The Munchkin Princess Wants to Run Away Chapter 25

“Illness really is frightening.”

If anything had happened to the countess, Ivanna would have been genuinely heartbroken.

She had discovered something else to fear besides poverty. She had thought indifference and poverty were the only frightening things, but being in poor health was rather terrifying, too.

She was fortunate to be a member of the imperial family, with a healthy, strong body.

Living alone in the imperial palace had already been lonely enough. If she had fallen ill on top of that, she would undoubtedly have felt even more miserable.

“Hoo…”

As warmth gradually returned to her body, which had grown cold, the drowsiness Anthony had mentioned began to overwhelm her.

She had been tense throughout the tea party, and then that incident had happened. It was only natural that she was mentally exhausted.

Ivanna decided to rest for a moment, but before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

 

***

 

“Her Highness the Princess has fallen asleep.”

Cedric had returned to his bedroom after finishing his work. He nodded at the maid’s report.

“What about dinner?”

“She hasn’t eaten. She’s been sleeping continuously.”

“Have someone remain on standby, just in case.”

The maid bowed and left, and the bedroom fell silent.

He had also received a report that the countess had nearly collapsed during the tea party that afternoon. The report had mentioned that the princess had supported her and stayed by her side until her condition improved.

As he approached the bed, the princess’s face looked paler than usual. He revised his assessment of her once again.

He had thought she was simply a woman whose thoughts were deeper than the rumors suggested, but…

He remembered how she had smiled even after overhearing the servants insulting her.

Was she more courageous and warmhearted than he had expected?

Whatever kind of person the princess was, it had nothing to do with him. Still, he was grateful that she had cared for the countess.

The countess was an important figure in House Reynold, after all.

Cedric was about to turn away after checking on the princess when he suddenly stopped. Then he hurriedly reached out and placed his hand on Ivanna’s forehead.

It was burning hot.

“Princess? Wake up!”

He urgently shook her by the shoulders, but she remained unconscious.

Cedric immediately called for a maid and ordered her to summon the physician.

Then, while the physician and servants bustled in and out of the bedroom, he stayed by Ivanna’s side.

“Her fever has gone down now. It seems Her Highness was quite shocked yesterday.”

“Can something as simple as being startled cause such a high fever?”

Despite the physician’s attempts to persuade him to rest somewhere else for a while, just in case, Cedric stayed by Ivanna’s side until the very end.

Her safety was his responsibility, after all. Watching the duke, the physician nodded with a pleased smile, as though he understood perfectly well.

“People with delicate constitutions can develop physical symptoms after experiencing something distressing.”

“Is she all right now?”

“Her fever has completely subsided, so she should regain consciousness soon.”

The physician also advised Cedric to get some rest before taking his leave.

“We’ll take care of Lady Ivanna, so perhaps you should rest in another room.”

Solar, who had stayed by Ivanna’s side throughout the night, made the suggestion cautiously.

“I’m fine. He said she’ll wake up soon, so have a maid remain on standby.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Solar bowed his head, carefully observing the duke. Honestly, he was still bewildered by the situation.

He had assumed that if Ivanna fell ill, the duke would leave without a second thought and sleep in another room.

Yet he had stayed by her side all night.

Hadn’t the duke said he had no feelings for Lady Ivanna?

If the duke had developed affection for her, they would have to revise their plans.

Or was this actually a good thing? Either way, they needed to be prepared.

Solar quickly prepared the things Ivanna would need after waking up, then left the room.

“How is Her Highness the Princess?”

Anthony had apparently risen at dawn and was waiting outside the door with an anxious expression.

“Her fever has only just gone down.”

“Phew. Thank goodness.”

“You should have gotten some proper sleep yourself.”

Solar shook his head at Anthony’s dark circles.

“One sleepless night won’t hurt. Go get some rest. I’ll stay with her until the afternoon.”

“Thanks for your hard work.”

He had told Anthony to go rest, but he himself had plans to leave for another territory that afternoon.

He had heard that the duke couldn’t tolerate disruptions to his plans, so they might depart as scheduled as soon as Her Highness recovered.

Members of the imperial family recovered quickly. She would probably be back on her feet within a day.

He needed to pack their belongings just in case.

