016

As if someone had sensed the lamentation in my heart, the door to my chamber, which had been closed, opened softly, instantly distracting the three doctors who had been causing me slight discomfort.

"Good evening, Lord Alger," they greeted, immediately ceasing their activities to face him while bowing politely.

Alger, dressed casually in a shirt with the top two buttons undone—revealing a hint of his broad chest—and comfortable black trousers, acknowledged their greeting with a slight nod as he stepped into my chamber, followed by a young man who appeared to be around his age.

I shot a quick glance at the unfamiliar newcomer, whose neat suit and briefcase suggested a professional demeanor, especially in contrast to Alger's relaxed noble attire.

'Alger's friend...?' I wondered curiously before returning my attention to the Alger and three doctors.

"How is Eleanor's condition today?"

"Well..." Vincent and Rochelle began to report their examination findings in an orderly manner, taking turns as if the earlier heated debate had never occurred.

"In summary, after comparing our results, we conclude that Lady Eleanor suffered only from a mild concussion given that her head has occasional throbbing."

"What about the partial memory loss? I don't want my sister to forget things she shouldn't permanently," Alger said, folding his arms across his chest, a protective look in his eyes.

Alger now realizes that Eleanor's memory condition is quite severe, as she doesn't remember events from two years ago. He wants to inform his parents, who are currently attending the wedding of their noble vassal's daughter tonight. However, Alger, who typically thinks logically, strangely decides to keep quiet. Instead, he prefers to send an urgent letter to Eiser regarding Eleanor's condition.

'If Father and Mother knew that Eleanor had been acting strangely two years ago, they would likely mobilize the family troops to surround Baron Burbom's house and interrogate the baron's son—Eleanor's fiancé—while handcuffed like a criminal. This would create a social mess and cause an uproar,' Alger thought calmly.

Alger has only now realized that Eleanor was truly acting unusually two years ago when she briefly mentioned her academy life in a letter. However, no one noticed this odd behavior because, in her next letter, Eleanor reverted to being her reclusive self, as if nothing had happened.

If the current Eleanor, who is suffering from a head injury, had not stated that she couldn't remember whether her fiancé had visited her at the academy two years ago, even Alger would still be unaware of the situation.

"Of course not. The memory isn't lost; it's temporarily obscured by trauma from the head impact. With time, it will return to normal."

"How long will that take?"

"Approximately a month or less, assuming the patient maintains a healthy mindset and follows the prescribed lifestyle. In severe cases, it could take over a year if the patient is reluctant to comply with the guidelines." Rui, the young doctor, chimed in after Vincent and Rochelle stepped back, finishing their part of the discussion. Rui was more knowledgeable in this area, given his role as chief physician for the military forces.

Alger immediately shifted his sharp gaze toward Rui. "Can knights who have recovered return to active duty in the army without experiencing relapse?"

Rui smiled but shook his head. "It's natural to feel occasional dizziness just after recovering. However, over time, those symptoms should disappear completely."

"Provided the patient is committed to recovery and living healthily, of course," Rui added, glancing at me, still seated on my bed, listening silently to their exchange.

"Alright, since that comes from the student of the imperial family's head physician, we can accept it as fact, thanks so much," Alger said politely as he signaled to the butler near the open doorway to prepare to escort the doctors out.

"Also, Doctor Rochelle, thank you for collaborating with Vincent, our family doctor, regarding my sister's condition. I will ensure a note of thanks is sent to His Grace, Duke Emmeline," Alger continued, directing his attention to the two doctors, who had been exchanging sharp glances but now focused on him, eager to present themselves favorably to the Marquis's second son.

"This is an honor for me as well. This opportunity allows me to sharpen my skills thanks to Doctor Vincent's expertise," Rochelle said, reluctantly conceding.

"For now, I will monitor her condition. Your outstanding care has been invaluable, and should we require your expertise again, I hope to call upon you once more," Alger concluded with a smile. The three doctors bowed again and bade farewell to Alger and me, still reminding me to take care and not overexert myself during my recovery.

