BDPVF 7

Chapter 7

“How is her condition?”

Lartel, the duke family’s personal physician, pushed up her round horn-rimmed glasses and answered Silas.

“It’s just mild anemia. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Just as Lartel said, Iris’s symptoms were nothing more than simple anemia.

As if trying to prove it herself, Iris cautiously spoke up.

“Du-Duke-nim… I’m okay. I was dizzy earlier, but I’m not dizzy now.”

Her pronunciation was still slurred here and there, but her meaning came across clearly enough.

“…That’s good.”

Looking at Iris, Silas let out a relieved sigh.

He himself didn’t understand why he had sighed like that.

Yet deep in his heart, the fact that Iris was sick weighed heavily on him.

It was the sort of feeling that couldn’t simply be ignored.

Every time Iris’s voice lingered in his ears, his chest gave a sharp, tingling ache.

“Duke-nim…?”

Just like now.

Like the whisper of a devil.

Like warm soup melting away a frozen heart.

“That’s enough. If it’s nothing serious, I’ll be leaving now.”

Bang!

Leaving behind Iris—who stared at him with wide, startled rabbit-like eyes—Silas hurriedly exited the room.

“Haa…”

Once outside, the cold air of the corridor, so different from the infirmary, filled his lungs.

Normally, even in confusing situations, a few deep breaths were enough to calm him.

Then again, how many situations in the world could truly shake the great Duke of the North?

Probably only a handful.

But he too was human, and there had been days like this before.

Exactly twice.

The day Lagrasha was born.

And the day she suddenly disappeared.

When Lagrasha was born, his heart had refused to settle for the entire day.

Even when he first met Selena, his heart hadn’t pounded that hard.

As if reminiscing about that day, Silas slowly blinked.

A faint smile seemed to touch his face.

But it vanished just as quickly.

The day Lagrasha disappeared.

Like a colt set ablaze, he rampaged through everything around him.

And even that failed to calm the fury burning inside him.

That rage soon descended upon the criminal organizations scattered across the North.

He destroyed.

He killed.

Even then, his anger refused to stop.

“……”

And so six years passed.

Yet Lagrasha still had not been found.

If only they could at least find her body.

If only he could let her close her eyes in his arms.

Then perhaps it wouldn’t hurt this much.

So until he found Lagrasha, he would never stop.

Even if it meant turning the entire world against him.

But before that—

He needed to thoroughly investigate the ring.

“Send word to the Magic Tower immediately. I need to meet the Tower Master.”

“……”

Because the duke had suddenly left, the doctor and I were left staring blankly at the door.

But it never opened again.

‘Well… he was unusually warm for a duke.’

When he immediately picked me up because I got dizzy, I almost screamed.

It was too warm for someone like him.

The sense of incongruity was almost frightening.

More importantly, though, was probably the progression of the illness.

Iris dies in the novel.

This anemia was probably another sign that something bad was happening in my head.

‘Maybe it’s a brain tumor.’

Iris had spent her whole life beside the Saintess, serving her faithfully.

When she died, the Saintess was described as crying her eyes out.

Taking in a child called a devil was one thing, but shedding tears for that child too—

What admirable character.

But no matter how kind-hearted she was, she still couldn’t save me.

What I needed was the potion called the Tears of the Goddess.

That legendary potion could heal illnesses that even an elixir couldn’t cure.

Since the Saintess’s healing powers were only slightly above an elixir, the potion was even more incredible than that.

‘Come to think of it, why couldn’t the Saintess heal Iris’s illness?’

If she cherished Iris that much, she would’ve done everything possible to save her.

Which probably meant Iris’s illness was something truly terrible.

Fortunately, I knew where the Tears of the Goddess were.

‘So I need to escape as soon as possible.’

I nodded firmly, burning with determination.

This wasn’t greed.

It was survival.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

At that moment, Lartel, who had been sitting behind me, asked.

Her green hair was streaked with white in places, making her seem fairly old.

Maybe that was why her gentle voice made people feel so comfortable.

“O-Oh, it’s nothing.”

I quickly turned my head and answered.

A small smile formed on Lartel’s face.

“Nothing? Oh my, how adorable.”

Like a grandmother doting on her grandchild, she thoroughly ruffled my hair.

‘It’s embarrassing, but…’

Honestly, in both my past and present life, the only people who had ever patted my head like this were members of the duke’s household.

At first, I’d been suspicious.

But now I knew everyone here—except the duke—was kind.

If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.

Wasn’t there a saying like that?

“More importantly, Iris. From now on, I think you’ll be getting more meat and fruit. You can eat them well, right?”

Meat and fruit.

Exactly the things someone with anemia needed.

“Yes. I can eat them well.”

Until I found the Tears of the Goddess, they’d at least help with the anemia symptoms.

Since that was obvious, I nodded right away.

Hearing my answer, Lartel began rummaging through something while muttering.

