Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 190

Noah's eyes fluttered open, his vision hazy and unfocused. The first thing he noticed was the dull ache in his hand, tightly bandaged, and the sharp sting from stitches that tugged at his skin with every movement. The room around him was dimly lit, the heavy scent of herbs and antiseptics hanging in the air. Slowly, memories began to resurface, and with them, a name that forced its way past his dry lips.

"Kate..." His voice was a hoarse whisper, barely more than a breath, but it was filled with urgency.

"Noah! You're awake!" Theo's voice broke the stillness, filled with a mix of relief and disbelief. He hurried into the room, his footsteps echoing softly off the stone floor. "Do you have any idea how long you've been out?" Theo's tone carried a nervous edge as if he still couldn't quite believe that Noah had finally stirred.

Noah's mind struggled to catch up. Everything felt... different. The air, the silence—it was all off. "How long?" he croaked, his eyes blinking away the remnants of sleep as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.

"Nearly a week." Theo adjusted his glasses, his gaze lingering on Noah's bandaged hand. "You really pushed yourself, didn't you? That Life Taker nearly had you."

But Noah wasn't interested in his injuries or how long he'd been asleep. His heart was racing for a different reason. "Where's Kate?" he asked, his voice gaining strength, fueled by an unease that had settled deep in his chest.

"Kate?" Theo frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Who's Kate?"

"The fox," Noah said, more urgently now, as if the name alone should be enough to convey the weight of his concern. "The one I'm always with."

Recognition dawned on Theo's face. "Oh, her... The Emperor and Empress left the kingdom about a week ago. Took the fox with them, I suppose. Everything's been quiet since then, kind of peaceful, really."

Noah's anxiety spiked. He could feel his pulse thumping in his temples, a raw, growing frustration that his friend didn't share his sense of urgency. "I don't care about that. Where did they go?"

"Calm down, Noah." Theo held up his hands as if to physically push back the tension radiating from his friend. "They had to deal with some mana hunter issues. It's nothing you need to worry about right now."

But Noah couldn't let it go. "I need to find her. Tell me where they went!"

Before Theo could respond, the door creaked open, and Bert stepped inside, his presence solid and grounding. "You need to rest, Noah," Bert said, his voice gentle but firm. "You're lucky to still have that hand. Any deeper, and you would've lost it."

Noah clenched his jaw, his frustration bubbling over into anger. "I don't care about that right now!" His voice was louder than he intended, with a desperate edge to it. "Where did they go?"

"They're dealing with matters you shouldn't interfere with," Bert replied calmly. "They've gone to other kingdoms, seeking aid for the mana hunter threat. You can't follow them, not in your condition."

Noah's head dropped back against the pillow, a wave of helplessness washing over him. He hated this feeling—this weakness that had kept him from protecting Kate. It gnawed at him, the thought that she was out there, somewhere, and he was stuck here, useless.

Bert seemed to sense Noah's turmoil. "Mila left this for you," he said, handing Noah a small, folded letter. "It's from her daughter, I believe."

With trembling hands, Noah unfolded the paper, his eyes scanning the familiar, delicate handwriting.

Dear Noah,

I'm sorry that my actions have harmed you. I cannot allow myself to harm you again. After all of this is over, please let us both go our separate ways. The days that I've spent with you were fun. The day that I found myself resting in your room, I left pink roses there to apologize for my actions. Please do not come looking for me. Remember, you are a strong priest healer!