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Chapter 14
I wondered if he needed something, so I widened my eyes and looked at Doctor Watt.
“It’s not suitable to take it in the drawing room. It would be better to take the medicine in a bedroom where you can lie down and rest.”
I had been wondering why he wasn’t giving me the medicine right away, but it seemed he was saying this as a precaution for any unforeseen situation.
In a book I had read before, it mentioned that those who took the treatment for Trinz Disease suffered from extreme pain, writhing in agony.
In some cases, they even fainted because they couldn’t endure the pain. So the bedroom did seem safer than the drawing room.
“Then I shall guide you.”
“Yes, madam.”
I stood up and led Doctor Watt to the bedroom.
Rivet, along with a few servants and maids, followed behind us. They carried towels and bowls of water, preparing for any emergency.
“The medicine is here.”
Doctor Watt handed me a pouch containing the medicine.
Inside was a small pill, shaped like a bead. It was a dark brown, almost black, and gave off a strong herbal scent.
If I took this, I would finally be freed from the persistent fear of death that had tormented me.
Of course, I was fully aware of the side effects—that the mana in my body would slowly find its way out, causing extreme pain, and that I would have to endure aftereffects later on.
Even setting aside the immediate side effects, the long-term consequences of the illness worried me. Those could last until the mana fully settled within my body—anywhere from one or two years to possibly a lifetime.
Still, it was far better to survive with aftereffects than to remain conscious while my limbs were paralyzed, slowly withering away in pain like a dying flower.
At the very least, once I took the medicine, I wouldn’t have to live in fear of suddenly dying anymore.
Every time a seizure began, I found myself thinking of death, and it was slowly eating away at my mind.
The anxiety of possibly dying at any moment, and the desperate desire to live—how much fear had I endured?
That fear would end today.
I stared at the medicine for a moment, then placed it in my mouth. Taking the glass of water Rivet handed me, I swallowed it.
I had read that the moment the medicine was taken, unbearable pain would follow, making it hard to even breathe. I had prepared myself, tense and bracing for it.
But strangely, after taking the pill, I felt nothing.
Just as I began to wonder if Doctor Watt had made a mistake, a sharp pain exploded from around my heart.
The pain spread from my heart, flowing through my blood vessels, reaching every corner of my body.
It felt like electricity coursing through me—sharp, tingling agony. I forgot how to breathe, my body trembling violently like I was having a seizure.
From the tips of my fingers and toes, from my very nerves, the pain crept upward like crawling insects. I writhed and screamed for hours.
My head felt like it was splitting apart, my eyes burned as if they would burst out. Every part of me—every vein, every tiny cell carrying oxygen—twisted in excruciating agony.
Then my body grew hot.
It felt as though blazing flames were consuming me, as if they would destroy everything within me.
Desperately wishing for the pain to stop, I screamed without even realizing it.
The pain did not relent. It engulfed my entire body, leaving me abandoned in endless agony.
Unable to endure it, I begged for my life again and again. Though no sound came out, I pleaded as if someone could hear me. I was so desperate that I could taste blood in my throat.
The long torment continued.
The sun that had been high in the sky slowly sank below the horizon.
At some point, the heavy pressure crushing my body disappeared. My ragged breathing gradually calmed.
It felt as though something that had been wrapped around me had been peeled away. Slowly, I opened my eyes.
A familiar ceiling came into view.
I blinked several times before turning my head to look around the room.
“Master?”
Rivet, who had been wringing a wet cloth beside the bed, met my eyes and called out in surprise.
“Master, are you alright?”
“…Yes. I want to sit up—could you help me?”
My throat was rough and cracked.
With Rivet’s help, I raised my upper body and took the glass of water she handed me, sipping it slowly.
The water felt refreshing against my dry mouth. Only after finishing the entire glass did I hand it back.
“What happened? I remember taking the medicine, but…”
“It’s been three days since then. After taking the medicine, you were in agony the entire time… You only just woke up now.”
