Episode 19
It was a phenomenon related to the illness I suffer from, where I suddenly become dizzy and fall into a deep sleep while previously being perfectly fine.
So, in such situations, the usual practice is to lower my body as much as possible just before collapsing…
‘Why?’
Why is this happening now?
Of course, I hadn’t slept for quite a long time since I last woke up.
If I didn’t know Lloydin, I would probably have been lying motionless in bed by now.
But I thought I had experienced some therapeutic effect through Lloydin’s power…
In a perplexed state, unable to do anything, I was on the verge of collapsing without lowering my body to the ground.
“Lady!”
Suddenly collapsing after walking fine just moments ago, Lloydin urgently grabbed me with a distressed voice.
Thankfully.
If not, I might have fallen so hard that I would have been seriously injured, just like before. Lloydin saved me.
“Your Grace… stay by my side.”
I wanted to tell him why this was happening but it was already too late.
I wanted to ask him to stay by my side until I woke up, but my voice wouldn’t come out.
My vision was gradually blurring, and the strength in my body was draining away.
‘I can’t… clear my mind.’
I tried to regain my composure, but as always, my illness couldn’t be overcome by willpower alone.
Eventually, as my vision turned dark, I fell into a deep sleep in his arms.
* * *
“Lady!”
Ayla, who had been strangely silent with a blank face, suddenly staggered while following him to Ian’s room.
Sensing her abnormality, Lloydin instinctively grabbed Ayla.
“Your Grace… stay by my side.”
I tried to say something to him, but her voice was no longer audible.
Unable to do anything, Ayla, who had been in his arms, went limp.
“Lady!”
Calling her, Lloydin held Ayla and hurriedly ran to his room.
“Bring Lady Anaïs’s maid to my room!”
He commanded a nearby servant to bring Ayla’s maid to his room.
“Yes? Yes, understood!”
After bringing her to his room and laying her on the bed, he couldn’t hide his anxious expression as he quickly assessed Ayla’s condition.
Approaching her, he first checked if she was breathing.
Fortunately, he heard regular breathing from her, realizing that she hadn’t lost consciousness but had fallen asleep due to the illness she had been talking about.
‘Why.’
At that moment, a question similar to Ayla’s crossed his mind, and anxiety tried to engulf him.
Could his power really cure her?
They had touched each other several times yesterday and today, and he had assured her that the treatment would work and she would get better.
‘Sigh.’
Lloydin sighed deeply, feeling frustration and despair.
Yes, it couldn’t be true.
The power that required drenching the whole world in fatigue to relieve his pent-up anger could never be the power to save someone.
He had thought of himself as worthless, living with the belief that the power, unwanted as it was, had finally made him a useful person because of her.
But it turned out to be false.
Then, now he was…
The hope he had barely grasped in his hands shattered into pieces and disappeared without a trace, leaving an indescribable sense of misery.
Now, touching her was no longer allowed.
Perhaps, because of him, her condition had worsened.
Thinking that way, Lloydin, who had become more repulsive to himself, could only look at her from a distance, unable to approach her.
After a while, someone knocked on the door from outside.
“Lord, I’ve brought Lady Ayla’s maid.”
“…Let her in.”
“Yes.”
The door opened, and Ayla’s maid, who had ridden in the carriage with her, hesitantly entered, bearing a worried expression.
“Lord Blighton… called… Lady!”
However, the moment she saw her mistress lying on the bed, she rushed toward the bed in surprise and distress.
“Why is the mistress… doing this… Oh!”
With a trembling voice, lia checked on her, and quickly grasped her condition.
“When did the mistress collapse?”
“Just a moment ago.”
“Did she get hurt anywhere when she collapsed?”
Saying that, Lia carefully examined Ayla’s body.
“She collapsed into my arms, so she didn’t get hurt.”
“Oh, thank goodness. Thank you, Lord.”
Relieved that Ayla wasn’t injured, Lia wiped away her tears.
“I should quickly take her and leave. As you know, Lord, suddenly falling into sleep is a symptom of Lady Ayla’s illness. I was worried that the illness might recur soon…”
While choking up, Lia explained Ayla’s illness to Lloydin. Although it wasn’t the first time she had seen her mistress in this state, Lloydin must have been surprised.
But why is he so far away?
Lia shook her head inwardly, quickly dismissing the thought. Now was not the time for such considerations.
“Milord, may I temporarily accompany the Blighton family’s personal physician? I need to check Lady Ayla’s condition. Please grant permission.”
“We don’t have a personal physician here.”
“What?”
Upon hearing that there was no personal physician, Lia was momentarily at a loss for words. It was inconceivable for a noble family, especially a ducal one, not to have a personal physician. Even those with substantial wealth, if not nobility, would have their own physicians. However, given the circumstances, she couldn’t dwell on this matter.
“Th-then, may I send for a physician to come to the mansion? Could you allow us to stay here until then?”
While she was familiar with the symptoms of the known illness, traveling a long distance without a personal physician was risky. With a pleading look, Lia sought Lloydin’s approval. After a brief hesitation, Lloydin slowly nodded.
“Thank you. I’ll send a message to bring a physician. Could you please watch over Lady Ayla for a while?”
After expressing her gratitude, Lia quickly left the room. Now, only Lloydin and Ayla remained inside.
Lloydin still kept his distance from Ayla, who was lying on the bed.
“Lady.”
Perhaps if he let her go like this, he would never see her again. He couldn’t heal her, and he was an existence that would only worsen her condition.
“I’m sorry, I…”
He mumbled to an inaudible recipient.
Once he sealed his lips, silence descended upon the room. Lloydin didn’t take his eyes off Ayla, capturing every detail in his eyes and heart.
From the tangled golden hair to the now closed eyelids concealing the eyes he couldn’t see, he engraved every inch of her. The emerald green eyes, like a dense forest, which he couldn’t see due to the closed eyelids, were etched into his mind.
Starting from her childhood, the image of the girl in his memories remained unchanged. Except for a slightly taller and more mature figure, her upright gaze, full of kindness, remained the same.
But just like I knew that day would be the last, it was the same this time.
Although giving up was always difficult, resignation was inevitable.
If he indulged his desires, it would eventually crumble and break. That was the reason.
However…
He wouldn’t just sit back and do nothing about Ayla’s illness like he had until now. He had firmly resolved to search the entire continent, explore the entirety of this world, to find a cure for the illness.
But what was it that she wanted to say?
Lloydin suddenly recalled the words Ayla had said to him just before collapsing.
Due to her feeble voice, it was hard to discern the meaning.
Yet, desperate to know, he contemplated it over and over again.
While thinking, an unwelcome small hope crossed his mind.
He shouldn’t think like this, and it was certainly not true. However, despite the earlier determination feeling like a lie, he found himself reluctant to let go of that hope.
‘If that’s the case.’
Ayla was convinced that he could cure her illness. When they touched, she felt the essence of life within her body. At that moment, she had spoken the truth, and he had unquestionably observed her transformation.
As soon as he realized this, the two conflicting decisions within him began to fiercely battle, but the result was clear.
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So they have met in the past?!