## THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL) - Chapter 134
He looked her up and down.
—What is the matter?
—It is a matter related to Her Highness the Duchess. I felt that Your Highness should be aware of it…
The woman, who continued speaking with a stiff face, suddenly turned pale and fell silent. Only then did he realize that he was displaying a threatening attitude.
Varkas frowned slightly.
It had already been proven that the erroneous prescription this woman had given to his wife was an absolute mistake. Had it not been confirmed by the testimony of many servants and medical assistants that she used medications cautiously with her, who constantly rejected treatment?
This woman had already received the appropriate punishment for her mistake; therefore, there was no longer any reason to direct hostility toward her.
Varkas composed himself and asked in an indifferent voice:
—What is it that I should know?
—It seems that Her Highness the Duchess…
The woman moved her lips uneasily and looked around nervously. She seemed worried about the glances of those around her.
Varkas gestured with his chin toward the small reception room located near the kitchen.
—Follow me.
Varkas entered the room, which was a bit dark, set the tray carrying the food down on the shelf, and turned around. The woman, who was standing by the door looking around the reception room, finally opened her mouth again.
—This is what I heard from the maids… It seems Her Highness the Duchess has not 'received the visitor of the moon' for some time. And based on recent symptoms… it seems she might be pregnant with a child.
For a moment, he could not comprehend what the woman was saying. The healer began to speak quickly to Varkas, who had frozen in astonishment.
—But her personal healer has not said a single word about it. I know very well that it is none of my business… but there are many things one must be careful with during the early stages of pregnancy, which is why I thought Your Highness should know as soon as possible. There are many skilled midwives in Kalmor, so it would be best to summon them to perform an urgent medical examination…
—Wait.
Varkas hastily interrupted her words, raising a hand to his head, which was beginning to spin. A rough voice came out of his tight throat.
—In other words, my wife is pregnant?
—Considering Her Highness's recent state, it is highly likely…
Varkas moistened his dry lips. He remembered his wife's face, which had been unusually exhausted and tired for the past few days. He also remembered her sudden request for food.
At that instant, the rush of blood in his body accelerated and his eardrums grew deaf. He frowned as he looked at his slightly trembling hands. He could not understand why his body was reacting this way. Had he not embraced her knowing that this could happen?
When a bull in heat and a cow are put together in the same stable, a calf is born after a few months. That is the law of nature. Was it not strange that he had not realized it sooner?
—Thank you for informing me. I will call a midwife immediately to confirm it.
Varkas replied mechanically and headed toward the door on the spot. He was about to leave the room, but remembered the promise he had made her and turned around to grab the tray.
Then it occurred to him that it might not be enough. It seemed he should take more things from the kitchen that she could eat. While he was thinking dazedly and turning around, the healer stopped him in a hurry.
—I want to say one more word to Your Highness.
Varkas looked at her with an annoyed face, making no attempt to hide his vexation. After appearing self-conscious for a moment, the woman contemplated him with steadfast eyes.
—Grant me another opportunity to serve Her Highness the Duchess.
Varkas's expression turned dumbfounded. Even now, he wanted to hang this woman upside down when he remembered his wife losing consciousness while spitting blood. He was only held back by knowing that such a punishment would be excessive for a servant who had served the Duke's family her entire life.
If not for the implicit protection of his subordinates, who suggested he take advantage of her skill and have her perform simple tasks at the clinic instead of dismissing her, he would have banished her long ago.
He spoke coldly, like a wild dog baring its fangs:
—Do you think that will compensate for your mistake?
—I do not think so at all. I do not even dare to dream of returning as Her Highness the Duchess's personal healer. —The woman bowed hastily, her face pale.— All I desire is for you to allow me to be an assistant healer. If I am permitted to work as an assistant to the healer in charge of Her Highness the Duchess, I will serve her with all my strength, and what happened before will never happen again.
