Valerie’s body, which had begun to fade, showed no signs of normal recovery despite any efforts made.
The child’s health seemed generally fine, but seeing her hands and feet become translucent to the point of light showing through filled me with fear.
Is this really okay? If I leave her like this, how transparent will she become? Could she possibly disappear like this…?
Worry flowed endlessly, intertwining with fear, causing my insides to churn and making it difficult to eat or drink.
“Your Grace, you must eat something.”
“I can’t get it down.”
How could any parent eat comfortably knowing their child’s condition was not normal? Cecilia secretly shed a tear in the background, lamenting how our esteemed Duchess had become a true parent.
But at that moment, such concerns felt trivial. Cecilia was also putting in every effort to restore Valerie’s health.
She scoured the Duke’s library for any magic related to body transparency and gathered ingredients to make nourishing food, yet none of these methods worked.
From the moment Valerie began to become transparent, the situation had slowly deteriorated, and it seemed the pace had quickened.
Like a flickering light, her figure appeared and vanished, but after a while, her body became completely translucent, lacking its original color.
“You still need to eat something. If something happens to you, Your Grace, it would be a serious problem.”
“Look at Valerie’s hands. The child is in this state…”
The innocent child, unaware of the adults’ worries, continued to joyfully wave her translucent hands and eagerly fed herself puree.
Perhaps the fruit puree was to her liking, as she cleared her dish and even banged on the table, asking for more.
Under normal circumstances, that scene would have brought smiles filled with warmth and affection. Now, however, those watching Valerie were filled only with concern.
“Boop, boop.”
“Valerie, come here.”
I took Valerie from Leev. As the well-fed child gained weight, it became cumbersome to hold her for long, yet I couldn’t bear to set her down, despite the strain on my arms.
“My Lady, you’ll catch a cold like this.”
“I’m too anxious. What if…”
What if she disappears? I couldn’t bring myself to say it, biting my lip in silence. However, Leev seemed to understand my unspoken fears and lowered her head in gloom.
“I’ve never heard of anything like this. Leev, Cecilia, Hannah. Have you ever heard about a body becoming transparent? Not even a similar story from your childhood or some distant memory? Kendrick?”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
To think it was a phenomenon unknown even to those who have been in this world for so long.
I pulled Valerie tightly into my arms. It felt as if holding her like this would somehow restore her to her original state.
Yet, no matter how much I held the child, buried my face against her, or kissed her, Valerie remained unchanged.
“Mommy. Um, ma.”
The child just giggled, perhaps tickled by my nuzzling, and with her tiny hands, she patted my face and tugged at my hair.
“An urgent message has arrived from LaHart. His Highness Albrecht says…”
As we awaited the telegram, a knight burst into the room, having stood by the receiver for 24 hours.
“A telegram? What does it say?”
“Minister Linke from the Ministry of Magic is preparing to depart. He said the start was delayed due to the necessary procedures.”
Hannah quickly verified the telegram’s content before tossing it into the fire.
“Will Valerie’s condition return to normal when Minister Linke arrives?”
“Well, I can’t be sure, but whatever happens, it will help, Your Highness. Don’t worry too much.”
The medical staff who departed from the capital all agreed that Valerie’s condition was unrelated to any illness. This meant all the commotion was likely related to magic.
With merely the magic ministry officials stationed in the Grand Duchy, determining the exact cause was proving frustrating.
If Minister Linke, the head of the Ministry of Magic, took direct action, would the situation improve? I sighed deeply as hope and concern intertwined.
“Once Minister Linke arrives, everything will be fine. Your Grace, you need to eat first.”
“No, I’m really not feeling well.”
“Please force yourself to eat a bite. You’ve gotten too pale over the past few days.”
Cecilia had prepared a sweet dessert just for me, claiming it was special since I had lost my appetite.
Normally, just seeing the colorful, sparkling desserts would make my mouth water, but not now. Simply looking at it made my stomach churn.
