Chapter 20
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: The Prince's Persistent Visits
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Isaac glanced at Prince Joseph.
Officially, Prince Joseph's well-being had been entrusted to the Setia family.
To the outside world, it was framed as having the Setia family educate him in swordsmanship and etiquette, but the real purpose was to keep him under watch so he wouldn't build up any undue influence.
Prince Joseph, who surely knew this, had never once made a direct request to anyone in the Setia household or tried to converse with them.
Yet now, he was showing interest in Charlotte.
Isaac observed Prince Joseph with a look of keen curiosity when suddenly, the prince turned to Ben and spoke.
"Will rest definitely cure it?"
Ben, who had been organizing his medical tools and giving instructions to Betty, whipped his head around in surprise.
"You mean it's definite?"
"Ah, yes, of course. Of course, Your Highness. No fever, no cough... You'll be better soon."
"How long?"
"Well... I can't say for certain."
"Approximately?"
"I don't know if it's from the sudden outing or something else, but you're truly exhausted... I think you need to rest fully for about a week."
"...I see."
Prince Joseph seemed lost in thought for a moment, then draped his expensive cloak over the shabby wooden chair in Charlotte's room and sat down on it.
It looked like he planned to hold out a bit longer.
Isaac watched him with an odd expression.
'He acted like he couldn't hold a conversation, but he seems awfully interested in Charlotte... I've never heard they were close before.'
Thud.
'This is getting interesting.'
Isaac let out a soft chuckle and sat back down.
Ben pleaded with a flustered face, "You need to rest, so please get up before sunset...," but the only one who left the room was Jerome.
The only thought on Jerome's mind was that Charlotte's room suddenly seemed too plain and shabby, with all its gaudy furnishings crammed into one space.
After that day, Charlotte spent three days tossing and turning in bed.
Third Prince Joseph skipped the banquets afterward and visited her residence without fail, every single day for those three days.
Even if they were staying in the same household, it was quite an unusual occurrence.
The Setia family had never publicly declared an official stance. However, Empress Selen, mother to the first and second princes, hailed from the Marquis of Tantinus family, a longtime ally of the Setias.
Naturally, the ties between Second Prince Ricardo and the Setia Ducal House were as good as proclaimed.
No matter how young and naive Third Prince Joseph Veros Cheiker was said to be, the fact that he—who had lived aloof, forging no connections with any house until now—suddenly visited the residence of the Setia family's direct youngest daughter three days in a row was bound to draw eyes.
Rumors spread in two directions.
One linked to Isaac's apology at the banquet, suggesting there was something noteworthy about Charlotte.
The other was mockery that the unremarkable Third Prince Joseph and the unremarkable Charlotte both had no clue how the political world turned.
But no one in noble society foresaw the major repercussions this would bring.
When Charlotte opened her eyes, a pure white ceiling came into view.
Blink.
Blink, blink.
As she slowly closed and opened her eyes, she felt her consciousness rising gradually from a very deep sleep.
The pain came from a lack of internal energy, her body not yet fully adapted to handling qi, and forcing herself to tend to someone else's body.
'...Joseph looked in so much pain, I pushed myself too hard.'
Charlotte sat up, reflecting too late on her regret.
Her body, starved of proper food after so long asleep, felt as heavy as a waterlogged sponge.
'My body should be improving day by day, and here I was collapsing without even eating properly.'
Tsking her tongue at how she'd find time to train like this, Charlotte glanced at the mirror.
Thanks to Betty diligently changing her clothes on time, even after lying sick for days, her attire was spotless.
Being cared for by someone when ill was truly a blessing.
Feeling a warmth in her chest, Charlotte pulled the bell cord.
At the sound, Ben with his medical bag and Betty rushed in with anxious faces.
"You're awake?"
"Are you feeling better now?"
Charlotte gave a faint smile to Betty, who clutched her hand tightly.
While feverish, she'd unconsciously longed for her past life.
Anyone would, when sick.
Even as a murim wanderer with no deep attachments, she'd grown up there, so nostalgia like homesickness had swept over her inescapably.
This second life was so precious and joyful, yet in her delirious state, longings she'd never noticed in health had come flooding belatedly.
