The imperial palace was in complete chaos. The physician who rushed in urgently and Judith, Anna, and Schuler who were breathlessly following his instructions. Even Glen who ran over upon hearing the news.

The physician said that the method to know for sure what poison she ingested as the glass and bottle were shattered had disappeared, but based on the color that was first on Chaz’s glass as Elaina said, he could roughly guess a few types.

Conveying that ‘poison is a race against time’, the physician said that treatment should be poured out like using medicines that are effective for as many types of poisons as possible.

After quickly finishing his explanation, the physician fed Elaina two or three types of medicine he brought in advance, and left the bedroom with Judith and Anna. Saying that she needs to take a newly brewed decoction.

And Elaina was lying on the bed with a face drenched in extreme pain.

“……”

Exhaling rough breaths that seemed to keep getting worse, Elaina quietly looked at Sinclair. Sinclair, who was now firmly holding her hand, had not said a word since earlier.

He was just gritting his teeth with an expression Elaina had never seen before.

“If someone sees this……”

Elaina, who had been looking at him like that, slowly moved her dry lips.

“They’ll think you’re the one who drank the poison, Sinclair……”

“……”

“I’m fine. So you don’t have to worry so much……”

However, before she could finish her words, Elaina began to cough up rough coughs.

As if proving that it was still too much to completely detoxify even though the physician urgently gave her medicine, bright red blood flowed down like water from between her pale white lips.

Sinclair reached out his hand without any hesitation. Then, carefully wiping the blood on Elaina’s chin with his sleeve, he caressed her lips endlessly.

…… Throughout his life so far, he thought he had experienced countless things.

He lost his mother before his eyes, lost Ellie, and endured all kinds of shame and humiliation to survive being left alone in the imperial palace. The number of times he almost died was uncountable, and conversely, the number of times he wanted to die was also uncountable.

But this was the first time he felt such a miserable feeling.

“I told you not to make that expression.”

This time, Elaina slowly reached out her hand. And gently caressing Sinclair’s cheek as he looked down at her, she said.

“If you had drunk it…… the situation would have gotten worse.”

Elaina said, panting slightly.

“Hister probably…… would have made a bigger deal out of it thinking this was the time…… and the emperor would have just continued to stand by and watch.”

Sinclair also knew that there was nothing wrong with what Elaina said.

But that didn’t become a reason for Elaina to drink the poison.

Never.

Moreover, Elaina hadn’t even built up a tolerance to poison. It went without saying that it would be much harder for her than he thought.

He couldn’t even ask why she did such a stupid thing again.

Because it was he himself who was making her that way.

How much longer do I have to make you sick and in pain?

Making you lose a leg, drink poison, and even put your life in danger……

A subtle groan escaped from between Sinclair’s lips. It sounded like a sound made from not being able to fully hold back anger, and also like a scream made because of a heart that was beginning to crumble.

Perhaps it was all of them.

“I’m sorry, Elaina.”

Sinclair, tightly grasping Elaina’s hand with trembling fingers, spat out as if vomiting in a voice that was fading away.

“It’s all my fault.”

All the misfortunes related to Elaina were, without exception, all his fault. In the end, he had never saved her. Rather, he only pushed her into a deeper mire. Both then and now.

“Even if we go back to earlier…… I would do the same thing.”

However, Elaina shook her head and replied in a shabby, cracked voice.

“You also…… saved me then……”

“……”

“On Foundation Day.”

Elaina continued, smiling faintly.

“Did you want to hear an apology from me then……?”

“No, not at all.”

At Sinclair’s answer, which was as firm as it could be, Elaina laughed.

“That was something I did because I wanted to. Something I had to do. But you’re different. There’s no reason anywhere for you to do this much because of me……”

“It was also something I did because I wanted to.”

Sinclair briefly flinched.

“So…… let’s agree to not blame each other.”

“……Why.”

“Sinclair?”

“If it was something you wanted, then why is this.”

“……”

“Why on earth.”

Well.

Should I say it’s because I didn’t want to see you suffering because of me like last time? That it hurt more than me getting hurt.

Should I say I thought I had to do at least this much for you? Because I’ve received so much from you, but haven’t done anything for you.

Or should I say it’s because I no longer want you to get hurt in any way? Because you’ve already been in pain more than enough to overflow.

