Chapter 78

78

"……Lily."

He called her name blankly. It was strange. His own voice sounded unfamiliar to him.

"Lily… Lily!"

The voice calling out to the person in his arms grew more agitated. Theodore tightly embraced Lily with his trembling hands and felt for her pulse.

It was still beating, but it was so faint.

‘…No, no. Please.’

He urgently lifted Lily into his arms and picked up the crystal vial that had fallen to the floor. It was the one Lily had pointed to just before she collapsed.

‘It’s poison, she definitely said it was.’

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

He had never felt such fear or trembling before.

His heart pounded with fear. Lily, in his arms, was pale and drenched in blood. She had vomited blood several times even after losing consciousness. Theodore felt as if he were about to go mad from the sight.

In fact, he was already half-mad. The faces of the people who were shocked to see him and Lily did not register in his vision. He ran, driven only by the thought of saving Lily. ……The body in his arms was so fragile and delicate. He couldn’t believe he had ever treated her so coldly. He couldn’t understand himself. I, I… Why did I do that? Why did I treat her so cruelly?

If he could, he would kill his past self.

"…Dr. Soph!"

Theodore burst in, roughly opening the door, and Jane Soph’s eyes widened. She was brewing a potion with the finest selected herbs and nearly dropped her bowl. The duchess… was covered in blood again.

"What… What happened? Did the lady vomit blood again? It shouldn’t have worsened so quickly…!"

Jane, flustered, hurriedly approached and asked. Theodore handed her the crystal vial and urged her.

"Analyze this poison immediately. Once you’re done, make the antidote without delay. We don’t have time, hurry!"

At Theodore’s urging, Jane quickly took the vial and began her work. She quickly grasped the situation. The potion was not important now; the antidote was urgent.

While Jane analyzed the poison, Theodore sat by Lily’s bedside, praying for her safety. Please, don’t let what I fear happen. Please, let her hold on until the antidote is ready. Please, God…

‘Don’t take anything else from me. Please, I beg you…’

His hand, holding Lily’s cold one, trembled. The time he spent in fear, barely holding on, felt like an eternity. The only thought that consumed his mind was one: I don’t want to lose Lily, I have to save her, no matter what…

…Even if it costs my life.

His icy blue eyes, filled with a new and intense madness, glowed fiercely.

* * *

…It was pitch black before his eyes.

He closed and opened his eyes several times, but all he saw was darkness.

‘…Am I dreaming?’

But all the sensations he felt were real.

A ringing in his head buzzed. A voice pierced through the noise.

"…Lily! Lily! Can you hear me? Lily…!"

Ah, it was Theodore.

His voice… was surprisingly earnest.

"Lily, can you recognize me?"

He felt Theodore gripping his hand tightly. His vision was still dark. He answered blankly, not knowing where he was looking.

"…I can’t see."

The voice that came out of his mouth was faint and weak. He wondered if it had been heard properly. As he considered whether to speak again, Theodore’s question came again.

"…You can’t see… anything at all?"

"…."

He nodded silently. Theodore was silent for a long time. Then he called Jane, had a brief conversation with her, and returned to him.

"Lily, don’t worry. It’s a temporary condition caused by the poison. The antidote has been administered, and you’ll be fine with some rest. …Don’t be afraid, I’ll stay with you."

"…."

He was curious about Theodore’s expression as he said this. He wanted to know what look he had in his eyes. He couldn’t tell from his voice alone. Whether he was truly concerned. The hand holding his was very warm.

"…Is Charlotte okay?"

He asked the first thing he wondered about upon regaining consciousness. Charlotte had a head injury, but it wasn’t serious. She should be recovering well by now. This hope trembled with a bit of anxiety. What if something had happened to Charlotte?

"…Is that more important to you than your own condition? Charlotte Brandon is fine. Dr. Soph treated her head wound, so she’ll recover quickly. It wasn’t a serious injury."

"…I’m relieved, really…"

A deep sigh of relief escaped his lips. If something had happened to Charlotte… he would have been in a similar state. He wouldn’t have been able to feel joy or even remember what happiness was.

Such a life would be nothing but an empty shell.

Yes, Charlotte had become that important to him. Her presence had helped him endure. He couldn’t even imagine a life without her.

