Chapter 168: Side Story 24 

The moment Count Jertho opened the closed door and entered alone, he had essentially assumed the position of the host. No one among the nobles would find it odd if Count Jertho were to oversee the banquet.

From the beginning, Ysildus had summoned him with the sole intention of dumping the entire responsibility on his shoulders.

“As you know, we’ve only just come up from Thersion.”

Ysildus’s gaze seemed to pierce right through Count Jertho.

“And you, Count Jertho, have long served the imperial family.”

It felt as though he even knew what the Count was thinking.

“You’d be far more suited to the task than we are.”

Ysildus gave him a gentle smile.

Count Jertho felt a chill crawl up his spine. A cold, creeping sensation wrapped around him from head to toe. He swallowed hard. Perhaps it was Ysildus’s uniquely slow way of speaking that made his presence all the more intimidating. Though his words were laced with elegance, the meaning beneath them was clear: ‘Country bumpkins like us wouldn’t know the first thing. You, who knows everything, should handle it.’

Ysildus’s intentions aligned perfectly with what Count Jertho had feared.

“B-But… doing so would incur significant costs.”

Count Jertho forced himself to object.

“Oh, of course. However, you see, Thersion is just a rural outpost, not particularly wealthy to begin with, and we’ve been through some turmoil recently, which has only made things worse.”

Everyone knew that Thersion, apart from its mining operations, had been raking in money through various other ventures. Any noble would know that. In fact, anyone with ears would.

“As you’re aware, it was Thersion that took responsibility for the incident in the capital and brought it under control.”

Killed the Emperor and managed to spin it like that, what nerve.

Count Jertho clenched his fists.

“Even after going through all that, Thersion never once asked anyone to share the burden. And despite the hardships endured while serving Prince Jeremiah alone, not a single word of complaint has been uttered.”

We’ve done all this, and look at you, so narrow-minded and small-hearted, aren’t you?

His tone was thick with mockery. Count Jertho trembled. He had seen Ysildus as a mere child, but now it felt like there were thousands, no, tens of thousands, of serpents coiled within him.

“You, Count Jertho, are a high-ranking noble with an established seat in the capital. Surely, you have far more than we do.”

“Kh, ahem.”

His pride stung too much to deny it.

“Besides, the imperial treasury appears to be empty as well.”

Even if he didn’t know the full situation in the capital, Count Jertho knew that couldn’t possibly be true. The Temperchi family had never lost their status as royals since the empire’s founding. For such a family to be without accumulated wealth? Even a stray dog would scoff at that.

“Pfft.”

Violeta quickly wiped the smirk from her face. When Ysildus had mocked her, she’d found him insufferably spiteful. But seeing him drag Count Jertho through the mud? That was oddly satisfying like clearing out a clogged drain.

This time, Count Jertho’s face turned red.

“If Count Jertho handles this affair well, His Highness will surely never forget it. After all, it’s the banquet to choose the next Empress.”

“Ahem!”

“The truth is, Prince Jeremiah hasn’t even begun to consider who the Empress might be. So if you’re unable to take this on, we can simply cancel the banquet altogether…”

“I’ll do it!”

Count Jertho declared, practically leaping at the chance. Cancel the banquet? He had already sent word to the nobles, telling them to prepare to attend. The gates of the capital had been opened! With a sharp tap of his cane on the floor, he declared,

“It would be an honor to take on such a significant task. Please, tell His Highness to focus solely on his recovery, without worry.”

Ysildus smiled.

“Yes, Count Jertho.”

Count Jertho hurried out of the capital. He had entered hoping to gain something, only to be thoroughly bled dry. As he marched away, he threw a backward glance at the palace.

“Ptuh!”

Disgusting, shameless little b*st*rd. It’s not that I fear stepping in sh*t. I just don’t want to get filthy. Where the hell did that punk come from?

Count Jertho shuddered with rage.

* * *

Alexa tended to the child with gentle care.

She completed the initial treatment quickly and prescribed a powerful painkiller. To guard against shock, she included a sedative, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medicine, and drugs to aid bone healing. She sensed the curious glances of palace attendants as soon as they saw the child being carried inside.

“…Is that the doctor treating Prince Jeremiah?”