“What a good child. Good children deserve… a present.”

Why was the word “present” so tempting?

Curious about the state of medical development in this world, I glanced around while sneaking looks at Lartel.

“Here, candy.”

After searching around for a while, she handed me a small hard candy.

“Wah… thank you.”

Why would I refuse?

I quickly popped the candy into my mouth and got up from my seat.

Staying any longer would just be bothersome, and more importantly, evening was already approaching.

“Oh my. You’re leaving?”

“Yes. I have homework.”

Homework was just an excuse, though.

I was actually going back to eat the meal Lisa would bring me.

The food at the duke’s estate was incredibly delicious.

“Alright. Be careful on your way.”

“Yees. Goodbye.”

I bowed politely and left the infirmary.

Lartel looked like she wanted to escort me back to my room, but before she could say anything, I hurried out.

‘There were things I needed to think about.’

As I walked alone through the corridor, I recalled the medical supplies I’d briefly seen in the infirmary earlier.

As expected of a magical world, potions were lined up everywhere, and they clearly understood conditions like anemia.

That meant it was different from ordinary medieval medicine.

Magic was probably responsible for that too.

It was actually admirable that they didn’t blindly rely on magic and still tried to develop medicine.

Still, compared to modern medicine, they lagged far behind.

Aside from illnesses treatable with potions, I hadn’t seen any real pharmaceuticals.

‘If my medical knowledge spread throughout the world…’

It would help tremendously.

High-grade potions were expensive, after all.

But that was only possible if I survived into the future.

Everything started after obtaining the Tears of the Goddess.

The Tears of the Goddess were somewhere within the northern mountain range.

I’d know where if I had a map, but I still hadn’t managed to obtain an accurate map of the North.

So the only preparation I could make for now was gathering money.

Over the past two weeks, I’d pried several jewels loose and hidden them beneath my bed.

Jewels were absurdly expensive.

“Good evening, Young Lady.”

“Good evening.”

The maids passing by greeted me with warm smiles.

That was one of the changes over the past two weeks.

After returning greeting after greeting, I eventually arrived at my room.

‘Something smells delicious.’

The scent alone was enough to make my mouth water.

“Lisa. I’m back.”

I knocked on the door and called for Lisa, who was inside.

Opening the door by myself was difficult.

Not because I was weak—the door was just heavy.

Anyway, that was how it was.

“I ate well.”

I patted my pleasantly rounded stomach a few times.

Pat, pat.

Just as Lartel said, there had been plenty of beef today.

I thought it’d be hard to chew with weak teeth, but it was so tender it practically melted on my tongue.

If only the duke himself weren’t here, this mansion would’ve been perfect.

Unfortunately, what I wanted was impossible.

‘If only I were Lagrasha instead…’

Thinking pointless thoughts, I blankly stared out the window.

Compared to the sky I used to see through the filthy orphanage window covered in cobwebs, this was like the difference between a theater and a cellphone screen.

The sky seen from here looked much more beautiful, perhaps thanks to all the expensive decorations surrounding it.

Honestly, I felt like I might grow attached before I eventually ran away.

Though when else would I ever experience such luxury?

Still, every day here was like walking a tightrope over death, so escaping was simply the smart choice.

And I was smart.

I’d be the first to escape.

I nodded firmly.

No one could stop me.

Jewels are god, and I am invincible.

“That’s right. Jewels.”

I muttered while staring at the red ruby embedded in the angel statue.

The sparkling brilliance unique to gemstones was more than enough to captivate me.

And since it was just part of an outdoor decoration, nobody would probably care much about it.

In that case, there was no reason to hesitate.

I hurried over and snatched the angel’s ring away.

The angel statue somehow seemed dejected, but that couldn’t be helped.

Still, the way it stared at me so mournfully did weaken my resolve a little.

“You’re just a statue…”

Trying to steel my heart, I glared at it and turned my head away—

Something flashed past at incredible speed.

“H-Huh…?”

Wondering if I’d imagined it, I turned my head back and searched for whatever it was.

But no matter where I looked, I couldn’t see anything.

Had I really imagined it?

“I definitely saw something…”

Just as I tilted my head and turned back toward my room—

Sliiide…

From the forested garden now darkened by sunset,

black figures slipped silently through the shadows like ink soaking into the ground.

There were four of them.

“……!”

Startled, I clamped a hand over my mouth to stop a scream from escaping.

That’s right.

This was the world of the novel.

And today was the day Selena would be murdered by assassins.

Perhaps I’d forgotten that this place was inside a novel.

I’d complained about how uncomfortable it was here, but honestly, there had never been another place that made me feel this at ease.

Not in my previous life.

Not in this one.

That comfort had made me act like a real child.

But now it was time to face reality.

This was a novel, and I was nothing more than an insignificant six-year-old child.

‘There’s nothing I can do…’

With my strength, I couldn’t stop assassins.

“There’s… no helping it…”