Sophia looked at Irene, who seemed as if she wanted to bang her head against the ground in penance, and sighed lightly in her heart.
If you die, who will get me the Generator? Who will research the shock absorbers for the carriages? Who will make this barren land yield a bountiful harvest?
Moreover, in that kind of emergency, she really couldn't consider too much.
She had merely subconsciously pushed the person before her away; that was all.
There were no grand thoughts involved. In fact, she didn't even have the chance to form any thoughts.
To make this girl stop this crying that threatened to shatter eardrums, Sophia had to mobilize her remaining strength.
Using that voice which remained cold, yet sounded somewhat low and soft due to her weakness, she spoke:
"Irene, shut up."
These two words instantly silenced Irene, a teardrop still hanging from the corner of her eye, hesitant to fall.
"Humans are not omnipotent. You are just an inventor, not a warrior."
Sophia looked expressionlessly at the ceiling, enduring the pain as she spoke slowly.
"In that moment, you didn't faint from fear like an ordinary person, and you even remembered to protect your blueprints. You have already done very well.
"The Kingdom of Mason needs your brain, not your martial force.
"Therefore, there is no need to blame yourself for this."
To Sophia, these words were merely objective statements.
However, falling upon Irene's ears, they were no different from a deity's forgiveness.
She actually... not only did she not blame my incompetence, but she is affirming my value?
Irene stared blankly at Sophia's pale and exquisite face, feeling the defense in the other's tone—defense that, while cold, was undeniably real.
A wave of emotion even more fierce than before surged in her heart. This time, Irene did not wail aloud; instead, she bit her lip, bean-sized tears smashing onto the back of her hand one by one.
A scholar dies for his bosom friend.
This phrase appeared in her mind once again.
Countless thoughts flashed through Irene's mind.
She thought, she wanted to make Queen Sophia stand at the pinnacle of this world.
Meanwhile, in the shadows not far from the bed, Delilah, who had maintained a calm posture throughout, surprisingly felt a stinging sensation in her nose at this moment.
As a decisive General in her past life, she had seen too much betrayal and indifference.
She never thought that this kind of sincere emotion, so genuine it made one's heart ache, would actually appear in a young girl labeled a 'Tyrant'.
That girl lying on the bed, whose very breathing seemed labored, was clearly suffering the deepest wound, yet she comforted her subordinate the moment she woke up.
This tenderness, revealed inadvertently, was more capable of conquering hearts than any iron-blooded wrist.
Sophia Mason, just how many 'surprises' are you going to give me?
Delilah whispered in her heart, the hand gripping her sword hilt trembling slightly.
She found that she actually didn't quite dare to look directly into Sophia's pale golden eyes.
Those eyes seemed to harbor a light that could quietly melt the hatred and wariness she had ice-sealed for years.
"Alright, stop crying."
Delilah suddenly spoke. Although her voice remained steady, it carried a trace of imperceptible trembling.
She forced herself to maintain that serious face, trying to mask the waves in her heart with her habitual calmness.
"This subordinate will go call the Medical Officer.
"Since Your Majesty is awake, the dressing needs to be changed, and the condition of the wound must be reconfirmed."
After speaking, Delilah didn't even wait for Sophia's response before abruptly turning around.
Her steps were extremely fast, leaving the Bedchamber almost as if fleeing in panic.
Only Delilah herself knew that the moment she turned around, those eyes that had never wavered even amidst armies of thousands were already slightly moist.
"Damn it, how could I be made to cry by this Tyrant?"
Delilah mocked herself in her heart as she walked down the long corridor.
I must just be because I stayed up too late and was blinded by those smoky oil lamps.
Inside the Bedchamber, Sophia watched Delilah's retreating figure, which moved like wind and fire, and looked at Irene with some confusion.
"What's wrong with her?"
Irene wiped her tears, breaking into a smile through her sobbing. "I don't know. She is probably also just happy that Your Majesty woke up."
*
Not long after, that young female physician walked in trembling, carrying her medical kit with her head lowered.
In every kingdom, the status of Medical Officers serving the Royal House was extremely high. But facing this Queen who had just hung the heads of rogue bandits all over the City wall, her hand holding the box couldn't stop shaking.
Sophia watched expressionlessly as the physician removed the bandages wrapped around her left arm.
Pain, pain, pain... be gentle!
Sophia let out a silent wail internally.
But that cold face didn't show even a single muscle twitch. Her pale golden eyes were as calm as if the flesh being cut wasn't her own.
The physician applied some crushed green herbs onto the wound.
The herbs emitted a smell like rotten leaves mixed with earthy soil. The moment they were applied, a burning, stinging sensation swept over her.
This kind of primitive medical method... will it really not cause tetanus?
Sophia stared at the green medicinal paste, falling into deep worry.
If only there was a divine doctor Transmigrator. Even getting me some alcohol and antibiotics would be fine.
Although that girl Irene has a good brain, she is obviously not medical material.
But maybe later she can research something helpful for medicine.
Seeing Her Majesty the Queen remain silent throughout, her gaze not fluctuating in the slightest, the cold sweat on the physician's forehead flowed even more fiercely.
She finished the bandaging in fear and trepidation, hurriedly kneeling to take her leave.
Truly worthy of the decisive Queen Majesty.
Such a deep wound where bone could be seen, yet she didn't even frown when changing the dressing. This willpower is simply non-human!
After the medicine was changed, the personal maidservant Willow walked in lightly, leading several servants holding trays.
"Your Majesty, this was specially ordered by Miss Irene."
Willow placed the tray on the low table in the side hall, her tone soft and full of awe and happiness.
"Your Majesty is finally awake.
"Miss Irene said you lost too much blood and shouldn't eat greasy food. This is carefully boiled lean meat rice porridge, and a few stir-fried green vegetables.
"To give you an appetite, fine meat strips were specially added to the vegetables."
Sophia looked at the white porridge emitting a fresh fragrance, her pale golden pupils lighting up slightly.
Oh! It's actually white rice porridge!
Even a place like the Kingdom of Mason has this kind of fine grain?
But thinking carefully, it should be old rice from the treasury.
Rice, this precious thing, was rare in this world; commoners couldn't afford it.
Only nobles would eat food made of rice occasionally. Sophia only ate it occasionally when attending the Noble Academy in the Imperial Capital.
Her stomach, hungry for three days, grumbled twice the moment it smelled the food.
Sophia swallowed her saliva, her stoic face still looking as if she would barely deign to eat two bites.
This porridge is cooked really well. The wild vegetables with meat strips look good too.
Willow watched Sophia eat slowly and methodically. Even in an injured state, her bearing remained elegant.
The first thing Her Majesty cared about after waking up was not hatred or angry cursing, but calmly eating to replenish strength.
Just as she was dining, Victor's voice came from outside the side hall.
"Your Majesty, Chancellor Valery and Victor request an audience."
Sophia put down the spoon, took out a handkerchief, and mechanically wiped her mouth.
"Enter."
Valery and Victor, these two heavyweights of the Kingdom of Mason, were now like two lifeless stone statues, kneeling straight on the cold stone floor.
________________________________________
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