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Chapter 7
I couldn’t hide my surprise as he walked straight toward us without a moment’s hesitation.
But he wasn’t coming to see me.
“It’s been a while, Argen.”
“Yes, Young Lord. It’s been a while.”
He greeted Argen, who was standing beside me.
…Ah.
The Duke of Selver and the Grand Duke of Carsian had been close friends for many years, so it seemed their children knew each other as well.
Argen also appeared surprised to see Ludwig at such a simple banquet.
He spoke cautiously.
“I didn’t expect you to come either, Young Lord.”
“Ah, there’s someone I wanted to meet.”
Was it just my imagination, or did his eyes briefly glance at me?
“I see. This is my friend, Sierra. She’s also today’s guest of honor.”
Only after Argen introduced me did Ludwig look directly at me.
The top button of his shirt was fastened all the way to his neck, giving him a restrained appearance, but his eyes were still wild enough to remind me of a predator.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Young Lord.”
“Congratulations on awakening your ability, my lady.”
It seemed he had not forgotten the promise from that night and answered naturally.
“T-Thank you.”
For some reason, it felt strange.
As though we shared a secret that nobody else knew.
Just then, flower petals began drifting down from the sky.
At the same time, the musicians started playing, announcing the beginning of the banquet.
“It seems it’s starting. I’ll take my seat first.”
After Ludwig left, Argen and I headed toward our assigned seats as well.
The area reserved for the Drenihan family already had Father, Uncle, and the rest of their family gathered there.
Uncle and Kalik glared at me resentfully.
Meanwhile, Aunt Beth calmly sipped her tea before speaking.
“Congratulations on awakening your ability.”
Her face didn’t look congratulatory at all.
“I’m glad you’ve finally proven yourself useful as a member of House Drenihan.”
I smiled.
“Thank you, Lady Beth. If Kalik does well too, House Drenihan can become even more perfect.”
A wrinkle immediately appeared between her brows.
She should worry about her own troublemaking son first.
Just then, Nella’s voice came from beside me.
“Miss, I brought your tea.”
With practiced movements, Nella poured tea into my cup.
The scent told me immediately what it was.
Hiaren tea, my favorite.
“Thank you, Nella.”
I was quietly sipping the tea when the musicians stopped playing.
A servant raised his voice and announced loudly.
“The Head of House Drenihan, Duke Tergon Drenihan, is entering!”
Everyone’s attention turned in one direction.
Grandfather, still imposing despite his age, walked forward.
Soon he stepped onto the stage and began his opening speech.
“Thank you to all our honored guests for taking the time to attend and grace us with your presence. The reason for today’s banquet is simple. House Drenihan has gained a new source of pride.”
Then he looked in my direction and encouraged the guests to applaud.
“My wish is for everyone to congratulate my granddaughter, Sierra Drenihan, on awakening her ability.”
The moment he finished speaking, applause erupted from every direction.
People praised me enthusiastically.
It almost looked like they were competing to see who could congratulate me more passionately.
They were desperately trying to earn Duke Drenihan’s favor.
Grandfather looked very pleased by the sight.
Then he turned toward me.
“Sierra, come here.”
As I stepped onto the stage, the guests’ anticipation grew even stronger.
“Show our honored guests a refreshing water ability on this hot day.”
A golden goblet filled with water had been prepared in front of me.
The water came from Lake Aesil, which was said to contain properties that temporarily amplified abilities.
Even so, my ability is still weak…
I wasn’t even sure there was enough power to amplify.
Well, all I need to do is prove that I awakened an ability.
With that thought, I reached out toward the goblet.
The moment I gathered my power and activated it—
the water suddenly leaped into the air.
Then it transformed into sparkling crystals of ice.
The crystals spread throughout the outdoor venue, shining brilliantly and creating a breathtaking scene.
A wave of cool air swept through the area.
“Wow…”
“The whole venue became cooler in an instant.”
“So that’s a water ability. Amazing.”
People gasped in admiration.
I stared blankly at my own hand.
I had just done something I had never managed during practice.
At that moment, I heard a low chuckle behind me.
“You’re quite talented, Sierra.”
