The Forgotten Field Novel - Chapter 102
Chapter 102
He spoke in a tone as calm as if he were going for a night walk.
Talia raised her eyebrows.
—A light punitive battle?
Varkas looked at her with narrowed eyes while handing a leather bag full of gold to the man who appeared to be the village administrator.
He felt as if he had noticed her agitation, and a faint sigh leaked from his firmly closed lips.
—There have been reports that some bandits have camped in this area. Since their number is not large, we will be able to return by the time dawn breaks.
“Must you go too?”.
Talia was about to say that, but noticing the glances directed toward her, she closed her mouth tightly.
Anxiety was boiling in her gut, but she did not want to show her uneasiness before that man who was so cold.
She removed his hand from her shoulder and said sternly:
—What do I care when you return? I want to rest, so guide me to the lodging.
The administrator was heard catching his breath with an “ah” as he watched the reaction of both.
However, Varkas showed no emotion.
He cast a frigid glance at the petrified administrator.
—Where is the lodging?
—Ah… this way, please.
The man turned around hurriedly.
Varkas followed him while wrapping his arm around Talia’s waist.
Talia made no effort to push him away, as she did not wish to provoke an unnecessary argument.
Shortly after, a small stone building appeared.
The administrator entered and continued explaining with a stammer:
—This building was used as the administrative headquarters, but when we learned that your Excellency would visit us, we vacated and cleaned it days ago. This is the room you will use.
He cautiously opened a large door at the far end of the hallway.
Talia looked with apathetic eyes at the dark bedroom.
Unlike the simple exterior appearance, the interior was decorated quite comfortably, and it seemed to have been specially prepared to receive guests.
The administrator added prudently, observing their reactions:
—If there is any inconvenience, please let us know immediately and we will make the necessary corrections.
—It is enough, you may withdraw.
Talia nodded arrogantly while examining the bed covered with thick sheets.
The administrator looked at Varkas for a moment and, when the latter nodded slightly with his head, he left relieved.
Talia took off her loose cloak and threw it carelessly on the shelf, then lay down on the bed.
Varkas approached the bed in silence while watching her.
She deliberately ignored his presence and turned to the other side, as she felt that seeing his face would urge her to say something sharp to him.
She pulled the blanket with hesitation and said abruptly:
—Today I am only going to sleep, so tell the nanny that I do not need dinner.
—Talia.
She felt a dense shadow looming over her head, so she looked up suddenly.
Varkas was looking at her while leaning with one hand on the pillow.
The rays of the setting sun filtering through the window tinted one side of his face red.
While she contemplated his enigmatic face, cold fingers rested on her forehead.
—Even if you are tired, do not skip meals.
—What do you care if I am hungry or not?
She moved her head abruptly to push his hand away.
—Go quickly to kill the bandits.
A light crease appeared between his brows.
It seemed that he did not understand the reason for her annoyance.
Talia covered herself with the blanket up to her head.
She felt his movement as he got up from the bed.
With the sound of his footsteps moving away, anxiety suddenly invaded her.
He was a man capable of easily defeating a warrior twice his size.
She once saw him bring down a wyvern using only a chain.
A group of bandits would be nothing to him.
However, there is nothing absolute in this world.
She sat up suddenly and grabbed the edge of his cloak.
He stopped and looked at her.
She murmured in a low voice:
—Take care… very much.
His eyes widened a bit.
She felt a pang in her heart upon seeing him react like that to such a simple word.
She added with a harsh tone, as if trying to cover it up:
—If something happens to you, my position will be in danger. So be careful enough.
An ambiguous expression appeared on his face, which looked like a mixture of a smile and a frown at the same time, and then disappeared.
Talia looked at him holding her breath, and then hid under the blanket again.
She then heard his heavy footsteps.
—Do not worry, I will return soon.
Varkas leaned over the bed again, caressing her hair with caution.
In an instant, she felt her heart shudder.
For some reason, his soft touch made her heart feel more pain than his ardent kisses.
Shortly after, he left the room.
Talia poked her head out carefully, like a tortoise emerging from its shell.
She approached the window and saw hundreds of soldiers waiting firmly.
Varkas joined them straight away.
She watched him for a long time as he led the army toward the outskirts of the village.
It did not take long before he disappeared behind the hill.
Despite this, she could not move away from the window until she heard a familiar voice from the other side of the door:
—My Lady, I have come to apply the medicine.
—… Come in.
As soon as she gave permission, a healer from the Taryn family entered.
Talia sat with difficulty in a chair in front of the fireplace.
The woman knelt before her, raised the hem of her dress with care and asked:
—How do you find yourself?
—As always, nothing new.
The healer removed the bandages with dexterity and examined the damaged skin with cautious eyes.
—The skin has finally begun to ulcerate. It is better to leave the bandages off tonight.
Talia looked at her with a penetrating stare.
—And who has decided that? Wrap it well.
—But the Grand Duke will not be present tonight, so there is no need to hide the scars…
—Who said I am doing this for Varkas?
Talia raised her voice with an angry tone.
The healer’s face froze.
Talia looked at her tense face, then turned around and said in a low voice:
—I am doing it because I do not want to see them. So wrap them well.
The healer exhaled a brief sigh and, as if she had no other choice, took out a new bandage.
She spread the viscous ointment with care over the scars and then placed the bandages as loosely as possible.
—Do you feel better with the medicine that the oriental healer prepared? —the woman asked suddenly while wiping the ointment from her hands with a cloth.
Talia replied with indifference, resting her elbow on the armrest of the chair:
—It does not seem to be useless. The medicine is very strong, so it causes stomach pain, but after taking it, I feel that my physical condition improves the next day.
—Do you know what herbs it contains?
—I only heard that it is a mixture of several herbs that boost energy.
Talia looked at the healer with suddenly suspicious eyes.
—Why do you ask that? Are you perhaps afraid that they have put poison in it for me?
—… The Empress has ordered me to closely watch my Lady’s condition —the healer said with caution—. And as you know, there are many here who do not view your presence with good eyes. It does not hurt to be cautious.
Talia looked at her with a cold frown.
—If they were going to put poison in it for me, they would have put it in the food or in the cup. Who would risk putting it in a medicine where it would be easily discovered?
The woman kept silent with an expression deep in thought.
“Is there something that disturbs her?”.
Talia frowned and then added, as one granting a favor:
—If you have so many doubts, I will leave you a little medicine for you to examine.
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