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~Chapter 26~
Eight years passed.
Astia, now as beautiful as a blooming flower, drank Hineloti flower tea every day and became much healthier than before. She still sometimes coughed up blood, but it happened less often, and the nightmares that used to torment her were gone.
“Adele, wasn’t I right?”
Adele, who was studying medicine, found out—thanks to Astia’s help—that Hineloti tea was actually the cure for Astia’s illness.
“But something’s strange. My research says she should be cured after drinking the tea for two years, but…”
Astia had been drinking the tea for over eight years. Her health improved, but she wasn’t fully cured.
Because of this, Damian always worried she might get sick again. Even though he was less strict than before, he still acted overprotective.
“Brother, I’m an adult now.”
“You still look like a child to me. I worry.”
“…”
Astia sighed and looked at her bright face in the mirror. Since becoming an adult, her delicate looks stood out even more, making people want to protect her.
The best thing about being healthier was that she could finally go out. Sometimes, she visited boutiques in the city or bought gifts for the servants.
“My lady… I’m so touched. It’s my dream to serve you until I die!”
The servants always said embarrassing things like this, but Astia wanted to give back to them. Escaping her tragic fate and living past her illness was possible thanks to their help.
“Miss, today’s newspaper is here!”
Annie handed Astia the paper with a big smile. Astia liked reading the news whenever she was bored.
“Cellion Duke’s family…”
Astia read the article about the Cellion family. Lately, there had been a lot of news about them.
Duke Diego Cellion. He removed Ruet and inherited the title.
Diego, who had gone missing, returned, and Ruet’s crimes were revealed. Ruet not only faked his sister’s death in a carriage accident but also committed embezzlement and many other wrongdoings.
The article said the imperial palace would respond strongly…
It said the imperial palace condemned Ruet’s actions. In the end, Ruet lost everything, and Diego, the true heir, took his place.
‘I wonder if Ruby is doing well.’
Hearing news about Diego made Astia think of Ruby. Where was Ruby now? She hoped Diego found Ruby somehow. Maybe it was better for Ruby to stay with Diego, who had raised him.
“Maybe I should go for a walk.”
Feeling a little sad, Astia stood up and went to the garden to get some fresh air.
She wanted to relax and be alone, but that wasn’t possible.
Ian, who was hanging from a tree, suddenly jumped down.
“Astia. You’re strange. You have magic, but it’s like you don’t.”
“Yes~ I’m a strange person.”
“No, I mean…”
“…I feel much better now.”
“Really? I’m not sure.”
“If I keep drinking flower tea, I’ll get better.”
Astia sighed and touched her forehead. It was nice not being bored, but Ian always focused too much on magic. He’d been saying the same thing for eight years.
Ian hummed a tune and came over, gently touching Astia’s hair.
“Does not having magic make you short? You didn’t grow much.”
“That’s not true! I grew a lot in eight years.”
“Hmm… exactly a hand’s length taller.”
“Hey!”
Astia was annoyed at how seriously Ian measured her height. It wasn’t her fault she hadn’t grown more than a hand’s length since she was twelve.
“Why are you upset? I’m just telling the truth.”
Ian looked confused, not understanding why Astia was mad. Maybe because he was half-dragon, he didn’t understand humans completely.
“Forget it. Aren’t you going to the Magic Tower today?”
“The tower? The vice master will take care of it. I like it here. The garden is beautiful.”
“Really?”
“And I came to see you.”
Ian stared at Astia with a soft smile. Embarrassed, she shook her head.
“W-What are you saying? You caught me off guard.”
Ian just laughed at her reaction.
“I’ll take a nap now. Go play by yourself.”
“I’m not a child, you know!”
“If you’re twenty, you’re still a kid.”
“You always have to win, don’t you?”
Ian climbed back up the tree and lay down. Astia looked up at him and smiled. At first, she hadn’t liked him much, but now they joked and teased each other. When she missed Ruby the most, Ian had appeared and filled the emptiness in her heart.
“How does her magic…”
Ian cared more about Astia’s magic than she did, but when she was struggling with guilt, he was there for her. She appreciated that.
“I’m going inside.”
Astia said goodbye to Ian and walked back toward the mansion. Looking at the clover patch, she felt Ruby’s absence all over again.
She thought time had made her longing weaker, but it was still too soon.
The Cellion family was one of only two duke families in the empire, so they were especially important.
The former duke stayed neutral in politics, but as soon as he died, Ruet took over and joined the emperor’s side. But with Count Kiel’s help, Diego—who everyone thought was missing—came back, proved he was the real heir, and revealed that Ruet had ordered his sister’s death.
Ruet lost everything overnight, and Diego fixed everything.
“From now on, the Cellion family…”
Diego gathered Ruet’s followers and all the staff that had been kicked out.
“…will be politically neutral.”
His black hair and blood-red eyes made him look intimidating. All the retainers bowed their heads.
“We will follow the duke’s orders.”
They trusted Diego, who had officially inherited the title. He deserved respect for caring for his people and for handling everything perfectly. The retainers wanted to work hard for him and bring prosperity to the family.
“And find the best doctor in the empire.”
“What?”
“Search the whole empire, even other countries, and bring one here.”
The retainers looked at each other in shock.
Was Diego secretly sick? He looked so healthy, and just yesterday he had defeated Ruet and his followers without blinking.
One retainer couldn’t help but ask,
“Um… may I ask why we need a doctor? Most problems are solved now, and I thought you’d talk about business.”
Diego frowned and didn’t answer for a while.
Tap, tap—
He closed his eyes and tapped his fingers on the desk, looking angry. The retainers tried to signal the one who asked to take it back.
‘Take it back if you want to live!’
‘Oh no, there’s going to be blood again.’
The room grew tense, and the retainer who asked started to tremble.
Finally, Diego opened his eyes. His eyes were filled with determination.
“…We’ll also need a lot of Hineloti trees.”
“Excuse me?”
“We’ll replant the whole garden. We need a fresh start.”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
The retainers were surprised by how serious he was.
Hineloti fruit was rumored to be poisonous…
‘Is he going to make the annoying ones eat the fruit? If they get sick, the doctor can cure them…’
‘He’s basically warning us: he’ll make our lives miserable until we beg for mercy.’
They all shivered at the thought.
They realized again that staying on Diego’s good side was the only way to survive.
