Chapter 71

Freyer immediately entered Lilithia’s bedroom. Magic lamps had been replaced entirely by candlelight. Norman, who was adjusting the fireplace temperature with a poker, saw Freyer and spoke.

 

“The young lady woke up briefly, took her medicine, and fell back asleep.”

 

“That’s a relief.”

 

Freyer approached Lilithia’s side and gazed at her tenderly. Lilithia had been changed into a white nightgown, and Winnie was covering her with a blanket nearby.

 

“Please call us if the young lady expresses any discomfort.”

 

“I will.”

 

Norman and Winnie bowed lightly and left. Freyer was left alone in the room, and silence settled. The moonlight filtering through the window accentuated the quiet.

 

Only the candlelight, the fireplace, and the moonlight illuminated the bedroom. The soft lights enveloped Lilithia. The moonlight fell upon her hair, spread out on the bed, making it sparkle with a lemon-yellow light.

 

“Lilithia.”

 

Her flushed face had also calmed down. She looked more peaceful and composed than before.

 

“Mm…”

 

Lilithia frowned as if something was bothering her, and Freyer gently brushed back her sweat-dampened bangs with his finger. Lilithia’s expression immediately softened.

 

“My heart breaks when you look like this.”

 

Was this what it felt like to have one’s heart split in half? The Crown Prince and the Northern mages had made Lilithia their target.

 

A constitution that cannot expel mana. It was impossible to predict what kind of events this variable would trigger, or what awaited her.

 

“I will protect you no matter what.”

 

Freyer gazed at Lilithia with longing and spoke to himself. He clasped the hand of the sleeping Lilithia tightly.

 

 

***

 

 

“Where am I?”

 

I opened my eyes in a space submerged in darkness and looked around. In the pitch-black darkness where nothing was visible, I heard the sound of crying.

 

“Sniffle.”

 

In the middle of the space, where only darkness coexisted, a child was crouched down. It was a boy who looked about six years old, with bright, silver-colored hair.

 

Sensing my presence, the child rubbed his reddened eyes and lifted his head.

 

“Are you mommy?”

 

Transparent tears welled up in his moss-green eyes, making them shine brilliantly. Seeing me, his eyes immediately turned tearful, and the child wrinkled his nose.

 

“Oh, you’re not mommy.”

 

“Why are you alone, little one?”

 

I quickly approached the child, bent my knees, and examined him.

 

“Are you waiting for your mother?”

 

The child nodded softly.

 

“Did you see my mommy?”

 

When I shook my head, the disappointed child hung his head low. I looked around, wondering if I could find his mother, but I couldn’t see anything, as the only illuminated spot was the space where the child and I were.

 

“What should I do…”

 

I felt a small hand clutch my arm.

 

“Um, big sister…”

 

The child grabbed my arm with his small, delicate hand. Hesitantly, the child spoke.

 

“Could you stay with me until mommy comes?”

 

The child glanced around and squeezed my sleeve even tighter.

 

“It’s too dark here, and I’m scared to be alone…”

 

“Of course! I’ll stay with you until your mother comes.”

 

“Really?”

 

The child’s eyes sparkled as he smiled brightly like a blossoming flower.

 

“Of course.”

 

“Thank you! Pretty sister!”

 

His innocent smile made me smile naturally too. The child plopped down where he was and pulled on my sleeve, saying,

 

“Let’s sit down, my legs are tired!”

 

I sat down next to the child. He leaned his head on my arm and smiled radiantly.

 

“I’m not scared when I’m with you, big sister!”

 

“That’s good. When did your mother say she’d come?”

 

“I don’t know! But she said she would come.”

 

“…How long have you been waiting for your mother?”

 

The child spread out both of his hands, like autumn leaves.

 

“I’ve waited more than the number of fingers!”

 

A number greater than ten fingers. I didn’t know how long the child had been waiting. But because it could be a much longer time than I thought, my heart ached, and I forced a smile.

 

“You’re so brave. You’re waiting well where your mother told you to.”

 

“Because I’m all grown up!”

 

The child flipped his head back, looked into my eyes, and asked, “But what is your name, pretty sister?”

 

“I’m Lilithia.”

 

“Wow! Your name is pretty too!”

 

The child repeated my name several times, and his moss-green eyes sparkled.

 

“I’ll remember you, Sister Lilithia!”

 

“What’s your name?”

 

“Me?”

 

I nodded, and the child smiled lightly.

 

“I’m Taeyang. Taeyang.”

 

“That’s a lovely name.”

 

“Right? Mommy gave it to me!”

 

The child giggled and kicked his feet. My heart felt a sting, but I tried not to show it and stroked the child’s head.

 

“I like being with you, Sister Lilithia!”

 

The child rubbed his head against my hand with a happy laugh.

 

“I like it too.”

 

The brilliant silver hair slipped through my fingers. The texture was like touching soft cotton candy. As I was stroking the child’s head, the bright light that illuminated only us gradually dimmed.

 

“I wasn’t very scared because you were here, Sister.”

