I woke up to a soft rustling noise, though my limbs felt sluggish and uncooperative. As the rustling grew louder, I snapped my eyes open, only to be greeted by the sight of the curtains over the large windows being drawn apart. Sunlight blasted into my face, momentarily blinding me.

I strained my eyes to see, and after a few seconds, they gradually adjusted to the light. I made out Finnan by the window, opening the curtains and then turning toward me, a wide grin on his face. As our gazes met, his grin seemed to stretch even wider.

“Good morning, lord,” he greeted, his voice loud and brimming with joy.

“You… look remarkably happy today,” I responded, slowly sitting up while taking in the familiar room around me. Subconsciously, my hand moved to where Isolde should have been sleeping, but the disheveled sheets and vacant pillow indicated her absence.

A soft smile spread across my face as I recalled the fond moments shared with her. Never knew she could be so assertive. I thought to myself before my thoughts were interrupted by Finnan.

“It seems you had a pleasant night, lord,” he remarked, drawing the final curtain, and bathing the room in natural light.

“… How did you know?” I asked, facing him. As far as I was aware, he never made it to my room once Harwyn scooted him away, and shouldn't have any idea about Isolde's presence or our activities… unless she had confided in him. She wouldn’t do that, would she?

In response, he gestured towards his own neck, prompting me to check mine. When I touched the area, a slight stinging sensation made itself known. Finnan produced a mirror, and as I examined my reflection, the reason behind the sensation became clear. Thin scars, bite marks, and other traces adorned my neck and shoulder area.

“That woman…” I chuckled, inspecting myself. She made any and all sexual activities off-limits until marriage, except for kissing. But quickly abandoned half the restrictions and started biting me, passionately pressing herself against me, and indulging in other heated actions. Was it the influence of the wine, or was that her typical behavior? I was none the wiser.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed every moment, especially when she eagerly responded to my advances. Initially hesitant, she eventually relaxed, particularly when I focused my attention on her firm bosoms, sucking them to my hearts’ content. It seemed to calm her considerably. Eventually, just snuggling alone was enough to make her fall asleep.

“Should I make note of the date, lord?” Finnan inquired.

"For what?" I questioned.

"For the potential arrival of a young lord or lady," he grinned, an irritating glint in his eye.

"That would have to wait until marriage," I responded with a sigh. I could do and be anything, but becoming a father… Well, I wasn't ready for it, not yet.

“Will you follow tradition now?” he asked, looking genuinely puzzled.

"Anything wrong with that?" I retorted.

"Not at all... but it's just that Lord Harwyn was proudly carrying his newborn on the day of his marriage. And well, we had hoped you would surpass his record," Finnan replied with a sheepish grin.

"How many people are on this hopeful bandwagon?"

“… The whole city, I'd wager.”

“Seriously?” I was taken aback by the sheer number of people seemingly invested in Arwan's personal life.

“Lord Harwyn put on quite a spectacle in his time… and, you know, people do love a good dose of gossip,” he commented, struggling to suppress another grin.

“What did he do?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

“He broke traditions. Got married without the blessing of the church, as they called his newborn, a product of sin.” Finnan explained. “They even went as far as having the Crown intervene, and try to annul his marriage. But Lord Harwyn somehow got the crown on his side, and forced the church to pay tenfold blessings in various ways. It made news all throughout the continent, boasting his reputation even further. He is a brilliant politician.”

“And people think I would do the same?” I gauged their intentions.

“They think you would top it off.” he spoke through giggling.

“Well…” I ran a hand down my face, not really interested in going against the big guys. “Traditions are there for a reason, Finnan. And I am not breaking one for stupid gossips.”

“But still…”

“Enough with this.” I raised a hand to stop him from further nonsensical chatter. “Go prepare the bath or something.”

“It's already prepared, lord,” he said, leaning closer and extending a hand. “Allow me to assist you.”

“Bathing right after waking up, eh?” I scoffed, but took his hand nonetheless.

“It’s already nine, lord,” Finnan informed me, gently pulling me to my feet as I struggled against my own weakened state.

“… I slept for that long,” I realized, my eyes searching the room for a clock, only to come up empty. “Why isn’t there a clock here?”

“Because you had it removed,” he stated matter-of-factly. “You found the ticking noise bothersome.”

“Not anymore. Put it back,” I ordered.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“As you wish, lord.”

With that, Finnan assisted me to the bathroom. Once the routine of relieving myself and bathing was complete, we returned to the room where he aided me in changing clothes. His unwavering commitment to his duties was admirable, yet I couldn't shake off the feeling of helplessness that settled over me as I watched him work.

“For how long, I will stay like this…” I whispered to myself, letting out a deep sigh.

“Not for long, lord,” he assured with a comforting smile. “Take the potion Ambrose provided, and you'll recover in due time.”

“The potion?” I recalled its existence, though I couldn't remember having consumed it as per the healer’s instructions.

“Didn’t you take it last night?” Finnan narrowed his eyes inquisitively.

“Nope.” I shook my head in denial. Amidst Isolde’s relentless advances, I had barely managed to eat, let alone remember any medicine.

Before Finnan could respond, a knock on the door sounded, and as I gave permission, Lilly entered carrying a tray laden with snacks.

“You should take the potion after the tea then,” Finnan suggested, and Lilly immediately began arranging the plates.

I nodded in agreement and took a seat at the table. The maid nudged the plate towards me and stood back, her presence unobtrusive. The plate held a spread of freshly baked bread, a generous slice of pastry, two boiled eggs, and a substantial glass of milk.

