The warning made the physicians exchange nervous looks.
If one could endure Zeppelin’s foul temper, this was actually a good post—pay far higher than elsewhere, and no elderly invalids to constantly care for.
But now, their very lives were on the line.
How had it come to this?
They swallowed hard and bowed.
“W-we’ll do our utmost!”
Zeppelin didn’t even glance at them. Clicking his tongue, he turned back toward Rebecca.
Standing just outside the doorway, he whispered tenderly,
“Rebecca, now that I’ve returned, everything will go back to the way it was.”
The unconscious Rebecca gave no reply.
Zeppelin gently closed the door behind him.
The moment it clicked shut, Rebecca’s tightly closed eyes snapped open.
“How was my acting, Kanna?”
“Flawless, my lady.”
“You saw it too, didn’t you? Zeppelin, trembling like a frightened child, unable even to come near me. As if he were scared of getting dirty.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. He’s always been that way.”
“Yes… that’s the Zeppelin Devonshire I know. A man who worries more about himself than his ailing wife.”
Rebecca closed her eyes again.
“All those words of love are lies. There’s no such thing as true love. Once someone no longer gets what they want, the relationship shatters. Why dress it up with such a grand word as love?”
That’s not true…
Kanna still believed in genuine love, but she didn’t contradict Rebecca.
Rebecca sounded far too exhausted.
Groaning, Rebecca said,
“Kanna… my body itches so much I could go mad. And my head aches too.”
Kanna hurried to fetch an ice bag and pressed it carefully over different parts of her body.
Rebecca sighed weakly.
“Haah. That’s a little better. Still, it’s worse than I expected.”
Kanna asked in a worried tone,
“My lady, are you certain you’ll recover? I’ve never seen an illness like this in my life.”
“How long have you lived, really? The world is full of things we don’t know. I’ll recover. I must.”
When Kanna stayed silent, Rebecca tapped her lightly on the nose.
“Don’t make that face. Every time you do, it hurts my heart. You trust me, don’t you, Kanna? The fever will break soon. The blisters will remain, but still.”
“How could I ever not trust you…”
Rebecca smiled faintly at Kanna, but then, gasping harshly for breath, she succumbed to fevered sleep.
Meanwhile, in the study, Zeppelin was carefully going through the physicians’ reports.
Their claim that they had tried everything was no lie.
Flipping page after page, Zeppelin slammed the desk with his fist.
“How did it come to this! Rebecca! Ah, Rebecca!”
He buried his face in his hands in despair.
“My lord, I have something to say.”
Octavio, who had been quietly pouring wine for him, finally spoke.
“If it’s not something that will help, I’d rather you keep your mouth shut.”
Zeppelin irritably gulped down the wine.
Octavio spoke carefully.
“It might be related.”
“Speak.”
“There are rumors that the lady’s illness may be divine in nature.”
“Divine?”
“Indeed. Ever since you left, Count, rumors have spread far and wide that Lady Rebecca is a saint.”
“Hah. And what of it? She’s been revered as a saint for years.”
“This time is different. From my observations, I believe Lady Rebecca possesses holy power—the ability to foresee the future.”
“Prophetic power? Octavio, did you take leave of your senses while I was away? Such nonsense.”
“It’s true. Countless servants have benefited from her guidance.”
“Even if so, how is it possible I never knew of it?”
“I hear… for some reason, her holy power has been suppressed.”
“And who spread such ridiculous gossip?”
Octavio inhaled deeply before replying.
“Robert.”
“Robert…?”
Zeppelin fell silent, thoughtful.
Watching his anger subside, Octavio smiled faintly.
Grace had ordered him not to mention the saint rumors, but Octavio thought differently.
Rebecca’s incurable illness was already a fact.
As steward, the least he could do was provide his master with a distraction.
And while I’m at it, I may as well get rid of some eyesores too.
Octavio knew Zeppelin well.
No one in the household catered to his whims better than Octavio himself.
“Surely, Count, you know Robert isn’t the sort to spread baseless rumors. Summon him and interrogate him.”
Octavio lit an incense stick. The fragrance he had blended himself filled the study.
Zeppelin inhaled deeply, exhaled, and felt his tension ease.
In a calmer voice, he said,
“Yes… why didn’t I think of Robert? He’s been with Rebecca every step of the way.”
“It’s natural for reason to fail you after such a shock. But as expected of you, Count—you’ve already found the solution.”
“Mmm… yes, I am quite clever…”
Octavio gently massaged his stiff shoulders.
As the fragrance thickened, Zeppelin surrendered to the drowsy comfort of his touch.
Before long, Zeppelin dozed off in his chair.
Octavio quietly carried him to his chambers.
That settles today. Now I just need to find those who intercepted the letters…
“Octavio. Has the Count retired to bed?”
Stepping out of the chamber, he was greeted by Grace, her face cold.
Narrowing his already thin eyes, Octavio replied,
“I handled everything. You needn’t concern yourself, Miss Grace.”
The use of Miss Grace instead of Head Maid made her eyes flash briefly.
She preferred being called Head Maid.
It made her feel like a more important figure in the Devonshire household.
Being called “madam” made her seem old, and being addressed by her given name made her seem too approachable.
But Octavio had always, from the very first day, called her Miss Grace.
Not even Lady Grace, just Miss.
It grated on her nerves every time.
Even now, she swallowed her irritation, because there was something she needed to confirm.
Perhaps sensing her intent, Octavio smiled faintly.
“Were you waiting here to find out if I told the Count about the saint rumors?”
“You didn’t… tell him, did you?”
Grace uncrossed her arms and stared at him.
“I don’t see why that should be such a shock. The Count has the right to know everything happening in his own household. What I’d like to know is why you told me to keep the rumors quiet.”
“Well… it was simply out of loyalty, to ease his burdens. No other reason.”
“Then that’s fine.”
Octavio smiled smoothly.
Whenever he smiled like that, it meant he was probing.
Grace elegantly shifted the subject.
“This scent… you lit that incense again, didn’t you? The one the late Count banned?”
“That gentleman has long since departed. The current Count is Zeppelin. If he permits it, where’s the problem?”
“Where’s the problem? You can’t be serious.”
“The Count desired peace of mind. And he obtained it. That should be enough.”
Octavio merely smiled again.
Octavio Lemen—aside from being a poor nobleman, no one knew his true origins.
He had risen from servant to steward under Jakim Devonshire’s favor.
He and Grace had both been responsible for raising Zeppelin from a young age.
Zeppelin followed Octavio more than he ever did his own father. Even now, as Count, he relied on him.
Whenever Zeppelin lost his reason, Octavio could calm him with a single word.
Making him head of the hunting hounds was proof of Zeppelin’s trust.
Octavio cared only about results, never the means.
Which made him the complete opposite of Grace, who fussed over every detail.
Now, watching her guarded expression, Octavio gave a sly smile.
“Oh yes. I also told the Count that Robert is the source of the rumors. He should be investigated.”
“…!”
Grace’s dark eyes flickered.
Octavio didn’t miss it. He studied her face carefully.
But quickly regaining composure, Grace spoke again, her face expressionless.
“And what has that to do with me?”
“Oh, nothing. I simply thought you might be curious—after all, he could have been your son-in-law once.”
