I Became the illegitimate son of a duke

22 – Surprise

“What? Dead?”

“Yes, a messenger has just arrived with the news that the Count of Nevers has died.”

As soon as Chloe left the room to deliver a message to Ines, the messenger rushed over and brought shocking news.

…Huh.

Just die like this? A nobleman who was so active?

In the past, I wished he died sooner, but he fought during the war, so I heard about it.

“The cause of death?”

“There must have been someone in the Carolingian army who applied poison to their swords. The attending physician asked them to refrain from taking a bath even if they had cuts, but the Count of Nevers ignored it and took a bath, so the poison spread through his body more quickly and he died. Do.”

“Hmm…”

It’s not even a deep wound, it’s just a living thing like this.

After all, the battlefield is dangerous, but you did well to listen to Chloe and her generals.

“But why did the messenger come so late?”

“The Duke recognized the death of the Count of Nevers a day after he departed, and after a great uproar, the son of the Count of Nevers, who succeeded him, was slightly inexperienced in handling the work, so it was delayed.”

Well, you can. It’s going to be crazy, so I can easily forget one or two revisions.

…I was disappointed that I didn’t come to the coronation ceremony.

I wish I could be happy in the other world, even though I said it a little dirty. Ah, since you can be reborn like me, in the next life too.

“First of all, after the clean-up is over, ask me to come and swear an oath of allegiance. The succession to the county is next.”

“Yes.”

…………

“It doesn’t matter if we meet in the room… You mean?”

After giving orders on how to deal with Nevers’ affairs, a moment later Laurel’s servant who came with Chloe greets me politely and gives me a message from Ines.

“Yes, the lady asked the duke to tell [They will be married soon, so you can come to my room.]”

What are you talking about?

It’s true that we’re going to be married soon… But we haven’t even had a wedding yet.

Umm… I was considerate and asked to meet her in the drawing room, but it seemed like it didn’t matter at all over there. Ines has changed a lot.

Well, it’s a situation where the engagement doesn’t usually happen, so there’s a point in what they say. But-

“…”

Behind Laurel’s attendant, Chloe is seen with her head down, her face darkened.

ㅡWhy did you send the attendant separately?

Can you convey Ines’ message through Chloe, whom I sent?

Ummm… Did I not trust Chloe, or did the attendant make me something to do since she was playing?

…Think of the latter.

Chloe has always been diligent in her work, and Ines would have no reason to doubt my servant whom she saw for the first time today.

“Hmm… But that’s no good. Tell Ines that I’ll be waiting for you in the drawing room.”

“Okay.”

I wonder if the attendant on the other side knew that I would come out like this, so I obediently lowered my head and affirmed.

It doesn’t matter too much if you go, but in order to prevent a scandal, you have to consider all the possibilities, so you shouldn’t go to Ines’s room if you can.

“Chloe, can you prepare the drawing room?”

“…Yes!”

Chloe responds vigorously to my request.

I don’t know why, but I’m glad you feel better.

…………

Click

“What a nice place to stay, Duke.”

“…Really? That’s nice. If there’s anything uncomfortable, tell me right away.”

“Whoops, yes.”

…He’s 18, right?

Is this a product of aristocratic early education?

Entering a room, sitting on a chair, sitting posture, putting down a cup after drinking tea, laughing, speaking, etc. All actions are the image of an aristocrat that I thought of itself.

I have received all sorts of etiquette training from my previous life until now, so I am well aware of how frustrating and difficult that attitude is.

I never thought I would do it very naturally beyond what an 18-year-old like that would endure. How old were you when you were taught etiquette?

“…Ines.”

“Yes.”

Ines slightly bowed her head and looked at me with a small smile.

Originally, I was only going to ask if it was comfortable to live with, but I took this opportunity to tell Ines that she won’t have children until she turns 20.

…But it’s too hard to say.

Given Ines’ personality and level of education, if I told her that she wouldn’t be there until she was 20, she would nod her head in the affirmative.

Without even asking why.

No anger, no sadness, no dejection, all emotions. Because that’s noble.

“…20 Years old, wait until you are 20 years old.”

“Yes?”

But I have to say. If you must say it someday, it would be better if you said it at least before the wedding.

“We’ll have a wedding. But until we’re 20… We can’t have the same bedroom.”

“…Yes?”

I’m sure this is the reaction. It is natural for most people, including my mother, to have a child when they are 17 or 18 years old, but to wait 2 years longer than that.

Ines’ face was instantly covered with a deep shadow. Her eyes and mouth are desperately holding a smile, but her pupils are endlessly deepening.

…I’m sorry, Ines.

Some might say it’s mugwort, but… I can’t help it. In Korea, how can I be a high school student…?

“Does that mean… Literally or figuratively?”

“…Metaphorical.”

Of course, it is a figurative meaning. Chloe is next to me and there are other attendants, but I can’t just talk about things like that.

