In the Nest of the Fallen Serpent - Chapter 34
Chapter 34
“Stop.” Greta interrupted. “There’s no need to worry about things that haven’t happened yet.”
Seeing the head maid’s face harden slightly, Hilde thought she’d made a mistake. “I’m… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Greta’s expression softened a bit, but her tone remained stern. “Focus on attending to His Grace. Thinking of yourself as a slave won’t help you at all.”
Despite the coldness in her voice, Hilde blinked. The words she’d just heard sounded almost as if Greta was saying she wasn’t a slave.
‘Don’t delude yourself, Hilde. If you don’t learn your lesson after being punished like that…’
As Hilde wrestled with her thoughts, Greta changed the subject. “How’s your wound, by the way?”
Hilde flinched, startled. She hadn’t told anyone about the wound on her shoulder.
‘Did the Master say something? Or perhaps Sir Moritz Lemon knew and told her…’
She’d lost consciousness as soon as the arrow was pulled, so she had no memory of what happened afterward.
“Your hand.”
“Oh.”
Hilde belatedly realized Greta was referring to the cuts and scrapes on her hand.
“It’s almost healed, thanks to the medicine you sent.”
“That’s good.”
Greta nodded as Hilde held out her hand.
“I told them to bring you medicine every three days, so don’t forget to apply it regularly.”
“Yes, Head Maid. Thank you for your concern.”
The condition of her hand was noticeably improving. It would probably be fine in a few days, even without the medicine. Besides, she’d been given a generous amount, far more than needed for just her hand.
‘But why isn’t my shoulder healing?’
She’d heard it was especially good for bleeding wounds. Since there was so much, Hilde had been secretly unwrapping the cloth around her shoulder in her room and applying the medicine.
But strangely, it hadn’t gotten any better. The depth of the wound, the pain, the degree of healing… it was all much the same as when she’d first arrived at the castle.
‘What if it doesn’t heal?’
As she worried, Greta’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“Then, let’s go.”
“Yes?”
“You need to know what the Grand Duke’s castle looks like.”
Hilde followed Greta and toured the mansion. The dining hall, numerous bedrooms, the ballroom, the drawing-room, the corridors, and even the library. The moment they opened the door to the antique-filled library, the distinct smell of old books wafted out.
“His Highness has a vast collection of old books.”
Hilde gaped at the bookshelves that reached the high ceiling, packed with books.
“He has books not only published in the Empire but also from neighboring countries.”
“Does he have any books from Crozeta?” Hilde blurted out, then quickly corrected herself. “I mean… books from the fallen kingdom.”
“Do you want to see them?”
“No.” Hilde quickly waved her hands. “I can’t read.”
“But you might learn someday.”
“Yes?”
“You never know what might happen.” Greta uttered these cryptic words and opened the door again. “I think we’ve seen all of the mansion, so let’s go outside.”
“Is that allowed?”
“It’s alright to walk around the castle grounds. But if you can, avoid the training grounds. That’s the soldiers’ space.” Hilde readily nodded.
It was her first time venturing outside the mansion since arriving, and she felt a flutter of excitement.
“The weather is lovely today.” The sky was blue, the spring sun warm, and the breeze gentle. Hilde walked a few steps behind Greta.
“The Grand Duke’s castle sits on a vast estate. It would probably take you half a day to walk around it at your pace.”
They toured the stables, barns, storehouses, farm, and other outbuildings. “The next place to see is the back garden, but…” Greta trailed off, uncharacteristically hesitant, then continued, “Don’t expect much of a garden. The flowering trees are mostly damaged, so there won’t be any blossoms.”
“Why…”
“It’s been neglected for a long time because there’s no one to tend to it.” Hilde thought the head maid’s face looked somehow melancholic as she answered. Just as she had the presumptuous thought of offering comfort, a desperate cry rang out.
“Help me!”
Hilde’s head snapped around reflexively.