“Three days?”
That was much longer than I had expected.
The books I had read often exaggerated things, so I hadn’t quite believed it—but now I realized it hadn’t been exaggeration at all.
Letting out a sigh, I pressed my hand to my forehead.
My head felt slightly heavy, but overall, my body felt full of vitality.
“Does your body feel alright?”
“Yes. It definitely feels different. Lighter… and refreshed.”
“That’s a relief. I was so worried. I thought something might happen to you…”
Rivet’s voice was filled with concern. I gently patted her shoulder to reassure her.
She looked up at me briefly, then smiled softly.
“Since you’ve woken up, I’ll call Doctor Watt. Another maid is waiting outside, so please call if you need anything.”
“Alright, thank you.”
Rivet soon left the room to fetch Doctor Watt.
Left alone, I raised my hand, feeling how light it was.
All my senses seemed sharper, more sensitive than before.
I couldn’t tell whether it was because my nerves had dulled due to Trinz Disease before, or because the medicine made from the Tieria flower had activated the mana within me.
What was certain was that my condition had improved significantly.
I clenched and unclenched my fist.
Seeing the color quickly return to my pale hand made it feel real—I had survived that terrible ordeal.
I wouldn’t have to tremble in fear of dying from Trinz Disease anymore.
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door as I was lost in thought.
“Master, I’ve brought Doctor Watt.”
It was Rivet’s voice.
“Come in.”
After my permission, the door opened, and Doctor Watt entered with his medical bag.
“You’re awake, madam. That is truly a relief.”
“Thanks to you.”
“Not at all. I merely did my duty. After all, you were the one who obtained the Tieria flowers.”
Doctor Watt smiled warmly as he sat beside the bed.
He took out a small orb from his bag and placed it in my hand. It was used to diagnose Trinz Disease.
“Just hold it.”
I did as instructed.
A faint light began to glow from the orb. After shining for a while, the light slowly faded.
Unlike before, when it flickered irregularly and shattered, it now remained stable.
After observing it, Doctor Watt took the orb back and smiled kindly at me.
“It seems the medicine worked well. Fortunately, it appears that your Trinz Disease has been completely cured.”
“That’s thanks to your efforts. I’m grateful, as always.”
“Yes, madam. Before I leave, I’ll prepare some medicine for you. Even though the illness is cured, there will still be aftereffects.”
He handed me a transparent bottle containing brown medicine.
“This is a remedy to alleviate the aftereffects, made from the Tieria flowers you obtained. It will be effective when needed. However, since it also requires Tieria flowers, once you run out, it cannot be made again until you acquire more.”
“So I should use it sparingly.”
In other words, only take it when absolutely necessary.
I nodded and carefully put the bottle away.
“However, madam…”
Just as I thought we were finished, Doctor Watt spoke again with a hesitant smile.
“The former Duke Graham’s condition has worsened recently.”
“…My grandfather?”
It was unexpected.
He was my physician, but also the physician of the former Duke Graham.
It seemed that during the three days I had been unconscious, my grandfather’s condition had deteriorated further.
He had already been quite ill… Hearing this made my heart sink.
“I hesitate to say this, given the news of your divorce from Duke Graham, but… perhaps you should visit him?”
Doctor Watt smiled awkwardly.
“My apologies if I have overstepped.”
“No, it’s alright. I was worried already—thank you for telling me.”
“Yes. Then, since your condition has stabilized, I will take my leave.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
After Doctor Watt left, I fell into thought.
Because of Ains, visiting the Graham estate felt uncomfortable—but I couldn’t avoid it just to avoid seeing him.
If Doctor Watt went as far as to say this, there must be a reason.
“Rivet.”
“Yes, master.”
“I’ll visit the Graham estate tomorrow. Inform them of my intention to visit. And make it clear that I’m going to see the former Duke, Daemond Graham—not Duke Ains Graham.”
“Yes, understood.”