The quantity of food initially seemed daunting, yet as I dug in, I found the plate emptying surprisingly quickly. Even in medieval times, people knew how to enjoy a hearty breakfast. The flavors were satisfying, and the taste was commendable.

“It’s good.” I offered a thumbs-up after taking a sip of milk and wiping my lips.

“I'll pass on your compliments to the kitchen staff, lord,” Lilly responded with a slight bow, now moving to collect the plates and head back.

Meanwhile, Finnan retrieved the potion from atop the cabinet beside the bed. “Here you go, lord,” he handed me the bottle filled with blue liquid.

“So, how should I drink this?” I inquired of Finnan.

“You open the cork and drink it,” he offered the obvious solution.

“I know that, you idiot.” I snapped. “I meant, how much should I take?”

“Oh…” he realized. “Didn’t you ask the healer?”

“You were there.” I reminded him. “Did you hear me ask?”

“No, lord.”

“Then why are you asking?” I groaned in annoyance. “Find Ambrose. He will know the proper dose.”

“… He just left, lord,” Lilly interjected, having finished clearing the table.

“When?”

“I do not know,” she replied apologetically. “But I heard he will return in fifteen days to check up on you.”

“Fantastic!” I leaned back, tipping the chair slightly, but it balanced back into its original position. “Now I have no one to tell me the dose.” I sighed, looking between the two of them. “Any educated guesses?”

“… He said two times a day,” Finnan recalled, examining the bottle in my hand. “How about taking one sip in the morning and another in the evening?” He suggested, a mischievous smile gracing his features. “… That should suffice, lord.”

“Do you have any knowledge of medicine?” I rubbed my forehead, growing weary of his frivolous suggestions. An inadequate dose wouldn't be effective, and an excessive one might be harmful. A precise balance was required for the potion to work optimally, yet he was carelessly making assumptions. Not that it was entirely his fault; I did ask him to guess in the first place.

“Not really,” he admitted, his smug expression intact. “I just happen to rarely fall ill.”

“Fuck you!” I exclaimed in exasperation.

“Yes, but what about Lady Isolde?” he countered immediately.

“What… What about her?” I was confused by this seemingly random mention.

“I meant, if you ‘make love’ to me…”

“You son of a…” I surged to my feet; this time fully prepared to knock some sense into him.

“Forgive me, lord!” Finnan cried, jumping backward, his hands raised defensively. “Forgive me, lord. It was an unintended jest.” He pleaded; his expression now more fearful than smug.

“Do that again, and you will see what I can do.” I warned sharply, sinking back into the chair, and exhaling deeply.

“It won’t happen, lord,” he lowered his head, voice trembling. “I swear.”

Observing his reaction, my eyebrows involuntarily shot up. For a man who had easily dispatched two assailants earlier, his fear seemed disproportionately intense. He was clearly shaken, and I surmised that it must be the authority and influence that came with Arwan's status as a Count's son, rather than any personal strength. I mean, he was scared shitless for a man who could barely walk.

“It better not,” I said, leaning back and idly twirling the potion bottle in my hands. “Lilly!” I called, finally arriving at a decision regarding the dosage. “Bring me a small spoon, quick.”

“Lord,” she bowed and exited with the tray. She returned a few minutes later, and during the entire interval, Finnan remained as silent as a statue. Not a single breath could be heard from him in the absolute stillness.

Lilly presented me with a gleaming silver spoon attached with a wooden handle, and I carefully filled it with the vibrant blue liquid. Whatever happens, happens! With a deep inhale, I steeled myself for whatever effects the potion might bring and placed the spoon into my mouth, ingesting the tasteless substance.

I paused for a moment, waiting to perceive any effects or detect an aftertaste. When neither of those sensations manifested, I experienced a sense of relief, though a trace of skepticism about the potion lingered. To verify its potency, I gave the bottle a vigorous shake. Then, swallowed another spoonful of the potion, and this time, it had a sweet taste and a coldness spread through my chest as the liquid made its way down.

“I knew it,” I said out loud, a hint of enthusiasm in my voice as I believed I had successfully determined the correct dosage. Whether it was accurate or not, only Ambrose would truly know.

“Lord!” Lilly's voice cut through my moment of discovery. “Some people are waiting for you outside.”

I exchanged a glance with Finnan, who nodded slightly before proceeding to ascertain the visitors' identities.

After a brief exchange at the door, he returned, accompanied by two men donned in matching black and white attire, presumably their uniform. Both were tall, displaying handsome yet similar features and sharing brown hair, although their eye colors differed—one had a deep brown hue, while the other possessed lighter eyes.

The two men inclined their heads in a formal bow, their expressions notably serious. I motioned for them to take a seat, while Lilly discreetly exited the room with the spoon. Once she was gone, they initiated the conversation.

“I am Erwin, lord,” the man with light brown eyes introduced himself. He then gestured towards his companion with deeper brown eyes. “This is Irwin.” The latter nodded in acknowledgement.

“Very well,” I approved. Harwyn had indeed followed through with his promise by sending his own men to look into the matter.

“We have been dispatched here by Lord Harwyn to fulfill his orders and investigate the incident that occurred three days ago.” Erwin mentioned.

“So, what findings have you gathered?” I leaned forward, resting my hands on the table, letting them observe the ramification of the said incident.

The two men exchanged a quick glance before responding in unison, “The Duran brothers.” They paused briefly. “We have reasons to believe they are deeply involved in every step leading up to the attack on you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And what of the Marquess?”