# 71
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“Ah, Your Highness?”
I saw Ian bend over, blocking the tea that was supposed to spill on my dress. His bare arm and hand were wet with hot tea.
The tea seemed hotter than I expected, as I could feel its heat, even though it was not touching me directly.
I was so surprised that I touched his hand in confusion, while Ian turned his head to me.
“Are you injured?”
“No…”
Idiot, is this really a good time to ask me about that? Your hand is literally evaporating now!
The situation happened suddenly. Seeing him like this made my heart beat uncontrollably.
“No, look at yourf first. Your hand-”
When I finally regained consciousness and reached out to examine his, Ian was quicker. He quickly pulled himf away from me.
"I'm fine."
“I'm hurt!”
My outburst made Ian's eyes widen in surprise.
It wasn't just him; Rather, the audience on the first floor, who had just entered, and the nobles sitting in the nearby seats were staring in this direction, clearly puzzled.
But I couldn't worry about that now.
I clutched my forehead in frustration when I saw Ian's hand, which was now an angry bright red.
“How can you just say you're fine when you're clearly injured?”
What are you!?..a robot that does not feel pain?
Whether it was anxiety, rebuke, or frustration, I couldn't tell, but Ian, surprisingly, looked confused.
“…I’m sorry ma’am, but your voice is too loud.”
He had the nerve to speak properly despite his now bright red hand.
Instead of answering, I shook my head and glared at the terrified servant.
"What are you doing just standing there? His Highness is injured and you haven't brought ice water yet!"
The servant seemed to have come out of a trance, stammering regretfully before rushing off the balcony.
“Ah…”
What's going on in the world?
I held my throbbing head and pointed my finger at Ian.
“Let me see.”
“I said, ‘Let me see.’”
Ian frowned at my almost threatening tone.
“What are you waiting for? Give me your hand.”
“There's no need to check on her. I'm fine.”
“No, I need to check.”
With some combination of what seemed like thought, he continued to hide his hand, so I grabbed his sleeve and pulled him towards me to check if he had hit hard.
As expected, his hand was redder than it looked from a distance.
My face wrinkled.
“Why did you stop him with your bare hand? This will definitely leave a scar...”
I sighed at the state of his injury seeming to be more serious than I initially thought, ignoring my gratitude at that moment.
Ian looked at me as if he didn't quite understand.
“And just look at it spilling?”
"Do you have any idea how thick this dress is? I'm wearing an underskirt and several layers underneath. I wouldn't get too hurt!"
Just as I was about to launch into another round of scolding, the manager and the servant returned, and suddenly pulled the curtain.
“Are you okay, Your Highness?”
They must have rushed, as their faces were pale.
The server was carrying a bucket full of ice water and towels.
“Put the bucket here.”
I glanced at them quickly and pointed with my chin. The servant hurriedly put the bucket down.
Without a word, I dipped Ian's hand into the ice water.
"…my lady?"
“Wait, you have to keep it in the water for at least ten minutes. Cold water would be best, but...”
Okay, that's enough.
While I was plunging his hand, the manager and the servant were sweating nervously, not knowing what to do.
“We, we apologize. This employee is new and has not been properly trained yet… I will make sure he is educated. What are you waiting for? Bow your head!”
"I-I'm sorry...! Please, forgive me just this once..."
Just before, I was so shocked and angry that I couldn't think straight, but now, seeing the manager and the servant, whose faces were as white as the sheets, I felt bad that I had screamed.
“…I won’t make it a big deal, but make sure to be more careful next time.”
"Thank you! Thank you!"
“We have already called the doctor, he will be here soon...”
The manager was about to cry, but I shook my head.
“No need. We will return to the duchy. Prepare the carriage.”
He turned to Ian.
“Let's go home now.”
❖ ❖ ❖
In the end, we left the theater and returned to the Duke's residence before the show started.
It was not surprising that the butler and servants were upset to see us returning less than two hours after leaving, supposedly for an appointment.
Ian was taken upstairs to his room by the butler for treatment, and I headed to my room to change into more comfortable underwear.
“Ma’am, are you okay?” I asked Vivi, who was pacing around the room nervously, watching me carefully.
I raised my head from where I was sitting on the bed, confused, and rested my chin in my hand.
"Huh? Yes."
"You don't look well. Are you upset that the date was ruined?"
Now that I looked at her, Vivi's face was even more dissatisfied than mine.
“No, it's not really like that...”
I started to answer but I closed my mouth.
'But seriously, why did you interfere and withhold tea for me?'
Since when did he become so polite?
Of course, Ian might have reacted instinctively, but after seeing his hand turn bright red, I couldn't stop worrying about it.
While I was hugging the pillow tightly and furrowing my eyebrows, I suddenly jumped to my feet. Vivi, who was hovering near the bed, trembled in surprise.
"my lady?"
“This won't work.
I felt so guilty that I couldn't sit still.
No matter how many problems I had with Ian, I couldn't relax when someone got hurt because of me. My conscience was hurting me.
“I will go and check on His Highness.”
After telling Vivi, she quietly walked out of the room.
I wandered down the hallway with no clear plan, but then I saw a servant carrying a tray in the distance.
“You are there.”
"my lady?"
The servant was startled by my call, and quickly bowed his head.
On the tray I saw medicine and bandages.
“Is this for His Highness?”
“Yes, that's true, but...”
I nodded and extended my hand towards him.
“Give it to me.”
"Sorry?"
“I'll take it to him. Hand it to me.”
This wasn't because I was embarrassed to visit Ian. Absolutely not.
The server looked back and forth between me and the tray, clearly confused.
After a moment, he seemed to understand and quickly handed it to me.
“Come in!”
“Well, where is Your Highness now?”
“He's in his bedroom...”
The servant stopped talking and looked at me nervously. I shuddered.
'He's always locked in his office, but now of all times, he's in his bedroom.'
After a moment of hesitation, I cleared my throat and nodded.
“Understood, you can go now.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
The servant hurried off, and I stared determinedly at the corridor opposite where Ian's room was.
“I'll just take a quick look at his condition, that's all.”
Although I had been living in the Duke's house for over two months, I had never set foot in the hallway leading to Ian's bedroom.
Even though it was just another hallway, my unfamiliarity with it made me feel embarrassed, and my steps slowed down.
Finally, I reached the door. After a brief moment of hesitation, she knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
It was not Ian's voice, but the voice of the Duke's doctor.
I quietly opened the door and looked inside, only to find several pairs of eyes looking at me simultaneously.
“…Her Highness, the Duchess?”
The person who was surprised by the sight was me.
“Why are there so many people?”
I expected the room to contain just Ian and the doctor, at most.
But besides the doctor, there was his assistant and three servants taking care of him.
Ian was sitting there with his arm outstretched, looking confused.
“…Why are you here, ma’am?”
“Well, I…”
I came because I felt guilty, you idiot.
My awkward answer caused the doctor and servants to exchange curious glances.
After a moment, the doctor seemed to understand the situation.
He began to collect the medicines and medical tools scattered around him and stood up.
“The treatment has finished. All you have to do is apply the ointment and wrap it with a bandage. I will ask the servants to ensure that Your Highness keeps his hand dry for the time being.”
And with that he glanced at me.
“Okay, I'll leave the rest to you, Your Highness.”
…I?
“Please, take your time to talk.”
The doctor and attendants bowed, then began preparing to leave the room.
Sweat started to drip down the back of my hand holding the tray.
'Wait! Don't leave! This will be so embarrassing!'