 

A regretful voice was heard, and the head resting on my shoulder moved away.

 

“Already?”

 

The child’s mother hadn’t arrived yet. I hurriedly looked down at the child, but the brilliant silver hair was covered by the darkness and couldn’t be seen.

 

In my bewilderment, I waved my hand where the child had been, but nothing touched my fingertips.

 

“I hope to see you again, Lilithia.”

 

With the child’s voice as the last sound, I opened my eyes.

 

 

***

 

 

I saw the familiar ceiling.

 

“It was too vivid to be a dream…”

 

The feeling of soft hair on my fingertips still lingered. It was almost as if I were still stroking the child’s head.

 

“I must have slept for longer than I thought.”

 

The light coming through the window was dazzling.

 

Feeling the soft texture, I turned my head to look out the window. I had drifted off to sleep, but I thought it was only a few hours, not an entire day.

 

I moved my hand to prop myself up and get out of bed, but something tickled between my fingers.

 

‘What is it?’

 

I was quite surprised, turned my head, and my eyes widened at what I saw next to my hand. I was looking at Freyer, who was asleep, slumped over the bed.

 

‘Was I stroking Freyer’s hair…?’

 

The reason I thought the sensation was so vivid was that I had truly been stroking someone’s hair. Even though I had stroked his head with a stronger touch than I thought, Freyer was soundly asleep, making quiet, happy-sounding snores.

 

“Good thing. He didn’t wake up.”

 

However, his soft hair was tickling my fingertips, making me want to stroke his head again.

 

“Since he’s sleeping, it should be okay, right?”

 

Already addicted to the soft fluff, I carefully stroked his head.

 

“So soft…”

 

When would I ever get to touch Freyer’s hair again? Only when it was unconsciously exposed like this. Then a thought flashed through my mind.

 

‘But someone was next to me all night…’

 

I remembered waking up briefly in the middle of the night, having my clothes changed by Winnie, taking medicine, and falling back asleep.

 

‘Could Freyer have been by my side all night?’

 

I tried to pull back the hand that was touching Freyer’s hair. But in an instant, my hand was snatched by Freyer. It was a hold as if grasping a precious jewel. My eyes widened, and I met Freyer’s ambiguous gaze.

 

“That’s a relief.”

 

“…”

 

Freyer let out a sigh of relief and looked at me faintly. I was frozen, unable to speak, with a distant expression.

 

“I’ll come in!”

 

Winnie knocked and entered the bedroom. Her eyes met mine, and Winnie dropped the wooden basin she was holding.

 

Clatter-! What an awful sound!

 

“Young Lady!”

 

The water in the basin spilled onto the floor and soaked Winnie’s clothes, but Winnie didn’t care and quickly rushed to my side.

 

“…Are you alright?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

I flinched at her more exaggerated reaction than expected, and then my jaw dropped at Winnie’s next words.

 

“I was so worried because you hadn’t woken up for four days!”

 

“F-Four days?”

 

I hadn’t been asleep for half a day.

 

 

***

 

 

I found it hard to believe Winnie’s words. Hearing Winnie’s call, Norman also approached the bedroom. Surrounded by Freyer, Norman, and Winnie around the bed, I rolled my eyes.

 

“Come on. I was asleep for four days?”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Do you know how worried we were, Young Lady?”

 

Freyer next to me also nodded slightly, and only then did I sigh.

 

“No way.”

 

I looked around with a slightly suspicious gaze, but everyone was looking at me with tearful expressions. They looked at me as if I were fragile glass that would break with the slightest twitch.

 

It must have just been overwork and stress. Even if I was sick, being unconscious for four days was a first. In my previous life, even when working at the company, a day of rest with medicine was all it took for a complete recovery.

 

“I slept, so I should be fine now.”

 

As I tried to get up, Freyer’s grip on my wrist tightened, and Winnie urgently restrained my movement by practically throwing herself onto the bed.

 

“No! Young Lady, you are sick!”

 

I gripped my hand and tilted my head, but there was no soreness anywhere. Everything was normal.

 

‘I’m fine.’

 

Yet, Winnie and Norman spoke strongly.

 

“It would be best to focus on treatment for a while.”

 

“That’s right! You absolutely cannot leave the bed!”

 

“Not even out of bed?”

 

“Yes!”

 

Being banned from going out and also restricted from moving out of bed was so absurd that I was dumbfounded.

 

“I know I’m sick, but exactly what is wrong with me?”

 

If it was just fatigue, I would have recovered completely after four days of sleep, and all the stress was gone, leaving me feeling refreshed.

 

“Well…”

 

Winnie glanced at Norman and Freyer and paused, her mouth half-open. It was a gesture seeking permission to speak.

 

“If it was overwork severe enough to cause you to collapse, then you need even more rest.”

 

“That’s right!”

 

“Yes, indeed!”

 

Even Freyer joined Norman and Winnie, reacting strongly against me. I pouted and mumbled,

 

“But I’m not sick…”