Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 155: Steady Heartbeat

Chapter 155: Steady Heartbeat

Aideen pressed the back of her hand against Tillian’s burning forehead once more, chills running down her spine as the heat of her husband’s skin seared her own. The fever showed no signs of abating, and he remained unconscious, lying completely still as if ready to succumb to the dark embrace of death.

When the Raven Knights set out to search for the Duke, they found him to the west of the forest, on the path leading to another, larger village within his fiefdom. It was evident that he was engaged in a fierce battle with a massive wolf beast that threatened to attack the villages, but he had managed to halt its advance.

Beneath the wolf’s body, the knights discovered Tillian, his large black sword protruding from the beast’s broad back. Though the monster had been defeated, it had inflicted several deep wounds on the Duke’s chest and stomach. The long, wide gashes left by its claws were stained with his opponent’s crimson blood.

Duke Valentine clearly struggled to lift the wolf’s body off himself, but he was too weak to succeed and eventually fainted, utterly exhausted.

’And now he’s lying in front of me like this... Neither dead nor alive. It truly was a miracle that the knights managed to find him before he froze to death.’

Aideen placed her fist against her chest; the feeling of her heart contracting was almost unbearable. She could practically feel the same amount of pain her husband must have felt when he was wounded; simply looking at the deep markings on his body was tearing her apart from the inside.

The chapel’s doctor had arrived at the village in time and was able to stop the bleeding and disinfect the wounds. However, with the fever this high, he said it would be another miracle if Tillian lived through the night. Without the urgent help of a mage, his chances were as good as none.

Although Sir Noah, the fastest of the knights in the Raven Knights Order, was already on his way to fetch Ahspid from Duke Valentine’s castle, the princess still could not help but feel dangerously restless. The sight of her husband suffering so needlessly like this was more than simply overwhelming, and she could not help but feel completely responsible for it.

’If only I had let him go with me to the forest instead... None of this would have happened to him. If only I were not such a coward, if only I had not allowed my foolish assumptions to consume my resolve... All of this is my fault. No matter what I do, I seem to only cause suffering.’

All sorts of negative thoughts continued to drown her already feverish mind, making both her body and soul ache even more.

But one particular thought refused to release her frantic mind, pushing its sharp claws into the nerves of her very soul––what was the point of making such quick progress with different, now seemingly useless magic spells, if she still didn’t know the most important type of magic––the one that could heal.

’I am so helpless... I can’t do anything new without Ahspid’s instructions. What if I make a mistake and end up causing Tillian even more harm? I can’t stand myself right now. I’m filled with hatred for this very being that is myself.’

Agonizing over her own hopeless situation, Aideen continued to do the only thing she knew she could not do wrong––as instructed by the doctor, she stayed by her husband’s side, constantly wiping his body with a soft towel drenched in cold water, as it was the only method known to help lower the man’s body temperature.

As the princess’s hot tears continued to fall from her eyes like pearls, suddenly, another, more useful thought managed to break through the desperate whirlwind of negative thoughts, prompting her to allow herself a moment to consider it.

’I can’t assume anymore; I can’t remain a helpless coward. What if I can still try something... I should try really hard and use my abilities to help; Enough is enough; Even if Ahspid is not here, I have to give myself a chance. After all, I am not an idiot; if I am really such a talented student like Ahspid keeps telling me, it must mean something, right? I have to be daring and brave for my husband.’

Thus, taking the wet towel, Aideen secured it between her palms and tried to focus her powers once again. She thought that if her mana could be cold, perhaps she could make that cold work in her favor. Perhaps, even if chances were low and she was just being delusional, her cold snow magic could help relieve Tillian from his fever.

’It is truly a silly thought, but if there is even the slightest chance I can be right...’

The princess recalled the times when she trusted her gut and could both read King Yuraon’s curse as well as eventually lift it, and it seemed that her powers were limited only when they lacked the trust of others.

’Put your trust in yourself one more time, Aideen. It is only real if you believe in it.’

With such a powerful thought in mind, she wrapped her hands around the wet towel and started channeling her mana into it, the cool sensation of her magic spreading around like a mysterious, ghostly presence.

Once she felt that it was enough, Aideen began to gently wipe Tillian’s skin, continuously pouring her mana as she slowly moved over his body.

She did not notice any changes at first; the Duke’s fever seemed to remain just the same, but the princess did not allow herself to feel even slightly discouraged. Moving her hands tirelessly over her husband’s body, at last, she began to notice that his skin was getting colder, and eventually, after what seemed like long hours, Tillian’s fever went noticeably down.

’I did it... Goodness, his skin is no longer burning, and his breathing seemed to have returned to normal too.’

Feeling incredibly happy and relieved, Aideen set aside the towel and leaned forward, pressing the side of her head to the man’s chest; the sound of his steady heartbeat was now akin to the loveliest melody she had ever heard.

And thus, with a wide smile on her pink lips, she released a long sigh of relief and closed her eyes, while the Duke’s heartbeat lulled her to sleep.