Episode 32
Rustle.
In a moment of shaken composure, Alice failed to control her strength.
The teacup shattered in her hand, and the scalding tea turned her skin red. A chill emanated from her fingertips.
“Emilia. You’d better be ready to take responsibility for what you just said.”
Despite her eldest sister’s icy warning, Emilia remained unfazed and continued explaining.
“It was strange that the symptoms persisted even after using medication for autoimmune diseases. At first, I suspected it might be an endemic disease since all the children with Liliana’s condition in Trovancha were Trovancha natives. Even imperial doctors didn’t recognize the symptoms.”
“And?”
“I got a hint from reports that some children of local mages exhibited similar symptoms.”
“We cross-verified the data Emilia brought from Trovancha with centuries of records from the Mage Tower and formulated a hypothesis. The children—”
“I don’t care how you and Emilia discovered the disease. Give me the conclusion and solid evidence.”
“Sister, do you remember? Many of the children in Trovancha with Liliana’s illness recovered naturally as they reached a certain age.”
“I know. But those who didn’t recover naturally…”
Alice bit her lower lip, unable to finish her sentence.
Based on all recorded cases, children who didn’t heal naturally wasted away and died around the age of fourteen.
“The crucial age is fourteen. That’s also when Trovancha children undergo their Awakening Fever.”
Trovancha natives experienced a condition called “Awakening Fever” at fourteen, a stage where their latent abilities flared up intensely.
Not everyone who suffered from Awakening Fever developed supernatural abilities, but without enduring it, one’s powers couldn’t fully manifest.
“Abilities are innate; they can’t be acquired later in life. However, before awakening, they can’t be used at will because the body isn’t developed enough to handle them.”
“I’ve heard that ‘Awakening Fever’ is a kind of growing pain, triggered when latent abilities surge all at once during adolescence. Liliana is currently experiencing this Awakening Fever.”
“What do you mean?”
“Her latent abilities are too vast and powerful. They’re leaking out before her body has had time to mature. The problem is that her body is too young to endure it, which is why she’s experiencing fevers and organ damage.”
François added to Emilia’s explanation.
“Among mages, there’s a belief that children who suffer severe fevers at a young age grow up to wield great magical power.”
“Ah, Trovancha has a similar saying. A child who grows up sickly is always born with abilities. My sister was like that, too.”
Regina glanced at Alice. The Berchio family had long been known for producing individuals with powerful abilities.
“When the body undergoes physical growth or extreme exhaustion, it disrupts equilibrium, allowing the suppressed abilities to leak out and cause symptoms. We just need to help her endure until her true Awakening Fever occurs.”
“Miss Emilia is correct. Once her body develops, the issue should resolve itself. However, reaching adolescence will be difficult. As she grows, her potential will expand as well. Right now, it’s just fevers, but later on…”
“Stop. I already know what will happen next.”
Alice had read countless case studies detailing how children had died.
She shut her eyes tightly, her expression pained.
Regina, frightened, turned to Emilia.
“Then what should we do?”
“Now, we find a solution. We’ve uncovered the cause of Liliana’s illness, so we’ll soon discover the cure. Just give us a little time.”
Alice clenched her fists, suppressing the fear of losing Liliana.
Knowing her sister suffered from a rare disease made the world feel like it was collapsing.
Yet, she wanted to believe that even just identifying the real illness was progress.
“I trust that you and François will find the cure.”
“Are you really trusting us?”
“Emilia, you’re Trovancha’s foremost researcher on supernatural abilities. François is the leading expert in magic research. With the two of you working together, I don’t believe anything is impossible.”
Emilia tensed her jaw, trying not to reveal how deeply moved she was by her sister’s words.
François spoke.
“…Liliana will safely undergo her Awakening Fever.”
I will make sure of it.
No one knew exactly whom he was vowing this to, but at that moment, it didn’t matter.
The only thing that mattered was Liliana’s survival.
For her three sisters.
For François.
***
“Lady Liliana, shall I tie your hair for you?”
“Huh? Oh, no! That’s okay!”
The maids who had initially greeted her upon her arrival in the Empire had vanished at some point.
A few days ago, a new set of maids had been assigned to her.
Unlike the previous ones, these maids treated her as if she were a princess.
They styled her hair, cleaned her room, and even put her shoes on for her—something even her sisters never did.
Feeling awkward, Liliana could only hope they would disappear as suddenly as the previous maids had.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Only Edgar would knock so roughly.
