Chapter 108: Strange Weather

“Your Highness!”

This time, Count Willem raised his voice in surprise. He hadn’t expected the Crown Princess to react this way. Doris bit her lip and clenched her teeth beside him.

“I summoned the Finance Minister, not your daughter.”

“But she is a girl who can be helpful in many ways.”

“Is Lady Willem the only one who knows about the social scene?”

“…….”

Rosetta was firm.

Doris had to return to her residence as she was. Seeing the Crown Princess not even glance at his departing daughter, Willem felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

‘She’s not ordinary. If the Crown Prince is someone whose thoughts are hard to discern, the Crown Princess is someone whose actions are unpredictable.’

“Find something that can overturn the Graham family.”

“Yes. Who should be the executor?”

“Can’t you do it yourself?”

Count Willem was relieved that he hadn’t attached Doris to her, realizing it was a blessing in disguise. His daughter could be placed near the Crown Prince in another way.

‘She’s ignorant. Even if she’s not ordinary, ignorance isn’t frightening.’

Willem hid his true feelings and gave the prepared response.

“That wouldn’t look good, and all the credit would go to me. To solidify your position in the palace, you’ll need a faction.”

As much as the Crown Prince’s favor, what was needed in the palace was the backing of a faction.

“Do you have someone to recommend?”

Intrigued, Rosetta asked again.

“How about the Count of Cornwell? As your family, he will assist you well.”

“Oh, yes. I should use my brother.”

＊

As if my illness was a lie, I recovered overnight.

“Refreshing!”

I tried to stretch and lift my arms, but they felt heavy, so I looked down. Xavier was holding my right hand tightly, sleeping sprawled on the bed. He was sitting in a chair.

“…….”

A soft sound came from his slightly parted red lips. His bangs were wet with cold sweat, and on the bedside table, melted ice packs were piled in a basket.

‘Did he stay up all night?’

The pale side of his face resting on his crossed arms showed how much he had struggled last night.

“Xavier, sleep on the bed.”

“Umm.”

When I tried to shake my hand free, he tightened his grip.

What was more surprising was the macaron box on his lap. Cold air was seeping through the box’s gaps.

‘Using expensive magic stones for refrigerating the macarons…’

I was about to wake Xavier but decided to let him sleep. He must have been busy all night, running errands for the macarons and nursing me.

‘But he needs to let go of my hand.’

I was foolish to think I could overpower a Swordmaster. The more I struggled to pull my hand away, the tighter Xavier’s grip became.

I quietly searched with my eyes for the cat doll Daniel had given me. Xavier must have placed it there; it was on the vanity with the manual.

After some thought, I leaned close to his ear and whispered.

“Xavier, let go of my hand.”

“Mm… hand.”

Miraculously, Xavier loosened his grip.

I chuckled softly and quickly got off the bed, tiptoeing to the vanity.

“Daniel told me to open the bag.”

Inside the leather bag carried by the 40-centimeter cat were blood collection tools. Although a bit small, they matched what I had drawn. There were also oral storage devices and patch-type storage devices.

“Did he make all this? Amazing!”

I covered my mouth and glanced at Xavier. I almost woke him. I found a note in the bag, likely from Daniel.

[We just need the Saintess’s blood to complete it. Please visit the lab whenever you feel better. Although it’s autumn, it’s quite chilly, so make sure to wear a coat.]

“As expected, he doesn’t stutter in writing.”

My lips curled up. Looking out the window towards the annex, Daniel’s lab was brightly lit.

After covering Xavier with a blanket, I hugged the cat doll and left the room.

It was early morning, so the Duke’s residence was quiet. And it was hot.

“Why is it so hot on an autumn morning?”

Fearing I might catch a cold again like yesterday, I followed Daniel’s advice and wrapped myself in a shawl, but the humidity clung to the air uncharacteristically for autumn. Between the annex and the main building, the morning sun felt as hot as midday.

“Strange. It was so cold yesterday… Today it’s hot.”

I draped the shawl over my arm and entered the annex. The lab door was open. Crossing the threshold, I called for Daniel.

“Doctor!”

“Oh, Duchess. Have you already recovered?”

“After a good sleep, I feel much better.”

“That’s a relief.”

A smile bloomed on Daniel’s face. He was wearing a white coat over a khaki shirt. His glasses had white thread roughly wrapped around the frame, as if they’d broken again.