—I refuse. I have no intention of entrusting my wife to someone who committed such a grave mistake…
Varkas suddenly fell silent as he continued to speak harshly. At any rate, this woman was known as the most skilled pharmacist in the East. Had she not cured the poison of a monster within a few days, something which even the high priests had been unable to heal?
If a problem arose that magicians or priests could not handle, this woman could be useful. More importantly, he was reluctant to leave her entirely in the hands of the sorceress healer of the Tarn family. If he placed someone from the Duke's family by her side, they would not be able to play any tricks.
Varkas finished his thoughts quickly and, clicking his tongue, said:
—Very well. I will allow you to return as an assistant healer.
A flash of relief appeared on the woman's face. He stared at her silently and added:
—But if my wife rejects you, you will go back to routine work at the clinic again.
—I will remember that.
The woman lowered her head with a somber face. She seemed to recall Talia's sharp attitude toward her. But breaking down her caution was not something he was going to intervene in. If she was not astute enough, she could dedicate herself to simple tasks at the clinic as she had been doing until now.
He turned around abruptly.
At any rate, he intended to hire additional healers to take care of Talia. Keeping the high priest residing in Radgo Castle might be a good idea. Although it went a bit against the rules, the high priest would not refuse if offered to build an additional church. If he kept the clerics in the castle under the pretext of providing them a place of residence during the construction works, he could utilize holy magic in cases of emergency.
Varkas let out a long breath of air that he had been holding in upon reaching his bedroom, after his mind had been working intensely. His heart, which had never been disrupted even after working an entire day without stopping, was beating fast. Every time it came to her, his body always spiraled out of control.
In the past, he hated that feeling to an unbearable point. When he was with her, he always felt as if he were fighting against himself. He wanted to tear from his memory those dangerous eyes that made him feel what he did not want to feel and desire what he did not want to desire.
When had he drifted away from that thought?
—I… knew it. I knew you would come to save me…
He hastily pushed away the memory that suddenly flashed. He felt that if he remembered that moment, something inside him would suffer very grave and irreparable damage. He discarded all the conflicting thoughts filling his mind and pulled the door handle.
Upon entering the room, a dense perfume flooded his lungs. He inhaled her scent, which had permeated deeply into his bedroom for some time now, and crossed the space where a warm light flowed. As he approached the bed, he saw her curled up and asleep.
He set the tray down on the shelf and sat on the edge of the bed. He placed the back of his hand on her flushed cheek and felt a lukewarm warmth. Was this also a natural reaction that occurred to the body of a pregnant woman?
As he observed her skin with concern, her long eyelashes, which were cast down, lifted.
—…Have you come just now?
Her blue eyes, from which sleep had not yet dissipated, filled him with clarity. She rubbed her eyes with her fist and yawned a little.
—Did you bring what I asked for?
—Only the drink…
His voice came out so low that it sounded strange even to his own ears. Fortunately, she did not notice anything unusual.
Talia pressed her body against his and asked him as if it were the most natural thing:
—Then, feed me quickly.
Then she raised her head and opened her rose-red lips a little.
Varkas froze looking at her, took the cup, and filled her mouth with the refreshing liquid. While he carefully gave her a drink, holding her soft cheeks with both hands, his body warmed up like a burning ember.
He embraced her and lay back on the bed. Then he barely regained his lucidity upon recalling the healer's words about the need to be careful during the early stages of pregnancy.
—…Why are you not doing it today?
As he narrowed his embrace around her body, which was relaxed due to the mild fever, she directed a worried look at him. He caressed her flushed cheek and murmured:
—You have a fever. I will not do anything until you get better.
—I am fine…
He closed his troubled eyes for a moment and then opened them.
—You are not fine.
He sighed and caressed her slender waist, which did not exceed the size of a fist.
His child might be inside there. While contemplating this reality that he did not assimilate at all, he looked at her serene face, falling asleep again without realizing it.
When Talia did not frown, she looked like a little child. He felt a weight like lead in his chest due to her so very childish appearance.