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n“Damn it.”

nLevisia stiffened her face and quickly turned in Sheila’s direction.

n“Sheila, it’s me. I’m coming inside.”

nThe door opened after two knocks. The one who would allow the visit was lying in bed and unable to come to her senses anyway.

nAs she got closer to the bed Sheila was lying on, Levisia could see her face excited with heat. And her breathing was unstable.

n“…the look in her eyes has really gotten worse.”

nSheila’s health had started to deteriorate from the day she had gone on the inspection tour to the pier.

nNo. This problem might have started before then.

nAnyway, Sheila’s unusual condition from that day until now hadn’t improved and continued to worsen.

nMeanwhile, Pel and Levisia had been nursing her room from time to time.

nShe asked—of course, to Pel—picking up a towel from the bedside table and wiping the sweat from Sheila’s forehead,

n“What about her medicine?”

n“She ate it earlier.”

nPel, who calculated the time, added that it had been about four hours ago.

n“The medicine given by the marquess’s doctor doesn’t work much either.”

n“He came today too?”

n“Yes. A different doctor from last time.”

n“I see.”

n“Uggghhh… Arrgghhh…”

nFevered and half-asleep, Sheila made a sound as if sobbing. It was clear that she was in pain, but Levisia couldn’t do anything since she didn’t know how to make her better.

nShe swept her sweaty hair behind her ear with a frown on her face. All that while recalling a suspicion that had been bothering her since earlier.

nWhat if it’s the same reason as the people at the Mentine estate?

nIf so, it was understandable that the medicine did not work.

nBecause it was no different from the completely different level of problem that medicine couldn’t solve.

nBefore she knew it, Sheila, groaning in pain, seemed to have woken up. Levisia was quietly looking down at her, when she placed the towel down and said to Pel,

n“Go and rest. I’ll stay next to Sheila.”

n“Aren’t you the one who should rest? Not me. Your face looks exhausted.”

n“I’m fine. And you never know; maybe she will need me.”

nIf what she was guessing was correct, Sheila might somehow get better only with her by her side. Just like Count Mentine.

nThough I couldn’t help it if that was a coincidence.

nBut she had no choice but to hope that now was not a coincidence. It was a real struggle to look helplessly at Sheila, who was in pain.

nIt wasn’t until after Pel heard her words that he got up from the chair. Levisia waited for him to leave as she grabbed the towel again and patted Sheila’s forehead again, but he didn’t move an inch.

n“Are you staying?”

n“I’ve felt something from earlier.

nLooking like he had had something on his mind for a long time, Pel looked at her for a long time with his mouth hanging open but didn’t say a thing

n“Why?”

n“You didn’t ask about the cause or name of Sheila’s condition despite me saying that the doctor visited today.”

n“Huh…?”

n“Not once.”

nHis gaze was beaming through her. Like sun rays through thin curtains.

nLevisia, placing a hand on her prickly chest, asked,

n“I didn’t?”

n“No. You never did.”

nShe really hadn’t realized it. Thinking about it now, however, this could have looked strange in Pel’s eyes.

nLike someone who already had something to guess.

n‘…his words are not completely wrong.’

nIt was only an assumption, but she didn’t know she’d reveal it like that.

n“So, the doctor… What did he say?”

nPel spoke, glaring at her.

n“Everyone’s saying it’s the debilitation of the body. The cause is unknown.”

nAnswering as if it would suit her rhythm, he added with his head tilted,

n“But you look like you know the cause.”

nHe was not saying that Levisia was quick-witted for no reason. He had caught something that she hadn’t even recognized. It wasn’t enough to say that she was quick-witted.

n“But you are not saying anything…”

nPel looked down at her with his arms crossed. She sat still like a criminal who’d just received a jail sentence, waiting for him to continue.

nSoon, he asked, raising his eyes,

n“Is it about the Kraiden family?”

n“……”

nThat was precise. He continued to stare, piercing right through her. So, he was certain of that.

nI can’t fool him in any way.

nYou couldn’t avoid talking about the boundary stone at the mention of the Mentine estate. And that story penetrated what Levisia had been hesitating for a long time.

nAs to whether she was giving the Kraidens’ weak spot to Pel, who would destroy them in the future.

nBut right now, Pel seemed to have recognized exactly what she had hesitated to do. If not, he would have never asked if it had anything to do with the royal family.

nBecause the conclusion was based on the judgment that “I can’t even tell you why Sheila is sick because it’s Kraidens’ business.”

nHe nodded his head as if he had received the answer from Levisia. And she belatedly opened her mouth, but he was quicker to speak.

n“Can I ask one thing?”

nIn the end, she couldn’t tell him “Not here” and instead said,

n“…yes.”

n“Before, you said that you would leave the royal palace. Do you still have that thought in mind?”

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