I could only manage a weak smile, too fatigued to respond verbally, yearning to lie down and close my eyes on the soft bed.

Once the door to my chamber closed, leaving only Alger, myself, and the quiet man who had followed him—who had been silent since entering—my room, once full of activity, fell into a sudden stillness.

I had asked Tina to leave momentarily to prepare warm tea for Alger and his friend, sensing that he intended to discuss something important with his companion.

'Ah, even though I want to rest soon,' I thought, suppressing a sigh of weariness.

In the stillness of the room, Alger walked over and sat on the edge of my bed, causing it to creak softly beneath him. He gently nudged me to lie down, pulling my thick, soft blanket up to my neck.

I allowed him to position me as I was weary and longed to rest comfortably.

"Just listen while you lie down," Alger said softly, before silently signaling the man in the neat suit to take the chair that Doctor Rui had occupied before.

"Okay," I replied with a small nod, my gaze shifting to the man who had just sat down. He opened his briefcase and retrieved some neatly arranged papers.

"Allow me to introduce myself, my lady. I am Ralph, Lord Alger's right-hand man." His voice was filled with pride, and he greeted me respectfully, despite my reclined position. "You are as beautiful as the rumors have suggested, Lady Eleanor."

"Enough with the unnecessary introductions. We must not disturb Eleanor's rest," Alger scolded gently, rubbing the top of my head. I fought to keep my heavy eyelids open, curious about what Alger and this man named Ralph were about to say.

Ralph frowned at the reprimand but nodded firmly, clearly accustomed to Alger's authority.

"I'm here to inform you about the results of my investigation into your fiancé, Sir John Burbom."

I turned to Alger, my expression a mix of surprise and disbelief. "I just asked this afternoon... and already there are results tonight?"

"Of course. John Burbom is one of our main targets, particularly because he is your fiancé," Alger replied indifferently.

"In addition, there are troubling rumors about him circulating, even though we've confirmed they are not true," Ralph added, raising the three pages he held.

He began to report his findings, which had been gathered from various subordinates stationed throughout the area.

"Rumors suggest that John Burbom often passes through the slum district, with many alleging he entered a brothel. However, upon further investigation, we found that he did enter, but only to meet the brothel owner to discuss his business dealings."

"The business pertains to the reconstruction of an adventure guild that had fallen into disrepair in that area, which is why he frequently meets with the brothel owner to discuss security, profits, and the expected number of regular customers."

"This is what Marquis Gwendolyn has gathered, correct?" Ralph asked, glancing at the next paper.

"Yes," Alger confirmed shortly.

I remained silent, comparing Ralph's revelations with what I had read in the novel.

'While it wasn't detailed, I remember that when John Burbom was interrogated after his misdeeds came to light, he mentioned the adventure guild,' I thought, nodding silently at this additional information.

"And now for the latter part of our findings," Ralph continued. "John Burbom is doing well. It appears he is working diligently. The adventure guild he is rebuilding has begun to attract clients seeking mercenary services."

"You could say that John Burbom ranks among the wealthiest sons of barons, given the success of his guild. However, I question the sustainability of his wealth at this time, considering the extensive funds he must have used to establish the guild, pay workers, and cover their wages. He has likely depleted much of what he earned from his previous position in Gwendolyn's finance department, which paid quite well," Ralph elaborated, concluding his report.

I frowned, then offered an awkward laugh. "He really does sound like a hard worker."

Alger nodded in agreement. "Father chose him to be your fiancé because he appeared to be industrious during his time in the family finance department."

Ralph added, "Sir John Burbom is a humble and diligent man. If he were to engage in any wrongdoing, it would likely come to our attention. But so far, he has maintained a respectable life, attending banquets as your fiancé while you were away at the academy, and he has not tarnished his reputation in your absence."

"Based on the overall findings of my report, I must commend Marquis Gwendolyn for his astuteness in recognizing John Burbom as a fitting choice as your fiancé."