ENGDB 28

Chapter 28

“Ah—Lady, you’re awake. Pant… pant… Are you feeling unwell anywhere? If there’s even a small discomfort, pant, please tell me everything.”

“I’m not hurt at all… I feel great. You look worse than me…”

Irene looked at Doctor Cure, who looked like he might collapse at any moment, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, with a worried expression.

“Oh dear, I’m fine. Now then…”

Doctor Cure used a magic tool he brought with him and carefully examined Irene.

“How is she?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Her internal mana is stable, and all the injuries she had when she was found have completely disappeared without a trace. However…”

Doctor Cure trailed off and glanced around.

Kalid immediately sent everyone out except Sebastian and the middle-aged woman.

“Speak.”

“Hmm… Lady Irene is different from ordinary people. Rather than eating food, it would be better for her condition if she continues exchanging mana with Your Highness.”

“I’ve already been giving her mana regularly.”

“Yes, but not just that. Lady Irene must also give mana to Your Highness. Only then can both of you remain stable.”

“My ability… to Kalid? Why?”

“I cannot explain it fully, but your mana affects each other. For Lady Irene, it gives form. For Your Highness, it stabilizes his mana.”

He added that someone more specialized in mana—someone beyond ordinary mages—would need to examine it further.

But Irene already understood.

Kalid’s mana had stabilized—

because of her healing power.

She felt it clearly now—more than in her past lives.

Relief filled her.

But at the same time, regret hit her for not awakening it sooner.

Memories from her past lives flashed through her mind—

and her chest tightened.

Kalid noticed her state immediately.

With a glance, he signaled the others to leave.

When the room became quiet, and Irene calmed down—

he spoke sincerely.

“Irene… the reason I am alive right now… is all because of you.”
“If it weren’t for you… I wouldn’t be here.”

“Kalid…”

Kalid gave a bitter smile.

In that unbearable pain—

he had thought it might truly be the end.

Especially the voice in his head—

trying to control him.

He didn’t know how much longer he could resist it.

The future had seemed hopeless.

“I couldn’t even think of resisting before…”

Since childhood, he had always obeyed that voice without question.

At the time, he didn’t realize it—

because he had rarely left the imperial palace.

Only later, during wars and campaigns, did he begin to notice something was wrong.

As he grew stronger—

he slowly gained the power to resist.

And eventually—

he figured out who might be behind it.

“Every time I returned from the imperial palace… my condition got worse.”

His suspicion had recently become certainty.

And now—

his clear mind and stable body proved it.

“Even now… I’m sure I’m still being watched.”

Kalid smiled bitterly.

At the moment he had reached his limit—

Irene appeared.

Like a savior.

Afraid, yet brave—

she ran to him without hesitation.

Kalid looked at Irene again.

She now looked almost completely solid.

If he looked closely, she was still slightly transparent—

but it only made her seem more mysterious.

“…Healing power.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

Many people had witnessed Irene collapsing beside Kalid that day.

Especially the moment her power burst out—

it affected everyone nearby.

From small wounds—

to long-term illnesses—

everything was healed.

There was no doubt.

It was healing power.

“He must have seen it too…”

Kalid was certain—

that person had been watching.

To confirm whether the mana rampage had succeeded.

“Here. I think you need this right now.”

“A mirror?”

Kalid handed her a golden antique mirror.

Irene carefully took it—

and only then noticed her own hands clearly.

She froze.

“I… can see myself clearly?”

She hadn’t even realized her condition after waking up.

With trembling hands, she looked into the mirror—

and smiled brightly.

“I can finally see myself in a mirror!”

Kalid watched her smiling face for a long time.

His expression hardened—

as if he had made a firm decision.

* * *

Just as Kalid had expected—

there was someone secretly watching everything.

A man covered entirely in a black robe—

stood in a place stained with fresh blood.

Unlike the gruesome surroundings—

his face was filled with joy.

“Finally… finally! Our wish will come true! Hahaha!”

Though he failed to obtain the Grand Duke’s heart—

he had gained something just as valuable.

And he had already left the North.

“I knew it. What I felt that day wasn’t wrong… I found it. I finally found it!”

With a twisted smile, the man killed the last remaining survivor.

His shadow wriggled—

grew—

and devoured all the corpses on the ground.

“Now then… grow well. I must go and retrieve it soon.”

The smell of blood followed him as he left.

At that same time—

in front of a shabby building—

another man was watching carefully.

It was Evan.

Gathering mana in his hand, he quietly opened the door and stepped inside.

His movements were cautious—

but he failed to avoid a hidden trap.

Click—

A small explosion and flash went off.

When the smoke cleared—

Evan stood unharmed.

He casually threw away the broken magic tool.

“…Tch. I’m too late.”

Despite his calm tone, his expression was tense.

Even though he had never faced him directly—

he knew from his master—

this was not someone to take lightly.

“First, I need to find out what he’s planning… and report it to our client.”
“Ha… I hope our client appreciates James’s professional dedication.”

Evan began taking out magic tools and investigating the area.

Fortunately—

there were still traces of magic.

Bloodstains.

And a strong metallic smell in the air.

His eyes lit up as he began his investigation.

At that same time—

far away in the eastern forest—

a wounded being slowly opened its eyes.

* * *

On the day a terrible tragedy almost happened—

a mysterious lady appeared like a hero.

And quickly captured everyone’s attention in the Grand Duke’s castle.

Even Kalid—

who was known to be cold and emotionless—

was affected by her.

Now—

she had become someone the castle could not do without.

But her sudden appearance raised questions.

In the North, where people were especially cautious—

her identity became a hot topic.

However—

those who met her all said the same thing.

“She is kind… and gentle.”

Even the servants argued over it—

each insisting their judgment was better.

Four days after waking up—

Irene was finally able to leave her bed.

“Are you really okay?”

“Ahh—seriously, I’m completely fine! Totally healed! And…”

Irene looked around—

then stepped closer to Kalid and whispered softly in his ear.

“You know my ability, right? I’m a woman with healing power.”

Kalid froze.

Her small hand on his arm—

her whisper brushing his ear—

his heart skipped.

For the first time—

he could clearly feel her warmth.

“…Alright.”

He nodded and slightly turned his head away.

Irene felt something strange—

but she was too happy about leaving the bed to think deeply about it.

“Please understand, Lady Irene. While you were unconscious, His Highness was deeply worried. It is truly a relief that you have awakened safely.”

Sebastian smiled warmly.

“Hehe. I never knew His Highness could worry this much.”

The head maid, Madam Mary, who had been taking care of Irene, smiled gently.

Kalid sighed.

“Ha… you two really…”