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Chapter 77
Tyburn had no intention of backing down. Dania, too, was one of the servants who had done her utmost for Katieron.
Tyburn was not the sort of man to ignore such devotion and loyalty.
And bringing Dania back safely was important—for Rani’s sake as well.
“Didn’t you hear me?”
“I don’t know anything…!”
“Bring the maid here, Grandfather! What if I die like this?!”
Carte shrieked. He was sweating cold sweat, looking truly in pain.
It was obvious he wasn’t even aware of what he was saying anymore.
At Carte’s words, Marquess Aites’s face turned pale.
“Ca… Carte. What maid are you talking about? I don’t know anything.”
“That’s nonsense!”
Carte screamed. The marquess’s eyes wavered. Even though it was his own blood, once he met Tyburn’s savage eyes, he couldn’t help but doubt.
“Tyburn! Carte is your blood too! Are you really going to do this?!”
“I stated my condition. Bring me the maid!”
Tyburn lifted Carte a little higher.
“Arghhh!”
Mad old man! Watching his precious grandson’s face twist in pain, the marquess stomped his foot.
No matter how reckless Tyburn could be, he never imagined he’d go this far over a mere maid!
In the end, the marquess raised both hands in surrender.
“Bring that wench here at once!”
The aide bowed his head and bolted away like a bullet. Since he had already ordered the maid killed, anxiety gripped him.
At last, Carte’s feet touched the ground properly, and the marquess heaved a sigh of relief.
Carte burst into sobs, still caught in Tyburn’s grip. The marquess’s eyes wavered as he looked at the pitiful child.
“Tyburn, why are you going this far? You looked ready to kill your grandson. Is a mere maid that important?”
“A mere maid? I was wondering who this fool took after.”
Tyburn laughed coldly. To belittle and disregard life so easily—utterly absurd.
If this were the battlefield, their heads would have been the first to roll.
The aide returned, dragging a young girl.
Brown hair—familiar. Luckily, she didn’t seem injured. Surely it was thanks to Rani’s blessing.
But her clothes were torn and ragged, as if she had endured hardship.
The aide all but threw the maid forward. Tyburn caught her in his free arm and immediately released Carte.
“Grandpaaa!”
Carte crawled across the floor into the marquess’s arms, clutching his arm and sobbing even louder. Emboldened, perhaps, by having the marquess on his side.
Tyburn frowned.
“You will regret this, Tyburn.”
“Never. I’m returning your bloodline to you—even Sornya. Make sure your blood never crosses my wall again. This is my final warning.”
Tyburn’s eyes flashed. The marquess shivered as though facing a great wild bear.
Tyburn was a man who did as he said. He had just proved it. Gritting his teeth, the marquess tended to Carte’s dislocated arm.
“If something like this happens again, who knows what I might do.”
Tyburn laughed like a mad beast.
“Exilon has always been good at telling apart his enemies.”
The marquess stiffened. Just as Tyburn turned to leave, their eyes met with Kiera, who had come down from the second floor at the commotion.
Ignoring her gaze, Tyburn turned away completely, lifting Dania carefully in his arms.
“Father!”
Kiera rushed forward, but Tyburn did not stop.
“Please, Father! I was wrong! Please, just let me see Herden one more time, Father!”
He ignored her desperate cries as well. Once Dania was placed in the carriage, they departed immediately. Katieron’s carriage thundered away.
Tyburn checked the girl in his arms. She was breathing shallowly, but alive.
He grasped her wrist to feel her pulse. She had fainted for some reason, but her life was not in danger.
“She’s stable.”
He exhaled.
Tyburn himself had once received Rani’s blessing. Wounds would heal in an instant.
Surely Dania had experienced the same. This was his fault. He hadn’t kept his bloodline in check. Now he intended to atone.
Dania was taken straight to Meril for treatment. Having stayed at the ducal house to conduct research, Meril had grown into a skilled physician.
She immediately recognized the problem.
“She’s lacking blood. Strange. No wounds though…”
“Her recovery must be remarkable.”
Meril glanced at Tyburn, then nodded. She had long since grown used to the strange happenings of this household. Following her instructions, Tyburn laid Dania on the bed.
“Have you checked Rani?”
“She’s fine, but still unconscious.”
Tyburn bit his lip. He had no idea what to do. He didn’t even understand how Rani’s blessing or magic worked.
With arms folded, he watched Dania being treated.
‘Lay her beside Rani?’
Maybe Rani would awaken from the blessing’s influence. Resolute, Tyburn moved swiftly.
In Rani’s room, Hider was present.
“Still no change?”
“No, Grandfather.”
Tyburn nodded, then lifted the sleeping Rani.
“Grandfather?”
“I’m taking her to Meril. Will you come?”
“Yes!”
Carrying Rani, Tyburn strode away, Hider following.
He laid Rani beside Dania, placing both girls on the same bed.
“Tyburn?”
Meril looked at him questioningly.
“Wait and see.”
Tyburn’s face was uncharacteristically anxious. Hider held his breath.
And then—
Rani’s eyelids fluttered open. Tyburn let out a deep breath of relief.
His instinct had been right.
A beast’s intuition had triumphed.
[Skill transfer canceled.]
[Overload ended.]
[Debuff removed.]
[Protection mode ended.]
[Consciousness restored.]
When I opened my eyes, I wasn’t alone. It seemed to be Meril’s infirmary. And next to me—
“Dania!”
She was back. Tyburn had brought her back.
Tears burst from my eyes.
And not just Dania. The skill I had forcibly transferred was back too.
Except for the self-healing skill, but still.
“Is… is Dania okay, Meril?”
I stammered through sobs. Meril smiled and nodded.
“With some herbs, she’ll be fine. Fortunately, her life’s not in danger. By tomorrow she’ll wake.”
“Th-that’s such a relief!”
Still crying like a child, I suddenly found myself lifted up—by Tyburn.
He set me down from the bed and said,
“If you’re fine, get off. Let the patient rest comfortably.”
I nodded vigorously.
“Thank you, Tyburn. For saving Dania.”
If anything had happened to her, taken in my place, I might have gone mad.
Tyburn placed a heavy hand on my head. Through my streaming tears, I looked up at him.
“There will never be a next time, Rani. I promise you that.”
It was a promise I could trust completely.
