“Grandfather! Are you sick?”

“I’m fine, it’s just a common cold. Blanche, don’t come too close in case you catch it from grandfather.”

He covered his mouth with a handkerchief and moved away from Blanche.

“Larien. Take Blanche and go upstairs quickly.”

Earl Boston’s voice had a metallic tone mixed in.

“Uncle. Are you alright?”

“It’s just a common cold. Larien, don’t worry. This is nothing, *cough*.”

“Uncle!”

“Larien. I’m sorry, but I’d like to be alone.”

He left those words asking not to follow and hurriedly entered the study.

The coughing sound that could be heard from afar did not subside for a long time.

“Mom. Grandfather’s cough isn’t stopping, what should we do?”

“I know. I’m worried he might be sick.”

“Achoo!”

On the way up to the room, Blanche let out a big sneeze.

“Blanche. Are you cold from going outside? Let’s warm you up quickly.”

“Okay!”

I took Blanche’s small hand and headed to the bathroom.

“The bubbles are soft and tickle Shu Shu’s cheeks.”

“Be careful not to get it in your eyes, okay?”

Blanche played with the bubbles in the bathtub.

I bit my lip worriedly about Earl Boston while washing Blanche.

‘It seemed more serious than just a simple sneeze like Blanche’s.’

Being a descendant of a witch meant not aging in appearance, but it didn’t mean never falling ill.

I was concerned about his complexion, which had become paler than when I saw him yesterday.

‘I hope it’s not a serious illness…’

Water overflowed with splashing sounds.

“Blanche?”

“…Mmm.”

Blanche had fallen asleep deep in the water.

‘How cute.’

I wiped off the remaining bubbles and wrapped Blanche’s body in a towel as we came out.

“Oh my, Young Lady Blanche…”

Mary, who had come in to tidy up the dressing table, smiled lightly.

“Yes. She must have gotten sleepy from the warm water.”

I looked at Mary while dressing Blanche in pajamas.

“Mary. Has uncle’s face not become gaunt recently? Is he not eating properly?”

I thought she might know best about his condition, having been in the mansion with him continuously.

“Well… The Earl has been staying only on the 4th floor lately, so I’m not sure. He comes down again around the time you return, young lady.”

But Mary shook her head, saying she didn’t have much contact with him either.

“Only on the 4th floor? Why… Oh.”

I was guessing why Earl Boston was staying on the 4th floor when I realized that’s where Diane’s room was after she died.

He said her heart had stopped not long after the day I came to him with Blanche.

It was around this time that Diane had passed away.

The reason he looked unwell was because it was close to Diane’s death anniversary.

‘If only it were an illness, we could try to cure it, but Diane died while living an ordinary life.’

Was that why he asked me to say I’d be back when wearing the pendant?

‘Because Diane died without being able to say she’d be back…’

I understood why Earl Boston, who recognized me as Diane, wanted to hear those greetings.

‘So that’s why he said he wanted to be alone.’

Even though I wanted to comfort Earl Boston, he wished not to be disturbed during this time.

‘He always avoided coming to Rukah during this period.’

Now was the right time to quietly give him time to mourn Diane.

The pain of losing a child first was not something I could dare to share.

He also seemed reluctant for Blanche and me to come close because he had caught a cold.

Blanche, who had opened her eyes at my touch while I was brushing her tangled hair, let out a long yawn.

“Mmm, mom. Is something wro… *yawn*.”

“Did I wake you, Blanche? I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okaaay.”

Blanche smiled brightly and reached out to me.

“Mom, hug Shu Shu.”

“My baby smells so nice.”

When I hugged Blanche, a fresh, clean scent wafted all at once, probably because she had just bathed.

“Hehe, mom. What’s this? There’s a mark on your neck. It’s really red.”

“…Huh?”

Blanche pointed to the reddish marks left on my neck.

“Mary, look at this! Mom has marks on her neck just like when Shu Shu was stung by a bee. Did mom get stung by a bee too?”

“Young Lady Blanche. The young mistress wasn’t stung by a…”

Mary, who burst out laughing at Blanche’s innocent question, swallowed her words midsentence.

“Yes, I was stung by a bee.”

I gestured to Mary and put my hand to my mouth.

“Even to me, it looks just like when Young Lady Blanche was stung by a bee, *snort*.”

Mary barely managed to agree while catching her breath.

