I Picked Up My Father Who Left Home 140
“…That is…”
Under Cassian’s intense pressure, the physician barely managed to open his mouth, but no further words followed.
Even as a physician, the diagnosis was perplexing.
No matter how many times he re-examined the patient, the findings remained the same.
But would the man before him even believe such an unbelievable result?
Cassian’s aura grew increasingly menacing in response to the physician’s silence.
Unable to withstand the suffocating atmosphere any longer, the physician had no choice but to speak—slowly, with extreme caution.
“…The examination shows no abnormalities.”
A sharp cracking sound followed immediately after the physician’s words.
One of the bedposts that Cassian had been gripping shattered.
The already nervous physician stiffened even more.
“…I must have misheard. Say that again. What did you just say?”
Cassian’s expression was cold enough to kill with a glance as he pressured the physician once more.
“…My apologies, but, my lord, there is nothing wrong with you.”
“…I trusted you because you are the physician of the Duke’s family.”
Cassian’s eyes narrowed.
“Turns out, you’re just a quack. Or are those eyes of yours just decoration?”
Even at a glance, Lia’s condition was clearly not good.
And yet, he was saying there was nothing wrong?
That she was completely fine?
That was complete nonsense.
“I don’t understand it either, but the examination revealed no issues whatsoever.”
“Hah? Then why is my angel baby in that state?”
“My lord, she is merely… asleep.”
It was the truth.
If there were anything wrong, something would have shown up during the examination.
Her energy would have been blocked, or there would have been signs of an issue.
Yet, no matter how many times the physician checked, he could detect nothing unusual in Lia’s body.
Aside from her pale complexion, her breathing was stable, and the flow of her energy was normal.
Even a poisoning test was conducted, but no traces of toxins were found.
“Then why do you even have eyes?* Even after looking at her, you’re saying she’s just sleeping?”
Who sleeps with such a sickly pallor and strained expression?
Even people suffering from nightmares didn’t look this bad.
“……..”
Under Cassian’s overwhelming pressure, the physician had no words to offer.
“It seems it’s time for a purge in the Duke’s household. Seeing as how even someone like you can be called a physician.”
Whether he was incompetent or had been bribed by someone, a physician who couldn’t fulfill his duty had no place in the Duke’s estate.
The former would be preferable.
But if it were the latter, then the physician wouldn’t just be expelled from the household—he wouldn’t be allowed to exist in this world at all.
Because if someone had bribed the physician, it was blatantly obvious who it was.
The Marquess himself was already a danger to Lia, and Cassian was not lenient enough to allow the man’s spies to remain in his estate.
“Summon another physician to re-examine her. If their diagnosis differs from yours, you’d best start writing your will.”
The physician froze at Cassian’s chilling warning but said nothing.
He understood why he was being suspected.
However, this was neither a mistake nor incompetence on his part.
Cassian waved his hand dismissively, signaling the physician to leave.
With a conflicted expression, the physician quietly exited the room.
Once he was gone, Cassian turned his gaze toward Lia, who lay on the bed, his expression filled with a mixture of emotions.
She was a child who deserved nothing but love and care.
Lia was so special and precious to him that he could hardly believe he was capable of such feelings.
Never before had he bent his will or yielded for anyone.
Nor had he ever willingly taken on harm for someone else.
But Lia was different.
He still didn’t fully understand why she evoked such emotions in him, why she felt so exceptionally significant.
Yet his instincts were screaming at him.
He had to protect Lia.
She was someone so precious that even giving her his heart would not be too much.
And now, she lay before him, looking so fragile.
She was already so small and delicate—it had always made him feel protective.
The thought that she carried too many burdens on her tiny shoulders filled him with sorrow.
If only he could bear the pain in her place…
With that thought, Cassian simply watched her in silence, gently patting her with a desperate wish in his heart.
Then, there was a knock at the door.
Cassian’s expression darkened.
Even such a small sound seemed intrusive, as it might disturb Lia’s precious sleep.
The door opened, and Jeshuan stepped inside.