After a half-hearted knock, Edgar swung the door open and urged her.
“Lady Alice is waiting! Hurry up!”
“Just a moment. I need to change my shoes.”
“Faster.”
He had behaved so well while she was bedridden, but the moment she recovered, he was back to his usual self.
More than anything, today was the day she and her sisters were supposed to visit the knight order.
Edgar was not just excited—he was practically bouncing with anticipation.
“Come on, put them on already.”
Impatient, Edgar crouched down and shoved the shoes onto her feet.
The socks were bunched up uncomfortably, but he paid no attention to such trivialities. Instead, he grabbed my hand and dragged me forward.
“So today, I’m going to tell Leo. If my situation causes trouble for my sister, I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t worry about me. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
My eldest and second sister were chatting in front of the palace.
When my second sister saw us approaching, she beamed brightly.
At the entrance to the knight order, Leopold was waiting for us.
“Whoa…”
Dressed in his uniform adorned with epaulettes, Leopold looked truly dashing.
So, this is what it takes to be a male lead.
I really picked the right best friend!
Having such a cool friend made me so proud that my shoulders squared up with pride.
“Uncle Leo, you look amazing!”
He welcomed us warmly, but at my compliment, his cheeks flushed red.
“My brother is quite impressive, isn’t he?”
Edgar grinned smugly, as if he had been the one praised.
After offering a warm glance at my second sister, Leopold gave a respectful bow to my eldest sister.
“You’ve arrived. Allow me to escort you inside.”
As the large gates set between the walls swung open, the knight order—an area I hadn’t been able to explore during my palace excursions—finally revealed itself.
The main headquarters building, a vast training ground, and an open space large enough to accommodate hundreds of people spread out before us.
Lined up in formation, the knights stood waiting for us.
“There was no need to go this far.”
“Not at all. With the imperial wedding a month away, it is only right to introduce ourselves properly beforehand.”
While I had been bedridden, my eldest sister’s wedding date had been set.
I wasn’t ready to let her go yet…
But wow, this is really impressive.
Holding onto my sister’s hand, I stole glances at the knights, who stood at strict attention.
Beside me, Edgar’s eyes sparkled so much that he nearly had to clamp his hands over his mouth to contain his excitement.
The knights greeted my eldest sister with the utmost respect.
According to Edgar, once she became empress, the knights would kneel on one knee before her, just like in fairy tales.
“This is Deputy Commander Derek Douma.”
Derek was a towering giant, easily over two meters tall.
His trapezius muscles bulged, his broad shoulders stretched wide, and his rugged muscles gave off an intimidating presence.
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
“I am Alice Berchio. It’s a pleasure. These are my younger sisters, Regina and Liliana.”
“Hoho. I’ve heard a lot about Sir Derek. You’re just as impressive as I imagined.”
“Thank you. The atmosphere in this knight order must be quite different from that of Trovancha. Coming from a more free-spirited place, I imagine the adjustment will be challenging, but I hope you enjoy your time here.”
His words were polite, but there was an odd sharpness in his tone.
I wondered if I was misunderstanding because I wasn’t yet used to the imperial accent, so I glanced at my sisters.
Since neither of them showed any change in expression, it seemed I was reading too much into it.
Leopold led us on a tour of the area.
“So the cavalry unit is integrated within the knight order. I assumed it would be a separate force for specialization.”
“That would complicate command in times of emergency, so they were incorporated.”
As my eldest sister conversed with Leopold, Derek interjected.
“Having worked in the maritime security force, you must have grasped our system quickly.”
“Yes, given the similarities in our duties.”
“What exactly was your role there?”
At Derek’s question, my eldest sister smiled faintly and answered.
“I was part of the Public Security Bureau within the Maritime Security Force.”
“The Public Security Bureau? That’s the department responsible for law enforcement, isn’t it?”
“Yes, we handled security. However—”
“However?”
“Not the security of citizens, but of the state itself.”
Her voice was smooth and composed, yet there was something chilling about it.
Feeling uneasy, I clutched at my second sister’s skirt.
Derek stared at my eldest sister for a moment before his lips curled into a strangely crooked smile.
“A woman performing knightly duties… Hard to believe. Were you perhaps in charge of paperwork?”
At Derek’s foolish remark, I silently prayed that my eldest sister would hold back.
In our family, the scariest person wasn’t our short-tempered youngest sister or our scheming second sister.
It was the eldest sister—when someone pushed the wrong button.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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