For the first time in my life, I was receiving Grandfather’s approval.
I could feel my cheeks growing warm.
“You’re quite talented, Sierra.”
“As a gift, I’ll show you something even more impressive.”
He gently patted my head with one hand.
Then he raised the other toward the sky.
In an instant, countless shining crystals burst from his hand.
They were incomparably brighter and far more magnificent than anything I had created.
And unlike me, he hadn’t even used the water from the goblet.
This is the power of Tergon Drenihan, the Guardian Sword.
The greatest water ability user in the Empire.
The hero praised by countless people for ending devastating droughts and bringing life back to barren lands.
“My goodness…”
“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”
The guests stared blankly at the enormous rainbow and sparkling crystals floating across the sky.
The sight was unbelievably beautiful.
“Thank you, Grandfather. It’s beautiful.”
I smiled softly while examining one of the crystals that landed on my hand.
“That’s incredible!”
“As expected of House Drenihan. Three generations all wielding water abilities…”
Thunderous applause followed.
Only then was I finally able to relax.
Grandfather seemed quite satisfied as well.
“Sierra, that was amazing.”
After I returned to my seat, Argen clapped and spoke with sincere admiration.
People whispered among themselves that Tergon Drenihan’s favor had truly fallen upon me.
The attention was almost overwhelming.
I could practically imagine Nella crying tears of joy somewhere in the distance.
“Haah…”
Even though everything had gone successfully, I felt strangely tense.
My throat was dry.
I emptied my cup of tea, yet the thirst remained.
Noticing my condition, Argen asked,
“Are you okay? Should I get you more tea?”
“Yes, could you?”
I smiled faintly and tried to hand him my cup.
Then suddenly—
my vision spun.
The teacup appeared doubled.
“Huh…?”
The world tilted.
My stomach churned violently.
Something was wrong.
I realized it only after my body had already begun falling sideways.
I lost my balance.
My vision flickered.
“Sierra!”
The screams around me and Argen’s voice gradually faded away.
Everything hurt.
Every part of my body hurt.
It sounded as though chaos had erupted around me.
Countless voices echoed nearby.
The words blended together into meaningless noise.
“It hurts…”
I wished someone—anyone—would save me from this pain.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve hurt this badly…
Surely not since that day…
[What in the world happened?!]
[It seems Miss Sierra has no resistance to the mild poison contained in Dragers fruit. She only tasted a little out of curiosity, but…]
[She’s suffering like this! Do something!]
[The antidote we just administered is the best we can do. Any more would be too much for her body to handle.]
What a cursed body.
[All we can do now is wait and watch, Lord Sercan…]
It had been a fragrant tea with a mysterious crimson color.
Everyone else drank it without any problem.
I had only wanted to try it too.
I had barely taken a sip.
Yet I ended up burning with fever so severe that I nearly lost consciousness.
Every time I opened my eyes during those three days, Father was sitting beside me.
Morning became evening.
The blue sky turned red and then dark.
Yet he never once left my side.
The fever finally broke on the third day.
[I thought I was going to lose you too. I’ve never been this afraid before…]
I still remembered Father hugging me with red eyes.
After that day, I never wanted to make him worry again.
So even when I felt sick, I always pretended I was fine.
That memory had stayed with me ever since.
“S… Sierra…”
Father’s voice reached me through the ringing in my ears.
Then another voice cut through the noise.
“Oh my goodness… this is Dragers tea…”
It was Cesar, the Drenihan family’s physician.
Dragers tea?
There was no way I wouldn’t recognize that scent.
Even a single sip had once left me bedridden for three days.
But today—
I had emptied the entire cup.
This might actually be dangerous…
I could feel Argen continuously pouring healing power into me.
But it was like pouring water into a bottomless pit.
The power disappeared as quickly as it entered.
Healing abilities no longer working meant only one thing.
I was standing on the edge of death.
A situation beyond saving.
If I died like this…
Would I return to my original world?
That cold place where nobody was waiting for me…
That was my final thought before consciousness slipped away.
Then, through the chaos and noise, I heard a familiar voice.
“Move aside, Argen.”
It was Ludwig.
