When I opened my eyes again, I couldn't remember anything.
As I blinked to adjust to the intense sunlight filtering through my blurry vision, the familiar surroundings gradually began to become clearer.
The soft scent of sunlight on my bed, and the bookshelf full of picture books.
…My room was in the residence of the Grand Duke.
“Thinking about it, when did you come back?”
While I was trying to recall my foggy memories, I had a severe headache in the back of my head.
“Ooooh…”
Furthermore, my body refused to move, as if it were being weighed down by something heavy. I felt like someone was pressing me.
When my mind finally began to clear, the first thing I saw was an old man with a serious expression. He was the Grand Duke's physician, someone I had met several times in passing.
But why was he in my room?
“Oh, hello…?”
Still unable to understand the situation, I gave a confused greeting.
The old man, who usually wore a gentle smile, replied with a firm expression.
“Miss, you almost died from exhaustion.”
“…Huh?”
At that moment, parts of yesterday's memories began to resurface.
On my way back from Baron Bavron's estate, I tried to teleport but lost consciousness due to severe nausea.
But exhaustion? I just passed out from motion sickness, didn't I?
The doctor noticed my confusion, shook his head and added:
“Your body was already weak due to accumulated fatigue. Using teleportation in such a state puts even greater pressure on you.”
“So...”
"It wasn't just nausea. Your body was about to collapse."
Oh.
This… actually made sense.
"From now on, you should get enough rest. You should maintain a normal sleep schedule, eat regularly, and exercise daily."
"…What?"
practicing?
But I'm the type of person who avoids exercise like it's an epidemic.
The strange thing was that the doctor's gaze was not directed at me, but rather was fixed on someone else.
"…Good."
The response came naturally from that direction.
“Oh.”
Only then did I notice the Grand Duke standing outside my peripheral vision.
“Okay, I'm leaving now.”
“Wait, where are you going?”
Instinctively, I grabbed the doctor's sleeve before he could leave.
"I have nothing more to do. All that's left is for you to rest."
“Are you really going to leave me here?”
With the Grand Duke? Alone? He looks so serious?
Despite my desperate pleas, the doctor passed by the Grand Duke and left the room.
Thus, we were left alone in heavy silence.
The Grand Duke did not speak until after a long moment.
“Have your teleportation sickness symptoms gotten worse recently?”
“How do you do that...?”
I tilted my head, confused by the unexpected question.
“Your maid told me so.”
“Ah, right. Well, yes. Actually, I started to feel it in the Magic Tower, but this time it was especially bad.”
I was still convinced that my collapse had more to do with teleportation nausea than anything else.
But the Grand Duke's response, as if to refute my thoughts, was cold and firm.
“The doctor was right. When you use teleportation in a state of extreme fatigue, it upsets the body’s balance and leads to severe nausea.”
“Hmm…well…?”
“People usually die from it.”
"…What?"
Why did this matter suddenly escalate into a life or death situation?!
I stared at him in amazement.
“I don't think it was that serious…”
Aside from feeling heavy and tired, I didn't feel like I was about to die or anything like that.
But the Grand Duke did not seem convinced.
“Are you one of those people who doesn't notice when they're tired?”
"No no."
On the contrary, I was very sensitive to fatigue.
But… whenever I get immersed in something, the dopamine rush makes me forget everything else.
Wasn't that normal?
I interrupted my thoughts, and glanced at the Grand Duke, who looked genuinely annoyed.
I tried to defend myself, but muttered unintelligible words.
"Well, things have been very busy lately, you know. And if I take a break, someone else will have to make up for it… Plus, there were people waiting for me, so…"
My voice gradually started to lose confidence, turning into an embarrassed laugh.
"Oh, my God."
I glanced at the Grand Duke.
Now that I thought about it, I couldn't quite understand why he was here in the first place.
Of all people, I knew best how busy he was during the day.
‘Wait.’
Was he waiting for me to wake up?
I shook my head, rejecting the ridiculous idea.
There was no way someone as indifferent and exhausted as him could do that.
If he did, it would mean...
“Was he really worried about me?”
I knew this was the case.
But anxiety, at least the kind I was used to, was different from what he was showing now.
Hah. I let out another embarrassed chuckle, then shrugged.
“Okay, I'll take it easy from now on. But I still have to pay for my room and board—”
“Housing and food? Is that really what you're worried about now?”
“Well, shouldn’t personal matters be kept separate from professional matters…?”
“In this position?”
There was an icy sharpness in his voice that silenced me.
“…Huh.”
He let out a deep sigh, as if trying to hold back his frustration. Then he took a step forward, arms crossed.
"for now."
"Yes?"
“You have to stay away from all the work.”
“What? But—”
It was very surprising.
“Others will take on the workload, so don't worry about it.”
“But still...”
Ignoring my protests, he continued.
“Once you recover, you will start walking every day for an hour. I will arrange for you to see a specialist if necessary.”
“Wait, Your Highness?”
I felt repulsed when he mentioned exercise, but he cut me off coldly.
“First, build your endurance.”
“…….”
I had a lot to say in response.
And I knew he wasn't wrong. But still…
When did he go from making me work like a dog to suddenly caring about my health?
As I stood there, moving my lips in silent protest, the Grand Duke turned on his heels without hesitation.
We will discuss the rest later.
Anyone could tell that he was clearly grumpy.
* * *
A week has passed.
During that week, my daily life saw many changes.
Firstly, thanks to the Duke’s so-called “consideration” – or whatever it was – I was able to stay in my room and rest without going out even once.
It's not that I wanted it that way...it just worked out that way.
It all started with Bonita.
“Ah, ma’am, please stay here. I will take care of whatever you need.”
Bonita, who was by my side almost every day, was truly… an exceptionally competent servant.
Not only did she bring me delicious meals and sweets three times a day, but whenever I seemed even a little bored, she would bring a romantic novel from somewhere and give it to me.
anyway!
It was as if she could read my thoughts, anticipating my needs before I expressed them.
But there was one thing she absolutely refused to allow.
“Bonita, please...just once.”
“No, ma'am.”
"Seriously, just once! I won't look at him for long – just a quick glance, I promise."
“You still can't! If you continue like this, I'll have to inform His Highness…!”
That one thing was work.
“Wait, are you telling me I can't even look at the picture books you created?”
I took out my anger at the blatant injustice of it all, but Bonita didn't move.
“No, you can't.”
jingle.
She shook her head firmly, then left me behind her and left the room directly.
"…Yes."
I extended my hand towards the closed door, trying to suppress the growing anxiety boiling inside me.
“I...I'm going crazy thinking about work.”
And so began the terrifying withdrawal symptoms resulting from job deprivation.