ISGJV 45

Chapter 45

“……Huh? Huhhh?”

So when someone is really shocked, they can’t even speak properly like an idiot.

I experienced that for the first time in my life.

Even when I lost all my assets to a scam, I’d never felt my mind go completely blank like this.

As a result, I unintentionally ended up being wrapped tightly in Edmund’s arms for quite a while.

And I even had such a foolish thought.

‘His shoulders are pretty broad. His arms are long, and solid……!’

Fortunately, before this stupid train of thought could go any further, I managed to pull myself together.

‘……What nonsense is that! Get a grip, me!’

Trying to regain my composure, I naturally attempted to pry off Edmund’s arms that were holding me.

“Geez. Edmund, did you miss your big sister that much?”

My ultimate move: treating Edmund like a little kid, which he absolutely hated!

As expected, Edmund jumped in protest.

“I’m not a baby!”

“Alright. Alright.”

Thanks to that, I succeeded in naturally slipping out of his arms.

The Duchess had even nailed boards over the windows to block out every trace of light in the bedroom.

But thanks to Edmund and Willes, the room was lit just enough.

“That’s amazing. From outside, it looks like not a single bit of light is leaking out.”

“I placed shadow magic over the gaps in the windows and doors.”

Willes puffed out his chest proudly, and I offered him a sincere compliment with no ulterior motives.

“Wow, Willes really is the best!”

Then Edmund suddenly cut in.

Pointing at the magic circle drawn on the bedside table, he spoke.

“Look at this, Cassia. What do you think? I made it by applying the light magic circle you taught me.”

“Huh? Really?”

A cluster of light glowing like a lamp on the side table.

The magic circle intricately drawn beneath it was definitely familiar.

“It really does look like the one I taught you.”

I remembered it roughly since I’d drawn it myself before. Of course, I didn’t have even a bean-sized amount of mana, so I’d never once managed to activate it.

‘So this is what they mean by the pupil surpassing the master.’

Feeling newly proud, I smiled.

Edmund smiled back. The flushed face of the boy looked quite happy.

So much so that it even lifted my own mood.

But when I looked more closely, something stood out.

I grabbed Edmund’s cheeks with both hands and said,

“Why have you gotten so skinny?!”

Leaving Edmund, who looked like a startled rabbit and whose cheeks were burning hot, I glared at Willes and demanded,

“You said you were taking care of him! Why has he lost so much weight? Did you really take proper care of him?”

“I…… did my best.”

Willes looked rather wronged.

“What am I supposed to do when he eats like a rabbit, even if I bring him my entire portion!”

At that, the direction of my death glare inevitably changed.

I scolded Edmund.

“You need to eat properly!”

But Edmund didn’t back down at all.

“Aunt would find it strange if I showed up looking perfectly fine when she knows I starved for over three days.”

“Well… that’s true.”

It was logical, so I couldn’t argue with it.

“But kids in their growth phase need to eat well!”

A minor skipping meals this often right in front of me, a Korean?!

‘We really need to escape this awful household as soon as possible.’

At that, Edmund frowned deeply and asked,

“And what about you? You’ve lost all the baby fat in your face. Have you been eating properly?”

I was about to answer that I’d been taking good care of myself, when the nanny butted in.

“That’s a very good point! Scold her more! The young lady hasn’t been eating properly either!”

“But… the Duchess kept ordering me around nonstop, so I didn’t have the time.”

Edmund’s expression darkened.

“Just as I thought, you’re always sacrificing yourself because of me…….”

“Stop! Enough!”

Why are you suddenly trying to dig a hole and bury yourself? It doesn’t suit you at all.

“There’s nothing we can do about matters involving the Duchess or the Duke right now. Neither you nor I wanted things to turn out this way.”

“That’s true.”

“So let’s only talk about constructive and positive things for now.”

The current situation was extremely bad.

The Duchess had personally set up camp at the villa.

Edmund was confined, and I was under surveillance as well.

The family head’s signet ring was still nowhere to be found.

