Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 49

The next day, Gella left Miesa in the care of Margravine Cladnier and made her way naturally to the commander’s office within the knight’s headquarters.

“Cullen, step outside for a moment,” Eirik instructed.

As Cullen left the room, Gella felt even more nervous. The fact that even Cullen, who was always by the commander’s side, wasn’t told about Miesa’s situation made Gella realize just how dangerous a misplaced word could be.

“So, have you figured out what kind of poison it is?” Eirik asked.

“No, I still can’t determine it. None of my initial guesses seem to be correct,” Gella replied, explaining her findings one by one. The whites of Miesa’s eyes were not yellow, so it couldn’t be Cyrea tree leaves. Various reagents applied to her hair showed no reaction, and her hands and feet still had full sensation.

“At least, there don’t seem to be any severe poisoning symptoms at the moment. She can eat anything she wants for now,” Gella concluded.

“I see,” Eirik sighed, feeling more uneasy despite the reassurances.

“Then go back and attend to her. I might be late today,” he instructed.

“Yes, sir,” Gella replied formally, turning to leave. Suddenly, something occurred to her.

“By the way, young master. Are you aware that the clothing storage room in the living room isn’t soundproof?” she asked hesitantly.

“The walls between the reception room and the living room are intentionally thin. Why do you ask?”

Fearful of reprimand, Gella cautiously explained how she and Miesa had inadvertently overheard a conversation while in the clothing storage room.

“I see. I have instructed that Miesa should not be restricted in her movements.”

It seemed the two people unfamiliar with the mansion’s layout had wandered into many places.

“Nonetheless, it would be best to seal that area off completely,” Eirik said, refraining from scolding Gella.

Relieved, Gella bowed and took her leave.

Margravine Cladnier and the maids were taking good care of Miesa as always. Gella, after returning from what seemed like a long trip to the bathroom, naturally found a corner to observe Miesa.

Miesa was crouched by the table, poking at the table leg with her fingertips, as if she wanted to leave nail marks. Watching her press down harder, Gella was at a loss for words. Just yesterday, she had seen her having a coherent conversation with Eirik, looking as if she had stepped out of a painting. Now, seeing her like this, Gella could only stare in disbelief.

Margravine Cladnier noticed Gella staring at Miesa with a puzzled expression.

“Why are you looking at Miesa like that? Is something wrong?” Margravine Cladnier asked.

“No, nothing’s wrong,” Gella quickly replied.

Then why do you have that look on your face?”

“I just thought the young madam might be tired,” Gella explained.

“Tired? She’s just taking a short break after having a lot of fun.”

As Gella rubbed her sweaty palms, Miesa crawled over to her and held out her arms.

“Oh, would you like me to carry you?” Gella asked.

Miesa promptly climbed onto Gella’s back and whispered so softly it was almost inaudible, “Go.”

Though barely audible, Gella turned around and politely bowed to Margravine Cladnier. “She must really be sleepy.”

“Well, you know her better than I do. Go ahead and take her upstairs.”

Miesa yawned right on cue, and Margravine Cladnier gestured for them to head upstairs.

“A bit of regret is creeping in.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Miesa narrowed her eyes and stared at Gella, much like her husband would. As Gella sweated profusely under her clear gaze, Miesa suddenly stood up and headed to the bathroom.

“Young madam, would you like to take a bath?” Gella stammered, scrambling to prepare the bath and adjust the water temperature.

“I prefer it warm.”

“Oh? Yes, yes. I didn’t realize. I thought it might be too hot since it’s summer…”

As Miesa undressed and slipped into the tub, Gella sat on a nearby stool, her eyes widening with realization.

“Wait a minute. I just noticed, your walking… Is it alright?”

“‘My head is ringing, so speak softly.'”

Gella lowered her voice, thinking how the young madam’s tone resembled that of the Margravine.

“I’ve been curious. You limp, but when I bathe you, I never see any injuries that would cause it.”

“No, there is one. Here.” Miesa stood in the tub and pointed to a scar on the back of her thigh.

Gella shook her head. “An injury there wouldn’t cause a limp like yours. You walk like someone whose muscle was completely severed.”

Miesa’s face hardened. Could it be?

“Do you think others noticed?”

“Was there a doctor who tended to you at the palace?”

“No.”

Not a doctor in sight. Despite the situation being laughable, Miesa’s face tightened even more with anxiety.

“Did that limp start when you got injured there? It’s been a long time, but try to remember. Those who attended to you then—”

“Everyone who bathed me back then is dead.”

“Oh… I see. Well, I guess that’s fortunate for us.”

Gella’s laugh melted the tension.

“Even if they saw you later, they wouldn’t know. Some injuries don’t leave external marks. Unless they’ve treated many wounded like me, they wouldn’t recognize it. Did the young master notice?”

Miesa closed her eyes, recalling her memories, and then answered, “No, he knew my legs were fine in the greenhouse, before he saw my body in the bathtub.”

“I see…”

As Gella nodded, her face suddenly turned red.

“Young madam, I… I’m sorry. I spoke without knowing.”

“What do you mean?”

“I said bad things about the young master. I didn’t understand at all…”

Realizing what Gella was referring to, Miesa chuckled.

“Oh, you mean ‘Is he even human? How could he touch someone who doesn’t know anything?’“

“Good heavens…”

“‘All men, whether they’re lowly like my father or noble like the young master, are the same. It’s like their conscience is all tied to their lower half.’“

Miesa mimicked Gella’s words with the exact tone and inflection, leaving Gella speechless with her mouth agape, ready to apologize.

“Please forget that. But how do you remember all that so clearly?”

“I’ve always had a good memory since I was young,” Miesa said as she played with the bubbles.

“Maybe it’s because I had nothing else to do lying on the floor, just repeating what others said, over and over,” she mused, trying to push away unwanted memories from her mind.

“‘After surviving death so many times,’ maybe my brain got messed up. I don’t know, I just remember everything.”

“Ah… Truly impressive,” Gella said, almost absentmindedly.

Hearing the compliment, Miesa clammed up. She had learned that people, when praised, tend to say unnecessary things, and it was best not to speak too much to avoid looking foolish.

She shifted the conversation. “So, did you figure out what kind of poison it was?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Hmm…”

Miesa thought for a moment and then asked something that had been on her mind. “By the way, what does ‘difficult to produce an heir’ mean?”

“Pardon? Oh, that…”

Sweating profusely and clearly uncomfortable, Gella hesitated. But Miesa muttered, “If it’s hard to explain, never mind. I’ll just ask Eirik.”

“No, no, it’s better I tell you,” Gella said, not wanting Miesa’s husband to explain such things. Clearing her throat, she tried to regain her professional composure as a doctor,

“I’m afraid it means that it might be difficult for you to become pregnant.”

“I still don’t get it.”

“Ah, uh… excuse me, young madam, but at what age…,” Gella trailed off, trying to figure out how to explain. “I mean, at what age level should I explain this to you?”

“I’m twenty now.”

“I see… Pardon me, but…”

Gella finally managed to find out that she needed to explain at an eight-year-old’s comprehension level.

“That means, in your current condition, it might be hard for you to have a baby.”

“I can have a baby?” Miesa’s eyes widened in surprise.

Internally, Gella cursed the young master for not explaining this.

“When a couple shares the same bedroom, well, it’s difficult to explain, but… Oh, forget it! I’ll just tell you everything.”

Gella explained in detail and vividly what she knew. As Miessa listened intently, the missing pieces in her mind finally fell into place.

“Ah, I see, I know all about that. So that’s why that happened. Now I understand.”

Miessa, having had another moment of realization, nodded her head and muttered to herself, “A baby…”