“Your Grace?”
The man’s eyes widened in surprise, and then he noticed the woman standing behind Kaien.
“Philome, come here.”
Kaien reached out his hand to her.
As she took his hand and headed toward the cabin, the man’s expression darkened.
It was a natural reaction since he didn’t think highly of Philome, and she didn’t pay much attention to it as she had expected it.
Kaien’s hand, which held her firmly, provided great strength. Thus, the two of them entered the cabin.
“Bear, who… Oh, Your Grace?”
A warm-looking middle-aged woman was startled when she saw Philome and Kaien.
“Emma, I came to see Liazell.”
“Oh, yes. Please have a seat.”
The cabin was not small, and there was even a reception room prepared.
The two sat in the reception room, waiting for Liazell.
Philome, nervously moistening her dry lips with her tongue, noticed Kaien was equally tense and burst into laughter at the same moment.
“Why are you so nervous, Your Grace?”
“Right? I don’t know why I’m feeling nervous, but I am.”
His words naturally eased the tension.
Just then, the door opened, and Bear came in with tea.
“Please have some while you wait for the young lady.”
Bear set the tea down in front of them and didn’t leave. Kaien lifted his teacup and asked,
“Bear, do you have something to say?”
“Are you feeling a bit better? The young lady was worried about you as soon as she woke up.”
“I’m fine now, so you don’t have to worry.”
Kaien took his gaze away from the teacup.
“Now, tell me what you really want to say.”
“…May I ask what you plan to do with the young lady?”
Philome tried not to pay attention to their conversation but found herself unconsciously looking at Bear.
“I know it’s presumptuous.”
“Bear.”
“…Yes.”
“You’re worried about Liazell.”
Kaien set down his teacup.
“You’re doing well. You’re Liazell’s person, so just keep thinking about her.”
“Y-Yes…?”
As Bear raised his head, the door opened, and Emma entered. In front of Emma stood a child so small and thin that it was hard to believe she was ten years old.
The child had dull, lifeless hair tied back tightly and a pale face. The area under her eyes was dark, and her lips were chapped and pale.
The skinny child approached hesitantly and bowed deeply.
“Hello, Your Grace.”
“Right. Sit down, Liazell.”
Having watched Kaien from the side, she could tell he was trying his best to speak in the softest voice and force a smile.
Philome could tell that Kaien was trying his best to use a gentle voice and smile, but it came across as forced and unnatural.
The child cautiously sat down across from Philome.
Soon, as Bear and Emma left, silence hung in the air.
Liazell quietly lowered her head instead of glancing at the stranger.
Philome quietly looked back at Kaien. He seemed to be pondering how to start the conversation.
For some reason, she could imagine how Kaien had been sitting with Liazell when he visited before. Kaien must have been lost in thought, unsure of what to say, while Liazell remained quiet, only observing him.
It was clear that they had a long way to go to become close.
But before improving their relationship, it was essential to make contact with Liazell first.
‘If I approach suddenly, Liazell will be startled.’
She needed to get closer beforehand. Finally, she stood up and sat down next to Liazell.
“Hello, Liazell.”
“Oh, hello.”
Liazell seemed startled, not expecting someone to speak to her first, and glanced at Kaien before responding.
“My name is Philome. I’ve heard a lot about you from your uncle; it’s nice to meet you.”
“His Grace talked about me…”
Liazell murmured, her large eyes widening.
“Yes. He said you’re bright, kind, and gentle. It’s a secret, because he’s embarrassed to tell anyone else.”
Philome whispered, lowering her voice.
At that, Liazell instinctively leaned toward her, listening intently. With her ears turning red, Liazell kept glancing at Kaien.
Kaien noticed her intentions and pretended to drink tea, giving them no attention.
Encouraged by Kaien’s silence, Liazell seemed to draw closer to Philome.
“Is that really true?”
“Of course. He said you’re so lovely and that he’s so proud of you.”
Liazell fidgeted with her fingers, looking shy.
But her expression wasn’t very good.
“What’s wrong?”
When she cautiously asked, Liazell hesitated.
“But… I’m not a child to be proud of.”
Liazell rubbed her thin hands vigorously.
