“Jade likes beans.”

“Yes, eating beans makes you strong.”

“You should eat beans and carrots to be strong.”

…!”

Watching the child’s eyes tremble in confusion, Adele barely held back her laughter.

“Do you still not eat carrots, Jade?”

“W-Well, I’ll eat!”

Adele put a thinly sliced carrot into the child’s mouth. With a crunch, Jade’s eyes widened.

“It’s super, super sweet!”

“Well then, carrots are that sweet. I’ll make carrot cake for you later.”

“Can you make it today?”

“Today?”

“Yes! And tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow…”

“If you only eat cake every day, your teeth will rot, you know?”

“Just brush them well. After eating the cake I make, you’ll brush your teeth well. So come here and live with us. With me, Pauline, our dad… And also Vice Count Bates…”

Seeing the child’s earnest expression, Adele felt awkward and moved.

While she had forgotten and neglected him, this child had longed for her so much.

Adele gently stroked Jade’s soft cheek, meeting his eyes.

“Jade, living together might be difficult, but I’ll make carrot cake and come to play occasionally.”

“I don’t want it occasionally. Every day. Can’t we live in our house every day?”

“Jade, come here.”

Suddenly, Mark’s cold voice echoed. Standing in front of the kitchen door, he had a stern and resolute expression rarely seen.

“No, it’s okay. Just let him be.”

Adele tried to stop him, but

“No, Adele.”

Mark firmly refused and left the kitchen with his son.

Adele felt like she had done something really wrong to him and Jade, just thinking about Kristin all the time.

The Silver Wolf, who had been sedated and fell into a deep sleep, remained in a peaceful slumber for a while.

Adele carefully wiped away the blood on the fur. He opened his eyes for a moment, but there was no focus, no movement.

And even in the afternoon, he still didn’t wake up.

“How is he?”

When Mark finished the afternoon rounds and returned, Adele asked cautiously.

Although she was relieved that the Silver Wolf’s breathing seemed comfortable, she was still worried that he might not wake up.

“It seems to have improved a lot since the morning. The sutured areas have already started to heal.”

With that, Adele felt a bit relieved.

But Mark remained cautious.

“Of course, it’s not in a completely relieved state yet.”

“I understand. But you’re the best doctor, and you speak candidly about the patient’s condition, so I feel reassured.”

“Well then, how about going to get some rest now?”

“I’m fine.”

When Mark frowned slightly and raised his voice, Adele tried to resist.

“No, really, his eyes are heavily bloodshot. It says he hasn’t slept a wink since last night.”
“Wow, your intuition is really something. To recognize that.”

He was bewildered by Adele’s clumsy reaction.

“Anyone would say that looking at you right now.”

As he said, Adele’s face was undeniably miserable. Her disheveled hair was loosely tied, and her once radiant and clear skin was now rough, with her lips parched and cracked, blood seeping through.

“Thank you for your concern, Mark. I’ll leave as soon as he wakes up.”

“I won’t drive you away, so you don’t have to leave in such a hurry.”

“But the longer I stay, the more it affects Jade…”

“Don’t worry about Jade. Children quickly give affection and easily forget.”

Adele felt more uncomfortable with his considerate words. She knew well that children, being pure, could quickly forget those they had once given affection to.

“Mark, I feel like I’m really… only doing bad things to you.”

But Mark’s reaction was cool.

Self-criticism is not necessary. You came to the doctor, so just pay the medical expenses, and that’s the end of it. Don’t complain later that I overcharged for the treatment. The Count is wealthy; he’ll charge even more.”

Adele laughed weakly.

“I don’t suit speaking like a materialistic person.”

“Didn’t you know? There’s a rumor that my medical fees are high.”

“Oh, no wonder… I noticed there were no patients whenever I came.”

“What did you say?”

The two forced a joke and a forced laugh. It seemed necessary to muster strength even in this heavy atmosphere.

“Rest now, Adele.”

Patting her shoulder, Mark tried to leave, but Adele cautiously called him back.

“But Mark, there’s one more thing I’d like to ask…”

Squeak.

Mark pushed one of the shelves in the examination room. As the large shelf moved like a rotation, a hidden space was revealed.

“Wow, there’s a place like this here…”

“It’s a common secret room in an old mansion.”

Proudly saying that, he took a lantern and went inside.

Soon, a small room filled with books, from floor to ceiling, was revealed. Mark, who collected books as a hobby, had displayed the books he collected here.

“These old books need special care.”

Then he lowered his voice and spoke.

“And there are quite a few forbidden books that shouldn’t be discovered.”

“Forbidden books?”

Perplexed, Adele cautiously pulled out a book.

“Oh, Adele, no!”

As he spoke, Adele, lifting the book in her hand, froze for a moment.