After I died, Everything Changed - Chapter 76

“You’re looking all weak and feeble.”

Lahan spoke as if it was no big deal.

To talk so casually about the Crown Prince’s health… how could he?

“I’m sure the pressure must’ve been overwhelming. Maybe the tension finally wore off near the end of the trip.”

“That’s possible.”

Lahan turned around, having finished looking outside.

He leaned back against the terrace railing and looked at me.

“For spending half a month together, it feels like nothing has changed between us.”

“Isn’t it a relief that things haven’t gotten worse?”

Getting closer during a life-or-death subjugation mission would be stranger, really.

“If you’re going to start talking nonsense again, let’s just go check on the Crown Prince.”

“How heartless.”

Duke Lahan, to be honest, was someone sharp as a blade when it came to work.

There wasn’t even a speck of negligence in the subjugation force’s duties.

Even after drinking heavily the night before, he’d always be up the next morning, full of energy—sometimes more than me.

But somehow, he still had enough energy left every single day to say the strangest things. It was almost impressive.

“I’m heading off first.”

As I stood up from the table where we’d been resting, Lahan’s gaze followed me.

“I don’t want anyone saying I harmed His Majesty’s precious son.”

He pushed off from the railing and trailed after me with light steps.

“Leaving me alone is just too cruel, don’t you think?”

Was being alone really that boring?

You’d think someone constantly surrounded by people would welcome a little peace.

“At least put on the right expression if you’re going to visit someone who’s sick.”

Even with my scolding, Lahan just let out a big laugh.

As soon as I entered the Crown Prince’s room, I noticed something off.

All the flowers in the room had wilted.

Even if this place was chosen in a rush, would they really leave withered flowers in the Crown Prince’s quarters?

“Is it really just a simple cold?”

Lahan crossed his arms and asked the doctor.

“He only had a slight fever earlier today, but it suddenly spiked.”

“Fevers often get worse at night.”

The attendant beside the Crown Prince kept wiping Matthias’s forehead with a wet cloth.

The cold sweat soaking his face made it clear—he was really unwell.

Could someone’s condition really worsen this quickly, even as an adult?

It made me wonder if he had food poisoning, or if it was something contagious.

“Did His Highness eat anything different from the rest of us?”

“If you’re talking about the dinner you skipped because of your stomach, then yes—he ate with me.”

“And you’re feeling fine, Your Grace?”

“Perfectly fine. Could the food have been poisoned?”

Lahan rubbed his chin, lost in thought.

“Maybe you’re okay because you’ve built up a tolerance to poison?”

“If that’s the case, then Matthias should have a resistance just as strong as mine.”

Now that he said it, that did make sense.

“Should we move His Highness back to the palace before his condition gets any worse?”

We weren’t far from the capital.

“It feels risky to move someone who’s sick, but leaving him here might be worse.”

Lahan and I both felt uneasy about the situation.

“We should send word to the palace. Just in case.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

In the end, we decided to send a messenger to the imperial palace.

“I’ll handle it.”

Lahan left the room to send the message.

I stayed behind to keep an eye on the Crown Prince a little longer.

I sat quietly in a corner of the room, watching the physician and attendants move around busily.

The Crown Prince, who never even blinked in the face of monsters, now lay limp and lifeless. It felt strange seeing him like this.

Just as Lahan said, the Emperor’s worries were only going to grow deeper.

A troubling thought crossed my mind—maybe, on the next campaign, someone else would stand in the Crown Prince’s place. Not another royal, but someone entirely different.

But just sitting there, watching a sick person, was harder than I thought.

“I’ll go throw out the flowers.”

In the end, I picked up the vase filled with wilted flowers and stood.

Dead flowers didn’t belong in a room with someone who was ill.

Eventually, the royal palace sent a carriage to bring the Crown Prince back.

Matthias was loaded into the carriage and returned to the palace.

Lahan and I were entrusted with leading the soldiers back, and we completed the task safely.

“Young Lady!”

