CH 04
However, instead of the expected pain, my body floated gently into the air.
Surprised, I opened my eyes and met the Count’s golden eyes.
The Count didn’t hit me or scold me; he simply embraced me.
“Unfortunately, you hurt your leg, so I have to carry you myself.”
In a state of panic over the unexpected situation, the Count continued to hold me and headed somewhere.
The destination was the infirmary.
Carefully placing me on a white bed, the Count knelt down in front of me and examined the wound.
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“I’m fine.”
I nodded casually with a composed expression.
It’s not like my leg was severed; it was bearable.
The Count then used a cotton swab soaked in antiseptic to clean my wound.
It stung a little as the antiseptic touched the wound, but it was manageable.
“Really, it doesn’t hurt?”
“Nope.”
However, the Count seemed dissatisfied with my bold response.
With a complicated expression, he searched through a drawer containing medicines.
‘What’s bothering him? Was saying it hurts the right answer? Does the Count prefer me to be in pain, like the evil dragon?’
Deep in contemplation, the Count approached me and handed me a black pill.
“Take it.”
The black, round pill looked exactly like the ones the evil dragon used to give me in the past.
‘When I ate that, it was excruciatingly painful, as if my stomach would tear apart….’
I glanced at the Count with questioning eyes, wondering if I really had to take it. However, the Count was resolute.
“Eat it. Or should I feed you myself?”
Based on my past experiences, rebelling at a time like this would only make me suffer more.
I closed my eyes tightly and swallowed the pill that the Count handed to me.
“Hmm?”
Contrary to my expectations of unbearable pain that felt like my stomach was tearing apart, the knee pain I had been experiencing suddenly disappeared.
As I lowered my head, the torn knee wound seemed completely healed.
Not only that, but the bruises that covered my arms and legs were also fading away.
‘If this isn’t a rare and precious medicine that even the Count of Claustar would find it hard to obtain, why would he give me such a pill… Ah, perhaps he’s worried that I might die soon from the pain?’
Well, if the heir he brought all the way here died within a week, people might mock him.
Nodding to myself, I leaned against the desk and met the Count’s gaze.
‘He’s definitely good-looking.’
The overwhelming presence emanating from his entire body made it difficult for an ordinary person to make eye contact, but when scrutinizing every detail, he seemed to be the most handsome man I had ever seen.
However, what caught my eye more than the Count himself was the basket of apples behind him.
The apple with its crimson hue looked fresh and glossy, as if it had just been picked from the tree.
‘It looks delicious….’
It had been a long time since I had digested the porridge I had for dinner.
As I stared intently at the Count’s direction, he asked, “What? Do you have something to say?”
Oops, it seems like he doesn’t like me staring at him.
Hastily lowering my gaze, the Count swept his hand through his hair in irritation and spoke.
“I didn’t mean for your leg to be injured deliberately.” (Count said)
Ah, so that’s what he meant.
I didn’t expect him to actually be concerned about such a minor injury.
‘The Count is a better person than I thought.’
“I understand. I’m fine.”
Then the Count, with his arms crossed, looked at me with a displeased expression.
He was truly a hard person to please.
After an uncomfortable silence for a while, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything while nervously watching the Count’s reaction, so I just stared blankly at the apples behind him.
As time passed, the apples seemed to look more and more delicious.
The Count, noticing my gaze, held up an apple and asked, “Do you want to eat?”
I hesitated for a moment before nodding my head.
He had treated my injury, so I didn’t feel like holding a grudge over this.
Then the Count tossed me an apple.
‘Is Count Claustar an angel?’
I couldn’t think of anyone who would give me something to eat with ill intentions.
Feeling grateful, I bit into the apple.
With a crisp sound, my mouth was filled with sweet juice.
‘It’s the most delicious apple I’ve ever had.’
As I happily bit into the apple, Count Claustar asked incredulously, “Are you eating it like this?” (Count asked)
What’s the problem with me eating it?
Looking at the apple I was eating, it didn’t look very appealing since I hadn’t taken big bites yet.
It looks like a mouse nibbled on it.
Why is he insulting me when he’s the one who gave it to me?
“Here, watch.” (Count said)
The Count used his magic to float the apple I was holding in the air, and swiftly cut it into eight pieces.
Then he looked at me as if asking, ‘See?’
I could have done that much even in my past life.
Seemingly unhappy with my reaction, the Count skillfully peeled the apple skin in the air.
“Rabbit.”
?
As I blinked in confusion and looked at the Count, he floated another apple in the air and swiftly cut it.
“This is a swan.”
“What’s the point? It’s all the same once it’s in your mouth, right?”
As I shook my head in the opposite direction, the Count asked, “Isn’t it fascinating?”
“…It’s fascinating!”
I enthusiastically clapped my hands, thinking the Count might snatch the apple away.
“Okay, try it.”
I opened my mouth wide to receive the apple the Count was offering.
But as the apple approached, it stopped right in front of my mouth.
With a puzzled look, I glanced at the Count, who chuckled.
“I’m not going to give it to you?”
“That’s mean!” (Alteira said)
It was the worst feeling to be given something and then have it taken away.
Seeing my expression, the Count chuckled.
“Alright, alright. Here, try again.” (Count said)
Quietly, I opened my mouth again, but this time, the Count properly put the apple in my mouth.