"…Charlotte is very important to me."

As he muttered this to himself, Theodore seemed to flinch slightly. He couldn’t see, so he could only sense it.

"…Is that servant so important to you?"

The question was asked in a slightly choked voice. …If it sounded like he was choked up, was it just his imagination? He nodded silently in response.

"As important as my life… no, more important. Thanks to Charlotte, I’ve been able to survive until now…"

"…."

Theodore was silent for a very long time. He turned his head in Theodore’s direction, but saw nothing. …At this point, he began to feel frustrated. When would his vision return? Would it return at all…?

If he were to be blind forever… Charlotte would still be with him. Thinking this, his heart warmed. His anxiety and fear seemed to fade. …He felt like crying. The thought that there was someone in this world who would stand by him, no matter what, was so reassuring.

"…I…"

"…?"

"I… What am I to you?"

"…."

What am I… to you?

…He didn’t understand why he suddenly asked such a question. Something he had never seemed to care about. Why was he curious now? He hesitated for a long time before finally answering.

"You… I… You only make me feel pain."

"…."

"When I think of you, I only remember fearful and sad memories."

Perhaps there was a glimmer of hope that our relationship could change.

Because I saw something other than contempt and hatred in your eyes.

I don’t know what it is yet.

But even if there is hope, I don’t know if it can change.

Just as you can’t know what’s inside a box until you open it.

"…In your memories, I…"

Theodore’s voice trailed off. I think I knew why. He must know too. We didn’t have any thrilling or happy memories.

When you were kind to me after losing your memory…

Well, kindness isn’t always sweet. It can be a form of violence.

"Still…"

"…."

"Do you resent me?"

He answered with silence.

I’m grateful that you saved me like this.

But I can’t control this feeling.

* * *

After sleeping for a few more hours, my vision fortunately recovered.

Charlotte, with a bandaged head, was by my side, and Theodore was nowhere to be seen.

"Lady, how are you feeling? Are you hungry? A simple soup or consommé would be fine, they said. Shall I bring it?"

Charlotte held my hand tightly and asked with a worried expression. I nodded and said,

"Consommé sounds good. And Charlotte, I’m glad you’re okay."

"Lady…"

Charlotte’s eyes welled up with tears, and then she put on a determined face and started moving busily.

She helped me wash and change into a fresh, soft dress.

While I ate the consommé, she carefully brushed my hair.

"Charlotte… you can stop brushing now."

"No, Lady. I’m serious. Taking care of and grooming you is my duty."

"…."

With her insistence, I couldn’t argue. I obediently ate the consommé and thought about what to do next.

‘First, I need to break Adeline’s curse.’

The poison Mrs. Seymour gave me was almost neutralized by the antidote, but Adeline’s curse remained.

The reason I’m still alive, when I should have died, is first due to the life force given to me by the small lantern, and secondly…

‘Somnia.’

Did you call?

Somnia was partially blocking Adeline’s curse.

I summoned Somnia to reality to thank her and discuss the next steps.

"Yikes! What, what is it?!"

When a purple mist enveloped my body, Charlotte jumped in fright.

After calming her down, Somnia said in a bored tone,

Your servant is quite dramatic. And she doesn’t even worship me. Humans these days are so disrespectful. In my time…

"…."

Somnia’s reminiscence probably dates back a thousand years. I ignored her and asked Charlotte,

"Did you get a shock? I’m sorry for summoning the spirit suddenly."

"No, no, it’s just that… I saw this spirit before I lost consciousness, but I thought it was an illusion! But it’s real! And it’s a spirit contracted to you!"

Charlotte was now excited for a different reason. Her praise for me was endless. Of course, you would do it, Lady, being a spirit contractor is so cool!

Hmm, you’re quite good at flattery.

"…Charlotte, that’s enough…"

At that moment,

Knock knock—

A soft knock was heard, and the door opened.

The person who entered… was unexpectedly Theodore.

"…."

I didn’t expect him to come see me again… and he was even holding a bouquet of flowers.

Theodore, who was approaching me with a slightly hesitant look, suddenly stopped.

His gaze fixed on Somnia, who was floating in the air.

As he slowly furrowed his brow and opened his mouth,

"…!"

A blue flame enveloped his right arm and burned fiercely.