Confession (9)

Alicia touched Reichardt’s hand and face without a plan, desperately hoping those furrowed brows would move again.

Unlike in Tessen, where simply holding his hand eased his breathing, no such effect appeared in Baden.

Knowing there was no one else to rely on, Alicia calmly soothed his frozen body.

“Your Highness, can you hear my voice?”

Whatever pain he was suffering, Reichardt’s hair was soaked in sweat in an instant.

But perhaps thanks to Alicia’s persistent caresses, he weakly opened his eyes.

“…Alicia…”

“It’s not time yet, is it?”

“We must go back.”

Reichardt spoke as if whispering.

Not because he meant to, but because the pain was so great he could barely produce sound.

Alicia clearly understood the whisper that seemed to be only lip movements.

“Do we need to return to Tessen?”

She supported him as he tried to rise.

“To the Grand Duke’s manor first.”

A royal could command the masses with a mere gesture when within designated bounds.

But straying from those bounds recklessly could cost them their head at any time.

“Damn it.”

Alicia cursed under her breath.

Reichardt, leaning on her while suppressing the pain, let out a low laugh that rattled his throat.

He slowly opened his eyes and, without using her for support, stood on his own.

Anyone seeing him walk out of the terrace would think he was a cold-blooded man who wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed.

The only sign that something was wrong was how tightly he held his fiancée’s hand with his left.

As Alicia stepped outside, all eyes turned to her.

Curiosity, suspicion, veiled jeers, inexplicable anger, and forced indifference.

All kinds of stares pierced her face, but Alicia feigned ignorance.

She acted as if she hadn’t noticed a single one, like someone completely oblivious.

More concerned about Reichardt than the onlookers, she placed her other hand over his to ease the pain just a bit more.

She guided him gently, worried he might lose direction.

With a blank expression, Reichardt walked toward the grand theater entrance.

Even when people smiled and tried to speak to either of them, they were ignored as if invisible.

The grand theater hosting the party was immense.

Since they were coming from a terrace near the dance floor, they had to pass through a sea of people.

Alicia scanned the crowd, using her hand still holding Reichardt’s to guide him, and searched for Juan.

Juan was chatting with a middle-aged man in a quiet corner.

As soon as their eyes met, Juan passed his glass to the man and strode toward her.

Alicia gave him a sharp glance toward the outside.

Juan nodded and changed course, heading swiftly for the entrance.

On his way out, Juan looked for Roderick, who was surrounded by noble ladies.

“Roderick!”

Roderick, who had been entertaining the ladies with a smile, passed his drink to the nearest person with a polite “Excuse me,” and left the party hall.

“It’s ready at the front.”

He spoke as though he already knew what Juan was looking for.

Juan half-jogged toward the foremost carriage among the lined-up procession.

The footmen and coachmen resting nearby sprang into action at Juan’s words.

After confirming Juan’s preparations, Roderick approached Reichardt, who had stopped briefly to bear the pain.

“The carriage is ready out front. We can depart immediately.”

Reichardt only nodded in response.

“We need to go now.”

Alicia said to Roderick in a lowered voice.

“Leave it to me.”

The carriage stationed at the theater entrance had been provided by the imperial palace.

Nobles attending the party had to switch from their personal carriages to those provided by the palace to enter.

The same rule applied when leaving—they had to disembark from the palace carriage before returning to their own.

Preparing these carriages wasn’t simple, nor was boarding and disembarking.

“Please board.”

As Roderick assisted, Juan joined Alicia and Reichardt by the carriage.

Both were well-built knights, and standing close on either side of the couple, they shielded Reichardt’s weakened steps from view.

As soon as he climbed in, Reichardt collapsed.

While Juan blocked the view from the door, Roderick swiftly shut it.

“Let’s go.”

Kneeling on the floor instead of sitting, Alicia calmly helped the collapsed Reichardt.

She struggled to remain composed, but countless eyes still lingered within the palace grounds.

Thankfully, the carriage windows were curtained.

As long as she could get him seated, the immediate crisis would be resolved.

“Ugh.”

Reichardt groaned from where he lay curled up.

“Your Highness.”

Alicia helped him onto the seat, where he stretched out.

The short-distance carriages provided by the palace were cramped—too small for someone as tall as Reichardt—but that didn’t matter now.

Twisting into the space, he swallowed a groan of pain.

“…I’m sorry…”

Searching for Alicia with his eyes, he whispered faintly in apology.

That seemed to be all he could manage.

His hand, cold as ice, contrasted with the burning heat of his head and face.

He moaned as the pain consumed him.

“Your Highness.”

Even after boarding, Alicia continued to soothe his hand and face, but it wasn’t as effective as before.

She called to him while touching his pained expression, but he didn’t respond.

