<Chapter 24>

“……tive Duchess……”

“Mmm……”

So noisy……

“Prospective Duchess! Please wake up!”

“Yawn, mhm?”

The sound of someone shouting right by my ear jolted me awake. Waking up without getting proper sleep made my head pound, leaving me groggy and disoriented. I checked outside the window, thinking it was already morning, but the sky was still pitch-black.

At that moment, Monica calmly explained why she had woken me up.

“His Grace the Duke has come to see you.”

“…At this hour?”

Although we were set to marry in two weeks, we weren’t formally engaged yet. As such, our current relationship was no closer than that of mere acquaintances. Showing up at such a late hour wasn’t exactly appropriate.

Monica must have shared my sentiments, judging by her uneasy expression as she elaborated further.

“He said you’d understand if I mentioned the divine oracle.”

“Divine oracle…?”

Gasp! Could it be? Did he find someone afflicted with an incurable disease?

‘Of course! It’s not like such a person wouldn’t exist in the first place!’

“Where is His Grace now? I’ll head there right away.”

“I’ll help you get ready.”

Monica assisted me in changing out of my nightwear into more presentable indoor attire. She neatly brushed my hair before handing me a shawl to drape over my shoulders. Once ready, I made my way to the annex’s parlor.

Inside, a boy with a youthful appearance was seated on the sofa. Standing before him, my prospective husband folded his arms, visibly uncomfortable, as he loomed over the boy like a hawk watching its prey.

It was as if he were keeping watch to ensure the boy wouldn’t escape.

“Is that him?”

Without any preamble, I asked. My prospective husband nodded in response before dismissing everyone else, including Monica, from the room.

Meanwhile, I observed the boy quietly. His wide eyes blinked as he stared at me.

‘He looks quite young… What, sixteen? Seventeen?’

His snow-white skin was spotless, almost unnaturally clear. In contrast, his jet-black hair and equally dark eyes were as deep as ink. His well-defined, delicate features perfectly suited the term pretty boy.

If he aged a bit more and his frame filled out, he’d likely grow into a strikingly handsome man.

‘Who would win if I compared him to the un-cursed Temenos?’

Indulging briefly in such a happy dilemma, I turned to my prospective husband.

“Could you introduce him to me?”

After a brief pause, he finally spoke: “He’s the one who saved my life.”

For a moment, my thoughts screeched to a halt.

“Wait. Who saved whom? Did you save him?”

Temenos gave me a slightly sulky look before gesturing toward the boy.

“He saved me.”

“Seriously?”

Just judging by their physical appearances, I would’ve guessed the opposite. However, the boy nodded enthusiastically, as if to confirm Temenos’ claim.

Though his expression remained neutral, something about his demeanor reminded me of a puppy eagerly seeking praise. I nearly reached out to pat his head but stopped myself just in time.

‘Whew, that was close. What a faux pas that would’ve been.’

While I sighed in relief, my prospective husband urged me, “Please take a look at him. He seems to be gravely ill.”

“Really?”

Temenos’ face was half-covered by a mask, yet his worry was evident even from the visible portion of his expression.

Turning to the boy, I asked, “What illness do you have? How much time do you have left?”

In response, the boy simply tilted his head quizzically. I mirrored his movement, wondering if I had phrased the question too complicatedly. That can’t be it, right?

“Ferry can’t speak,” Temenos interjected.

Ah, so his name is Ferry. Cute name.

“What about writing? Can he write?”

Temenos shook his head. Curiously, I looked back and forth between the two of them.

If he can’t talk or write, how do they communicate? Through gestures?

“Then how did you find out he was sick? He looks fine to me.”

“I asked him directly.”

“Oh…”

So that means Temenos seriously pondered the divine oracle I gave him. Imagining him stopping strangers to ask, ‘Excuse me, but do you have a terminal illness?’ almost made me burst out laughing.

