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Chapter 142
A sudden, sharp pain began deep in her chest and spread throughout her body.
“It hurts.”
Was it really true that when it hurts this much, one can’t even scream?
It felt as if the time she had been fine was all a lie. Her entire body ached as if it had been beaten, and it felt unbearably heavy.
Was breathing always this difficult?
She tried to breathe through her mouth, but her vision blurred.
“Am I… fainting?”
Even at this moment, her mind wandered to one thought.
“[Artifact for Recovery from Battle Injuries for Wizards]… completely useless…”
The artifact she had set aside for moments like this felt like a scrap of paper now.
Was it because this wasn’t a battle injury?
Her money…
The normally quiet Locke Castle had become a bustle of activity.
It was already surprising enough that the lord of the castle had ignored his own accumulated affairs to focus on something else, but now Arelleen had collapsed!
The angel! The fairy! The very Arelleen who had so suddenly captured the hearts of the vassals and servants of Locke Castle!
Naturally, the castle went on high alert.
Even bringing healers abducted from the Southern Empire’s Mage Tower wasn’t enough—they also called in the high priest from the temple and the royal physician from the Vital court—but nothing improved.
No one could accurately diagnose Arelleen’s condition, nor could they alleviate her symptoms, let alone cure her.
“The blessing prayers aren’t working.”
“We’ve tried vitality magic and everything else, but nothing works. The vitality magic works the best, but even that’s not very efficient…”
“First, we need to determine the illness, but I wonder if the lady can hold on that long.”
The expressions of those gathered darkened even further at the sight of Regent Ludwig sitting beside Arelleen, emitting a somber aura.
“Why is there no improvement?”
“Well…”
“Are you sure you treated her properly?”
“I-I did my best! I swear!”
A young healer, barely two years certified, trembled and choked back tears.
Watching the healer collapse from mana exhaustion after trying vitality magic again, Ludwig clicked his tongue. His next gaze fell on the royal physician.
“Physician, why are you offering no prescriptions?”
“We still don’t know the illness, nor have we fully assessed the lady’s condition. Prescribing medicine rashly could worsen her state.”
“So you’re just standing by?”
“No, we are doing our best as well.”
Having long dealt with Ludwig, the royal physician, though trembling, spoke firmly.
The sharp gaze then turned to the high priest, but this time he was faster.
“Your Highness Ludwig, are you aware of Lady Halbern’s longstanding illness?”
“An illness?”
“It’s a well-known story in the Remren Kingdom. Since early childhood, she suffered from an unknown condition. Even Lord Liheart, one of the kingdom’s most esteemed high priests, personally cared for her, but the illness never healed. Some even whispered it was a curse.”
Ludwig’s eyebrows twitched at the mention of a curse.
“Fortunately, it was not a curse, but the illness persists, and Lady Arelleen’s condition is entirely managed by Halbern.”
“Meaning…”
“Yes, Your Highness. Contacting Halbern will be the fastest solution.”
Ludwig’s expression crumpled in frustration. It went beyond annoyance; his mind began to wander.
Could this person be an agent of Halbern? A high priest of Remren?
“I know this may be unpleasant to hear, but if things continue like this, Lady Arelleen may not survive long. It’s a case closely monitored by Remren, so I took the liberty to speak. Please make a wise decision without delay…”
The old priest, having said all that he could, returned beside Arelleen to resume blessing prayers, though they were ineffective.
A gentle light shone, but Arelleen’s small body could not absorb it; it all simply spilled away.
Meanwhile, the high fever, coughing, intermittent convulsions, and groaning continued.
Even fever medicine only temporarily lowered her temperature; it quickly returned. Nothing seemed effective.
“I don’t know what medicine to use. Her body is so weak that stronger medicine might become poison…”
“Do whatever you can for now.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Ludwig’s anxiety gnawed at him like it was devouring his nerves.
Other pressing matters went unnoticed.
The pressures from the Vital royal court, the Halbern forces stationed at the border, and mysterious pressures from the Mage Tower—all of which Ludwig would normally scoff at—were now weighing heavily on him.
Seeing a child, not even reaching his waist in height, suffer in such agony was a pain unlike any he had experienced himself.
If only he could take the pain upon himself…
Perhaps because in recent days he had only seen her laughing brightly, running around, and causing chaos, this frail and exhausted form seemed utterly unfamiliar.
“This… makes it feel like she could die any moment.”
Ludwig had always assumed Arelleen was healthy. He had heard of her illness but had never imagined her as a sickly child.
Yet now…
A distant feeling, as if returning to the past, engulfed him.
Like the moment when Sione had turned away from him due to his mistake.
At that time, Ludwig had arrogantly believed he could undo everything and win Sione’s heart.
Now, Ludwig felt nothing but fear.
Fear of losing even Arelleen.
“Mo… ma…”
Her parched lips cracked as she searched for someone.
“…Mama.”
Tears streamed along the corners of her eyes, breaking his heart.
His anxious and unsettled feelings had shifted from fear of losing Arelleen to fear of losing her pointlessly.
“The only trace Sione left behind.”
Ludwig gritted his teeth.
Sione had said this wasn’t love, but if this wasn’t love, Ludwig could not comprehend what love was.
“Mehen…”
“…?”
Hearing the familiar name, Ludwig froze. Arelleen, who had been calling for her mother, had now uttered a new name.
‘She kept saying she wanted to see her mother.’
His mind, dulled by jealousy, snapped back into sharp focus.
The Duke of Halbern had been away in the northern castle for six years. Even if he had bonded with Arelleen, it wouldn’t be that strong.
Then, who had raised Arelleen during his long absence?
“Ha.”
All the messy emotions were instantly subdued.
Ludwig finally conceded defeat.
“Contact Halbern. Tell him Arelleen is sick.”
When Valer and the Saren Knights infiltrated Locke Castle, they were surprised by two things.
First, there were too few guards.
‘Has something happened at Locke Castle?’
Second, the atmosphere was tense, as if something truly catastrophic had occurred.
Their plan was to kidnap Arelleen and escape.
They hadn’t considered the possibility of failure; the Saren Knights were among the most skilled fighters, second to none in martial prowess.
Yet…
“Ma-m-my lord?!”
Valer, sensing the castle’s atmosphere, suddenly realized something and bolted.
‘No! That madman! How can he draw attention like that when we’re supposed to be stealthy!’
Jaren felt ready to tear his hair out at his hopeless lord.
‘Follow him or not?’
In the brief hesitation, Valer vanished from the sight of Jaren and the Saren Knights.
Meanwhile, Valer, ignoring the lagging knights, ran desperately, hoping his instinct was wrong.
‘I think there’s still time.’
Had they only sent the medicine but never given it? His knowledge seemed misaligned with reality.
Valer, moving quietly through the seemingly dead night of Locke Castle, quickly found Arelleen’s room.
Thanks to the cooperation of Duke Idikels, they encountered nothing immediately upon entering.
“Arel…”
His instinct had been right. Judging by her sweat-soaked hair, she had already been through a bout of illness.
Now, her breathing sounded calm and even while sleeping. Still, if left like this, she would fall ill again.
As Valer lifted Arelleen to leave the room, a sound cut through the air.
Ssshh.
A blade, aimed at Valer’s neck, reflected the moonlight with a chilling glint.
Ludwig, concealed in the shadows, warned Valer.
“Let her go.”
