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~Chapter 2~
After a long time persuading them, Astia was finally allowed to go to the garden.
There were a lot of conditions, but she was used to it by now, so she didn’t complain.
One of those conditions was the group of knights standing in front of her with their heads bowed.
“We will protect you with our lives.”
About ten knights from the Rovellito family said this with serious faces.
Astia held her aching head and forced a smile.
“…Okay.”
“Please trust us. We are the Rovellito knights.”
The knights bowed and quickly left her sight.
They were giving her space so she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.
‘They’re probably hiding nearby to protect me.’
Their loyalty was nice, but Astia couldn’t really understand it.
Since when did the Rovellito family, famous for its security, become such a dangerous place?
Anyone would think she was going to a war zone.
‘Why am I already so tired?’
She knew it was all because of Damian’s orders and because they cared about her, but… it was overwhelming.
Just a little while ago, Astia barely stopped Damian from carrying her out for a walk.
It was so hard.
Her already weak body felt even heavier.
[Arti. If you get hurt… I’ll hate myself forever.]
She remembered the sad look in Damian’s eyes.
Damian seemed to think Astia would break if she moved even a little.
Even when she tried to smile and act okay, it didn’t work.
[I’ll protect you.]
It was all because of her pitiful looks.
Astia thought her weak voice and sad face made people misunderstand her.
Either way, she focused on praising Damian.
She told him he was amazing and strong for working so hard for the family. Luckily, it worked.
[If Arti likes it, maybe I should go work now?]
Damian looked at her like he was walking on clouds, and asked her many times. Astia nodded right away.
“Phew…”
Finally, Damian went back to his office, and Astia came to the garden with the best knights, the family doctor, Adel, and Annie.
‘That was hard.’
Astia let out a sigh of relief.
“Miss, you don’t look well. Are you feeling sick?”
“No. I feel great right now. My body feels light.”
Astia waved her arms in an exaggerated way at Annie’s words.
But Annie didn’t really believe her, and reminded her again:
“If you feel dizzy or tired while walking, please tell me. I’ll call Mr. Adel.”
“…Okay. You don’t have to worry.”
Astia smiled so Annie would feel better.
Then, she turned to look at Adel, the doctor, who was standing at the edge of the garden with serious eyes.
‘He’s watching me. Miss, I’m watching you.’
Adel smiled, but it looked like he wouldn’t miss a thing.
‘Don’t look weak. Always smile like you’re happy.’
Astia thought about how to keep Damian from worrying about her.
The main thing was to look healthy.
Honestly, if Damian heard that she collapsed or wobbled in the garden…
‘That could be Adel’s last day.’
She couldn’t risk Adel’s life. The only thing she could do was be careful herself.
This weak body could fall over at any time.
“Miss, I’ll stay nearby, so please call me if anything happens. Promise!”
Only after Astia promised many times that she’d call Annie if she felt bad did Annie finally leave her alone.
“Finally!”
Astia was happy to be alone. She never knew just taking a walk could be so hard.
‘But I don’t totally hate being overprotected.’
In her last life, no one in her family ever cared about her. So, she didn’t really dislike all this love and attention.
It was just too much.
Even if she got completely cured, she thought the overprotection would only get worse, not better.
Astia shivered a little and walked slowly along the garden path.
The Rovellito family’s garden was known as the most beautiful in the Empire.
“So pretty.”
It was even more beautiful than she imagined. If heaven was real, it might look like this.
The trees and colorful flowers were so carefully arranged.
Astia smiled happily.
The flowers in full bloom seemed to greet her, and she felt refreshed for the first time in a long while.
“Staying in my room all the time was so hard.”
She walked a few steps, already out of breath, but kept moving slowly to the Hineloti tree.
“This is it!”
It looked like it was shouting, “I’m the cure!”
The red flowers that bloomed all year seemed to welcome her.
Astia tried hard not to grin too much.
She was so happy, she didn’t even notice what her face looked like.
It felt like finding a golden apple.
‘The tree is smaller than I thought. I can pick them anytime.’
She quickly picked some petals, making sure no one saw, and hid them inside her clothes.
‘With these, I can get better!’
She tried not to smile like a crazy person as she picked the petals, but a small laugh kept escaping.
Astia remembered the original story.
‘They said one petal could make two cups of tea…’
She picked a handful of petals, hid them in her clothes, and patted the tree as if nothing happened.
“Please, bloom more flowers.”
So I can get better.
Astia whispered softly and then finished her walk, heading back to where the servants were waiting.