But now that her body felt light again, she realized.
'I like it here more.'
Charlotte remembered the faces that had watched over and cared for her during those hazy moments of fevered agony over the past few days.
Betty, Jerome, Isaac, Ben, and... Joseph.
Every hour or two, she'd drift in and out of awareness, and not once had the bedside been empty.
'For people who stuck me in this attic and neglected me, aren't they suddenly being too good to me?'
As Ben examined her again and laid her back down, Charlotte had that thought.
'Well... good is good, so let's just be grateful.'
She was no longer Dohwa.
She wouldn't be betrayed by someone she called senior brother and followed like a fool. Never again.
She'd resolved firmly not to trust people easily.
'But that doesn't mean I'm not thankful for their care when I was sick.'
She tried to think as coldly as possible inside, but her heart still warmed.
Betty wiped Charlotte's face meticulously with a warm cloth and asked Ben,
"How's Lady Charlotte?"
"She seems fully recovered now."
"Was it really just overexertion? I never dreamed she'd sleep this long..."
"I don't know the reason, but for how depleted her body was, she recovered remarkably fast. Honestly, I thought she'd be out for at least three more days."
Charlotte nodded inwardly at Ben's diagnosis.
She'd overdone it, so it made sense.
"Sorry for worrying you. I'm fine now."
"...What a relief. Shall I bring something to eat?"
"Yeah."
"Anything you'd like?"
"Spicy beef stew, roasted duck with angelica, braised pork belly."
"...Pardon?"
Charlotte giggled softly at Betty's wide-eyed confusion—she hadn't understood a word.
"Just kidding."
Truth be told, she preferred the food here now. It suited her taste, and she didn't have to eat alone.
"Even if you want duck, you have to start with thin soup."
Ben scolded sternly, so Betty turned to leave without asking more.
"Oh, and this. His Highness the Third Prince left it."
What Betty pointed to just before exiting were two bouquets and a vase by the bedside.
'He must've come often.'
She pictured those pitch-black eyes that glared like they could kill, never imagining him bringing flowers.
Charlotte chuckled and picked up a bouquet.
The flowers Joseph brought were beautiful. The soft, feathery touch of fresh petals felt pleasant against her skin.
They resembled plum blossoms but carried a completely different fragrance.
She truly no longer wished to return to her past life.
Thinking of Joseph's cool gaze while looking at these bouquets made her smile.
He didn't seem the type to say thanks.
'Yeah, I don't miss my past life. I can make people here who treasure me more. I couldn't there, but this time, I'll live without regrets. There's still plenty of time.'
As Charlotte happily fiddled with the flowers, Ben glanced around to ensure no one else was there and spoke to her.
"So, care to explain now?"
Charlotte tilted her head slightly.
For a graying middle-aged man facing a nine-year-old girl, Ben's face was overly grave.
"Huh? Explain what?"
"What did you do to end up like this?"
"Huh?"
"Overexertion alone wouldn't deplete your body this much."
Charlotte blinked and gave a sulky smile.
'Of course. Ben's a doctor. He'd notice how unnaturally drained I was. He examined me the day before the banquet too, so it's suspicious.'
"Why? What do you think happened?"
Ben slowly shook his head.
"Don't dodge it—it's okay to be honest with me. I'm now Lady Charlotte's personal physician."
"Ah... right."
"You could say our fates are tied together."
"So?"
"You're acting like you don't get it, but I know you know."
Charlotte smiled faintly.
He'd seemed like a mere profit-chasing merchant at first, but now Ben looked like a reliable loyal hound.
His purely curious eyes about what his master had been up to were amusing.
Charlotte extended her small hand.
Ignoring Ben's puzzled look, she grasped his hand.
"Like this? Means we're on the same team."
"...Ah. Well..."
Ben looked down at the small, warm hand gripping his.
A handshake was for equals.
Never had he imagined a master offering one to a mere worker like him.
He'd thought following Charlotte was right, that she had insight... but...
'…I didn’t realize she had such a big heart.'
Ben felt defeated, gripped her hand back, and let out a small laugh. He'd have to give up figuring out what she'd done to drain herself so badly.