## THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL) - Chapter 128
—Isn't it fantastic? My brother brought it especially to cheer me up.
Talia stopped her steps and directed her gaze toward the source of the voice.
She encountered the scene of Lina peering from behind the railing while wearing the silver fur over her shoulders. She showed off in front of the maids, spinning around while exclaiming:
—If I make warm clothes with this fur, I'll be able to run freely on the back of my saika even in the middle of winter, right?
—Of course! It is said that the drakar is a beast that builds its nest even inside glaciers. It will block any cold wave with ease.
—Since the Duke has sent such a luxurious gift, it is evident that he appreciates the young lady in a very special way.
Lina flashed a wide smile at the flattering words of the maids.
—Do you really think so?
—If it weren't so, he would have never given her such a valuable treasure.
Vitality returned to the face of the young woman, who had been plunged into sadness since the funeral.
Talia contemplated the scene from the foot of the stairs and then turned around in silence. She had come to believe that he had risked his life for her.
How shameless had she become in just a few months? She was on the verge of going through an extremely embarrassing situation.
Talia returned to her bedroom with heavy steps. However, the bitter sensation, similar to having swallowed ashes, subsided by the time sunset arrived. She had made countless promises to herself that she would not expect anything from him. It was absurd to feel disappointed over a matter like that.
Even if the gift to Lina had been an addition, she could not deny the fact that he had also sent a valuable gift to her.
"At least I should thank him, it's a matter of basic courtesy."
Otherwise, it would seem unnatural. Acting like a spoiled child would betray her disappointment, and disappointment would mean that, after all, she had been expecting something from him.
When Talia finally made a decision, she dropped the book she had on her knees and got up from the bed. Upon arriving at his room, the guard guarding the door hurried to announce her arrival. He seemed to want to get ahead of the Duke's wife, who usually burst into the chamber by swinging the door wide open abruptly.
However, Talia grabbed the doorknob before receiving permission to enter, just as usual. Upon entering, the scene of the room illuminated by a bright light flooded her eyes. The man always waited for her with the lights off. Had he thought she wouldn't come today?
She frowned as she scanned the place with her gaze and spotted two elongated silhouettes in front of the fireplace. Talia turned her head quickly and stifled a cry. There was a young woman touching the torso of Varkas, who was sitting half-dressed.
Talia raised her voice unconsciously:
—What are you doing right now?
The woman rose from her seat with a bewildered face.
—Your... Your Highness the Duchess...
Only then did Talia recognize her identity. She was the healer of the ducal family, the very same person she herself had made spit blood in the past. The woman bowed and said by way of justification:
—I was treating the Duke's wounds.
Talia narrowed her eyes, staring fixedly at her, and then turned her head toward Varkas.
—Have you forgotten what a terrible healer she is? Why do you allow a woman like that to...?!
Suddenly, her words cut off. She saw two deep longitudinal incisions extending diagonally from his shoulder to his chest. Her heart skipped a beat for a moment upon seeing that the wound was much more serious than she expected.
Talia rushed toward him with haste.
—What... what happened? You said it was nothing!
—It only looks that way, but it is not a serious injury. The bones are not broken, and the main muscles and nerves did not suffer severe damage —Varkas said with detachment.
Talia looked at him with incredulity. The wound looked terrible at first glance, with the skin red and inflamed, and swollen purple-toned blood vessels around it. The pain must have been immense. Unable to hit him, she unleashed her indignation with words:
—How can you say that?! If this isn't serious, then what is, you piece of an idiot?!
The healer covered her mouth in shock. However, Varkas remained serene and made a slight nod to the healer.
—You may leave.
—Bu... but the bandage still...
—I can do it myself.
The woman hesitated for a moment, then bowed and left the room in a hurry.
Talia extended her hand toward him, paying no attention to the woman.
—Give me the bandage. You won't be able to place it well with just one hand.
—I'm fine.
—What do you mean you're fine! Give it to me without talking back.
The man handed her the bandage after looking at her intently for a few moments. Talia took it as if snatching it away, dragged a chair, and sat in front of him.
Up close, the wound looked even more gruesome. There were secretions leaking around the cuts gleaming from the ointment, and heat could be felt emanating from the skin, which was more congested than usual. She bit her lower lip hard and wrapped the linen around his chest with utmost care.
Thanks to her habit of examining the bandage on his leg every day and retying the knot herself, she was able to bandage his torso without any difficulty.
—Are you really okay? There won't be complications later on...
—I will be able to heal myself with magic as soon as the poison disappears. Don't worry.
—Who said I'm worried about you? If something happens to you, things will get complicated for me...
—I know. I meant for you to rest easy, you won't be left a widow.
Talia fell silent, with the expression of someone whose words had been taken away before his calm response. Varkas leaned against the back of the chair, lost in thought; then, he gently took her by the wrist and asked:
—Why did you come today?
In that instant, her heart contracted as if it had suffered a surprise attack. Did it mean her visit was not welcome? She quickly observed his face. The candlelight flickered over his handsome and expressionless features.
He tilted his head to one side and added:
—You said you wouldn't spend the night with me for a while. Have you changed your mind?
She pulled her hand away by reflex.
—I haven't changed my mind! Do you think I'm so desperate as to sleep with someone in that state?
—Then, why did you come?
He leaned forward, bringing his body closer to hers.
Talia averted her gaze nervously, then barely remembered the excuse she had prepared in advance and stammered:
—I came to tell you... thank you for the gift you sent.
The man contemplated her in silence for a long time, as if measuring the sincerity of her words, until he finally opened his mouth.
—Did you like it?
—Who would look down on a gift like that?
For some reason, it was difficult for her to hold his gaze directly. Talia lowered her eyes timidly.
—But don't go hunting again. No matter how much you regret what happened to your sister, the ruler of the East should not risk his life or expose himself to suffering injuries...
—What kind of man would do all this for his sister?
Talia, who wouldn't stop chattering in a tone of reproach, cut herself off and looked at him again. Varkas was already caressing her hair. He twirled the strands between his fingers like a cat playing with a ball of yarn, and then proceeded slowly:
—You always used to catch a cold even in the middle of summer. The winter in this place is much more harsh than that of the central region. You had to have something like this to get through it safely.
—...That was when I was little —Talia swallowed hard and countered—. It's a winter that everyone goes through, why do you exaggerate that way?
—This is no exaggeration.
His pale blue eyes scanned her body from head to toe. Talia adjusted the shawl around her shoulders involuntarily. He must know that her body had become terribly thin after the incident, and even so, she felt a sudden embarrassment. She changed the subject in a hurry:
—Anyway, don't you dare hunt monsters ever again. Order your men to do it in your place. Do you still think you're a rookie knight? You're the Duke now. What use are soldiers if you don't use them?
—Doing it myself was more efficient. And most importantly, I cannot expose the soldiers to danger for a gift for my wife.
Her ears burned at his words upon hearing him refer to her as "my wife" without any hesitation. She pretended to be angry, hoping that the glow of the sunset would hide the color of her cheeks.
—What you can't ask the soldiers to do, don't do it yourself either, idiot!
—...Didn't you come to thank me? —he pointed out, arching an eyebrow.
Talia scoffed at him:
—I also came to scold you. Your body no longer belongs only to you. I won't forgive you if you act recklessly again without my permission.