Chapter 2 (Part 3)

At the same time, in an unoccupied bedroom, a bright light leaked from a drawer on the bedside table. It was the drawer containing the Duchess’s diary.

[Strange.]

The diary fluttered open to a blank page, and she scribbled to herself.

[Hmm. The child’s acceptance of the Duke of Carlisle is not surprising, as it was destined to happen anyway, but I didn’t expect the Duke of Carlisle to be sincere about it. Come to think of it, it seems the same for the Count, who wasn’t destined for it.]

As if it were a living being, the diary freely expressed her thoughts.

[Oh well, perhaps I’ll know once I meet the child in person.]

Then the bright light subsided, erasing all the writing and closing the diary as if nothing had happened. Darkness returned to the drawer.

Except for a small red orb that had appeared out of nowhere.

＊ ＊ ＊ ＊

“My Lady, if you get caught in all this rain with your already weakened body, it is natural to collapse again.”

“…I apologize.”

“You seem to catch colds frequently. You’ve only just gotten up from the bed, and now you have to lie down again.”

In conclusion, Ria didn’t witness Kahin barking like a dog that day. Her body weakened to the point of collapsing from just a brief encounter with the raindrops and then couldn’t hold out any longer. The scene of Kahin holding her hand, wiping her cheek with his palm, and bending one knee was her last memory.

“My body is too weak.”

Originally, she had a healthy body that rarely caught a cold. Given her current state, she couldn’t help but feel frustrated. When Ria grumbled, the attending physician released a firm expression and chuckled.

“I’ve added more medicinal ingredients, so if you take them, you’ll be well in no time.”

“…It tastes too bitter.”

“It’s all good for your body.”

Despite receiving complaints, the physician remained firm about the herbal medicine. That attitude reminded Ria of someone, and she tightly grasped the blanket. She imagined the warm embrace of her dearly missed loved one, the only family she’d ever known, as the physician gathered his instruments

Ria, recalling someone she missed silently, closed her eyes for a moment and then spoke as she opened them.

“Doctor, you’re just like my grandfather. He always made good herbal medicine for me. Even if it was bitter, I never missed a single dose.”

“I’m grateful and honored that you think so. Actually, I’ve been thinking of you as my granddaughter too.”

The surprised expression quickly resumed its normal color, and the physician smiled as he carefully tucked the blanket up to Ria’s neck, and then left the room. For a moment, Ria’s heart warmed at the small words of gratitude she heard before the door closed, but then she looked up and saw the three men in the doorway, their faces set in a grim expression as the door quickly firmly before them.

She needed absolute peace of mind more than anything else right now, and the men in front of her were the highest-ranked danger that interfered with that peace of mind.

Meanwhile, alone in the now silent room, Ria thought back to the moment before she collapsed.

Ugh, what the hell did I say?

‘Bark like a dog’? I’m crazy!

Overwhelmed by belated embarrassment and shame, she pulled the blanket over her head and kicked her feet in frustration. After a few kicks, she panted from exhaustion.

Finally catching her breath, Ria’s body relaxed as the feverish heat beneath her forehead subsided, as if the medicine she had just taken was working. Her lips sighed in relief and her breath mixed with a sense of languor.

But at least my mind is clear.

It wasn’t great to catch a cold from being in the rain, but she was certain about one thing: she would adapt and move forward. 

Yes. I just need to prepare myself now so I can live well if I end up on my own one day.

When I’m better, I’ll ask to be shown around outside. There’s still so much to learn about this world.

Come to think of it, it had been almost a month since she arrived here. Considering the significant events, she had thought more time had passed, but it hadn’t even been a month yet.

I’m exhausted.

Ria shook her head quickly at the thought as she tried to organize what she had to do next.

How weak of me to think that as soon as I decided to adapt and move on. As if my resolve wasn’t strong enough.

Pull yourself together.

However, no matter how much she tried to gather herself, the melancholy feeling didn’t easily fade away. 

Have I already become accustomed to them doing everything for me and have turned into a fool?

Foolish….

Suddenly, Ria’s expression sank sharply. A bad memory came to mind.

After losing her grandfather, the only person who supported her as a child, she had suffered silently, even to the point of wishing for death. She was at an age when she should have been leaning on her parents, but she couldn’t. She still couldn’t forget the conversations her parents used to have in front of her room late at night.

How it made no sense that she had such creepy powers but couldn’t use them on herself, and how that scared and grossed her out even more.

Don’t think about it.

A hesitant voice resurfaced, and she tightly shut her eyes, burying her face into the pillow. 

It’s okay, I’m not going back to Korea, the only three people here who know what I can do don’t care.

Constantly reminding herself of that, the trembling in her hand gradually subsided.

Then a bitter smile crossed her lips. In this respect, it might be better not to return to Korea.

Turning back to face the ceiling, Ria sighed and tried to close her eyes. She would rather sleep.

Just then, a red light leaked out of the drawer of the bedside table.

Huh?

Thinking she might have seen it wrong, she tightly shut her eyes and opened them again, but the red light still peeked through the crack in the drawer. Blinking for a moment in hesitation, Ria eventually propped herself up slowly and opened the drawer. Inside, a red orb rolled out.

“What is this?”

Turning the orb over in her hands, perplexed, Ria finally shook her head, unable to determine its identity.

“……!”

A sudden burst of red light enveloped Ria. There was no time to scream.

When the red light disappeared, only a disheveled futon remained.