At some point, the carriage had left the palace; Alicia could hear Roderick speaking with the captain of the guards from the driver’s seat.

“Sir Franz. The Grand Duke and Lady are aboard, and he’s in no condition to step down. Could we borrow this carriage for a bit? I’m sure His Majesty will understand—he’s quite concerned for His Grace. Once the party ends, I’m sure you’ll sympathize with my position as well.”

“Hey, Roderick…”

Roderick spoke politely, his tone smooth and deferential.

Juan, listening from the side, chimed in like a bashful youth.

“If His Grace is inside, there’s never a problem. Go on now. Safe travels. The Grand Duke and Lady are aboard!”

“Until next time, Sir Franz.”

“You all work hard. I’ll see you again soon.”

The captain of the guard, clearly misunderstanding something, comforted Roderick and Juan with a chuckle.

Though Alicia understood the urgency, she couldn’t help but feel the same exasperation she did when dealing with her simple-minded brothers.

Knock knock.

The wall of the carriage, connected to the driver’s seat, sounded softly.

“We’ll head for the Grand Duke’s manor first.”

Roderick’s voice, which had just been joking with the captain, turned serious as if it had all been an act.

Alicia didn’t reply. Instead, she tapped twice on the carriage wall.

The carriage picked up speed immediately.

Roderick had handled everything well.

Whether by sending someone ahead or preparing early, the area around the manor was clear.

The main gate opened just as the carriage came into view from the street’s end, allowing them to proceed straight inside.

As the carriage pulled up to the manor entrance, Henrik—already waiting—opened the door and prepared to escort them inside.

No one else could be seen around the estate.

Despite their concern, Roderick, Juan, and Henrik moved swiftly.

The three of them, having served the Grand Duke closely for years, seemed to understand the nature of his illness to some degree.

The large mansion was deathly silent.

It looked like they’d cleared it out in preparation due to Reichardt’s worsening condition.

Juan helped lift Reichardt out of the carriage and onto Roderick’s back.

Roderick hurried into the manor.

Since the view was obstructed by Reichardt, Juan walked beside him to guide the way.

Alicia ran alongside them, tightly gripping Reichardt’s hand.

Together, the four of them moved as one, heading up to Reichardt’s bedroom on the second floor.

The Grand Duke’s bedroom in the Baden manor was extravagant.

Even the most indulgent nobles would struggle to imagine such luxury.

The massive bed, gilded with gold, didn’t even feel appropriate to call just a “bed.”

The silk adorning the walls shimmered, likely woven with golden and silver threads.

The patterns on the layered canopy above the bed were so intricate it was hard to believe human hands had crafted them.

This room clearly reflected imperial taste.

Though Alicia had never seen a palace bedchamber before, this one resembled the grandeur of other parts of the imperial palace.

As Roderick laid Reichardt on the opulent bed, his face twisted with worry.

Juan’s wasn’t much different.

Henrik tried to clear the room, intent on leaving only Reichardt inside.

Though he didn’t say anything, he, too, looked shocked.

Reichardt, lying in bed, sank like a lead weight.

His face, trembling now and then from the pain, was difficult to look at.

The shallow, strained breaths made it seem as if he might expire at any moment.

Right now, Reichardt looked like a dying man.

He gave off the impression of someone whose life force was gradually fading, becoming a corpse.

Though the three had been close to him for years, they had never seen him like this—he always drove everyone away during the cycle of Rua.

Alicia firmly held Reichardt’s hand, then let go, shooing the three men out of the room.

“Henrik, keep watch carefully. I’ll need your help like in Tessen.”

“I’ll begin preparations right away.”

Henrik left, forgetting he had been trying to clear the room.

“Roderick, by any means necessary, get His Majesty’s permission for His Highness to travel to Tessen at will if needed.”

“I’ll return to the palace.”

It was highly unlikely the Emperor would grant an audience to a mere knight after the party.

Yet for some reason, Roderick insisted on going.

After replying, he turned and left without even offering a proper bow.

“Juan, return to Luderne and ask Daisy to prepare an emergency kit. Also, let her know I’ll manage Luderne as I did last month.”

“Yes, understood. Will you be staying here, my lady?”

“I’ll stay to look after His Highness until he wakes.”

Juan, knowing Reichardt never allowed people near him during such times, cast her a cautious look.

In Tessen, Alicia had cared for Reichardt when he was sick once before.

She’d worried it might cause trouble then too, but nothing had happened.

“I’ll deliver the message and return. Please don’t push yourself too hard.”

“I won’t.”

Alicia answered cheerfully, forcing a smile.

Once Juan was gone, the large, opulent room was filled only with silence and labored, pained breathing.

Returning to the side of the grand bed, Alicia gripped Reichardt’s struggling hand tightly.

But his condition showed no sign of improvement.

He hadn’t regained consciousness since his final words in the carriage.