His tone was as casual as though he were merely going out for an evening stroll.
Talia raised the corners of her eyes.
“A minor suppression campaign?”
Varkas, who had been handing a leather pouch filled with gold coins to the man who appeared to be the steward, looked down at her. Sensing that her mood had soured, he let out a faint sigh through his tightly closed lips.
“There have been reports that raiders have established a camp in this area. The stronghold isn't particularly large, so we should be able to return around sunrise.”
Do you really have to go yourself?
The words rose to her lips, but as she noticed dozens of eyes watching them, Talia tightly sealed her mouth.
Her stomach churned with anxiety, but she refused to let anyone see how unsettled she was because of this infuriatingly indifferent man.
Brushing away the hand resting on her shoulder, she snapped coldly.
“What does it matter to me when you come back? I'm tired, so just show me to the lodgings.”
Across from them, the steward sucked in a sharp breath as he watched their exchange.
Varkas, however, showed no reaction whatsoever. Turning back to the steward, he asked,
“Where are the quarters?”
“Ah... this way, please.”
The man hurriedly led the way.
Following him, they arrived at a modest stone building.
Stepping inside, the steward awkwardly explained,
“It was originally used as official housing, but when we heard that Your Grace would be visiting, we had it completely cleaned out. Here, you may use this room.”
He carefully opened the large door at the innermost end.
Talia swept her indifferent gaze over the dim bedroom.
Despite the shabby exterior, the inside was quite cozy. It appeared they had gone out of their way to prepare it for guests.
Watching her cautiously, the steward added,
“If anything is lacking, please tell us immediately. We'll correct it at once.”
“No, this is sufficient. You may leave.”
Examining the bed covered with thick sheets, Talia arrogantly lifted her chin.
After glancing nervously at Varkas, the steward promptly withdrew.
Talia threw off her cumbersome robe carelessly and flopped onto the bed.
Varkas silently watched her before approaching.
Deliberately ignoring his presence, Talia turned to face the opposite direction. Looking at his face would probably make her say something unpleasant again.
Pulling the blanket over herself, she spoke bluntly.
“I'm just going to sleep today, so tell the nurse I don't need dinner.”
“Talia.”
Feeling a dark shadow fall over her head, Talia startled and looked up.
Varkas was leaning over her, one hand resting beside her pillow.
The sunset streaming through the window dyed one side of his face red.
She found herself momentarily entranced by that inscrutable face when cool fingers settled on her forehead.
“Even if you're tired, don't skip your meals.”
“What does it matter to you whether I starve or not?”
Turning her head, Talia harshly brushed away his hand.
“Hurry up and go kill your raiders.”
A shallow crease formed between his brows. He looked utterly incapable of understanding why she was upset.
Talia pulled the blanket over her head.
Soon, she heard him rise from the bed.
The sound of his retreating footsteps suddenly filled her with unease.
He was a man who could effortlessly defeat brutes twice his size. She had seen him bring down a wyvern with chains.
A band of raiders would be nothing to him.
But nothing in this world was absolute.
She abruptly sat up and grabbed the edge of his cloak.
He paused and turned back to her.
In a tiny voice, she muttered,
“Be... careful.”
His eyes widened slightly.
Seeing him react so strongly to such a trivial remark made her chest tighten.
She quickly added gruffly,
“If something happens to you, my position will become unstable. So just... don't overdo it.”
Something resembling both a smile and a frown briefly appeared on his face before vanishing.
Talia hid herself beneath the blanket again.
Then she heard his heavy footsteps approaching.
“Don't worry. I'll return soon.”
Leaning over the bed once more, Varkas carefully stroked her hair.
The unexpected touch made her heart sink.
For some reason, that gentle caress made her chest ache far more than their passionate kisses.
A little while later, he left the room.
Like a snail poking its head out of its shell, Talia slowly raised her head.
Walking over to the window, she saw hundreds of soldiers waiting in formation outside the residence.
Before long, Varkas joined them.
Talia watched for a long time as he led the army toward the outskirts of the village.
Even after his figure disappeared beyond the hills, she remained rooted at the window.
Then a familiar voice sounded from outside the door.
“Your Highness, I've come to apply your medicine.”
“...Come in.”
The moment permission was granted, the healer from House Taren entered.
Limping, Talia sat down in a chair before the fireplace.
Kneeling in front of her, the woman carefully lifted the hem of her dress.
“How are you feeling?”
“The same as always.”
The healer skillfully removed the layers of bandages and carefully examined the damaged skin.
“So it has finally begun to ulcerate. It would be better to leave the bandages off tonight.”
Talia glared sharply at her.
“No. Wrap them properly.”
“His Grace isn't here tonight anyway. There's no need to hide the scars—”
“Who says I'm doing this because of Varkas?!”
Talia suddenly raised her voice.
The healer's expression stiffened.
Staring at her tense face, Talia muttered in a low voice,
“It's because I hate looking at it. So wrap it properly.”
Letting out a short sigh, the healer reluctantly took out fresh bandages.
After carefully spreading a sticky ointment over the scars, she wrapped them as loosely as possible.
“Do the medicines made by the eastern healers seem effective?”
The woman suddenly asked while wiping the ointment from her hands with a towel.
Talia answered indifferently.
“It doesn't seem completely useless. The medicine is so strong that it upsets my stomach a little, but I feel better the next day after taking it.”
“Do you know what herbs are in it?”
“They only told me that it was made from various herbs to replenish vitality.”
Talia looked down at the healer suspiciously.
“Why are you interrogating me like that? Don't tell me you think someone's poisoning me?”
“...Her Majesty instructed me to pay close attention to Your Highness's condition.”
The healer spoke cautiously.
“And there are many people here who do not welcome Your Highness's existence. There's no harm in being careful.”
Still staring at her with a hardened expression, Talia replied coldly,
“If they wanted to poison me, they would've put it in my food or wine. Why would they mix it into medicine when it'd obviously be discovered right away?”
The woman fell silent with a thoughtful expression.
Was something bothering her?
Looking slightly uneasy, Talia added generously,
“If you're that suspicious, I'll leave some of the medicine behind. Take it and check it yourself.”
