Chapter 26: CH 26

What a crazy development!

Bonita told me to never go in the lawn.

I was in agony as I looked at the ball that stopped a little far away.

Should I ask Bonita to pick it up when she comes? But I think I can get it, and waiting for Bonita to come is kind of……?

I stood in front of the lawn and started stamping my feet.

It felt very embarrassing to have to wait for Bonita to ask for one ball.

It’s not like Bonita is immune to the bugs.

And they already quarantined it.… Wouldn’t it be okay now?

Even though I’ve been reincarnated as a character in a novel …… I’m not the heroine. How could I be bitten by bugs like this?

I’ve already been through a kidnapping event.

“I’ll be alright.”

I clenched my fists and raised my left foot to the lawn. Just take the ball and come out quickly.

In order to reduce the time I spent on the ground as much as possible, I moved my feet lightly with quick strides.

I was walking carefully toward the ball when I saw a black figure disappearing through the bushes from afar.

Was it the dog I saw last time?

I tried to run towards the black figure but I stopped. When I asked Bonita, she said there were no dogs in Conler’s mansion.

I rubbed my eyes and looked at it again because I thought I had seen it wrong…… The black figure disappeared like a lie.

What, did I really get it wrong?

Did I lose all my energy because I was with Grand Duke Estin yesterday.…?

“Miss!”

I was standing in a daze when I heard Bonita calling me from afar so I looked towards the mansion. Seeing Bonita running faster, I realized where I was standing now.

Right. I came into the lawn to pick up the ball.

To reassure Bonita, I quickly picked up the ball and tried to move my steps towards the fountain….

“Ouch!”

I felt a stinging pain in my ankle.

I guess I… It looks like I was bitten.

I looked up with a startled look and saw Bonita throw the tray with the cookies and run to me…….

“Miss!”

My vision soon became blurred, and gradually shifted downward against my will.

I saw the cookie fall to the ground and break into pieces.

That cookie is really, really delicious…… It was a cookie that I haven’t eaten in a week, it’s such a waste.

I was laughing at myself thinking that way, so I snorted for a second……

And the front of my eyes flashed.

That’s how I lost my mind.

***

Upon hearing the news, Grand Duke Estin and Lucas rushed into the child’s room.

The doctor of the Conler family was examining the child.

Grand Duke Estin, unable to catch his breath, went to stand by the bed where his child was lying.

Mary was hot and barely breathing out a hot breath.

Her swollen and red cheeks make it seem like she is suffering from a high fever, it makes the person who sees it feel pity.

“You’re really a fool…….”

Unlike his voice that was filled with anger, his hand stroking Mary’s bangs was quite cautious.

Recently, he heard that Kaisham was polar in the forest of the mansion, but he didn’t know that the child would be bitten by the bug like this.

Even if they burn the forest, he had ordered the eradication of Kaisham as soon as possible. All the knights who were concentrating on military exercises were also participating in the extermination.

Lucas was bewildered to see the calm and cool-headed Grand Duke Estin so restless.

I don’t think he was like this when we first picked up Mary at the orphanage.

Perhaps Grand Duke Estin’s feelings for Mary have grown a little… Lucas was cautiously convinced. The corners of Lucas’s eyes were also dyed red because of his concern for Mary.

“How’s her condition?”

“Fortunately, Bonita handled things very well so she was able to overcome the hurdle at the early stage. I gave her some medicine but it was such a toxic bug.… I think she’ll have a high fever for about two days. But I don’t think there will be any aftereffects, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Thank you, Bonita.”

“Oh, no. I should have taken better care of her…….”

At the unexpected thank-you from the lord, Bonita was more at a loss, wiping tears around her eyes and bowing her head.

I shouldn’t have gone to get snacks.

I should have let another maid accompany her.

Looking at various options, she felt like her heart was stuffed with guilt. Seeing her tiny body drenched in heat, she thought she’d rather be bitten than Mary.

She also didn’t expect to hear such a thank you from Grand Duke Estin, so she felt even more sorry.

“I’m sure the child didn’t listen to you.”

“Grand Duke…”

“She took the medicine, so she’ll be fine. You must have been surprised. Go and rest.”

“Yes, go and rest, Bonita.”

Was he a kind person who thought of his subordinates?

Bonita was surprised when she left Mary’s room after being pushed back by Lucas.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard a word of thanks from Grand Duke Estin, despite taking care of his three children before Mary.

Bonita came out of the room and stood in the hallway thinking for a moment.

Yeah, let alone say thank you, I don’t think I’ve ever had a conversation like this with Grand Duke Estin.

It wasn’t a very comfortable atmosphere just now, but it wasn’t difficult to talk to Grand Duke Estin alone, he seems to have eased a lot because he’s in front of the child…….

“Miss Mary must be bringing a change to this mansion…….”

Bonita muttered vacantly.

Even when the doctor told him not to worry too much, Grand Duke Estin could not erase his worried expression and only stood by the child.

Mary’s beautiful cat’s eyes were closed, and only traces could be found. Her thin eyelashes trembled anxiously.

Even just looking at her tiny body with nothing but bones seemed to have gotten smaller and smaller with the huge blanket, Estin grabbed the small hand that came out of the blanket.

When they were returning from Giefroy last time, he said she could call him whenever she’s sick.

Starting with the incident when they first met, and looking back at the story she had told him that day, it was clear that the child was accustomed to doing things alone and felt awkward asking for help.

Even though she’s in a different environment than when she had to do everything by herself, and if she looks around there’s a lot of adults who can help her. She even made an imaginary grandmother.

“Why in the world….”

Why do you make me regret not finding you early?

Why did you grow up so fast without waiting for me?

When Grand Duke Estin kissed his little hand preciously, Mary, who had been unable to open her eyes, struggled to open her eyes.

Black eyes that resembled him faced him with excitement.

Originally pink, her dry white lips moved up and down as if she were about to say anything, and Estin listened closely to the child.

It was such a small voice like the child’s body that it could only be heard if he stuck close to her.

“Daddy…”

“……Yes.”

“I…”

“…….”

“It hurts…”

Mary, who spoke in tears, closed her eyes again as if she had lost her mind.

Yeah, I told you to find me when you’re sick.

In a strange sense of Deja vu, Grand Duke Estin unknowingly uttered a low laugh.

It was like the day he first went to pick up the child.

You only call me Dad when you’re sick and when you’re weak.

The Grand Duke of Conler was a symbol of strength.

Because he was strong, he was able to punish all the enemies and became a contributor to the founding of the country, and because he was so strong, even if they are cursed for generations, they became necessary devils of the royal family.

One small mistake of his own can become a loophole or a weakness. So, he wanted his children to be as strong as possible in case they couldn’t break the curse. But seeing his last child, who has become so strong in a place where he is not… Why is it so heartbreaking?

He touched the child’s cheek.

The child’s skin, that used to be soft, had become rough.

“She’ll get better in two days.”

“Bring me the cure.”

Grand Duke Estin, who lightly ignored the words of the doctor, who spoke carefully to console him, said while looking at the child.

Lucas, who looked pitifully at the scene from behind, asked back because he was dumbfounded for a moment.

The cure you’re talking about is not the recovery agent, is it?

There are only ten bottles of laminaicho recovery drug in Britina Empire and five of them is in mansion.

“Don’t tell me… you mean Laminaicho?”

“Yes.”