“What did you just say…….”

A maid collapsed on the floor.

Leo crying.

Casus realized that what he just heard was no mere joke as he looked at them.

He stared at Atia with a disbelieving face.

“What are you saying. That you’ll die.”

Casus’s voice trembled slightly as if pleading her to say it wasn’t so.

His gaze turned towards the handkerchief on the bed.

It was visibly a freshly used handkerchief stained with bright red blood.

“…….”

He took steps towards Atia.

Crying Kesha was cuddled in Atia’s arms.

No one could utter a single word.

Casus felt as if his heart would stop any moment, but he managed to keep his composure and slowly opened his mouth.

“What… did you say?”

Casus’s cold voice filled the room.

Atia wore a troubled expression, unable to respond.

To think she would be caught all at once like this.

Amidst the sunken silence, only the sound of Kesha’s sobbing was heard.

Casus walked over to Atia, knelt on one knee, and sat beside her.

In Casus’s chilly, clear blue eyes, Atia’s face was clearly reflected.

Casus felt like his heart was being torn apart but with great effort, he spoke again.

“I feel like I’ve just heard a cruel joke.”

Casus wished all this were a dream.

Wished he had heard wrong.

Therefore, he wanted to hear a denial from Atia’s lips.

However, Atia couldn’t answer with a lie.

“Yes, it’s true. I’m dying. Soon.”

“…….”

“As you can see, I’m not well.”

Casus’s expression visibly hardened.

Never before had his face gone so pale.

Atia hesitated, unsure what to say to Casus first.

But Casus spoke before she did.

“Call the doctor immediately.”

Casus looked at the colorless Atia, holding back his emotions.

“If you’re sick, you can be cured.”

“…….”

“That’s what doctors are for.”

Casus forcibly pulled up the corners of his mouth and patted Atia’s shoulder.

The temperature is low in the North.

Moreover, the Duke’s castle was particularly colder.

Casus realized his mistake and blamed himself.

“I shouldn’t have brought you to a place like this.”

“Uh? I said it’s okay for me to come. You don’t have to blame yourself, Duke.”

Seeing Atia smiling as if nothing was wrong, Casus felt even more shattered.

How could he not know she was in this state?

Even warning him not to invest in the socalled golden lands of Barrel.

Telling him about the incoming poisoned arrows.

All were things Atia had told him.

Yet he hadn’t noticed Atia was so sick.

Casus felt his heart sink.

Holding onto his slipping consciousness due to a flood of guilt, he said,

“It will be okay. No, it has to be.”

His low and sad voice settled into Atia’s ears.

(This is a time separator.)

The next morning.

Atia was moved to the Duke’s mansion by carriage.

She lay on a bed with freshly laid, clean bedding.

Immediately, dozens of doctors flocked to examine her.

‘Why are there so many doctors?’

Sweat trickled down as Atia was overwhelmed by the bustling doctors around her.

The doctors took turns examining Atia’s eyes, checking her wrist’s pulse, observing her skin and hair, and even her oral condition.

Atia lay there, letting them do as they wished.

‘It feels like undergoing a modern comprehensive health checkup, just without the machines.’

The examination continued until dusk.

Atia yawned, looking at the changing scenery outside the window.

‘Ah, I want to exercise… but I’m stuck here.’

She already felt lethargic.

She had been looking forward to exercising after the festival.

But now she was confined, having been found out by Leo, Kesha, and even Casus.

Listening to the doctors’ advice to stay still and be at ease, Atia had a headache.

“Miss Atia!”

A moment later, a familiar voice reached her ears.

At the sound of the familiar and welcome voice, Atia blinked her eyes.
‘Father is here as well.’

Heidegger approached Atia’s side.

The spacious room seemed to shrink suddenly as Heidegger entered.

The councilors bowed their heads to greet Heidegger.

Heidegger looked down at Atia’s gaunt face.

“I’ve heard the news. How is your health?”

“I’m fine, Father. There’s just something I want to do…”

“What is it? Feel free to speak.”

Heidegger looked at Atia with a worried expression, as if willing to even give up his dukedom if she wished for it.

“I want to exercise.”

“…”

For a moment, the silence engulfed Atia’s room, which felt as serious as an intensive care unit.

Heidegger frowned uncomfortably.

“I can’t allow that. Not until you’re fully recovered.”

“Ah, please… sob sob.”

“Anything else?”

Heidegger didn’t know what to do, seeing Atia visibly disappointed.

“I’ll grant you anything else.”

“Then, when I recover, I want to participate in the hunting contest.”

“A hunting contest?”

“Yes!”

Today’s newspaper in the carriage mentioned a hunting contest being held in a nearby neighborhood.

There were prizes of gold coins and various other items.

Atia couldn’t contain her excitement at the word ‘hunting contest.’

Heidegger nodded.

“If you recover, let’s participate.”

“Wow, Father, you’re the best!”