ANGSD 28

Chapter 28

“Anyway, isn’t there a hospital or something? Or maybe a representative of this village? I’d like to speak with them.”

The people seemed to really think Eileen was some kind of crazy woman with a flower in her hair. They exchanged pitiful glances among themselves, then led Eileen and Florian somewhere.

Since her leg was injured and she couldn’t walk on her own, she was still cradled in Florian’s arms. Every time they passed by, the uncomfortable gazes they received from others made Eileen lower her head deeply, resting her face against Florian’s chest.

Florian’s expression darkened, thinking that Eileen was in poor health.

Holding her a little more firmly, he finally reached a worn-down shack where the village chief lived.

After roughly hearing their situation, the village chief carefully examined their appearance, speech, and behavior.

Then, apparently trusting them somewhat, he seemed to be considering whether to take them to the administrative officer along with some villagers.

“We can take you to the administrative officer for now, but I can’t promise anything.”

Eileen wasn’t sure what exactly he couldn’t promise. Surely, no matter what, the administrative officer of this region wouldn’t fail to recognize his own lord, she thought.

But reality often surprises.

“What? Dressed like beggars and claiming to be the Duke of the South? Yeah, right, like I’d believe that!”

Thinking back, Florian was someone who had never shown his face before. Just as Eileen didn’t know how handsome he was, the southern nobles must’ve been surprised by his appearance as well.

Maybe it was natural for a low-level government official not to recognize him.

“To dare impersonate His Grace the Duke of the South! I’ll let it slide this once, but if you do it again, I’ll make sure you regret it. Now get lost!”

Naturally, Eileen and Florian were kicked out.

The village chief approached them, as if he had expected this.

“For now, stay at my place for a while. I don’t really know if you’re the Duke or whatever, but at least it’s better than sleeping out on the street.”

The village chief’s house was an ordinary shack.

Inside that tiny one-room house, there were about five family members sleeping huddled together.

Whether they were beggars or dukes, he wouldn’t let guests sleep on the floor and offered them a small bed.

Eileen, insisting against this, chose instead to spend the night in what was originally a storage shed attached to the house—half ruined after the last storm.

While Florian briefly stepped away to fetch water from the nearby well, the village chief returned carrying a bundle of straw, saying he would at least spread it out on the floor for them.

“Why did you hurt your leg?”

“I— I was running away from a bear.”

“A bear? Good grief… lucky you didn’t die.”

“Thank you for your help.”

If even the village chief had dismissed them as two crazy beggars with flowers in their hair, they would have had no choice but to spend the night out on the streets.

“You can’t just ignore them completely. It’s better than seeing outsiders die in our village. We weren’t always so cold-hearted. The people in the South did have some compassion, you know. But after a few plagues, everyone got scared—so don’t take it too personally.”

“A plague?”

“During the last storm, a plague spread, and quite a few people died. There was nothing anyone could do, so they just died. It’s better to die quickly than suffer. Many went half crazy while sick.”

“Isn’t there a hospital? A clinic or something?”

“Hospital? You must be joking. If there were hospitals, why would so many people have died?”

Eileen didn’t know what to say.

“The people here in the South don’t expect such things. The Duke of the South has neglected us for a long time—if you’re sick, you’re sick; if you die, you die. Even if there’s a clinic in town, you’ll probably die on the way there.”

“……”

“The administrative officer said the other day they built a shop selling coffee or something expensive for the harbor folks. Ha! But everyone’s still drinking muddy water.”

Eileen felt her heart grow heavy.

She realized that while speaking grandly of reviving the South, they had completely forgotten the people they were supposed to protect — the most important thing close at hand.

“What’s with that sour face? Don’t like what you hear? I told you, here’s a bed for you.”

“No, it’s not that. I’m grateful for your kindness… I was just reflecting for a moment.”

“Reflecting on what?”

“…I guess I was mistaken about something all along…”

“What might that be? What a strange girl.”

Muttering to himself, the village chief spread out the straw and left.

Eileen seemed lost in thought for a moment, then washed her face roughly and collapsed onto the straw.

Her leg throbbed painfully, and so did the back of her head—not from hitting anything, but from the heavy realization hitting her hard.

“I forgot… I’m the Duchess of the South.”

Maybe she had been arrogant because she was an influencer in her previous life.

Being the Duchess of the South wasn’t some flashy title or symbol.

What she had been focused on was revival, but she had completely missed the people she was meant to look after — the common folk of the South.

“I must have been too excited. I thought I could do everything well, but I forgot that this position came with many responsibilities.”

Eileen muttered as she stared up at the hole in the shack’s ceiling.

Not long after, Florian returned with water.

“Eileen, let me see your leg.”

Holding mysterious herbs in his hands, it seemed he had gathered them from somewhere.

Eileen looked at Florian silently.

He knelt on one knee in front of her sitting on the straw bed.

He gently lifted her injured leg onto his knee.

As he slightly rolled up the tattered hem of her dress, he noticed fresh scrapes she hadn’t seen and frowned quietly.

Then he tore his own clothes, soaked them in the water bucket, and began carefully cleaning the dirt from around the wounds.

Although scabs had already formed and it didn’t hurt much, Eileen’s leg involuntarily twitched every time his bare hand touched it.

“Does it hurt?”

“No.”

Florian finished cleaning her leg.

He gently placed herbs on the wounds and wrapped them with a cloth.

Sensing his gaze, Florian looked up at Eileen.

“Sorry.”

“Why do you keep apologizing?”

“…Because I told you to walk.”

“Walking is one thing, but did you know there would be a bear? Why are you so gloomy just because your leg is a little sprained? You’re the one hurt, but why do you look like you’re the one in pain?”

“Exactly. It would be good to wash up by the nearby stream tomorrow. Dalton should arrive then. There should be a hospital in the city where you can get checked again—”

“—You know that too, huh.”

Eileen’s voice dropped.

“Even though you’ve kept a low profile until now, you’re the Duke leading the South.”

“……”

“Then how can you look at your people living in such terrible conditions and be so indifferent?”

“……”

“I’m no expert who can give advice, but… it’s strange. You’re kind and gentle to me, but you seem uninterested in the people you’re supposed to protect.”

Eileen didn’t think he was a corrupt official who exploited the people for personal gain.

Of course, if he had been that kind of person, his behavior would have given it away long ago.

She knew, from her past indulgences in vanity and extravagance, that such things are always obvious.

After months of living and traveling together — even sleeping in the same room (though separated by cushions) — she knew Florian was neither corrupt nor a tyrant.

But was he indifferent to governance?

She’d seen him spend whole days in the office with Dalton, discussing, deciding, reversing decisions, and buried under piles of official documents from the royal court. It was no act.

“When I think about it, you’re the only one without the southern accent…”

Unlike Eileen’s suspicious gaze, Florian simply smiled faintly.

Though gentle, his smile’s meaning was unclear.

“To be precise, I wasn’t born and raised in the South. After my predecessor died, there was no rightful heir, and everyone kept passing the responsibility around until I ended up with it.”

“What does that mean—?”

“I’m basically not the legitimate heir.”