Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 48

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 48

 

Though it was dark and hard to see clearly, there was something on the balcony connected to Deshion’s room.

 

Heidi pressed herself as close as possible to that side and squinted her eyes to examine it.

 

After a moment, Heidi’s eyes widened.

 

“It’s… it’s a person.”

 

At first, there was no movement so she couldn’t be certain. But looking closely, that shape was definitely a person collapsed on the ground.

 

‘If it’s someone who would be in Deshion’s room at this hour…’

 

Heidi, who had been frozen in place for a moment, suddenly dashed out.

 

There was no time to think about anything. She just had to go. Her body moved on its own.

 

Bang.

 

Fortunately, Deshion’s door wasn’t locked.

 

As expected, his bed was empty and disheveled. Heidi pulled the bell cord hard to summon the maids and immediately headed toward the balcony.

 

“Deshion!”

 

There lay Deshion in his robe, collapsed weakly.

 

Heidi immediately knelt down and pressed her ear to his chest.

 

“Oh, thank goodness…”

 

Fortunately, his heart was beating. Heidi breathed a deep sigh of relief that it wasn’t too late yet.

 

Heidi straightened Deshion’s uncomfortable position and placed her hand on his forehead.

 

“He’s burning up. He has a high fever.”

 

Heidi’s expression darkened as she compared it to her own forehead temperature.

 

Just then, a maid who had heard the bell entered the room.

 

“You called for…”

 

“Come here!”

 

The maid, startled by Heidi’s call, came running.

 

“Why is Lady Heidi here… Master?”

 

“Quickly call for people. Tell the butler to summon a doctor too. Hurry!”

 

Heidi loudly urged the maid who was standing there in shock and hesitation.

 

“Yes, yes! Should I inform Miss Eloise as well?”

 

“No. It would be better not to wake her until the situation is somewhat under control.”

 

“I’ll do that.”

 

Heidi picked up the lamp the maid had left behind and shone the light to examine Deshion’s face. There were traces where hair had been matted to his forehead.

 

‘He sweated a lot of cold sweat.’

 

Heidi carefully brought her finger under his nose.

 

‘His breathing is weak.’

 

Heidi carefully examined his skin. The flesh visible through his open robe was flushed red and heated.

 

‘This… seems to be from poison?’

 

Heidi’s eyes shook greatly.

 

Just then, the servants who had heard the news came rushing into the room.

 

“What is this all of a sudden…”

 

“The doctor?”

 

“Jake went to fetch him.”

 

“Shouldn’t we first move the master to a comfortable bed?”

 

But since they had never experienced such a situation either, they were equally flustered. The volume of conversation between the panicked servants grew louder and louder.

 

However, even amid the chaotic atmosphere, Heidi just quietly gazed at Deshion’s face.

 

‘I’ve seen this before. These symptoms.’

 

The people in the village where Heidi lived were poor, so many would forage for food in the nearby forest to make their meals. As a result, incidents would often occur where they ate ingredients they shouldn’t have and got sick.

 

‘The symptoms are exactly the same as those men I saw back then. How did Uncle Deon treat them?’

 

She faintly remembered following the village herbalist around and helping with small errands. Heidi squeezed her eyes shut, trying to wring out the hazy memories.

 

‘First, the fever. I need to bring down the fever first.’

 

Heidi’s eyes snapped open as she recalled the memory. Heidi extended her hand to those trying to move Deshion indoors.

 

“No. It would be better to keep him here. Don’t move him inside.”

 

“Pardon? What do you mean…”

 

“With a fever this high, it’s dangerous. We need to lower his temperature as much as possible to buy time until the doctor arrives. Bring cold water and towels.”

 

“Yes!”

 

Heidi loosened Deshion’s robe.

 

“When did they say the doctor would arrive?”

 

“The doctor’s house is nearby. It should be about time for him to arrive…”

 

That’s when it happened.

 

The red-haired servant came running in, panting heavily. It was the very servant who had gone to fetch the doctor.

 

“The doctor?”

 

The red-haired servant shook his head.

 

“He wasn’t there. When I asked the neighbors, they said his sister gave birth and he temporarily went down to his hometown.”

 

“How could this be…! Where did they say his hometown was?”

 

“It’s about four hours away on horseback. I sent someone immediately.”

 

“Even if he finds the doctor and brings him back as quickly as possible, that means eight hours from now…”

 

Heidi shook her head.

 

“That’s too late.”

 

After thinking for a moment, Heidi spoke to the butler.

 

“I know an herbalist. Please send someone there as well.”

 

The butler’s eyes widened.

 

“Pardon? Not even a doctor, but entrusting the master to someone unverified…”

 

The butler grumbled disapprovingly and trailed off.

 

In noble society, there was a widespread perception that herbalists were what commoners who couldn’t afford doctors would turn to when sick, so his suspicion was natural enough.

 

Heidi let out a short sigh and spoke in a calm voice.

 

“Even so, we can’t just sit and wait for his personal physician. Please hurry.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Heidi bit her lips tightly as she looked down at Deshion’s face, flushed with fever.

 

‘Just hold on a little longer. Please.’

 

* * *

 

“Please drink this, Princess.”

 

Anastasia gulped down the dark brown herbal decoction. Her fingers holding the cup trembled finely.

 

“Ugh, bitter.”

 

Anastasia curled up, shivering like someone with body aches.

 

“How long do I have to wait for the antidote to spread?”

 

“When I asked the doctor, he said it takes about half an hour.”

 

Shyla, Anastasia’s governess, wrapped a blanket around her shoulders with gentle hands.

 

“I wonder if you really had to go so far as to harm your body like this…”

 

At Shyla’s murmuring, Anastasia glanced at her.

 

“Don’t say such comfortable words. If I hadn’t drunk it, would that suspicious man have even touched his lips to it?”

 

“That’s true, but…”

 

“This was the best way to tie that person down, even if just for a while.”

 

Anastasia ground her teeth.

 

“I would have liked to use a stronger poison… but then I would have been suspected since I was with him, which would be troublesome.”

 

“You thought well. It’s none other than Count Haizen, so there will be big repercussions. His Majesty won’t just stand by and watch either.”

 

Shyla smiled gently.

 

“It will take quite some time to find an antidote, so he probably won’t be able to move until The King’s Birthday Banquet.”

 

“Yes, that’s exactly what I wanted.”

 

Anastasia reclined on the plush sofa and her eyes sparkled.

 

“Now there’s no one to hold me back…”

 

“…”

 

“Now it’s time to interfere with Father’s plan. It’s regrettable in many ways, but what can we do?”

 

One corner of Anastasia’s mouth twitched upward.

 

“Send word to Clovis. Tell him it’s time to move.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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