“They said it was okay as long as I was healthy, even if I wasn’t good at studying… but I’m often sick.”
Liazell coughed for a moment, but she glanced at Kaien and suppressed her cough.
Her face quickly turned red from holding back.
But eventually, she couldn’t hold it in any longer and began to cough more violently.
“Ugh, cough…!”
“Liazell?”
Philome, startled, tried to reach out to Liazell.
“Philome, don’t touch her!”
But Kaien grabbed her hand.
“Step back, quickly!”
At Kaien’s shout, she got flustered and stood up.
Kaien firmly restrained Liazell’s arms with both hands and shouted.
“Bear! Emma!”
As if they were nearby, both rushed in quickly.
They expertly grabbed Liazell’s arms and legs, but despite two adults holding her down, Liazell’s struggles didn’t cease.
Philome watched, unable to breathe properly.
Liazell was writhing in pain. It was such a strong struggle that it was hard to believe such power came from her frail limbs.
That must mean she was in a lot of pain. Philome barely managed to take a breath.
“Shh, it’s okay, Liazell.”
Kaien held Liazell’s face and tried to calm her down.
“U-Uncle.”
Liazell called out to Kaien, her face twisted in pain.
“I… I’m hurting… it hurts…”
Tears dripped from Liazell’s bloodshot eyes.
As Liazell began to calm down, Kaien sighed and got up.
He approached the stiff Philome.
“Don’t worry. It’s not a rampage; it’s a seizure.”
“…Is this related to why you got hurt last time?”
When Liazell had a seizure, she lost her rationality. Her limbs stiffened, and if she had been holding something, she might have accidentally swung it around.
“She was holding a teacup at that time.”
Liazell had broken the teacup while writhing. The problem was that during the seizure, she couldn’t control her aura as well as usual.
Kaien had been injured by the aura surrounding the teacup, and no matter how you looked at it, injuries caused by aura could only be severe.
As Kaien recalled that day, Philome made a decision.
“I’ll make contact now.”
Philome tried to approach Liazell immediately, but Kaien grabbed her.
“No. She’s not completely calm yet.”
As he said, Liazell’s body occasionally jerked.
Bear and Emma also continued to hold onto Liazell without letting go.
“Are you saying to just watch her suffer like this? I can help her not be in pain!”
“Philome. I told you last time. You need to be careful too. No, you need to be even more careful than before.”
Kaien held her hand.
“Actually, it was very dangerous a few days ago in the carriage. Do you know how dangerous it is to make contact with a transcendent having a rampage or seizure? The transcendent you’re in contact with… could kill you.”
“How can you just watch her like that?”
I also tightened my grip on Kaien’s hand.
“You overcame it, didn’t you? You didn’t attack me.”
“That’s…”
“I trust the Duke, so I trust Liazell too.”
She relaxed her grip. Kaien was still holding onto Philome’s hand tightly.
“Duke.”
At that call, Kaien let go of her hand.
He followed Philome anxiously as she knelt down in front of Liazell.
She placed her hand on Liazell’s rigid hand.
At that moment.
“!”
As Emma and Bear tumbled, something suddenly gripped her tightly.
“Philome!”
Philome realized it was Liazell’s arm.
Liazell was holding her very tightly. It was hard to breathe, but the touch didn’t have any intent to harm.
If anything, it was desperate.
It was filled with a desire not to let go.
“I’m okay.”
She reassured the startled Kaien as she gently stroked Liazell’s frazzled hair.
The nape of her neck, where Liazell’s face rested, became damp.
“Sniff, I, I don’t hurt… I don’t hurt anymore…”
Philome breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed that the contact had been successful.
She gently stroked Liazell’s thin back.
“Yeah, it doesn’t hurt anymore, right? You won’t feel pain anymore, Liazell.”
“Philome… are you an angel…?”
At that, Philome burst into laughter.
“No, I’m not an angel.”
“But… when I touch Philome, it doesn’t hurt at all…”
Liazell mumbled with a voice full of moisture.
She looked like she was about to fall asleep, judging by her weak voice.
Philome whispered in Liazell’s ear.
“Sleep well. You won’t hurt anymore, Liazell.”
