Episode 78
“At that time, I didn’t think it was a big deal. Because there are people who sleep a lot, you know. But…,”
Ian paused for a moment and looked back at me.
“That time when I couldn’t wake up, and Ian helped me, that’s when I found out?”
“Yes. That’s right…”
Ian agreed with my words and replied.
“Until then, I didn’t know there was such an illness, so I just thought Dahlia was someone who slept a lot. But the symptoms Dahlia occasionally mentioned and what brother said were similar, so I speculated if it might be the same illness.”
“What did Dahlia say?”
“She said she feels better when holding hands with me. That she feels less tired… It’s similar to what she said earlier.”
“I see. Well, in my opinion…”
I paused for a moment and organized my thoughts to Ian.
To avoid leaking information I knew from the original work, I had to be more alert from now on.
Lloydin and Ian’s gaze focused on me.
I took a deep breath inwardly and continued speaking.
“I think Dahlia might have the same illness as me.”
“Really?”
Ian’s eyes widened, and as he quickly got up from his seat, the carriage lurched, causing a momentary wobble.
“Ian, sit down, it’s dangerous.”
“Oh, uh…”
Ian sat back down and leaned closer to me, asking, “What should we do then?”
Anxiousness filled Ian’s face.
“Ian, let’s calm down for a moment.”
“Yes? Yes.”
Ian immediately leaned back, but his anxiousness remained evident.
Considering Ian’s state, I began to explain quickly.
“This is just my judgment as someone suffering from the illness, so it’s not certain. But in my opinion, it seems like the same illness as mine, and it seems to be in the early stages. When I was young, the symptoms of the illness weren’t as severe as they are now.”
Still, Dahlia was in a much better condition than me.
In my case, I recognized the illness from a very young age, and when I was about the same age as Dahlia, a night’s sleep would pass relatively smoothly after falling asleep once.
Furthermore, I didn’t learn about the treatment for my illness until I was 20, but Dahlia was only 14 now.
Feeling fortunate in many ways, I continued, “But if we don’t treat it quickly, the symptoms will probably worsen.”
“Worsen?”
Ian’s expression twisted instantly.
“It will if left untreated. Ian.”
“So, what should we do? Please tell me the method. Please, I’m begging you.”
Ian appealed to me more desperately than anyone else.
Watching him, I felt proud and moved.
I had felt it before, but the power of the original work was remarkable.
Despite meeting long before the original story, the two main characters recognized, relied on, and cherished each other.
Of course, now a story entirely different from the original would unfold, but that would be interesting in its own way.
“Did you hear from brother? The method he mentioned to treat me.”
“Yes. He said to hold hands and channel strength into it. So, sometimes when Dahlia feels tired, I do it for her.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It seems to have an effect on Dahlia…”
“Of course it does. You’re doing great. As expected of our Ian. So clever.”
I praised the capable Ian, who managed things even without being told.
“Is that all we need to do?”
“Yes. Just keep doing that. Then the cycle of falling asleep will gradually lengthen, and even if she falls asleep, the duration will shorten. Eventually, she’ll get better.”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
To reassure Ian, I nodded firmly.
“Ah, that’s a relief.”
Only then did Ian exhale a sigh of relief and relax his tense expression.
“But to be more precise, it might be better to invite Dahlia to the mansion sometime and talk to her.”
“I’ll ask Dahlia about that.”
“Good. Let’s do that then.”
“Yes. Thank you for helping.”
“Actually, I should be thankful. Thanks to the Blighton family, I can live.”
Saying so, I looked at Lloydin.
“Thank you, Duke.”
“Thank you too.”
“Huh?”
To my question, Lloydin just smiled faintly, without a direct answer.
I wanted to ask more, but at that moment, the carriage stopped, arriving at the duke’s mansion.
Since time was tight, we stopped the conversation and quickly got off the carriage into the mansion.
After hastily preparing, we got back into the carriage.
If we were dressed lightly before, this time everyone was dressed appropriately for the party.
Lloydin wore a black evening suit, giving off an overall calm and cool vibe.
