Chapter 76. The Unspoken Truth

The Viscount’s Bedroom, Ironwood Castle

“He only suffered minor injuries, My Lady. He will be completely fine after a few days of rest,” the physician said with a quiet sigh, finishing up his medical examination. “The foundation pit wasn’t exceptionally deep and was filled with a thick cushion of fresh snow, so he merely strained his back a bit. Taking into account the horrific injuries His Lordship survived during the war, this is truly nothing... You have nothing to worry about.”

Francesca, her face still pale with lingering dread, stared at Miller lying on the large bed with a faint, reassuring smile. Letting out a long, trembling breath, she fidgeted with her hands. “Thank you for your service.”

“It is my duty, Your Ladyship,” the physician replied, gathering his medical tools. “Ah... that is right. I sent a sample of your blood to the North Central Church for a full soul examination, as you requested earlier. We should receive the formal results in a week or so.”

With that, the physician bowed respectfully and stepped out of the room alongside Stella, Kenny, and the remaining household staff, leaving Francesca and Miller alone in the quiet bedroom.

Francesca just stood there in silence, her eyes fixed on Miller resting on the bed.

Why...?

A horrific, blinding flash of Miller’s severed head from her past life suddenly rushed through her mind, vivid and terrifying.

Tak... Tak...

Why is it that you always jump in to save me without a second thought, only to get hurt yourself...?

Her knees buckled, and Francesca collapsed at his bedside, burying her face into the edge of the mattress.

“I am completely fine, Francesca,” Miller said gently, reaching out to stroke her soft silver hair. He let out a small, fond breath, adding, “If anything, I am just relieved and happy that you aren't hurt...”

He paused for a second, his touch softening as he asked in a low, quiet voice, “So... are we good now?”

Francesca slowly raised her face from the bed, looking straight into his intense crimson eyes.

“No...” she whispered.

“I... I see...” Miller’s expression immediately fell, worry creeping into his eyes.

“No... that isn't what I meant!” Francesca clarified quickly, reaching out to hold his hand tightly in her own. “It’s just... it wouldn't be right to say everything is even if it is only me forgiving you. We were both at fault here, so it is only fair if you hear my side completely and forgive me, as well...”

“That really doesn't need to be the case,” Miller tried to reassure her gently. “I already know that whatever you are hiding must be deeply painful—”

“I know you understand that the Azure Tear holds a lot of sentimental value to me,” Francesca cut him off, her voice firm and resolute. “But... that is only half the truth behind why I refused to surrender it to Ivan... I don't want to hide anything from you.”

She squeezed his hand tighter, the horrific images of Miller’s head replaying in her mind as clear as day.

“This necklace is not merely a normal family heirloom... it is a magic artifact.”

Miller offered an understanding nod, sitting up a bit more upright against the wooden bed frame. He tightened his grip on her hand in return. “I know... I gathered some information about it during my research. It is an artifact that is widely considered unusable, right? Your mother’s house guarded it for generations, but the exact criteria for its activation was lost to time... like so many ancient magic artifacts.”

Looking at her with deep empathy, Miller added, “Supposedly... it is said to possess the power to bring back the dead, according to the old fairytales, right?”

Francesca took a deep, steadying breath, her golden eyes blazing with fierce vulnerability, worry, mixed determined confidence.

Not supposedly, Miller... It did bring back the dead.”

Looking straight into his eyes, she dropped the ultimate confession

“Me.”

The Corridor, Ironwood Castle

“‘He needs a few days of rest, huh...” Kenny commented dryly, leaning against the wall as the physician walked down the stone hallway.

“Do you think they finally made up?” Stella asked, looking back toward the closed bedroom door.

Kenny nodded slowly. “I mean... they practically have to at this point, right? Either way, that isn't our biggest problem right now.” He let out a long sigh, tiredly massaging his temples. “With His Lordship needing bed rest, Her Ladyship is now officially the active Vice Head... She will have to lead the territory through all upcoming governance issues for the next few days.”

Stella stopped in her tracks, letting out her own heavy sigh as the weight of the situation dawned on her. “And with the trade embargo taking effect... plus the Council’s lingering hostility toward her... it is going to be incredibly tough on her.”

“Well... it will certainly be something,” Kenny replied, a small, confident smile appearing on his face. “Her Ladyship is clever. I am sure she will handle it just fine.”

“What happened to the construction workers?” Stella asked suddenly, the thought crossing her mind.

Kenny shook his head lightly. “We had no reason to detain them for long. It isn't as though they intended for Her Ladyship and His Lordship to fall into the pit.”

Looking out the arched window at the falling snow, Kenny added, “They were issued modest fines, and Her Ladyship instructed that a new motion be raised during the next Council meeting to officially standardize territory wide construction safety precautions going forward.”

The Viscount’s Bedroom, Ironwood Castle

“So... the Azure Tear brought you back to the exact moment you first touched it?” Miller asked quietly, listening to the entirety of her astonishing story.

Francesca was sitting right beside him on the bed, wrapped comfortably in his arms with her head resting against his chest.

“Yes... I have no idea how it activated, or why it activated when I died in that timeline...” Francesca replied, turning her head to look up into Miller’s red eyes. “But it is an undeniable fact that I was brought back to the past by its magic.”