Solar hurried toward their quarters.

“Hmm…”

Ivanna stretched her arms out and opened her eyes energetically.

What? Why does my body feel so refreshed?

It was already bright outside.

“Are you feeling all right?”

Ivanna was sitting up in bed when a voice from beside her startled her.

“Your Grace?”

Judging by the sunlight coming through the window, whose curtains had been partially drawn, it seemed morning had already passed. Why was he still in her room?

Before she could dwell on the question, a large hand reached out and covered her forehead.

“Your fever has completely gone down.”

“Was I sick?”

He nodded.

Ivanna’s eyes widened at the duke’s response.

“I suppose I was a little startled yesterday.”

“Apparently, that can happen.”

Cedric nodded indifferently, and Ivanna desperately wished Anthony were there.

She needed to ask him what had happened during the night.

“I didn’t realize your constitution was so frail.”

“But I’m a member of the imperial family.”

“A rather unusual one, aren’t you?”

An unusual member of the imperial family? Was he calling her defective because she hadn’t received divine power?

Ivanna pouted at Cedric’s reaction, as though he were saying it was only to be expected.

“I’m fine now. I actually feel as refreshed as if I’ve had a good night’s sleep.”

“I’ve canceled today’s trip to another territory, so rest for another day.”

“What? I’m really fine. You don’t need to do that just because of me.”

Ivanna’s eyes widened at the news that he had changed their plans.

She hadn’t even spent the night groaning in pain. His reaction seemed excessive.

“Being healthy and strong is one of the advantages of being a member of the imperial family.”

“Even members of the imperial family can be weak.”

He seemed to have already made up his mind.

“I don’t want to interfere with your schedule.”

“The schedule is arranged around the ducal couple. If something happens to one of us, it’s only right to make changes.”

Seeing that the duke had already reached a decision, Ivanna reluctantly nodded.

“So this is all because we have to pretend to be an affectionate married couple, right?”

Otherwise, there was no reason for the duke to treat her so well. Ivanna understood his actions perfectly.

“Make yourself comfortable.”

Cedric left without answering. His back somehow looked displeased, but Ivanna assumed it was because their schedule had been delayed.

“Lady Ivanna! How are you feeling?”

As soon as the duke left, Anthony hurried into the bedroom.

“I feel great. The duke seems unhappy because our plans were canceled on my account, so be careful around him.”

“What? But he took care of you all night while you were sick!”

Ivanna’s eyes widened at Anthony’s puzzled response.

Who had taken care of whom?

“The servants of the ducal household said they had no idea His Grace could be so considerate.”

Anthony told her that the servants had grown more fond of Ivanna after seeing how devotedly the duke had cared for her.

“That’s good, then.”

There was no need to read meaning into every little thing he did when he would undoubtedly return to his usual behavior once they went back to the capital.

“I was startled when I saw the countess, whom I’d only just met, fall ill, too. I suppose that can happen.”

“You’ve been together throughout the journey, so perhaps you’ve grown attached to each other? A young man and woman—”

“Absolutely not.”

Nothing of the sort had happened. Since arriving at the count’s estate, they hadn’t even brushed a finger against each other.

She could feel his warmth beside her, but that was all.

People in the south placed greater importance on marital affection than those elsewhere, so they had no choice but to stay close to each other.

What had happened in the barracks before was an accident, so it didn’t count.

Ivanna wore an indifferent expression.

“Oh, come on. They say people grow attached simply by spending time together.”

“I’m more comfortable sleeping alone,” Ivanna said firmly.

He probably felt the same way. The slightest movements, the sound of someone breathing beside her…

Anything unfamiliar was bound to be uncomfortable.

Ivanna complained about all the discomfort she had experienced throughout the journey.

“Even so, I’m sure you’ll find it strange to sleep alone once you return to the capital.”

Anthony burst into laughter.

“Anthony, how would you know when you don’t even have a lover?”

“Oh my, does not having a lover mean I can’t know anything about it?”

Anthony grinned mischievously, and Ivanna’s cheeks flushed. His gaze seemed to say that he knew everything.

This is so unfair!

Sometimes she was startled by how unrealistically handsome the duke was, but absolutely nothing had happened between them.