“Doctor, I saw the contents of the cat doll’s bag. It’s really impressive!”

“I knew how to make the storage device… It took a long time to find the materials to make the container and blood collection tools. I’m sorry it’s late.”

He bowed deeply at 90 degrees, and I waved my hand, holding the doll.

“No, I’m the one who suddenly asked you to create new tools. It’s amazing you completed it in just a few weeks.”

“Thank you. I used the white sap of the southern Zapa tree.”

“White sap, as in a rubber tree?”

“Yes, it’s also called a rubber tree. When I mixed sulfur with the Zapa tree sap, it transformed into a material that’s easy to stretch and reshape.”

Amazing. He had created something almost identical to my design with just a sketch and a brief explanation.

“You’re truly a genius, Doctor.”

An ability to be admired. Perhaps my life as a transmigrator is finally turning around?

“Thank you, Duchess.”

Daniel’s cheeks turned pink under his glasses, revealing his even teeth.

He’s quite charming. This man will make many women cry.

Not as much as Xavier, but Daniel was also a very handsome man.

“Shall we draw some blood now? The sofa is…”

I circled the table piled high with books and research materials and sat on the sofa. Apologizing, Daniel hastily cleared the books from the sofa table.

“I didn’t expect you so soon, or I would have tidied up.”

“It’s fine. That’s how labs are.”

“I’m embarrassed.”

“Oh.”

“Please relax.”

Daniel, whose neck was flushed red, fetched the blood collection tools. He wandered around the lab before returning to me.

“I only managed to make one blood collection tool due to time constraints.”

Seeing him look at the cat doll, I handed it to him.

‘His face might burst.’

With a face that couldn’t get any redder, he took out the blood collection tool from the cat bag, palpated my arm a few times with his fingers, and quickly found a vein. Then he inserted a sterilized needle into the crook of my arm.

“Ugh.”

When I flinched a little, Daniel asked.

“Does it hurt?”

“No. It just stung a bit. But you’re good at this. Did you study medicine?”

Blood began to flow through the long, thin tube into the bag.

“As a magic engineer, I have to be good at everything. I often conduct experiments. But it’s been a while, so I’m a bit nervous.”

Despite saying he was nervous, he wasn’t stuttering, which made me look at him curiously.

“You’re not stuttering.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

His light green eyes widened and then softened.

“It gets worse when I’m in front of the opposite s*x or nervous. It seems to lessen when I’m focused on something I enjoy, when I’m angry, or when I’m in a good mood.”

“So, what state are you in now?”

“I’m in a very good mood.”

Scratching the back of his head, Daniel smiled shyly. His innocent smile softened my heart.

Having a younger brother like this would be nice.

Should I propose becoming sworn siblings?

“Doctor, if you don’t mind me asking, how old are you this year?”

“I turned 25 after my birthday.”

“…….”

He’s an older brother, not a younger one.

Despite being worn out from research, his skin glowed like water. His slender body triggered a protective instinct! That mix of awkwardness and intelligence!

‘Did he eat some preservatives? He looks younger than me!’

“Why do you ask, Duchess?”

“Do you take preservatives?”

The unfiltered thought slipped out of my mouth.

“Pardon?”

“Haha, no. I misspoke.”

I almost said he looked young but swallowed the words. It seemed improper for a Duchess to say that to someone older.

He doesn’t know my age, so let’s move on.

Despite my odd response, Daniel kindly smiled and spoke.

“Then, Duchess, please stay like that for 30 minutes. Open and close your fist. But it’s too hot. I’ll open the window.”

Saying that, Daniel walked briskly to the garden-side window. His back as he struggled to open the window was endearing.

“You’re right. I felt it was chilly yesterday. Maybe it was because I was sick.”

“Hmm, that’s not it. I also felt it was cold for autumn yesterday.”

A hot breeze blew in through the wide-open window. Still, it was better than closing it. I felt the sweat on my forehead cooling.

Returning to the sofa, Daniel took off his white coat and draped it over the sofa, muttering.

“What’s with this weather? Winter is only a few months away.”

“Right. The weather is really strange.”

“Yes. It feels like summer in autumn.”

Huh?

‘Isn’t the weather really strange? It’s autumn, but it feels like winter, and then it feels like summer.’

That phrase sounds familiar. I’ve heard it somewhere before.