‘Times like this are exactly when you have to force yourself to stay positive!’

Otherwise, it’s easy to get swallowed up by the gloom of reality.

That was a realization born from my own experience.

Fortunately, Edmund obediently followed my words.

“…?”

But wasn’t this a bit strange?

It was good that Edmund wasn’t digging a hole or engaging in self-loathing, but—

‘Why is he treating my foot?’

After I told him not to dwell on gloomy thoughts anymore, Edmund nodded enthusiastically and pressed on with this explanation.

“Right. We’re already busy enough focusing on how to get through the situation at hand. So let me check your ankle.”

“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”

“Because if your foot stays like that, it’ll interfere with our plans.”

It wasn’t wrong.

It really wasn’t…… but still.

‘That doesn’t mean Edmund has to be the one treating my foot, does it?’

However, since the three people in this room besides me were all of one mind, my resistance was completely shut down.

I was seated on a chair just like that.

And had to obediently receive treatment.

The nanny grabbed my shoulders and put on a stern expression.

“You have to treat it properly! Your foot is getting more and more swollen!”

“But…….”

“The nanny’s right. Stay still, Cassia.”

“I agree as well, young lady.”

Edmund, surprisingly, checked the condition of my ankle quite skillfully and wrapped it with a bandage.

His scolding continued.

“How did you even walk around on a foot like this? No, before that—how did you even get here? The road’s rough.”

Come to think of it, Willes had warned me several times.

He’d told me not to say that he carried me.

I caught a glimpse of Willes’s tense expression.

‘What’s with him?’

I felt there was no need to lie, but I followed Willes’s request anyway.

“The nanny supported me and carried me.”

“I see…….”

Willes visibly relaxed.

And Edmund let it pass without incident.

That was a bit strange.

Normally, in situations like this, it would be more common to scold Willes for not helping, wouldn’t it?

My puzzled thoughts vanished completely the moment Edmund’s hands touched my bare foot.

“…!”

The sensation of the child’s warm hands against my bare skin was strangely vivid.

It felt as if I could even sense the beads of sweat forming on his skin.

I could see the top of Edmund’s silver head moving busily, and for some reason, it was embarrassingly awkward.

Without realizing it, I swallowed nervously and turned my gaze to the side.

Trying not to let my embarrassment show, I spoke as casually as possible.

“…You’re better at bandaging than I expected?”

“Well, I’ve done it often.”

Once again, Edmund’s reply was heartbreaking.

How often must he have been hurt and treated himself alone for him to say that?

When the ache of pity faded, faint traces of a warm, reddish emotion took its place.

It really wasn’t a big deal.

He was just checking my injured foot.

‘I’ve done this for Edmund plenty of times too. It’s nothing special.’

Then why did this ordinary treatment feel so unsettling?

“Alright, it’s done. How is it?”

I stood up—and was genuinely surprised.

“What? It hurts way less? Is this some kind of magic?”

Then Willes showed off again.

“It’s not magic! It’s thanks to the potion I made and the bandaging method I taught the young lord!”

“Why would you say that?!”

I was a little shocked.

‘……So, Edmund learned how to bandage beforehand because he wanted to treat me?’

Honestly, it was hard to say no.

‘I’m happy.’

That was why.

With absolutely no ulterior feelings, with 100% sincerity, I could say this.

“Thank you, Edmund. I’m happy.”

And the boy’s cheeks flushed red.

After my foot treatment was finished.

We put our heads together and fell into deep thought.

There was only one topic.

‘How do we find the signet ring?’

Willes spoke with his head bowed low.

“I’m sorry. I still haven’t found any trace of magical seals or keys anywhere in this villa. It seems the spell was cast by a mage far higher-ranked than me.”

That was probably true. According to the original story, that magic was said to be an ancient relic, along with the holy sword of the old Paltz royal family.

At that point, I decided to try something that only I could do here—no, in this world.

I took out the notebook where I’d written down everything I remembered from the original story and began to review it carefully.

Then, one detail caught my attention.

‘This is…?’