“Yes, thanks to Eloise’s antidote, his condition has improved.”

That was a relief.

Even though I unintentionally revealed one secret, I still managed to achieve something.

‘Yeah. Karl Ferdia is not the type to die easily.’

Maybe even if it wasn’t for my ability, he might have pulled through to the end.

Feeling relieved at the recent news that he hadn’t died, I let out an unconscious sigh.

Smiling kindly again, Yancy added an explanation.

“Karl woke up but fell back asleep, Lily. Maybe when he wakes up again, he’ll come running here immediately?”

“Haha….”

It sounded like it would be bothersome. It would have been better if Karl just slept soundly.

In fact, having fainted after ingesting poison and waking up now, my body condition was at its worst.
As soon as I woke up, talking with several people made my headache worse. Despite my attempts not to show it, the Marchioness, who was scrutinizing me, turned to Yancy and said, “Yancy, it would be better for you to go up and monitor Karl’s condition.”

“……Yes, Mother.”

After glancing at me, Yancy left the room. Eventually, the marchioness also ushered Masa and the physician outside. Only the marchioness and I remained in the bedroom.

“Eloise.”

“Yes, madam.”

“Will you forgive me?”

“……Pardon?”

I was momentarily perplexed by the marchioness’s unexpected words. Approaching me by the bedside, she looked down at me with a dark expression.

“I couldn’t prevent you from using your ability even though I knew the consequences.”

The marchioness’s apologetic smile was genuinely sincere.

However, I couldn’t understand why she was apologizing to me.

“I did it because I wanted to. There’s no need for you to apologize, madam.”

“Even though you suffered for Eloise’s sake to save Karl?”

“That’s…!”

There was a contradiction in the marchioness’s words. From the moment I knew that Karl had been poisoned, the marchioness intentionally avoided meeting my gaze.

As if telling me not to interfere.

Yet, I was the one who drank the poison. There was no one to stop me.

Really, if I truly wanted to save my son using my ability, I should have asked for an antidote as soon as I knew it was poison.

But the marchioness didn’t do that.

Would I have acted the same way if I were in her shoes?

‘…No.’

On the contrary, I should be grateful to the marchioness, who tried to protect my secret until the end.

“Even if it were not Karl Ferdia but someone else, I would have saved them. So, you don’t need to apologize.”

I hoped the marchioness wouldn’t feel guilty.

I was truly okay.

Rather, it felt strange to consider not only saving Karl, my son, but also myself.

As I lowered my head, fearing I might make an awkward appearance, a gentle hand lightly slapped my cheek.

“You’re truly a kind child. Thank you for understanding.”

The marchioness, who had sat down on the edge of the bed without me realizing, looked at me with a gentle smile.

Perhaps due to the rare occasions of being so close to the marchioness, I, who had no immunity to such situations, couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

“Your complexion doesn’t look good, Eloise.”

“As the madam knows, I’ll get better if I rest.”

Trying to smile convincingly, the marchioness, as if reading my inner thoughts, stared at me with pity.

“If you’re in pain, say so. It’s okay.”

I almost responded with an inappropriate answer to her words.

‘Don’t be mistaken, Eloise. You’re just an outsider in Ferdia. You can’t become a part of it.’

I had to detach myself from Ferdia’s castle someday and disappear from here.

So, no matter how warmly the marchioness treated me, I couldn’t accept those feelings.

When I remained silent, the marchioness touched my forehead with the back of her hand.
“The fever is high. Since the antidote won’t work if the poison doesn’t take effect.”

“……Yes.”

“Lie down again and rest comfortably. I’ll make room for you.”

Upon those words, I obediently lay down and covered myself with the blanket up to my neck. The marchioness, who gently tidied my bangs, smiled faintly and rose from the bed.

“Then, see you later, Lily.”

‘…Lily?’

Surprised, I widened my eyes, but the marchioness left the room without saying anything.

I didn’t expect the marchioness, who had always called me by my name, to use an affectionate nickname.

“Have we become closer…?”

Anyway, I was finally alone.

My bedroom in the main mansion was decorated similarly to the annex, so it didn’t feel unfamiliar. Perhaps because of that, my tension instantly eased.

But I felt like I had forgotten something important….

No matter how much I thought, I couldn’t recall it because I was too sleepy.

Anyway, I should return to the annex quickly, right?

‘She said for a while, so it should be okay….’

Anyway, it seemed that the crisis related to my ability had passed safely. It was a relief.

Thinking that the past me, who believed everything had passed safely, should die, I sighed.

Because of my carefree past self, the current me was suffering immense pain.

“Lily, do you want some soup?”

“I have hands too, brother.”

“The physician said not to overexert yourself. I’ll help you.”

What kind of new torture was this?

I looked at Yancy, who was holding a spoon, with disgust.

‘Save me!’

But no one came to rescue me.

And why was the menu like this again?

‘Leeks here, leeks there….’

It was all about leeks. There was nothing on the menu without leeks.

It wasn’t challenging to guess the reason for this.

“Leeks are good for your health! I bought them because I like leeks, you know?”

“……Did you like leeks, Eloise?”

“Yes!”

This conversation, where I claimed to like leeks at Urania’s house during the external stay incident, seemed to be the cause.

‘No. That’s not true! I just said leeks are one of the ingredients!’

Sniffle.

But since I caused that misunderstanding, I had to accept it.

I could eat anything, including leeks, but please let me eat it with my hands.

“Lily, ah[Dash].”

Someone chuckled affectionately and offered me a spoon. Please, someone, knock Yancy Ferdia unconscious.

Was my earnest wish granted?

Someone knocked on the door, and something came in through the slightly opened door.

“Miyo-ok!”