In contrast, Ian’s deep blue evening suit made him seem brighter than Lloydin.
And I wore a light yellow dress, giving off the lively feeling of spring.
Feeling relieved that we would arrive on time, I engaged in light conversation with the two.
About an hour later, we arrived at the palace.
Today, the banquet was held not in the building where the last banquet took place, but in the largest garden of the palace.
As we reached the entrance to the garden, flowers, unseen before, bloomed splendidly, as expected of a garden managed by the palace.
Upon entering, people’s attention was naturally drawn to us.
‘Hmm?’
But there was a subtle atmosphere different from usual lingering around.
What’s going on?
I looked around, tilting my head inwardly.
For some reason, it felt like women’s gazes were lingering on us for a long time.
“My lady?”
“Yes?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
I awkwardly smiled and linked arms with Lloydin.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
As we crossed through the banquet hall, we first sought out our parents and brothers.
“Oh, there they are.”
Our parents were engaged in conversation with other nobles.
“Father, mother!”
Both of them turned their heads towards me upon hearing my voice.
Then, after exchanging a few more words with the people in front of them, they came straight to us.
“Ayla, you’re here.”
“Ayla, why are you so late?”
“We were at the festival during the day. What about the brothers?”
“Jade and Luke disappeared while greeting others. They’re coming over there.”
Looking in the direction mother indicated, I saw our brothers approaching us with smiles on their faces.
“You’re here too.”
“It’s been a while.”
Our parents greeted Lloydin first.
“Nice to see you again, Duke. Duchess. Ian, greetings to you too.”
“Nice to see you again, Duke. Duchess.”
Ian greeted our parents with the same words as Lloydin.
“You seem more refined since the last time I saw you.”
“Thank you, Duchess.”
“Ayla!”
My brothers, who had approached us unnoticed, called out to me.
“Brothers!”
I waved my hand and greeted them.
Subsequently, while catching up with my brothers, the Emperor and the nobles entered the banquet hall.
The Emperor’s speech wasn’t much different from the last time.
If there was anything added, it was congratulations on the victory of this expedition.
However, there was still no mention of Lloydin in this speech.
‘Could it be that it’s still too early?’
Although I felt uneasy, I wasn’t foolish enough to show it outwardly.
It can’t be helped.
Let’s not be too anxious.
It had been hundreds of years.
Therefore, more patience was needed to change people’s prejudices and misconceptions.
After the Emperor’s speech ended, music once again filled the banquet hall.
This time too, while Father took Lloydin away, Ian and I went to find Dahlia.
However, no matter how much we looked around, we couldn’t find Dahlia anywhere.
“Where could Dahlia be?”
“She said she’d come today…”
“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s keep looking.”
“…Okay.”
We searched all over the banquet hall, but Dahlia was nowhere to be found.
“Something must have come up suddenly.”
“… ”
Ian’s expression quickly darkened.
“It’s probably nothing. Oh, Dahlia’s last name was Camos, right?”
“… Yes.”
“Just a moment, Ian.”
I asked Ian to wait for a moment and went to my mother.
I asked my mother if she knew anyone from the Camos family, the Countess or anyone from that lineage.
Even though Dahlia couldn’t come, I thought some of the people from that family might have come.
Fortunately, my mother knew people from the Camos family.
Scanning the surroundings, my mother pointed to someone.
It was the Count of Camos.
I returned to Ian.
“Ian. I asked my mother, and that person over there is Dahlia’s father. I’ll go ask about Dahlia and come back, so wait here for a moment, okay?”
“Huh? Okay, got it.”
Leaving Ian behind, I approached the Count of Camos.
The Count, noticing my approach, greeted me with a smile.
“Nice to meet you. Count Camos. I’m Ayla Blighton.”
“Oh, pleasure is mine. Duchess Blighton. I’m Damon Camos.”
Dahlia resembled her father a lot.
Maybe even if I hadn’t asked my mother, I could have found him immediately. As I thought so, Dahlia’s image was strongly reflected in the Count of Camos.
Thank you so much!❤️🔥