With their pockets lined from the night’s consultations, the doctors scurried out of the deserted warehouse. The moment their figures vanished into the distance, Matthias gently scooped Odelliana back into his arms.
“I was thinking a short rest might be nice,” she murmured.
“The floor is filthy,” he replied. “Please, rest here.”
“But you’ll tire yourself out,” she protested.
“I’m not tired,” he retorted.
Matthias wouldn’t dream of letting her touch the grimy floor, not even under duress. The way he meticulously avoided letting her body contact the ground during the examination made it abundantly clear that his protectiveness wouldn’t wane now. Besides, his embrace offered such a haven of comfort that she saw no point in resisting.
“Why the heart medication, though?” she questioned.
“Perhaps they clung to the mistaken diagnosis of a heart ailment,” he offered.
The presence of psychiatric drugs wasn’t entirely surprising. Waking up in this body with a “lunatic” label already firmly attached, she’d suspected the real Lady Odelliana might have battled some form of mental illness. The contraceptives and sleeping pills, while unexpected, weren’t entirely outlandish. But the heart medication truly stuck out like a sore thumb.
Did they really treat a heart patient like that? The question gnawed at her. Her supposed caregivers didn’t just confine a ticking time bomb of a heart condition to a remote corner, they locked her in a contaminated space and actively protected the abusive staff. Did their actions truly reflect the concern of people who gave heart medication?
The servants, far from treating her as a patient needing utmost care, saw her as a bothersome obstacle. Back then, she’d attributed it solely to her inconvenient leg, but now it seemed stranger.
If her demise was imminent, wouldn’t Adella and the maids be most affected? Yet, they’d thrown a heart patient, sensitive to temperature, into a drafty room with no blanket. Meals were meager, barely fit for a healthy person, let alone someone whose heart condition could be exacerbated by malnutrition. And yet, she’d been in this malnourished state for a long time. It was a miracle she was still alive, a fact that felt increasingly bizarre.
“Whatever it is, at least your body seems fine,” Matthias said with relief.
Odelliana offered a noncommittal hum in response.
“By the way, why did you buy an abandoned warehouse?” Matthias inquired.
“The money I got from selling the gift from the Anatolian lord wasn’t enough for a proper building,” Odelliana explained. “I needed a hidden base of operations, and the abandoned warehouse was the only thing I could afford.”
“A hideout?” Matthias raised an eyebrow.
“One can never be too prepared,” Odelliana said cryptically. “The Duke’s residence might not be safe forever, and I might need a quick escape. Plus, it’s a good place to keep my money for now.”
The realization dawned on Matthias. “You’re planning to leave?”
“Surely you understand this isn’t a long-term solution,” Odelliana countered. “Confined or not, life here mirrors my previous situation. We can’t stay.”
“As soon as you pass the knight’s exam, we’re out of here,” Odelliana declared. “There are too many restrictions in this place. Now that I know my family isn’t exactly welcoming, there’s no reason to remain.”
“Do you have a destination in mind?” Matthias questioned.
“Yes, I have a plan,” Odelliana reassured him. “Don’t worry about it. Focus on preparing for the exam. I’ll handle everything else.”
A disquieting thought wormed its way into Odelliana’s mind. There was something she wasn’t privy to. One thing was certain: this place wasn’t entirely safe. Getting Matthias knighted and leaving as soon as possible was paramount.
The inconsistencies were numerous, but dwelling on them now wouldn’t be productive. For now, the knowledge that this body harbored no chronic illnesses offered a sliver of comfort.
***
Odelliana stumbled back home late, only stirring when the sun blazed high in the sky. Matthias, returning with lunch, helped her prop herself up against the headboard and settled a square tray laden with food on a nearby table.
“Good afternoon, Master,” he greeted, the awkwardness of the late hour hanging in the air. She remembered falling asleep in his arms, nestled against him on a galloping horse. Her memories trailed off after that.
“Did you change my clothes?” she inquired, blinking at him.
“Yes,” Matthias replied, his voice low. “You wouldn’t have been comfortable sleeping in your travel attire.”
“The bedding too?” she asked, glancing at the neatly arranged pillows.
He gave a curt nod. “Since we snuck out, asking another maid for help might have raised suspicion, so I handled it myself.”
A wave of gratitude washed over her. “Thank you. You must have been exhausted.”
A flicker of something unreadable crossed his features. “Doesn’t it trouble you?”
“What?” she blinked, confused.
“That I changed you,” he clarified, his voice barely a whisper. “I saw you without clothes.”
Odelliana tilted her head, genuinely confused. “Why would it? You simply changed my clothes.”
