“Dimitri asked me. He said you wanted to establish a medical facility here.”

“Oh.”

Lea recalled her conversation with Dimitri before coming here.

[“You want to establish a medical facility in Bialytskal?”] [Yes. Last time when the mine collapsed, there was no proper medical facility, and the damage was even greater. Now that the hot spring is being built, more people are coming. We need a reliable medical facility to match that.] [“Alright, do as you wish. Arie would have definitely liked it if she saw it.”]

While saying that, Dimitri patted Lea’s hand.

Even though she couldn’t see with her eyes, Lea could understand. Dimitri was a loving father to his deceased mother.

‘The reason Dr. Frankenstein asked for the favor is probably for my sake.’

It was the first time she felt the warmth of a real family. She had thought the love she received from the orphanage people was enough.

The love of a real family sharing the same blood was more overwhelming and touching than she could imagine. Tears welled up in Lea’s eyes as she felt Dimitri’s heart.

“Grandfather. I’m sure Mother will be happy in heaven.”

Looking at Lea smiling softly, Frankenstein also smiled in response.

In fact, even if Dimitri hadn’t asked, he had plans to come here. He was one of the people waiting for the prosperity of Bialytskal in the past.

‘A medical facility, huh.’

Bialytskal was such a backward land that it didn’t even have proper medical facilities. The region was unsuitable for agriculture due to the soil rich in salt throughout generations.

As a result, the residents of that land could only continue their lives with salt mining. Initially, the salt mining business seemed to be thriving.

However, after extracting sea salt, even the salt mining business became difficult. As the remaining residents left, the development of the vast and desolate Bialytskal was constantly postponed.

‘I can finally see it.’

The true Bialytskal. Frankenstein smiled with satisfaction. Suddenly, as if reminded of something, Lea clapped her hands.

“Right, there’s someone I’d like to introduce to Dr. Frankenstein. I’ll bring them right away, so please wait here. Don’t go anywhere; you must wait here.”

“Hehe, understood. Go quickly. I won’t take a step from here.”

Frankenstein replied to Lea with a gaze like that of an indulgent grandfather looking at his granddaughter.

“Yes.”

With that, leaving the herbal store, Lea looked for Akiya. However, due to the crowded people, Akiya’s figure was not visible.

‘Where on earth did he go?’
So, after looking around for a while, Lea spotted Akiya walking towards the square. The Duke also seemed to be searching for Lea, turning his head in different directions.

“Uh, I’m here! Duke!”

“Lea! There you are, I was going to…”

Akiya, who found Lea waving towards him, abruptly trailed off. It was because he saw a man gradually approaching her.

‘Who is that?’

The man seemed to be walking towards Lea as if he had been waiting for her. Akiya wondered if he was someone Lea knew in the village.

At the moment Akiya tilted his head, not having heard any story about meeting someone, he saw something metallic in the unfamiliar man’s arms shimmering in the sunlight.

‘What is that…’

What the man was holding was thought over for a while. Suddenly, a horrifying thought flashed through Akiya’s mind.

‘No way…!’

From that moment, he couldn’t recall what he had been thinking. His mind went blank like a white canvas.

Despite calling out to Lea, he was so bewildered that his voice didn’t come out properly.

‘No.’

Perhaps it could be a misconception. No, it must be a misconception.

In that brief moment, he even prayed to God. Please, let all of this be his imagination. Let nothing happen to Lea.

“Lea!”

Akiya threw the cotton candy in one breath and rushed towards Lea.

‘Darn it!’

Lea’s figure disappeared and reappeared repeatedly, obscured by the numerous people. And, despite scanning the surroundings, the mysterious shadow approaching Lea wasn’t visible.

“Lea! Are you okay?!”

Akiya wrapped Lea’s cheeks with his hands and let out a relieved breath. The expression on Akiya’s face, relaxed by the warmth felt under his palms, showed much relief.

“Let’s go inside for now. That strange guy just now, to you…”

Oddly enough, her face looked a bit different from usual. Her face, pale to the point of being sickly, had drained of its vitality.

Only then did the Duke notice that something was off with her expression when Lea, who had called Akiya, stopped mid-sentence.

“Your face right now…”

“…D-Duke.”

Lea’s voice calling Akiya trembled thinly. Noticing the unusual appearance of Lea, Akiya, who furrowed his brow, lowered his gaze.

[Drip, drip.]

Then, for some unknown reason, drops of blood were falling one by one to the ground.

‘Why is that…’

With a creaking sound from his throat, he slowly raised his gaze. What he saw in his eyes was the chilling crimson staining the white dress.

“…Lea?”

In the end, the gods didn’t grant his wish.