If I were to combine those reasons into one, what should I say?

Not being able to figure out the answer no matter how much she thought about it, Elaina just tightly held Sinclair’s hand.

“Nothing will happen, Sinclair……”

Then she spoke as if comforting him.

“You know it too. That I’ve lived my whole life hearing that I’m a parasite to the Aswald family……”

“……”

“Enduring and enduring like that…… is something I’m very good at……”

So she’ll endure well this time too, and overcome it again. She’ll win.

If something happens to her, Sinclair might blame himself. Or maybe…… he might even be sad.

She didn’t want that.

“Elaina, you don’t look well.”

Facing Elaina’s face that kept turning pale, Sinclair muttered in a voice that was trembling a little, unlike usual.

“You have to keep your eyes open properly, Elaina.”

“I’m sorry. I keep……”

“……”

“I keep getting sleepy for some reason……”

For a moment at her words, it sounded as if his heart was falling to the bottom. Sinclair, whose face turned ashen, hastily turned his head and shouted loudly.

“Physician! Where did the physician go?! Judith, Anna!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Judith and the physician came running, firmly holding a bowl filled with freshly brewed medicine with all their might. The same went for Schuler and Glen who were waiting in front.

“You have to take this first. If not, it could really become dangerous!”

The physician who came running in a flurry began to urgently check Elaina’s condition, and Judith, as if about to burst into tears at any moment, reddened her eyes and kept fiddling with the empty bowl.

“Lady Elaina. Lady Elaina!”

He tried to wake Elaina up somehow, but it wasn’t of much use. Elaina, who had already lost consciousness, showed no response. She was just irregularly exhaling shallow breaths that seemed to be fading away.

And it was right at that moment. Sinclair, who was still firmly holding Elaina’s hand, swiftly reached out his other hand. Then, he snatched the bowl that was in Judith’s hand.

Sinclair, who took a mouthful of the bitter medicine that was so disgusting it made him want to vomit, kissed Elaina as is.

“Si, Sir Sinclair!”

“You mustn’t do that! The poison could spread to you too, Sir Sinclair! It hasn’t even been properly detoxified yet……”

But Sinclair didn’t listen to them at all. Holding Elaina’s chin, he forcibly fed the medicine to the unconscious her and slowly lifted his lips.

“Judith, Anna. I don’t need your attendance separately.”

“Yes……?”

“Bring the other medicines Elaina needs to take, warm water and cloth as well.”

“……”

“And a change of clothes too.”

Even while giving orders, Sinclair’s gaze was still only directed at Elaina.

Schuler and Glen, who were looking at such Sinclair, reflexively glanced at each other without knowing it themselves.

Has Sir Sinclair ever made such an expression in front of people?

Also, has he ever sincerely worried about and took care of someone to this extent?

“I will personally take care of nursing Elaina.”

“……”

“I don’t need anyone else’s help. I’ll call again if there are any abnormalities while checking her condition, so everyone leave.”

As if Elaina’s limp hand was his lifeline, he never let go of that small, white hand.

In the eyes of Judith, Anna, the physician, Schuler, and Glen, Sinclair looked as if he was the only one left in the world with Elaina.

“…… It would be best for everyone to do as Sir Sinclair says.”

Glen parted his lips in a small voice.

“Judith and Anna, continue to assist the physician. I’m sorry to say this, but I hope the physician stays in the imperial palace until Lady Elaina regains consciousness.”

The physician quietly nodded his head, as if he had already expected it to that extent.

“Schuler and I will continue to guard the vicinity of the imperial palace. If there are any medicinal ingredients or items you need, please tell us anytime. I’m sure you all know what I mean, right?”

Everyone there nodded at Glen’s words. Before long, Schuler gestured towards them as if to hurry and leave.

Not long after, only Elaina and Sinclair were left in the bedroom where only faint breathing could be heard.

Sinclair, sitting in front of the bed, began to do something he had never done before and thought he would never have occasion to do, with his head bowed and eyes tightly closed.

It was begging God.

If that was what He wanted, he could even give up his life.

Even if he were to suffer a fate far more terrible than what he had endured all his life, he would accept it without resenting anyone.

So please, just save his Ellie.

It was a plea and wish that couldn’t be more miserable.