Nicolas, the head physician of the infirmary, took a step closer to Adela and executed a deep bow.
"Welcome back, Your Excellency. I wanted to personally assure you that the condition of Their Highnesses, um, the Duke and the Duchess—I mean, our patients—is stable."
She offered a warm smile to the talented man, who had come a long way from the boy she had rescued in that collapsed hut to a promising young doctor, yet he still got flustered over the simplest things.
"Both titles are acceptable when it comes to Duke and Duchess von Conradie—one honorary and the other factual. I appreciate your efforts in my absence, Nicolas. You have made me proud. Now, please lead the way."
"Make way for Her Excellency, the Archduchess of Lanark!" Viscount Mathew announced as Adela entered.
"…There are ill people in here, Viscount. We could proceed without an announcement," she objected.
