The maids quietly walked down the corridor.
Talia followed after them, placing each step as carefully as she could.
By the time she finally reached the staircase with a pace slower than a turtle's, her back was soaked in sweat.
She stared down at the stairs with bleak eyes.
At that moment, Varkas came striding into the manor.
Forgetting even how to breathe, Talia swept her gaze over him from head to toe.
Instead of the Roem Knights uniform, Varkas wore a black breastplate bearing the crest of House Siorcan, while a dark gray cloak made from beast hide hung loosely over his shoulders.
Looking like one of the mounted warriors of the Khan people who had once made the entire continent of Libadon tremble in fear, he caused her heart to tighten.
With long strides, he climbed the stairs and stopped before her.
Perhaps because he had come in a hurry, his usually immaculate hair was more disheveled than she had ever seen.
Bending toward her, he fixed her with eyes like polished steel.
“How are you feeling?”
Talia merely blinked blankly.
Normally she would have coldly snapped at him to mind his own business, but strangely enough, her tongue had gone dry.
Only after a long moment did she manage to answer.
“...I'm fine.”
His eyes narrowed.
Apparently, her meek reply had made him suspicious.
After staring intently at her face, Varkas removed his glove and placed a hand against her forehead.
Talia reflexively slapped it away.
The sharp sound of the impact was followed by a fierce silence.
Clutching her stinging fingers, she cautiously watched his expression.
He did not seem particularly offended.
Or perhaps not.
Had she ever once managed to read his face properly?
Lowering her eyes, Talia mumbled in a strained voice,
“Y-you touched me all of a sudden. You startled me.”
Just then, those long white fingers invaded her vision once again.
Talia shrank her neck.
But this time, he did not permit her to push his hand away.
Determined, Varkas lightly brushed her forehead before fastening the ties of her cloak all the way up to her neck, leaving no gaps.
Then, before she even had the chance to refuse, he lifted her effortlessly into his arms and said bluntly,
“You will have to get used to me touching you from now on.”
Talia's eyes widened.
Her heart trembled violently.
What did he mean by that?
No. No.
Don't hope.
He was merely trying to care for a pitiful cripple.
As she hurriedly crushed the feelings sprouting like weeds, Varkas adjusted her into a more comfortable position and slowly descended the stairs.
Afraid she might fall, Talia wrapped her arms around his neck.
Holding her back with one arm, Varkas carefully made his way downward.
Soon, the sight of a courtyard filled with unfamiliar men unfolded before her eyes.
Talia looked over them with curiosity.
At a glance, they clearly did not belong to the Roem Knights.
Each of them carried a long axe-spear on his back and wore loose coat-like garments over dark armor.
One of the men stepped forward.
“Is this the lady who will become the next Grand Duchess?”
Talia examined him carefully.
He was a young man with dark wheat-colored skin, blackish-brown hair, and black eyes, as though tanned by the sun.