“What exactly happened?”
From the moment he entered, Jeshuan’s eyes were fixed solely on Lia.
“I’d like to know that myself.”
Cassian replied, his voice low and indifferent.
But the emotion behind it was unmistakable—rage.
Jeshuan remained silent at Cassian’s words.
When Lia had left to attend the ball at the Marquess’s estate, he hadn’t thought much of it.
Even when Cassian decided to forego his usual training to accompany her, Jeshuan had let it pass.
But now, this was the result.
Lia had returned in Cassian’s arms, and her complexion was pale.
Her steady breathing made it seem as though she was simply asleep, yet her pallor told a different story.
“I have a request.”
“…What is it?”
At Cassian’s words, Jeshuan finally turned his gaze toward him.
Cassian was not someone who easily asked for favors.
If he was making a request, it was almost certainly related to Lia.
Because she was the only one who could move him.
“We need a physician.”
There were skilled physicians at the Grand Duke’s estate.
As physicians of the Grand Duchy, their abilities were beyond question.
Despite this, Cassian requested Jeshuan’s help because the imperial physicians were undeniably more skilled than those from the Grand Duke’s estate.
Additionally, bringing in an imperial physician was much faster and simpler than summoning one from the Grand Duchy.
“If I request it from my father, he will send one immediately.”
Jeshuan didn’t bother asking unnecessary questions.
Even though he wondered why Cassian needed another physician when the Duke’s estate already had its own, he refrained from voicing his curiosity.
Regardless of the reason, if Cassian made a decision, it was undoubtedly in Lia’s best interest.
“If possible, I want the physician here today.”
“I’ll make it happen.”
Since this was about Lia, Jeshuan was willing to offer whatever help he could.
Bringing an imperial physician to the Duke’s estate was hardly a difficult task.
“We’ll discuss the details afterward.”
Cassian had no intention of revealing everything he knew to Jeshuan.
Especially matters concerning himself.
However, the danger posed by the Marquess was something Jeshuan needed to be aware of.
After all, Cassian had allowed Jeshuan to remain at the Duke’s estate so that, in case of an emergency, he could protect Lia in his stead.
At Cassian’s words, Jeshuan simply nodded in acknowledgment.
A few hours later, the imperial physician arrived at the Duke’s estate.
As soon as he arrived, he was taken directly to Lia’s room.
Under Cassian’s overwhelming pressure, the physician nervously examined Lia’s condition.
And yet, his diagnosis was no different from that of the Duke’s physician.
He, too, concluded that there was nothing wrong with Lia.
“…I didn’t realize the physicians of the empire were this incompetent.”
How could they possibly say nothing was wrong with Lia?
Of course, since two physicians had arrived at the same conclusion, it was only logical to assume Lia truly had no issues.
But… Cassian found it impossible to accept their words so easily.
If there was nothing wrong, then why had Lia suddenly collapsed?
And why did it happen right after attending the Marquess’s ball?
Most importantly, Cassian had seen firsthand how unwell she was before she fell asleep.
So then…
Cassian’s expression darkened, unable to make sense of the situation.
However, there was no other course of action.
It was unlikely that even the imperial physician was working for the Marquess.
Realizing that further medical examinations would be meaningless, Cassian dismissed the imperial physician.
After the physician left, Cassian sat in deep thought.
At that moment, there was a slight movement from the bed.
“Lia?”
“…Dad.”
Her voice was still thick with sleep as she mumbled, calling out to him.
She called for him with a voice filled with longing.
Her unfocused eyes were hazy, as if lost in memories, and glistened with unshed tears.
“Yes, my angel baby.”
“Dad, I missed you… I kept telling myself I didn’t, that I didn’t have a dad, but I guess I was wrong. I’m happy I got to meet you again. Because now… I have a family again.”
With those words, Lia smiled innocently, her expression dazed.
But Cassian, watching her, wore a troubled look.
And when she murmured her next words, his emotions became even more complex.
“I’m glad… that you’re my dad, Khal.”
With that, Lia closed her eyes once more.
