I looked at Dr. Watt with wide eyes, curious about what he needed.

“It’s not advisable to take the medicine in the drawing room. It would be better to do so in a bedroom where you can lie down and rest.”

His hesitation made sense now; he was preparing for any potential complications. I recalled reading that the cure for Trintz disease could cause extreme pain, with patients thrashing about. In some cases, the pain was so unbearable that people fainted. Clearly, a bedroom was a safer option than the drawing room.

“I’ll show you the way.”

“Yes, Madam.”

I stood up and led Dr. Watt to the bedroom, with Rivet and a few servants following us, carrying towels and water bowls for emergencies.

“Here is the medicine.”

Dr. Watt handed me a small packet containing the medicine. Inside was a small, almost black pill that emitted a strong herbal scent.

Taking this medicine would finally free me from the persistent fear of death that had haunted me. I knew it would bring severe pain as the mana in my body realigned, and I would have to endure the aftereffects. The immediate side effects were daunting, but the long-term repercussions of the disease worried me even more. The aftereffects could last anywhere from 1-2 years, or even a lifetime.

However, living with side effects was far better than slowly dying in agony, fully aware but paralyzed. At least with the medicine, I wouldn’t have to fear death during each attack. Constantly thinking about dying during every episode had been eroding my sanity. The anxiety of possibly dying today, coupled with my desperate will to live, had left me trembling with fear countless times.

Today, that fear would end.

I stared at the pill for a moment before placing it in my mouth. Rivet handed me a glass of water, which I used to swallow the pill more easily.

I had read that the pain would be so intense after taking the medicine that it might feel like I couldn’t breathe. Knowing this, I was already tense.

But surprisingly, I felt no pain at first. Just as I began to doubt Dr. Watt’s choice of medicine, an excruciating pain erupted near my heart. The pain surged through my veins, electrifying every part of my body. It was so intense that I forgot how to breathe, and I began to shake uncontrollably.

For hours, I writhed and screamed as the pain crawled from my fingertips to my toes, like insects skittering through my nerves. My head felt like it was splitting open, my eyes burned as if they might pop out, and every cell in my body twisted with agony.

Then, my body heated up. It felt as though a burning flame was consuming me, threatening to destroy everything. I screamed without realizing it, desperately wishing for the pain to cease.

The torment engulfed my entire being, leaving me in relentless agony. I cried out for mercy, begging to be saved, even though no sound escaped my mouth. I was so desperate that I could taste blood in my throat.

The hours of pain dragged on, and the sun that had been high in the sky was now setting on the horizon.

At some point, the heavy pressure on my body lifted. My labored breathing gradually calmed. It felt as if a suffocating layer had peeled away from me. Slowly, I opened my eyes.

I recognized the familiar ceiling. Blinking several times, I turned my head to survey the room.

“Madam?”

Rivet, wringing out a wet towel by the bed, looked at me in surprise.

“Madam, are you alright?”

“Yes… Can you help me sit up?”

My voice was rough and cracked.

With Rivet’s assistance, I sat up and took the glass of water she handed me, gulping it down in one go. The water felt refreshing against my parched lips. I returned the empty glass to Rivet.

“What happened? I remember taking the medicine, but…”

“Three days have passed since then. You were in constant pain after taking it, and you just woke up now.”

“Three days?”

That was much longer than I had anticipated. The books often exaggerated things, so it felt unreal that I had been unconscious for days. Now, I realized it wasn’t just an exaggeration.

I sighed and raised my hand to my forehead. My head felt a bit heavy, but overall, I felt more energetic.

“How do you feel?”

“I feel different. My body feels lighter and refreshed.”

“That’s a relief. I was really worried. I thought something had gone wrong…”

Rivet’s voice was filled with concern. I gently patted her shoulder to reassure her.

She looked up at me, then smiled softly.

“Now that you’re awake, I’ll call Dr. Watt. There’s another maid waiting outside, so if you need anything, just call.”

“Thank you.”

Rivet left the room to fetch Dr. Watt. Alone, I lifted my now lighter hand.

After taking the medicine, all my senses seemed sharper and more acute. I couldn’t tell if this was because my nerves had dulled due to Trintz disease or if the medicine made from the Tieria flower had activated the mana in my body. What was clear was that I felt significantly better than before.

I lightly clenched and unclenched my fist. The color quickly returned to my once pale hand, reminding me that I had emerged from that horrific pain. I wouldn’t have to tremble in fear of dying from Trintz disease anymore.

Knock, knock. Lost in thought, I heard someone knocking on the door.

“Madam, I’ve brought Dr. Watt.”

It was Rivet’s voice from outside.

“Come in.”

Once I gave permission, Rivet opened the door, allowing Dr. Watt to enter with his medical bag.

“You’ve awakened, Madam. That’s truly a relief.”

“Thanks to you.”

“No, I was just doing my job. You were the one who procured the Tieria flower.”

Dr. Watt smiled warmly and sat down in a chair next to the bed. He took out a small orb from his bag and placed it in my hand. It was a diagnostic tool for Trintz disease.

“Just hold this gently.”

Following his instructions, I held the orb lightly. A faint light began to emanate from it. The light glowed for a while before slowly fading in my hand. Unlike before, when it flickered erratically and shattered, this was a clear sign of improvement.

Dr. Watt observed the orb before taking it back and putting it away. He smiled at me.

“It seems the medicine worked well. You appear to be cured of Trintz disease.”

“It’s all thanks to your efforts. I’m grateful.”

“Yes, Madam. However, before I leave, I’ll give you some medicine. Even though the disease is cured, there might still be some aftereffects.”

Dr. Watt handed me a transparent bottle filled with brown pills.

“This is an aftereffect reliever made from the Tieria flower you obtained. It will be effective when needed. However, since it also contains Tieria flower, we can’t make more until we acquire more flowers.”

“I’ll use it sparingly.”

In other words, I should only take it when absolutely necessary due to the difficulty in obtaining the ingredients. I nodded and carefully stored the bottle.

“But Madam,” Dr. Watt began, just as I thought we were done.

He hesitated, then spoke with a slightly bitter smile.

“The former Duke of Graham’s condition has worsened recently.”

“…My grandfather?”

His cautious words caught me off guard. Dr. Watt was not only my physician but also the physician for the former Duke of Graham. During the three days I had been unconscious, my grandfather’s condition had deteriorated. He had always been quite ill, but hearing that he had gotten worse made my heart sink.

“I know it’s delicate given your separation from Duke Graham, but perhaps you should visit him?”

Dr. Watt gave an awkward smile.

“I apologize if I’ve overstepped, Madam.”

“No, thank you for letting me know. I was worried about him.”

“Well, it seems your condition has stabilized, so I’ll take my leave now.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

After Dr. Watt left the room, I fell into deep thought. Visiting the Graham estate because of Ains felt uncomfortable, but avoiding it out of fear of seeing Ains wasn’t an option either. There had to be a reason Dr. Watt was urging me to visit.

“Rivet.”

“Yes, Madam?”

“I’ll visit the Graham estate tomorrow. Please inform them of my intention to visit. Make it clear that I’m going to see Damon Graham, not Ains Graham.”

“Yes, understood.”