… Huh? Why is the color on your face

“Then [Literally] It doesn’t matter if you share the same bedroom, right?”

“Uh…?”

What?

That’s not the sound… Is that right? What?

“You’re a married couple, right? You share the same bedroom.”

“So…”

“I won’t ask why, let me stay with you…”

“…”

I can’t refuse… I can’t. They’re not married yet, but there’s no way I can point that out here.

With eyes full of tears like that, I won’t ask why, so how could I refuse a request to just stay with me?

Okay, if you don’t touch it, it’ll be fine, right?

“That’s enough—”

Chang-Geurang-!!

“ㅡ Ugh?!”

At that time, there was a loud sound from the side and a loud sound of a lump of metal falling to the floor.

“What– Chloe!?”

I turn my head to where the sound came from and I see Chloe, who has collapsed on the floor and is shaking.

Judging from the tools Chloe was holding lying around, the loud noise just now must have been the sound of them falling.

“Lord, Master… Sir…”

“Chloe, Chloe!! Wake up, Chloe!!”

Your face is too pale.

Your breathing is very unstable, and you have symptoms of hyperventilation because it is so fast.

Even his limbs are shaking, and his muscles are repeatedly expanding and contracting as if he had a cramp.

“Chloe… Oops…”

Even pupils have good taste.

He’s been looking at me all the time, and even when I stick my face in, his pupils stay the same size.

“Call someone right now!!”

“Yes!!”

I screamed and then the attendants who were waiting in the room went out to call a doctor.

First of all, until the doctor comes, all I can do is… First aid for hyperventilation.

“Kuh… Chloe. Hold on a little longer. The doctor will come soon. Just breathe here.”

“Haaah…”

For hyperventilating patients, putting a plastic bag on their face and letting them breathe can alleviate their symptoms.

But there are no plastic bags here… Yes, I’ll make a bag out of clothes.

“Haaa…”

“Okay…”

It works well enough.

Hold on a little longer. Chloe.

…………

“…What?”

“You need to drain your blood. This is an imbalance of body fluids caused by excessive stress—”

The meeting with Ines ended abruptly because Chloe collapsed.

I joined forces with the doctors who rushed to the drawing room to move Chloe to the room, but doctors say nonsense.

Drain the blood? What does that sound like?

“Pick it up and get out, I’ll take care of it myself.”

“But…”

“Get out.”

“…Yes.”

I’m glad I’ve never been seriously ill since coming to this world. You could have been in big trouble.

They usually know the cause of any symptoms or dead bodies. Considering that he found out that the transmission route of genie disease was coughing and that Count Nevers died of poisoning, his ability is excellent in that regard.

But… The problem is that all the screws are missing as there is only one cure to get rid of the cause. In the absence of serious trauma, most treatments result in bloodletting.

Poisoned? Bleeding to remove the poison in the blood.

Are you sick? Bleeding is caused by an imbalance of bodily fluids.

…Things like this don’t have to resemble Earth’s Middle Ages.

“Haa… Haaa…”

“Chloe, are you awake?”

“Yes, yes yes…”

I’m glad. My symptoms have improved a lot.

There’s no one else in the room, it’s quiet, and it’s dark outside, so I think my stress has been relieved.

A typical cause of hyperventilation is excessive stress, so I was wondering… If it’s just too much stress, it’s not a fatal disease.

“Chloe.”

“Yes…”

“…I’m sorry.

“No…Yes…”

No, what is it?

No matter how you look at it, the reason why stress builds up is because you work too much.

Ever since she was little, Chloe… Has always been doing something. I mean, I never took a break.

They took away my work, or did it secretly if I stopped them.

“…Do you want to rest?”

“Yeah…? What’s that…”

“So… I don’t have to work all the time from now on.”

“Wow…”

“Chloe…?”

After my words, Chloe’s eyes widen.

Chloe looked at me for a moment with her eyes wide open, then spoke slowly in a weary voice.

“Let me… Work…”

“But Chloe, you’ve done too much…”

“No… That’s not…”

“Huh?”

Chloe must be tired, so she can’t say the next thing.

At the same time as he opens his mouth slightly and breathes, he makes small gestures to come closer to me.

…It seems like it’s hard to talk aloud.

“What the hell—”

ㅡ side

“—-!?”

I went closer to Chloe to hear the small voice, but suddenly his eyes went dark and at the same time his lips moistened and slightly warmed.

It didn’t take long until I realized that the cause was in Chloe.

My eyes are reflected in Chloe’s teary eyes.

“What?!”

“Puhaa…”

I hurriedly pulled my body back, but the long saliva between my lips tells me that what happened just now was not a dream or an illusion.

Chloe let out a satisfying breath and blushed.

“Chloe, what the hell is this…”

“The cause…Is this…”

It should have been like this a long time ago.

Chloe takes a deep breath and smiles broadly as she says this.

Of all Chloe’s smiles I’ve ever seen, this is the happiest and happiest smile.