Chapter 21
If Amelia saw me looking like a ghost, she’d probably faint just like that woman said.
“So if you want to meet Amelia, you should stop by the mansion and get treated first.”
“…Alright.”
“You just have to hold on a little longer. We’ll arrive at the Bellomon Duke’s mansion soon.”
Claude stared at Lucella, who had been speaking firmly but now looked genuinely worried.
“It seems like you are the one who needs to hold on, not me.”
“What?”
Claude placed his hand over Lucella’s, which was resting on her lap. At the sudden contact, she flinched.
“Your hands are freezing. Like ice.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Lucella realize the state of her own body.
Not only was she completely frozen, but after doing something she had never done before—digging with a shovel—her arms felt like they were about to fall off. Her hands and feet were cold, yet strangely, her insides felt hot, as if her organs were being warmed.
Claude moved his hand from hers to her flushed cheek. It was burning.
“You have a fever.”
“…”
“I’m not the only one who needs to take care of myself. You should, too.”
With that, Claude turned to the doctor sitting next to him, silently urging him to check on Lucella. The doctor, finally realizing how long Lucella had been exposed to the cold, was startled.
On top of that, she had even given Claude her own coat.
“My goodness, you’re burning up.”
Lucella hadn’t felt sick at all before, but as soon as she heard the doctor’s words, her head started pounding. A deep chill ran through her body, making her shiver uncontrollably.
But I have to hold on. I have to tell Amelia that her uncle is back.
Lucella forced herself to stay conscious with all the strength she had left. Amelia was waiting for her uncle, and Claude was even more injured than she was. She couldn’t afford to collapse now.
“We’ve arrived!”
Thanks to their fast pace, the carriage quickly reached the mansion. The waiting servants rushed to help both Lucella and Claude.
“Oh my goodness, my lady! What happened to you?!”
Riley, the maid, gasped in shock when she saw Lucella.
“You’re burning up! We need to get you inside right away!”
Riley wrapped her in a thick blanket.
As the maids practically dragged her inside, Lucella suddenly stopped in her tracks. A wave of dizziness hit her hard.
I can’t hold on anymore.
Realizing she had reached her limit, she barely managed to speak.
“Riley, go to the Busnie Orphanage for me. As soon as possible.”
“What?”
“Bring Amelia to the mansion. Tell her that her uncle is here. She must be waiting for him…”
“What are you—oh my! My lady! Stay with me!”
That was the last thing Lucella said before she lost consciousness.
The commotion outside made Amelia stand on her tiptoes to peek out the window.
A carriage with the Bellomon Duke’s emblem had arrived in front of the orphanage.
“Not today either…”
Realizing it wasn’t her uncle, Amelia’s face darkened. But she quickly shook her head to push away her disappointment.
Even if it’s not Uncle, it’s okay. I like Lucella too.
She needed to greet her properly.
Thinking of the only adult she could trust, Amelia left the playroom.
But the person who stepped out of the carriage wasn’t Lucella.
At the entrance stood a woman who had come when the orphanage director and staff were dismissed. One of the adults Lucella had called that day.
Heidi, who had just come out of the staff room, greeted her.
“Riley, what are you doing here? Where’s Lady Rilfrey?”
“She’s not feeling well, so I came in her place. She asked me to do something for her.”
Amelia’s heart dropped.
Lucella is sick?
Was it because she had asked for too much? Or was running the orphanage too exhausting for her?
As she lowered her head in worry, Riley spoke.
“Who is Amelia?”
Hearing her name suddenly, Amelia looked up.
“That girl over there is Amelia. Why?” Heidi said, pointing at her.
“The young lady asked me to bring Amelia.”
Riley’s eyes widened when she looked at the girl.
“They look exactly alike…”
“Huh? What are you talking about?” Heidi asked in confusion.
Ignoring her, Riley walked up to Amelia.
“You’re Amelia, right?”
“Yes.”
Riley held out her hand.
“Let’s go see your uncle.”
Amelia stared at the outstretched hand for a moment, then suddenly lifted her head.
“Uncle is waiting for me?”
Without any hesitation, Amelia climbed into the Bellomon carriage.
The commotion woke Edwin and the other children, who asked where she was going, but she was too overwhelmed to answer.
The carriage carrying Amelia sped toward the Bellomon mansion and soon arrived at its grand entrance.
“This way.”
Following Riley, Amelia walked inside.
After passing through a palace-like interior for what felt like forever, she finally reached a door.
“Would you like to go in alone?”
Knowing Amelia’s situation, Riley stepped aside to give her privacy.
Grateful for the gesture, Amelia took a deep breath in front of the door.
Just beyond this door, she would finally meet the uncle she had been dreaming of.
What if it’s not really him?
What if it was someone else? What if all her hopes crumbled?
Shaking her head fiercely, Amelia reminded herself:
Lucella wouldn’t have brought just anyone.
She had to believe her.
Gulping nervously, Amelia raised her hand and knocked on the door. She planned to wait for permission before entering.
But no sound came from inside.
‘Why isn’t there any sound?’
Just as she was about to knock again—
Bang!
The door swung open suddenly.
The first thing Amelia saw was a pair of long, strong legs, wrapped in bandages.
Blinking a few times, she slowly looked up.
And there—
“Amelia.”
—was the face she had missed so much.
“It’s really you, Amelia, isn’t it?”
“…”
She had so many things she wanted to say, but her throat tightened, making it hard to speak.
“…Claude Uncle.”
Amelia forced the words out.
“My dear niece.”
Claude’s eyes, which resembled her father’s, crumpled with emotion.
Biting his lip, he scooped her up in his arms.
“I’m sorry I took so long.”
“…”
“I missed you so much, Amelia.”
“…Hic.”
His words broke the dam.
The mature little girl Amelia had pretended to be was gone.
“Waaah! Uncle!”
Back to being just a seven-year-old child, Amelia sobbed in his embrace.
She didn’t know how long she had been unconscious.
The sounds of the door opening and the damp cloth on her forehead changing told her time had passed.
“I—Aunt, don’t die! Waaah!”
Lucian’s sobs reached her ears.
She wanted to comfort him, to tell him she would never leave him, but she couldn’t move.
Her body felt too heavy, her eyelids refusing to open.
She drifted in and out of sleep countless times.
Finally, she managed to open her eyes.
“My lady, you’re awake?”
Through her blurry vision, she saw Riley’s worried face.
“…Riley?”
“Yes, it’s me. You’re finally feeling better.”
“Mmm.”
As she stretched her sore limbs, a thought suddenly hit her.
“Wait! Amelia?”
“Sigh. The first thing you do after waking up is ask about Lady Amelia?”
Riley shook her head, half exasperated, half amused.
Something was different.
She had called her Lady Amelia—a title of respect.
Lucella realized what that meant.
“She met him.”
“Yes. She met Marquis Agris. They’re staying at the mansion together now.”
“Thank goodness…”
Lucella let out a relieved sigh.
“The two of them hugged and cried so much. Even the servants watching them teared up… I almost cried too.”
Riley wiped her eyes at the memory. Then, remembering something, she stood up.
“I’ll get the doctor.”
Soon, the Bellomon family’s doctor arrived to check on Lucella.
