The Forgotten Field

He looked the woman up and down.

“What is it?”

“It's regarding Her Grace, the Grand Duchess. I thought it was something Your Grace ought to know...”

The woman, who had begun speaking with a solemn expression, suddenly turned pale and fell silent.

Only then did he realize that he had unconsciously let his hostility show.

Varkas faintly furrowed his brow.

It had already been proven beyond question that the incorrect prescription this woman had given his wife had been an honest mistake.

Moreover, numerous servants and assistant healers had testified that she had always treated Talia cautiously, despite Talia's repeated refusals to receive treatment.

She had already received punishment appropriate to her mistake.

There was no longer any reason to keep his guard up against her.

After calming himself, Varkas asked in a blunt voice,

“What is it that I need to know?”

“It seems that Her Grace...”

The woman nervously moistened her lips before anxiously glancing around.

Apparently, she was wary of being overheard.

He gestured toward the small reception room near the kitchen.

“Follow me.”

Entering the dimly lit room, Varkas placed the tray of food onto a shelf before turning around.

The woman, who had been standing by the doorway while looking around the reception room, finally spoke again.

“I heard it from the maids... It has been quite some time since Her Grace last received her monthly visitor. Judging from her recent symptoms, I believe... she may be carrying a child.”

For several moments, he couldn't comprehend what she had just said.

Seeing him standing there in stunned silence, the healing mage hurriedly continued.

“However, Her Grace's personal healer hasn't mentioned a single word about it. I realize this technically falls outside my authority, but... there are many precautions that must be taken during the early stages of pregnancy. I believed Your Grace should know as soon as possible. There are many excellent midwives in Kalmor. I think it would be best to summon them immediately so that Her Grace can be examined—”

“Wait.”

Clutching his throbbing head with one hand, he hurriedly cut her off.

His throat had tightened, and when he spoke, his voice came out rough.

“So... you're saying my wife is pregnant?”

“Judging by Her Grace's recent condition... there is a very high probability...”

Varkas wet his dry lips.

His wife's listless face over the past several days flashed through his mind.

Then he remembered her suddenly begging him for food.

In an instant, the blood rushing through his body accelerated, and a dull ringing filled his ears.

Frowning, he stared at his faintly trembling hand.

He couldn't understand why his body was reacting like this.

It wasn't as though he had embraced her without knowing this could happen.

If you shut a rutting bull and a cow inside the same pen, a calf would be born several months later.

That was simply the law of nature.

If anything, it was stranger that he hadn't realized it sooner.

“Thank you for informing me. I'll summon a midwife immediately to confirm it.”

Giving the mechanical reply, Varkas strode straight toward the door.

He was about to leave the room when he remembered the promise he had made to her.

Turning back, he picked up the tray.

Then it suddenly occurred to him that it might not be enough.

Perhaps he should return to the kitchen and prepare more food she could eat.

He absentmindedly turned to leave when the healing mage hurriedly called after him.

“Your Grace, there is one more thing I'd like to ask.”

Making no attempt to hide his irritation, he glared at her with an openly displeased expression.

The woman shrank back for a moment before meeting his gaze with renewed determination.

“Please... give me one more chance to attend to Her Grace.”

He looked at her in disbelief.

Even now, remembering his wife coughing up blood before collapsing unconscious was enough to make him want to hang this woman upside down.

He had restrained himself only because he knew such punishment would be excessive for a retainer who had faithfully served the Grand Ducal House her entire life.

Had it not been for his retainers repeatedly arguing that her talents were too valuable to waste and suggesting that, rather than expelling her, she be assigned to menial duties at the infirmary, he would have exiled her long ago.

Like a wild dog baring its teeth, he spoke coldly.

“Do you think making up for your mistake will be that easy?”

“Of course not. I would never dare dream of returning as Her Grace's personal healing mage.”

The woman hurriedly bowed, her face drained of color.

“I only... wish to serve as an assistant healer. If you would allow me to work under whoever is currently responsible for Her Grace's treatment and serve merely as an assistant, I swear I will devote myself to ensuring that nothing like before ever happens again.”

“I refuse. I have no intention of entrusting my wife to someone who has already committed a fatal mistake—”

Speaking rather harshly, Varkas suddenly fell silent.

Whatever the case, this woman was acknowledged as the finest pharmacologist in the East.