“Right, even Mary thinks this is the work of a bee, don’t you?”

I knew there were marks left all over my body, but I didn’t know there were marks on my neck too.

‘He must have deliberately left them on my neck where they’re easily visible.’

I vowed not to let Jade off easily when I meet him tomorrow.

“Hoo~”

A light breath touched around my neck.

“When Shu Shu was stung by a bee, it hurt so much.”

Blanche furrowed her brows and made a sad expression.

“Does it hurt mom? Shu Shu will blow on it to make it better quickly!”

It was admirable how she sympathized, thinking it must hurt, and blew on it.

“Thank you Blanche…”

“Mom. Why were you stung by bees so much? There are marks on your shoulder too.”

I wanted to hide somewhere with no one around right now.

I was so embarrassed that Blanche of all people had noticed.

“Do bees fly around in winter too? Shu Shu has never seen one, it’s strange…”

“Yes, it’s a very strong bee. Let’s be careful so Blanche doesn’t get stung…”

“If it’s a very strong bee, it must hurt a lot! What a mean bee! I’ll scold it if I see it.”

I felt guilty seeing Blanche completely fall for the hastily made-up lie.

I bowed my head deeply, unable to face Blanche.

“Mom. Shu Shu will keep watch…”

“Blanche?”

“Mmm, Shu Shu’s not sleep… ing… Won’t let the bee… sting mom… Shu Shu will protect you…”

Her speech was slurred with sleepiness, slurring her pronunciation.

I walked around patting her back, as she might wake up soon if I laid her down right away.

‘Finally got her to sleep.’

When Blanche fell into a deep sleep with quiet breathing, I carefully put her down on the bed and caught my breath.

“Young mistress. You should get rid of the bee’s handiwork.”

Mary teasingly said as she held out the ointment in her hand.

“…Mary, stop teasing and get me some contraceptives.”

“Yes, young mistress, I under, stand.”

Mary left, unable to hold back her laughter until the end.

“It stings…”

The red marks on my neck stung when I applied the ointment.

I approached the mirror in case there were any other marks.

“…Oh my.”

I was speechless for a moment, dumbfounded by the reflection of my back in the mirror.

There were countless marks left on my back.

‘If I had known this would happen, I should have told him to stop.’

A long time ago, the first night I spent with him.

Jade didn’t leave marks like this back then.

‘No matter how I look at it, it seems he left them on purpose…’

I was appalled to realize that Jade had developed such a strange habit without my knowing.

‘I swear I won’t do it with him again.’

I made a firm resolution never to fall for Jade’s seduction again, no matter what.

After taking the contraceptive that Mary brought later, drowsiness overcame me.

Feeling mentally exhausted, I lay down intending to just close my eyes for a moment next to Blanche.

Earl Boston, who had entered the study and was leaning against the door, shrugged his shoulders.

He had been coughing non-stop for a while, making it difficult to breathe.

He staggered, feeling dizzy, and leaned on the table.

The continuous pain squeezing near his heart made him cough up dark red blood.

The blood sprayed into the air left dark stains on the floor. The pungent smell of blood permeated the air.

Perhaps it was fortunate.

At least he hadn’t coughed up blood in front of Larien and Blanche.

“…I almost got caught by Larien. Blanche would have been scared if she saw it too.”

He rubbed the fresh blood smeared on his mouth with a handkerchief.

“More than that, my condition is getting worse… I should start writing my will soon.”

He felt bitter about the bloodstains proving he didn’t have much time left.

It had already been several months since he was diagnosed with his heart not functioning properly.

He was expected to die like this, feeling chest pain and coughing up blood, with his heartbeat gradually slowing and eventually stopping.

At the doctor’s words that he wouldn’t make it past spring, he secretly visited a bishop while Larien and Blanche were away meeting the Pope.

The bishop said his illness had worsened to the point where even God’s blessing couldn’t heal him.

God was always cruel.

He wouldn’t let you die when you didn’t want to live, but gave death when you wanted to live.

He wanted to spend more time with Larien while alive.

He was curious to see Blanche grow up and become an adult.

Even if that wasn’t allowed, he didn’t want to die now.

He knew he wouldn’t last long at best.

He didn’t forget the fact that he was facing death.

He was just worried about Blanche, who couldn’t guarantee her life if she went out of control.

‘The saint’s education starts in half a year…’

He wanted to hold on at least until she learned how to control her holy power.