SACBD

25

Anna looked through the closet again and inspected the dresser, looking for anything Riv might have hidden.

All that was found was Madame Katana's emergency fund, hidden under her bed.

"Hurry."

"Please wait a moment. I'll need to check if Madame Katana is wearing the portrait necklace she always had on."

After Anna made sure that the portrait necklace was hanging securely around Madame Katana's neck, she finally retrieved Madame Katana's palace identification card.

"Get the rest of the clothes and pack them up."

Anna picked up the bag and packed everything else.

At Lionel's orders, she packed all of the clothes that made up Madame Katana's disguise, leaving no sign she had ever lived in this room.

'It must have been hard to wear a pile of clothes like Madame Katana did.'

If Marianne had found out about Madame Katana's disguise, there was no doubt that she would have made a fuss.

All of the clothes had been packed. Madame Katana was only wearing a chemise.

Lionel wrapped Riv in a sheet, and hugged her feverish body.

He whispered to Anna, who was packing her luggage.

"When you get tired of this place, come to the Duchy. Mention my name or Madame Katana's and you'll be allowed entry.

Lionel noticed that this woman was Madame Katana's only acquaintance and friend.

"Thank you. Please tell Madame Katana that Anna was worried."

Anna expressed her gratitude. They immediately left the room. Everyone swarming in the narrow hallway stepped aside, staring at them and Madame Katana's luggage.

Carrying her in his arms, Lionel noticed that she was much lighter than he expected.

He pulled the sheet that was wrapped around her body over her face, so no one could see Madame Katana.

Outside of the maids' quarters, Lionel's men were waiting for them in a carriage.

"Duke, get on. Is she...?"

"Madame Katana is unconscious."

Lionel's words were short. Madame Katana was not well.

The kings' attendants bowed their heads and tried to stop the Duke from leaving.

This made the Duke angry.

"Your Grace, His Majesty would like to see Madame Katana and the Duke in person."

The aide spoke hurriedly, but Lionel ignored him and carried the limp woman into the carriage.

"As you can see, Madame Katana is unconscious. She may die if her condition worsens. It could be dangerous for the king as well. She might pass the flu or pneumonia to His Majesty."

"Y-Yes."

"Tell His Majesty that we will see him as soon as Madame Katana recovers."

"I-I'll do that."

Lionel and his men climbed into the carriage.

Lionel sighed as he held Madame Katana, hugging her in his arms so that she would not fall. The woman who had lost consciousness did not even know where she was going.

"D*mn it."

This woman nearly died because she tried to save him.

Seeing this woman reminded him of that passionate night as well as how she saved him. That night, he vividly remembered how his body felt at ease the moment he touched her. The carriage stopped for a moment, and Rambaud, who was waiting, got on. Rambaud opened his medical bag and checked Madame Katana's condition.