“She looks so young.”

“But she’s clearly skilled. And isn’t she the daughter of Count Eneroff? For a noble to do this kind of work, it’s honestly impressive.”

“She’s also the fiancée of the Young Lord of Thersion. Someone of that rank treating patients? They should be honored.”

Whispers rippled through the room. But Alexa acted as if she heard none of it, focusing solely on the treatment.

It took quite a while for the child to regain consciousness. When he finally stirred and began rambling incoherently, Alexa crushed a pre-made herbal pill and helped him swallow it.

“Cornelly, can you hear my voice?”

Alexa asked softly. Only after repeating the question several times did the boy nod faintly.

“Do you remember how you got hurt?”

Cornelly shook his head. Alexa, as if she expected this, gently stroked his hair.

“That’s okay. This is a clinic so you’re safe here. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“…Okay.”

“How’s your leg? Does it still hurt?”

Cornelly stared blankly at his injured leg before shaking his head. The painkillers were clearly working. Soon, he would drift back to sleep.

“Once you’re healed, you’ll be running around again, Cornelly.”

“…Okay. But they’ll be worried…”

Cornelly bit his lip.

“Her Highness the Queen will be worried if I don’t go back.”

“What if I contacted her for you?”

Cornelly looked up at Alexa with trusting eyes. The huge man standing behind her had frightened him, but Alexa didn’t. With her round, soft features, she gave off no sense of threat whatsoever. Slowly, Cornelly nodded.

“I think that’d be okay.”

“Good. Now try to get some rest, Cornelly.”

Alexa gently pulled the blanket up over his chest and patted it lightly. After confirming that he’d taken his medicine, she finally straightened her back and stood up just in time.

“Miss Alexa!!”

A group of children burst into the room, holding something in their hands. Alexa’s eyes widened in surprise.

“How’s Cornelly?”

they asked in unison. Upon closer look, each one had brought cookies and candy.

“What’s all this?”

“We brought them for Cornelly!”

“Cornelly likes these!”

Alexa found herself smiling without even realizing it. They were such sweet children. The sight of them coming all this way late at night out of worry for a friend was touching.

“Did you come here alone?”

“No! We came with our moms!”

Again, they answered in chorus. The children huddled around Cornelly’s bed in a wide circle.

“Cornelly’s such a sleepyhead. Still not awake?”

“Guess it doesn’t hurt anymore. He’s not frowning now.”

“Phew. That’s a relief.”

Alexa was watching them fondly when the door opened once more. The person who entered with a loud throat-clearing seemed to be one of the children’s guardians.

“Uh, I just… wasn’t feeling too well, so I came to check…”

He scratched his neck, avoiding everyone’s eyes, clearly embarrassed.

“Didn’t I just give you medicine earlier?!”

A sharp voice cut in. It was the physician who’d been keeping an eye on Alexa.

“I know I gave you medicine…!”

“Well, I took it, and it didn’t work! I’ve got a mountain of things to do tomorrow! I came to try something else, okay?! What’s the big deal?!”

The guardian shouted. Alexa, caught awkwardly in the middle, gave an uncomfortable laugh.

Here we go again.

Unable to watch any longer, Terrun stepped in and pulled Alexa out from between them.

“No fighting. Take it outside. Patients need peace.”

Terrun’s deep voice rumbled through the room. He pointed a thick finger toward the child’s bed. Faced with his imposing presence, both the physician and the guardian clamped their mouths shut.

The guardian took the medicine Alexa gave him and quickly left with his child. One by one, the other children also departed, each holding their guardian’s hand. Soon, only Alexa, Terrun, and Cornelly remained.

“I feel like my brain’s just gone mushy.”

“Tired? Then I can tell Ysildus…”

“No!”

Alexa waved him off instantly. If Ysildus got involved now… That would really turn the place into chaos.

She didn’t know what Ysildus would do, but she did know that he would do something. Alexa shook her head firmly.

“Whatever happens, don’t say a word to Ysildus about what happened here. Promise me.”

“And just what shouldn’t I say, I wonder?”

“EEK!!”

Alexa let out a scream at the sudden voice behind her.

“Y-Ysildus!!”

This sneaky little b*st*rd. Terrun cursed under his breath.