347: Placed in an unreasonable position

Placed in an unreasonable position

Nicolas, the head physician of the infirmary, took a step closer to Adela and executed a deep bow.0

"Welcome back, Your Excellency. I wanted to personally assure you that the condition of Their Highnesses, um, the Duke and the Duchess—I mean, our patients—is stable."

She offered a warm smile to the talented man, who had come a long way from the boy she had rescued in that collapsed hut to a promising young doctor, yet he still got flustered over the simplest things.

"Both titles are acceptable when it comes to Duke and Duchess von Conradie—one honorary and the other factual. I appreciate your efforts in my absence, Nicolas. You have made me proud. Now, please lead the way."

"Make way for Her Excellency, the Archduchess of Lanark!" Viscount Mathew announced as Adela entered.

"…There are ill people in here, Viscount. We could proceed without an announcement," she objected.

"Allow us this formality, Your Excellency. It's for your own security, as insisted upon by His Majesty and Prince Noctavian."

Adela suppressed a sigh as she entered the infirmary within the von Conradies' estate. She had played a significant role in its construction several years ago. At the time, the concept of such a facility was unique, but now it had become as commonplace as any other infirmary throughout Emoria.

Although noble families still had to cover their medical expenses, treatment for commoners who couldn't afford it was provided free of charge due to one of the reforms implemented in the kingdom's constitution.

Adela took particular pride in that one.

Access to the abundant mana stone deposits hidden beneath the royal palace in Destan had transformed Lanark's and the entire kingdom's finances. But this wealth wasn't limitless, and the Archduchess had other plans for the mines themselves once she managed to locate them.

Uncovering the hidden mines was one of her life's missions, something she believed she would eventually accomplish with her son's help.

"We've arrived, Your Excellency," Nicolas announced, gesturing toward one of the many doors in the corridor.

"Dela?... Bring her here, Leo."

Upon hearing Sasha's feeble voice emanate from inside the room, Adela gestured to the knight on guard duty to open the door. As it swung open, an injured Leopold von Conradie, his head bandaged, stood in the doorway. He appeared to be about to leave, most likely to fetch Adela as per his wife's request.

Over the years, his hair had acquired numerous gray strands, and the wrinkles on his handsome face had multiplied. Despite their avoidance of each other for all those years, he gazed at her with a warm expression she hadn't anticipated.

"Your Excellency, years have not touched you at all."

Adela didn't welcome Leopold's nostalgic tone; seeing him was like pouring salt on an unhealed wound. She wished they had never come face to face again, just as they had managed to avoid each other for so long.

"...Welcome to Emoria, Duke Leopold," she replied monotonously, an empty expression on her face. "What has happened is indeed very unfortunate. If I had been informed of your arrival, I would have personally been here to receive you."

He frowned, "I told the Duchess to inform you of our return, but she—"

"Ugh," Sasha groaned in pain and exasperation, "How long will the two of you talk behind my back as if I am not even here?"

Adela had been caught up on the word 'return' until she heard her dear friend's voice. "Sasha," she said, her eyes watering as she rushed to the bed in an instant and took Sasha's large hands in her gloved ones. The gloves prevented her from channeling any healing magic but allowed her to sense Sasha's condition. She was immensely relieved to sense that, although Sasha had bruises all over, she was not in any immediate danger.

"...I'm sorry I wasn't here when it happened. I could have healed you right away when the injury occurred."

Sasha shook her head weakly. "Don't blame yourself. I'm grateful you weren't at that harbor... But where is Ian?"

Adela's eyes shifted to a blaming gaze as they moved from Sasha to Leopold who was looking away awkwardly.

It was the one lie between Sasha and Adela; the former Princess of Kolhis, like the rest of the world, believed that Adela had given birth to the Crown Prince a year after his actual birth.

"His Highness has a very busy schedule, as you know," Sasha replied.

"If you'll excuse me for a moment," Leopold said, seeming ready to leave.

"One moment, Duke," Adela said, releasing Sasha's hands and standing up. Her face took on an emotional tone. "I was informed that Sir Arkin is back... Is he here?"

She was eager to confirm the news with her own eyes before informing the Queen of Emoria, the Baroness, and Baron Gustav. They all had a right to know about the prodigal son's return.

Leopold's face relaxed at the mention of his son. "Yes, indeed. He saved Sasha's life," he gazed at his wife with a mix of love and concern in his hazel eyes. "Thank God he came back."

"You should have seen him outside, Dela, didn't you?" Sasha added.

Adela's heart raced, coursing pain through her veins at the thought that Arkin might have slipped away once more and left.

"Your face is always so readable," Sasha laughed, though it was mixed with a wince of pain. "Relax, he might have gone to take care of something, but he's not going anywhere. In fact, he seemed to be regretting not keeping track of what had happened on this continent. Right, Leo?"

Leopold nodded and smiled at his wife.

"...He was on another continent?" Adela murmured to herself.

"Dela, Leo and I have talked extensively about it. I want to be close to you, and now that Arkin is back here, it's about time we settle down in Lanark again. How do you feel about that?"

It was an unfair question.

"Consider Emoria and Lanark your home, Sasha," Adela replied without hesitation, emphasizing Sasha's name on purpose and noticing the veil of sadness that covered Sasha's eyes as she anxiously glanced at her husband.

What did she expect?

Adela might tolerate Leopold von Conradie's presence, especially if they continued to avoid each other as they had been doing, but the thought of the other von Conradies following him to Lanark was intolerable. So horrible that, against all reason, she chose not to confront it until it actually happened.

"Viscount," she called.

"Yes, Your Excellency."

"Find Sir Arkin von Conradie, inform him that the Archduchess of Lanark summons her personal knight and that he is to report to me at once."

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