Barely managing to maintain a straight face, I cleared my throat and extended my hand toward Ferry.

“Let me check your hand for a moment—”

Before I could even finish my sentence, Ferry grabbed my hand firmly. Startled, I looked at him, only to find him playing with my hand as if it were a new toy.

Given his bright and innocent expression, I couldn’t scold him for crossing boundaries. Temenos sighed as well, seemingly sharing my thoughts.

“Ferry has… some circumstances. You can think of his mental age as similar to that of a child.”

“Does it have anything to do with his illness?”

“Not exactly…”

Temenos began to shake his head but then stopped midway.

“Actually, it might. If so, can it be healed with divine power?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure about mental conditions… but I’ll give it a try.”

I closed my eyes while firmly holding Ferry’s hand.

‘God, you’re watching, right? This seems to be the protagonist of the divine oracle. Please help him recover quickly.’

At that moment, a dazzling white light tinged with gold burst forth from my hand holding Ferry’s.

Though I’d healed dozens of patients before, the brilliance of this light was unparalleled.

‘Wow, hold on…!’

Just how serious was his illness for such intense light to pour out? Temenos, clearly just as stunned as I was, exclaimed from beyond the radiant glow.

“What is this light? Is this normal?”

“It’s… probably fine? I think?”

Gradually, the overwhelming light began to fade. As my vision returned, what greeted me was a stark white message window.

Achievement Unlocked! <???>

You have unlocked an unknown achievement. However, due to insufficient understanding, the reward distribution has been delayed.

……What now?

Insufficient understanding? Is this some kind of punishment for not finishing a task properly?

‘If you wanted a thorough reader, you should’ve picked someone who finished the story!’

Frustrated, I dismissed the window while Temenos anxiously checked on Ferry.

“How do you feel? Are you okay now?”

Frankly, just looking at Ferry didn’t tell me whether he’d been terminally ill or if he was cured. He hadn’t appeared sick in the first place.

‘Considering that dazzling light, whatever illness he had should be completely gone now.’

While I was pondering, Ferry raised his hands, flipping them back and forth repeatedly before standing up and thumping his chest with a fist. Then, he turned to me and smiled brightly.

‘Oh my God, he’s even cuter when he smiles!’

Beside me, Temenos muttered in astonishment, “He smiled? …He can smile?”

It sounded as if he’d never seen Ferry smile before. Ferry nodded energetically, beaming.

‘Could it be that not being able to smile was part of his symptoms?’

Carefully observing him, I asked, “Are you completely better now?”

Nod, nod!

‘Hmm. Does he really know what I’m asking?’

While I remained skeptical, Temenos was visibly moved.

“Thank goodness. Truly… thank goodness…”

He pulled Ferry into a tight hug, clearly overcome with emotion.

‘So he can make that kind of expression…’

Until now, I’d assumed Temenos was naturally stoic, but it seemed that his lack of expression was just his way of holding back in front of me.

Not that I’ve never seen him show emotion…

“Amazing abs?”

“……”

“A broad chest? A lean, defined waistline? Or maybe…”

‘Nope, let’s stop thinking about that.’

Anyway, I was getting sleepy again. Could I finally go back to bed?

As I contemplated this, watching their heartfelt embrace, a scene unfolded that snapped me wide awake.

Ferry, who had been hugging Temenos, suddenly reached toward his waist—my prospective husband’s waist, which even I hadn’t touched yet! Then, he sneakily swiped something.

“A pickpocket?!”

“What… What are you doing?!”

Even Temenos looked flustered as he jumped back, protectively covering his waist with his hands. He looked as though he’d been violated, and to be fair, he kind of was.

Unbothered by Temenos, Ferry extended his hand toward me.

“…Is this for me?”

In his outstretched palm lay a small whistle. Ferry nodded enthusiastically, his expression full of excitement.

Without thinking, I glanced nervously at Temenos.
 

<To be continued>

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