“Annie, let’s go. It’s getting cold…”
But the servants looked nervous. Annie covered her mouth and looked away.
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
“N-no, Miss. Are you cold? Let’s go inside quickly.”
‘Why are they acting like this?’
Astia tilted her head. She thought she had hidden the petals well.
‘Did they see me pick the petals?’
She was worried.
What if someone knew about the Hineloti tree? What if they told Damian?
Annie was quiet all the way back to the room, which made Astia even more nervous.
“I… I’ll protect you, Miss…”
She heard Annie mumbling as if making a promise. Astia asked worriedly,
“Annie, is something wrong?”
“It’s nothing, Miss. I just have a lot to think about.”
“Oh, okay.”
Back in her room, Astia relaxed.
Nothing seemed different except for Annie looking at her with sad eyes.
Weird days were nothing new.
The next day, Astia noticed Annie acting a bit differently.
She was taking care of Astia even more carefully than before.
Astia didn’t have to do anything herself—Annie did everything.
“Miss, how do you feel today? The weather’s nice, do you want to walk in the garden?”
“Hmm… Should I?”
“Yes! I want you to do everything you want and only see things you like. That’s my mission.”
Astia didn’t know when it became Annie’s mission, but Annie was serious.
Annie hid her sad face and remembered her conversation with the other maids the night before.
[Did the Miss really go to the garden today? There’s a rumor in the mansion. People think she’s getting better. That’s great news. Annie…?]
Annie burst into tears. She couldn’t control her feelings.
The way Astia looked as she went to the tree, staggering, made Annie’s heart hurt.
Her eyes shaking, her hands trembling, her weak smile as she touched the flowers.
And even though Annie couldn’t hear, she saw Astia’s lips moving, like a prayer.
[I hate the gods. How could they make such a kind, beautiful girl suffer?]
The other maids comforted Annie, also crying, but no one pointed it out.
[Miss will beat her sickness.]
[We have to protect her. We want her to be happy.]
Astia didn’t know how Annie felt, but she smiled at Annie’s kindness.
‘If I get cured, everyone will be so happy.’
She was lucky to be able to use the power of the story to escape a terminal illness.
If she hadn’t come here, she would have just died.
‘Well, it won’t happen now.’
“Annie, I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor? Please, tell me anything! I’ll do it, even if it costs my life!”
Annie was excited, raising both hands.
Astia usually didn’t ask for favors, since Annie always gave her everything she needed.
“Thank you. But… can you keep it a secret from my brother?”
“…From the young master?”
“Yes. If he finds out, it’ll be too much trouble.”
“Yes, Miss. Even if I have a knife to my throat, I’ll keep your secret.”
Annie promised with determination. Astia felt grateful, but also worried.
What would Damian do if he found out?
If just one cough made the whole house panic, what if he found out she was making tea from the “poisonous” flowers?
‘But I need this to survive.’
Astia took out the pouch she had hidden in her clothes. Inside were the Hineloti petals.
“I heard tea made from flowers tastes good. I’m going to drink some every day now, three times a day.”
“Flower tea? If I told the young master, he could get you all kinds of flower teas…”
“No, it tastes better if I make it myself from petals I picked.”
“…I see.”
Annie’s eyes filled with tears, but Astia didn’t notice.
‘What if Annie realizes these are Hineloti petals?’
Luckily, there were many petals that looked similar. It was hard to tell them apart, so Astia didn’t worry too much.
She quickly added,
“A-and! Arranging flowers is fun, and the scent is nice. I read in a book that this tea is delicious.”
“Yes, Miss. I’m so happy you have something you want to do…”
Annie took the pouch and held it carefully.
“I’ll bring you tea at the right times, three times a day, Miss.”
“Thank you. Remember, don’t tell my brother.”
Annie turned away for a moment to wipe her tears.
Her eyes were red, but she couldn’t let Astia see.
“I’m just so happy, Miss… to see you happy.”
“You’re here for me. You’ve helped me so much when I was sick. I need to be strong.”
“Oh, Miss. Thank you so much…”
Astia finally asked what was on her mind.
“By the way, Annie, is something wrong? Are you sick or anything…?”
“Miss, I think I’m just too happy.”
Annie smiled softly, and only then did Astia feel at ease.
‘If Annie says so, it must be true.’
She felt grateful to her caring servants. It was so nice to share happiness with others.
At that time, Astia thought everything was going as planned.
“Arti, you said you like flowers, right?”
Until Damian came into her room, holding a huge bouquet of colorful flowers.
