Chapter 79

I was confused.

What help could Brother Vincent possibly offer in a situation like this when he wasn’t even a physician?

…That was what I thought, until I suddenly remembered the incredible ability I’d heard about him before.

Divine power.

‘Are you trying to kill me right now?!’

What if my soul got flung out of this body the moment it touched holy power, or worse, what if I got erased on the spot because I was some impure being like a demon?

I hurriedly pulled my skirt back down.

“I told you last time too. You can’t use such precious power just for me.”

“I understand how you feel, Elicia.”

“Right? You understand, right? So then…”

“But I’m not the type to stop just because someone tells me to.”

Vincent grabbed my ankle and poured divine power into it in an instant.

I froze with my eyes wide open like a mouse in front of a cat. Then a warm sensation spread from the ankle he was holding through my entire body.

When Vincent pulled his hand away with a grin, the pain that had been drilling into my ankle vanished like a lie.

“How is it?”

“Uh, um, it feels fine…?”

“See? I told you it works well.”

I meant that I was stunned it worked so well, but Vincent took it another way and his lips curved smugly.

Close enough, so I didn’t bother correcting him.

“Madam, are you really alright?”

“The pain’s gone for now, but…”

I tried to stand while holding onto Gareth’s arm, but Vincent pressed my shoulder and sat me back down in the carriage.

The brother spoke as he met my gaze.

“You can’t walk yet. Even divine power isn’t all powerful. Still, you should be able to endure the trip back to the estate.”

“Uh… Th-this alone helped more than enough. Thank you.”

“You really do have a remarkably weak body.”

Vincent glanced at my wrist, which was still wrapped in bandages, and clicked his tongue briefly.

He muttered about how it still hadn’t healed after all this time, then grabbed my wrist and poured divine power into it again before I could even react.

The faint throbbing that had lingered despite not being a serious injury disappeared completely.

“How is it?”

“Um, uh, I’m kind of dazed?”

To be honest, I hadn’t been fully in my right mind since earlier.

I thought I’d get erased like a demon the moment I touched holy power and nearly had a heart attack. Twice, no less.

There was no way I’d be fine already.

“Then I was helpful to you, Elicia?”

“Uh, I guess so?”

“Good. Then I’ll take that as you agreeing to my request from earlier.”

“…?”

This was news to me too, but it seemed that when I panicked, my brain short circuited for a short while.

Normally, I would’ve caught Vincent’s wordplay about helping me in exchange for a favor and dodged it right away.

But things happened as naturally as water flowing downhill.

I had never intended to let an inquisitor stay under the same roof as me, yet somehow, he was already inside my estate.

“The architectural style is… quite impressive.”

Vincent alternated his gaze between the estate’s flashy interior and me, looking as though he was questioning my sense of aesthetics.

I tried arguing that it was the former governor’s taste, but it didn’t work at all.

And just like that, my eyes were insulted again.

“Madam! I heard your ankle finally gave out! I told you, didn’t I? I warned you repeatedly and even begged you that if you didn’t rest in bed, it would get worse. But you said work was too busy and didn’t listen at all…”

Gilbert came rushing over in a panic the moment he heard I’d been hurt and unloaded all his pent up scolding.

“Eli, don’t tell me…”

“Why are you looking at me like that? No, it’s not that, it’s not!!”

I heard that Edwin looked far more hurt than he ever had during the Baron Conte incident.

* * *

Edwin was extremely hurt.

Despite being known as the great northern lord and the strongest knight in the Empire, he hovered at the edge of my vision with his lower lip stuck out.

Judging by his behavior alone, he was nothing but a sulking giant dog.

He was clearly human, yet I could almost see drooping ears and a tail dragging weakly behind him.

“Ed, could you look at me for a moment?”

“…”

“Come here. Hurry.”

By the time the sun was setting, even Vincent’s two subordinates had joined us.

It was surprising enough that people who’d been on the brink of death were already walking around, but Edwin’s gaze worried me more, so I called him into the bedroom.

Unlike Lombard Castle, this residence had the couple’s bedrooms right next to each other with only one door between them, which made talking easier.

“Alright, tell me what’s bothering you.”

I patted the spot beside me on the sofa.

Edwin hesitated, then shuffled over and sat down.

We hadn’t altered the building itself, but we’d replaced all the furniture like the bed and sofa that the previous owner used. Since everything was made to fit my size, he looked awkward sitting there, like it was a toy.

I almost laughed, but given the mood, I held it back and asked seriously.

“Is this about Brother Vincent?”

“…”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you beforehand. But like I explained earlier, it wasn’t intentional. I got help from him on the mountain, so…”

“Why didn’t you tell me when your ankle got that bad?”

I froze.

I’d assumed Edwin was sulking because of Brother Vincent and the inquisitors.

“I heard the situation from your physician. He said your ankle had already been getting worse.”

“It wasn’t bad enough to worry you. I just pushed myself a little.”

His expression darkened further at my answer.

“I know I’m not fully reliable. But can’t you trust me sometimes? I’m your husband, aren’t I?”

“…”

“Do you know how upsetting and helpless it feels to hear that your wife is sick from someone else?”

Edwin was genuinely worried about me.

I could feel it more clearly from his eyes than from his words.

“Then what about Brother Vincent?”

A sharp thought slipped out before I could stop it.

In the past, because of Edwin, because he abandoned me for his family’s honor, I met a horrific death in a place no better than hell itself.

So what about the Edwin now?

This man with the same face and the same name… Could I really trust him?

Maybe I wanted to test him one last time.

“You don’t like the brother very much, do you? Aren’t you upset that I let him stay at the estate?”

“That’s a much easier question than before.”

“What do you mean?”

“To be honest… Yes, I dislike Brother Vincent. Normally, I would’ve thrown him out of the estate immediately. But today, at least, I’m grateful to him.”

Because he helped you stop hurting.

So he’s willing to offer him the minimum courtesy due to a guest. That was Edwin’s answer.

“…”

I couldn’t bring myself to continue.

Because Edwin’s gaze was unwaveringly sincere.

Because I felt certain that the Edwin of the past and the Edwin of now were completely different people. That he wouldn’t betray me or hurt me.

“You know… Today, I saw a newborn in the village. Maybe three months old.”

Even though I suddenly changed the subject, Edwin listened quietly.

My heart was pounding, but I forced myself to continue calmly.

“He was so small and lovely. When I held him carefully, everyone started comforting me. They said since both you and I are young, we’d hear good news soon.”

“…”

“Ed, what do you think?”