She had personally neutralized a monster's poison within a matter of days, something even high-ranking priests had been unable to accomplish.

If a problem ever arose that neither mages nor priests could solve, she might prove useful.

More importantly, he wasn't entirely comfortable leaving Talia solely in the care of healers from House Taren.

If someone from the Grand Ducal House remained by her side, they would be less likely to attempt anything underhanded.

Quickly organizing his thoughts, Varkas clicked his tongue.

“Very well. I'll allow you to return as an assistant healer.”

Relief briefly crossed the woman's face.

Watching her quietly, he added,

“However, if my wife refuses, you'll return to performing the lowest duties at the infirmary.”

“I understand.”

The woman's complexion darkened as she bowed her head.

She had most likely remembered Talia's venomous attitude toward her.

But easing Talia's wariness was not something he intended to involve himself in.

If she lacked even that much ability, then she could continue doing odd jobs at the infirmary as she had until now.

He turned away without another word.

In any case, he had already intended to hire additional healers to care for Talia.

Having the High Priest permanently stationed at Laedgo Castle might also be a good solution.

It would bend established rules somewhat, but if he offered to fund the expansion of the church building, the High Priest would be unlikely to refuse.

If he invited the clergy to reside within the castle under the pretext of providing accommodations while construction was underway, they would be able to employ divine magic whenever an emergency arose.

His thoughts racing furiously, Varkas finally released the breath he had been holding only after arriving at his bedchamber.

The heart that had never once faltered after riding nonstop for half a day was pounding rapidly.

Whenever it involved her, his body was always beyond his control.

Once, he had hated that sensation with every fiber of his being.

Whenever he was with her, it felt as though he were constantly battling himself.

He wanted to carve those dangerous eyes from his memory—the eyes that made him feel things he never wished to feel and desire things he never wanted.

When had he stopped thinking that way?

“I... I knew. I knew you would come to save me... I knew you would.”

The memory flashed through his mind.

He hurriedly forced it away.

He had the premonition that if he allowed himself to dwell on that moment, something inside him would be damaged beyond repair.

Driving the countless distracting thoughts from his mind, he grasped the doorknob and opened the door.

The moment he stepped inside, a rich fragrance filled his lungs.

Breathing in the scent that had gradually permeated his bedroom before he had even noticed, he crossed the warmly lit room.

As he approached the bed, he saw her curled into a small ball beneath the blankets.

Setting the tray on the nearby shelf, he sat beside the bed.

He gently placed the back of his hand against her flushed cheek.

A mild warmth greeted his skin.

Was this, too, a normal symptom in a woman carrying a child?

As he studied her complexion with worried eyes, her long, drooping eyelashes slowly lifted.

“...You're finally back?”

Still heavy with sleep, her clear blue eyes settled on him.

She rubbed one eye with her fist before letting out a small yawn.

“Did you bring what I asked for?”

“For now... only the drink...”

His voice came out so tight that even it sounded unfamiliar to his own ears.

Fortunately, she didn't seem to notice anything strange.

Pressing herself naturally against his side, Talia said matter-of-factly,

“Then hurry up and feed me.”

She tilted her chin upward and slightly parted lips as red as a rose.

Varkas stared at her for a moment before lifting the cup and taking a mouthful of the pleasantly tart drink.

Cradling her soft cheeks in both hands, he carefully fed it to her.

His entire body grew as hot as though it had been cast into flames.

He pulled her into his arms and lay down on the bed beside her.

Then he remembered the healing mage's warning that the early stages of pregnancy required special care, and he barely managed to regain control of himself.

“...Why aren't we doing it today?”

Holding her languid, fever-warmed body against his chest as he steadied his breathing, he saw her looking at him anxiously.

Gently stroking her rosy cheek, he murmured,

“You have a fever. Until you're better, we're not doing anything.”

“But I'm fine...”

He closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again.

“No, you're not.”

The words escaped him like a sigh.

His hand slowly caressed the slender waist that scarcely filled his palm.

Perhaps his child was inside her now.

Turning that unfamiliar thought over in his mind, he looked down at her clear face.

She had already begun nodding off again.

When she wasn't frowning, Talia looked like a young girl.

The sight of that youthful face made his chest feel unbearably heavy, as though a block of lead had settled inside it.