A voice I only expected to hear back at the estate suddenly rang out in the middle of the capital’s busy streets.

Karlin.

Among the crowds, I spotted Karlin—and beside him, Elliot.

The two of them had come quite a long way just to greet me—it was touching, really.

In the town square, a large crowd had gathered. People threw flower petals into the air and whistled to welcome the subjugation force home.

For those who had been living in fear of monsters, the news of our return brought hope and relief.

“Victory to Lutetia!”

Some praised the Imperial family, others sang songs together as they danced with joy.

“Everyone’s showing their gratitude to the Empire,” I said to Lahan, who was riding slowly beside me at the front of the line.

“Are you disappointed it’s not Mergen they’re cheering for?” he asked with a grin, waving now and then to the cheering crowd.

“That’s not what I meant. I was just saying the Imperial family is getting exactly the outcome it wanted.”

“It was their plan from the start.”

“If the Crown Prince had been here at the front, it would’ve been the perfect scene.”

“I agree. I’m worried about my nephew. I wonder if he’s recovering well.”

Lahan said he was concerned, but his hands were still busy waving from side to side.

Maybe he noticed my gaze—he turned and looked at me.

“You almost made it sound like you didn’t mean it.”

“Irene, parades like this don’t happen often. Most of these people left their jobs and came all this way just to celebrate. Compared to that, giving a smile and a wave is hardly difficult.”

He spoke calmly, and every word made sense.

“This kind of thing is part of the duty His Majesty entrusted to us.”

I nodded quietly and turned to look to the side.

“Young Lady! Young Lady!”

Karlin was still bouncing along beside my horse, keeping pace with me.

I smiled and gave her a little wave.

Cheers burst out from the crowd nearby.

“Lady Irene, heir of Mergen, just waved at us!”
“We’ve been blessed!”

Even my awkward smile and wave were enough to excite them.

Feeling a little embarrassed, I turned my head the other way—and met eyes with Lahan.

He smiled when he saw how flustered I looked.

“You have no idea how worried I was while you were gone, my lady! Next time, no matter what you say, I’m going with you!”

“You did fine here. I’m not a child. Taking someone along to a place like that would only make things harder.”

“I’m fast and strong! I wouldn’t be a burden!”

“No one said you would be.”

Karlin followed right behind me as we walked through the estate, firing off question after question about the expedition.

“Were there really that many monsters? Did His Grace the Duke flirt with you? Did His Highness the Crown Prince get jealous?”

“Why are you so curious about everything today?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her rapid-fire questions.

“But I heard people like you—gentle and delicate—are considered weak in the army!”

“I’m not that delicate anymore.”

“But just look at your slim little wrists! Can you even hold a sword properly?”

After listening to Karlin fuss over me for a while, we reached the door of my grandfather’s study.

“Alright, I’m going to report to the head of the house.”

“Elliot has been waiting forever, so don’t take too long!”

“I will.”

I gave Karlin a nod, and only then did she let go of my arm.

“I’ll get your bathwater ready!”

She shouted loud enough for her voice to echo all the way into my grandfather’s study.

Honestly, Karlin really was quick-witted.

I smiled softly to myself and stepped inside.

“I’m relieved to see you back safely.”

“It’s thanks to your concern, Grandfather.”

“I heard the Crown Prince returned ahead of the rest.”

“Yes. His fever spiked, so he had to be rushed back the night before.”

“His Majesty must be deeply worried.”

My grandfather stroked his beard as he spoke.

Even though it had only been two weeks, he looked noticeably thinner.

“How about you? Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

“And the monsters? I’ve read the reports, but I’d like to hear what it was like in person.”

“Just like the reports said. They mostly show up in remote areas—mountains, deserts, open plains—but now and then, they even approach city limits. That happens every few days, so it’s definitely not rare.”

My grandfather let out a heavy sigh.

“So, the monsters really are growing bolder.”

“It’s no longer a situation we can ignore.”

“But why… why is this happening…”

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