As the sweet taste spread in my mouth, my mood quickly improved.
* * *
“She’s a strange one.” (Count said)
Count Clasta lay on the sofa, casually tossing and catching an apple with one hand.
Ariel’s first impression was unchildlike—expressionless, few words, and not particularly cute. But then, she seemed to love the apple, blushing as she enjoyed it. When the apple was snatched away, she acted like a unique villain, taking the situation seriously.
“That kid used to be so indifferent, even if her knee was broken. Does she really like apples that much?”
Lost in thought, I was abruptly interrupted by urgent knocking.
“Come in.”
As the door opened, Orwell burst in, shouting, “Master! Did you use Silethia’s Tears pills from the infirmary?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Are you out of your mind? Why would you use such a precious item recklessly? Do you even know what it is? It takes at least 50 years to obtain one! There were only three, and you’ve used one! Now there are only two left!” (Orwell said)
Count Clasta responded with a relaxed expression, resembling a dog barking somewhere.
“It’s the most effective treatment among the remedies.” (Count said)
“Yes! That’s right! For no reason, you just used it to treat a broken knee! That stuff is called the second life that instantly revives even the dead! So why would you use it like that? Seriously?” (Orwell said)
“To heal, where else would you use it? I used some to fix my broken knee.” (Count said)
“You used Silethia’s Tears to treat a mere broken knee? Excuse me, but are you really out of your mind? Why not just use the red medicine or something!” (Orwell said)
“Yeah, I could have”. (Count said)
“But why didn’t I? “
I was just messing around, but I didn’t control the force.
I thought it would wobble a little bit, but I didn’t realize it was so fragile that it would fall to the ground.
When I went back to my room, I didn’t feel any movement, so I turned around and there she was, sitting there like a doll.
I thought it was strange, so I walked over to her and realized that both of her knees were shattered.
I would have ignored him if she had been crying out in pain.
The child stared at his black, bruised limbs as if they didn’t hurt that much.
The moment her red eyes met mine, I realized.
This kid is used to violence.
Somehow, I didn’t like that.
Impulsively, she took him to the infirmary, using up precious medicines.
Count Clasta spoke as he listened to Orwell’s outburst.
“It seems I was too lenient in sending the orphanage director to prison. Should I bring him back and kill him?” (Count said)
From the first time we met, her life was precarious. How badly must she have been abused at the orphanage to end up like this?
“Why are you suddenly talking nonsense? So, about Silethia’s Tear…!” (Orwell said)
“I used it on the kid. It’s mine anyway, and I used it because I wanted to. Is there a problem? Besides, I couldn’t sleep yesterday, and my head was hurting, so let’s drop it.” (Count said)
When Count Clasta spoke irritably, Orwell, who had just been ranting, stopped and asked with concern.
“You couldn’t sleep yesterday either?”
“Yeah.”
It had been quite a while since I couldn’t sleep.
Although I had become accustomed to the accompanying headaches a long time ago, this was the best way to get Orwell to shut up.
“Anyway, if you used it on the girl, her bruises should be gone, and her wounds should be healed. They kept asking to see her at the Elder Council. It’s a relief. Let’s officially introduce her tomorrow.” (Orwell said)
“Let’s do that.”
“I wish she could endure it for a long time.”
Count Clasta listened to Orwell’s words, then closed his eyes.
It was a little concerning, but that was it.
He didn’t intend to give any affection anyway.
“Here is my daughter, Ariel.” (Count said)
A chilly silence fell over the spacious chamber at Count Clasta’s words.
“It seems you all are concerned about my succession, so I brought her personally.” (Count said)
“What nonsense!”
“Are you out of your mind? To have a girl of unknown origin as the successor to Count Clasta?”
“If other noble families find out about this, how much they will ridicule us!”
Despite being noble, no one dared to use foul language.
‘Well, a bit of cursing would be worth it if I could secure the position of Count Clasta’s successor.’
I thought it would end quickly, but the Elder Council was more persistent than I expected.
I stood without a chair, enduring the Elder Council’s reproaches. Perhaps Orwell noticed my discomfort and gestured for Mary to take me out for a moment.
‘We haven’t had much chance to talk, but Orwell seems like a good person.’
“Lady, would you like to take a stroll nearby? There’s a place with beautiful flowers, and I can show you how to make a flower crown.” (Mary said)
“Sure.”
I spent a pleasant time with Mary in the flower garden when suddenly someone yelled upon seeing me.
“Hey, you!”
A boy about twelve years old, with a well-built physique and a trained aura, stood there.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” (Boy said)
As I stood there in silence, the boy tried to grab my head.
Of course, I quickly moved aside to avoid his touch.
The boy huffed like a bull.
“Already irritated because the Count adopted you! What’s going on…! Hey! What’s wrong with this kid?“
When the boy snapped at Mary, she hesitated and looked at me with concern.
I was worried that revealing my identity would only provoke the boy further.
“Well…”
Perhaps my hesitation fueled the boy’s anger as he swung his sword towards Mary.
“Spit it out! Is this kid the one adopted by the Count?” (Boy asked)
Mary is always kind to me.
But to think someone would try to hit her.
Feeling a surge of anger, I threw the flower I was holding aside and kicked the boy.
