“Bonnie…!”

Upon hearing the servant’s words, Luke headed straight for the bedroom where Bonita was. Seeing the bewildered Rebecca, he stood still with a big body.

“Please be quiet, Your Grace. Miss Bonita might be shocked.”

Luke nodded in agreement, closing the door behind him. His gaze fell on Bonita, who was peacefully breathing on the bed.

Next to her, Aria sat with a worried expression. Luke passed by Aria and kneeled next to the bed where Bonita lay.

“She’s… alive.”

Looking closely, Bonita, who was asleep, didn’t seem to have any major issues. There was no fever on her face, no cold sweat, and no paleness. She seemed to be just sleeping.

Kneeling on the chair next to the bed, he asked, “Is she asleep?”

“No.”

The answer came immediately from beside him. Luke’s eyes trembled.

“What does that mean?”

“She didn’t fall asleep; she lost consciousness. It’s been a day already.”

Aria, with a pained expression, explained. Her usually soft and flowing blonde hair looked disheveled as if she hadn’t had time to comb it.

“Bonita, who was attending the private tutor’s lesson, suddenly collapsed. Her body stiffened… That got better, but…”

Aria’s words lacked coherence, and she seemed to be still confused.

“Tell me straight.”

Luke’s voice was low, and his bloodshot eyes were piercing.

“…”

He reached out to grip Aria, who still hadn’t answered.

However, when he saw the delicate wrist that still retained a hint of blue veins, he couldn’t help but hesitate.

“As Mr. Hilton said.”

Fortunately, thanks to Rebecca’s intervention, the issue between the two was temporarily set aside.

Rebecca, wearing a doctor’s gown, explained, soothing her nasal bridge.

“About 10 to 15 minutes ago, Miss experienced a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, followed by just losing consciousness without any visible abnormal reactions. Currently, there are no visible abnormalities in her body. We should consider it as her merely being asleep.”

“That means—”

“Yes.”

Rebecca replied.

“At the moment, there are no issues medically detectable within the mansion. However, she can’t wake up.”

“What?”

Luke’s mouth twitched up on one side.

“So, you’re saying it’s perfectly fine that my daughter can’t wake up right now?”

“For now, according to the medical examinations possible within the mansion.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

He retorted sharply.

Despite the efforts to save Bonita as much as possible, Luke looked almost crazy enough to kill anyone on the spot. Aria, who would have usually intervened at least, was no different from Luke in her lack of composure. Looking at the complexions of the two, Rebecca quickly brought up the subject.

“Wait, Your Grace. What I mentioned is only a medical opinion within the Duke’s mansion.”

“…What does that mean?”
“I conducted a physical examination of the young lady using magical tools. The magical power in the spinal cord and blood is overwhelmingly higher compared to an ordinary person.”

Luke, with crossed legs, blinked as if urging her to continue.

“Usually, such data is observed in individuals who have already completed awakening as a magician or those who have been continuously exposed to discharged magic.”

Luke’s gaze changed.

“Are you saying that the cause of Bonita losing consciousness is related to magic?”

“…I’m just mentioning that there is a possibility. Anyway, it’s been about a day since she lost consciousness, and she might wake up on her own soon.”

“…”

Although it was a comforting remark, it didn’t seem to be much helpful.

Luke cautiously reached out to Bonita, who was sleeping. Tremors were felt in his large hands with calluses in every place where he gripped the sword.

Slowly but surely.

Luke’s hand, reaching Bonita, gently swept her small forehead. The pink bangs covering her forehead scattered like strands of thread.

“What…?”

At that moment, Luke’s eyes widened.

A wave rippled in the red eyes with an ominous hue. He abruptly stood up.

“Your Grace?”

Rebecca, the only one in relatively good condition, called him with a bewildered look. To Luke, it seemed like her call didn’t reach him at all.

“Just a moment.”

He said, taking a deep breath.

“For a moment, leave the room.”

⭐⭐⭐

Leaving Bonita’s room in a rush, Luke quickly headed to his own bedroom. He rubbed his eyes with an urgent feeling.

‘It was a trace of black magic.’

It was certain.

‘Why to Bonita…’

Nobles used to casually dismiss the rumor that the Renaissance Duke was a black magician circulating among commoners.

It was natural.

Magic was an area for the chosen ones who went through awakening during infancy. Luke was a non-magician. So, he couldn’t even properly read a spellbook.

Originally… that was the case.

If there was an undiscovered fact, it was that.

Black magic was a discipline that showed mercy to those without talent in magic.

Only a different talent was required.

Desperation and earnestness.

The moment Luke lost Elodie, he fulfilled those conditions.