“No, just a glass of warm water, please. I’m really…”
They say stress is the root of all illness. Who would have thought that the day would come when I, who loved food so much, would lose my appetite from worries?
Cecilia observed me with narrowed eyes as I shook my head, saying, “It’s a long life, and we’ll see.”
I understood why she looked at me in such a strange way only several days later, after Minister Linke and his party arrived in the Otaka Duchy.
***
“Since when have we seen each other this often?”
Laila sighed, holding Franz’s note, which she had discovered after three days. It was amusing how quickly she had grown accustomed to meeting him, just after a few consecutive days.
She was so anxious after not hearing from Franz for two days. What if someone else had found and discarded the note he left? What if Mrs. Pulcheria had noticed her suspicious rendezvous? Laila had spent sleepless nights worrying about various possibilities.
Finally, on the third day, when she discovered Franz’s message, she almost shouted with joy. The worry of how she shouldn’t feel this way was fading.
With the excitement came guilt, but the thrill of such rebellion brought her an inexplicable pleasure. Perhaps it was because she had never acted against what she was told not to do; this was her first minor rebellion since becoming an adult, and it felt liberating.
“Your Grace, the Duke.”
“Welcome, Lady Tooper. I’ve been waiting.”
Today’s meeting spot was different from usual. Although they primarily met in the hidden basement of a pub somewhere in the back streets of Kellever Square, they were arriving together in a carriage today.
When they reached the rendezvous point, a grand carriage awaited her, and without hesitation, Laila climbed aboard. Seeing Franz’s smiling face through the open door made her heart race.
Although they had shared meals and conversations, this was the first time they were meeting in such a secretive space.
What seemed like a large carriage from the outside felt cramped inside, perhaps because of Franz’s towering height.
“Please, sit.”
“Ah, yes, Your Grace…”
“Not there; I’d prefer if you sat beside me.”
“Eek.”
Franz caught her wrist as Laila instinctively moved to sit across from him. The heat radiating from his grip made her freeze.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
As he released her wrist, he smiled again, exuding confidence that contrasted sharply with Laila’s flustered state.
The thought of effortlessly charming such a naïve woman was plain on his face, and Laila couldn’t help but feel excited.
“Come sit here.”
Franz pointed to the seat beside him again.
“That spot is… too close, Your Grace.”
Her face turned as red as a freshly bloomed flower, unable to speak properly.
“Quickly. The carriage is about to depart.”
The carriage moved in time with Franz’s urging words. Laila, who had been standing awkwardly, unable to decide what to do, couldn’t withstand the jolting of the carriage and fell over unprepared.
“Ah!”
“Oh dear, be careful.”
Despite her embarrassment at sitting next to him, Laila’s body fell onto Franz, her posture resembling an embrace.
“You should listen carefully, you know. Otherwise, this is what happens.”
Her face was pressed against his broad chest. When she looked up, Franz’s face was right in front of hers. The hands wrapped around her waist and the arm encircling her back were incredibly firm and warm.
“You smell lovely, Tooper.”
“Um, Your Highness. I-I’m sorry…”
“Franz.”
“Yes…?”
“I’d prefer it if you called me that. By my name.”
“B-but that’s not possible, Your Highness. How could I dare to call the Grand Duke by his name?”
She twisted her body to escape, but it was impossible to break free from Franz’s embrace. Feeling the power difference between men and women, Laila clenched her fists tightly, her heart trembling.
If she didn’t muster some strength somewhere, she felt like her heart might truly burst.
“No, call me that. Franz.”
“Ah…”
It was a commanding yet gentle, kind yet irresistible order.
“Laila.”
As he called her name, he smiled brightly. Laila found herself lost in the illusion of her mind being completely blank at the sight of Franz’s dazzling smile.
“You really smell delightful, Laila.”
“W-wait…”
Their faces drew closer, and Laila forgot even how to breathe.
