MTLNOVEL Chapter 68
When I opened my eyes again, I couldn’t remember anything.
As I blinked to adjust to the intense sunlight filtering through my blurry vision, familiar surroundings gradually came into focus.
The faint scent of sunlight on my bedding, the bookshelf lined with comic books.
…It was my room in the Grand Duke’s residence.
‘Come to think of it, when did I get back?’
Trying to recall my hazy memories, a sharp headache pounded at the back of my head.
“Ughhh….”
On top of that, my body refused to move, as if it had been weighed down by something heavy. It felt like someone was pressing me down.
As my mind finally started clearing, the first thing I saw was an old man with a grave expression. He was the Grand Duke’s physician, someone I had encountered a few times in passing.
But why was he in my room?
“Ah, hello…?”
Still unable to grasp the situation, I let out a bewildered greeting.
The old man, who usually wore a gentle smile, responded with a firm expression.
“Young Lady, you nearly died of exhaustion.”
“…Huh?”
At that moment, fragments of yesterday’s memories started coming back.
On my way back from Baron Pavron’s estate, I had attempted teleportation but passed out due to severe nausea.
But exhaustion? I had just blacked out from motion sickness, hadn’t I?
Noticing my confusion, the physician shook his head and added,
“Your body was already weakened due to accumulated fatigue. Using teleportation in such a state places an even greater strain on you.”
“So…”
“It wasn’t just nausea. Your body was on the verge of collapsing.”
O-oh.
That… actually made sense.
“From now on, you must get proper rest. You need to maintain a normal sleep schedule, eat regularly, and exercise daily.”
“…What?”
Exercise?
But I’m the kind of person who avoids exercise like the plague.
The strange thing was, the physician’s gaze wasn’t directed at me—it was fixed on someone else.
“…Right.”
The response came naturally from that direction.
“Oh.”
Only then did I notice the Grand Duke standing just outside my peripheral vision.
“Ahem, well then, I’ll take my leave.”
“W-wait, where are you going?”
Instinctively, I grabbed the physician’s sleeve before he could leave.
“There’s nothing more for me to do. All that’s left is for you to rest.”
“Y-you’re really just going to leave me here?”
With the Grand Duke? Alone? When he looks that serious?
Despite my desperate plea, the physician strode past the Grand Duke and exited the room.
And just like that, we were left alone in a heavy silence.
It was only after a long moment that the Grand Duke finally spoke.
“Your teleportation sickness has been getting worse lately?”
“How do you…?”
I tilted my head in confusion at the unexpected question.
“Your maid told me.”
“Ah, right. Well, yeah. I actually started feeling it back at the Magic Tower, but this time it was particularly bad.”
I was still convinced that my collapse had more to do with the teleportation nausea than anything else.
But as if refuting my thoughts, the Grand Duke’s response was cold and firm.
“The physician was right. When you use teleportation in a state of severe exhaustion, it disrupts your body’s balance and leads to extreme nausea.”
“Uh… okay…?”
“And usually, people die from it.”
“…What?”
Why did this suddenly escalate to a life-or-death situation?!
I stared at him, dumbfounded.
“I-I don’t think it was that serious…”
Aside from feeling heavy and tired, I didn’t feel like I was on the verge of death or anything.
But the Grand Duke didn’t seem convinced.
“Are you someone who doesn’t notice when you’re exhausted?”
“Uh, no.”
If anything, I was too sensitive to fatigue.
But… whenever I got absorbed in something, the dopamine rush made me forget about everything else.
Wasn’t that normal?
Cutting off my thoughts, I glanced at the Grand Duke, who looked genuinely upset.
Trying to defend myself, I mumbled,
“Well, things have been pretty busy lately, you know. And if I take a break, someone else has to pick up the slack… Plus, there were people waiting on me, so…”
My voice gradually lost confidence, fading into an awkward laugh.
‘Oh no.’
I sneaked a look at the Grand Duke.
Now that I thought about it, I couldn’t quite understand why he was even here.
Of all people, I knew best how busy he was during the day.
‘Wait.’
Had he… been waiting for me to wake up?
Shaking my head, I dismissed the ridiculous thought.
There was no way someone as indifferent and overworked as him would do that.
If he had, that would mean…
‘He was actually worried about me?’
I knew that was the case.
But concern, at least the kind I was used to, was different from what he was showing now.
Hah. Letting out another awkward chuckle, I shrugged.
“Fine, I’ll take it easy from now on. But I still have to cover my room and board—”
“Room and board? Is that really what you’re worried about right now?”
“Well, shouldn’t personal and professional matters be kept separate…?”
“In this situation?”
There was an icy sharpness in his voice that made me shut my mouth.
“…Haa.”
He let out a deep sigh, as if trying to rein in his frustration. Then, arms crossed, he stepped closer.
“For now.”
“Yes?”
“You are to step away from all work.”
“What? But—”
It was too sudden of an order.
“Others will handle the workload, so don’t concern yourself with it.”
“But still…”
Ignoring my protests, he continued,
“And once you’ve recovered, you’ll start taking daily walks for an hour. I’ll arrange for a professional if needed.”
“Wait, Your Grace?”
I recoiled at the mention of exercise, but he coldly cut me off.
“First, build up your stamina.”
“…….”
I had plenty to say in response.
And I knew he wasn’t wrong. But still…
When did he go from making me work like a dog to suddenly caring about my well-being?
As I stood there, flapping my lips in silent protest, the Grand Duke turned on his heel without hesitation.
“We’ll discuss the rest later.”
Anyone could tell he was openly sulking.
* * *
A week had passed.
During that week, my daily life had undergone quite a few changes.
For one, thanks to the duke’s so-called “consideration”—or whatever it was—I was able to stay in my room and rest without stepping outside even once.
Not that I had wanted it that way… things had just turned out like that.
It all started with Bonita.
“Ah, my lady, please stay right here. I’ll take care of everything you need.”
Bonita, who had been by my side almost every day, was truly… an exceptionally competent maid.
Not only did she diligently bring me delicious meals and desserts three times a day, but whenever I even looked remotely bored, she would fetch a romance novel from somewhere and hand it to me.
Anyway!
It was as if she could read my mind, anticipating my needs before I even voiced them.
But there was one thing she absolutely refused to allow.
“Bonita, please… just once.”
“No, my lady.”
“Seriously, just once! I won’t even look at it for long—just a quick glance, I promise.”
“You still can’t! If you keep this up, I’ll have to inform His Grace…!”
That one thing was—work.
“Wait, are you telling me I can’t even look at the comic books I created?”
I poured out my frustration at the sheer unfairness of it all, but Bonita didn’t so much as bat an eye.
“No, you cannot.”
Thud.
She firmly shook her head and then, leaving me behind, walked right out of the room.
“…Ah.”
I reached out toward the closed door, trying to suppress the growing unease bubbling inside me.
‘I—I’m going crazy thinking about work.’
Thus began the dreaded withdrawal symptoms of labor deprivation.