The healer, who had been silently looking down at her, carefully opened her mouth.
“His Grace remained by Your Highness's side the entire time, but after receiving word that raiders had appeared outside the walls, he hurried out.”
At those unexpected words, Talia froze.
She did not even have time to feel embarrassed at having her thoughts exposed.
Springing upright, she grabbed the hem of the healer's robe. A sharp pain flared beneath her ribs from the sudden movement, but at that moment she paid it no mind.
“R-raiders? When? When did that happen?”
“About four hours ago.”
The healer answered calmly.
Talia pressed anxiously.
“How many appeared? Is the situation dangerous? How many soldiers—”
She fired questions one after another, then suddenly felt her vision turn white. Biting her lip, she swayed forward before she could even realize it.
Had the sun-darkened, sturdy hand not caught her shoulder, she would have toppled straight out of bed.
With cold sweat beading her face, Talia looked up at the healer. The woman firmly pressed her back down.
“I'll cast a recovery spell, so please calm yourself first.”
“Varkas...”
“His Grace will be fine. There are only several dozen raiders at most, and His Grace commands the strongest mounted warriors in the East.”
Only after hearing the healer's composed reply did her reason finally return.
Steadying her ragged breathing, Talia gazed at the brightly lit window.
If he had left two hours ago, he might already have finished suppressing them by now.
That's right. Even during the large-scale extermination campaign before, hadn't he returned in half a day as though nothing had happened?
There was no need to panic.
As she repeated that to herself, trying to suppress her unease, a thin, callused hand settled over the back of hers. Warmth soon flowed through her body.
“I have also cast healing magic, but magic does not work well on injuries inside the body. Please refrain from strenuous activity for some time.”
Instead of replying, Talia quietly closed her eyes.
After silently examining her condition for a while, the healer quietly left the room.
Not long afterward, the nanny returned carrying a tray of food.
Unable to withstand her fussing, Talia barely managed to swallow several spoonfuls of vegetable porridge. The moment food entered her stomach, it stung as though she had swallowed needles.
She tossed and turned in bed for a long time, finally falling asleep only as the sun was setting.
She regained consciousness again when deep darkness had begun to descend over the surroundings.
Awakening with a burning thirst, Talia discovered a large shadow cast before the fireplace and instinctively shrank back.
At some point, Varkas had returned. Dressed only in a thin shirt, he stood by the window.
Fortunately, he did not appear to be injured.
Letting out a long sigh of relief, Talia suddenly stopped breathing.
Eyes as silent as a frozen lake were staring straight at her.
There was nothing outwardly different from usual, yet she had no idea why her heart sank.
The man stood motionless for a long while before slowly approaching. Talia unconsciously swallowed.
After regarding her with strangely quiet eyes, he turned toward the shelf and picked up the kettle from the tray, pouring her a cup of water.
“How are you feeling?”
“I'm fine.”
Accepting the cup awkwardly, Talia deliberately answered in a composed voice.
Originally, she had intended to scold him thoroughly.
See? What did I tell you? I said I didn't want to take that medicine. You forced me to drink it, and this happened.
All the words she had wanted to pour out scattered inside her mouth.
Sneaking glances at him, noticing how much more subdued than usual he seemed, Talia carefully added,
“It's nothing serious. They just said my stomach is a little damaged.”
Something flashed across Varkas's face like lightning.
A fierce look entered his eyes as he snapped sharply,
“It is not merely a little damaged. You were in such a serious state that you coughed up blood.”
Startled by the sharp reaction, Talia stared blankly.
Grabbing her shoulders, Varkas continued harshly,