n

n

nI wish everyone would stop being so panicky about me. It's so draining! I can't even do things normally these days because they're treating me like an invalid. Can you believe that I am also being spoon-fed by my brother? I can't drive him away because, between us two, he's more stubborn than me.

nGwen heard everything and pursed her lips. She was still a little conflicted but seeing that I was serious, the concern in her eyes gradually lessened.

n

"Okay…

" she mumbled.

nHaaahhh…

nThank goodness…

nThe heaviness in my chest didn't lessen but my bitterness did. I'm also starting to get headaches due to frustration.

nLively.

nI wanted to be lively and not think about what's wrong with me.

n

"Why don't we go to the garden and inhale some fresh air? Seriously, I haven't felt the sun on my face for a week now!

" I grumbled and stood up.

nErin was about to help me get up when I glanced at her sharply, making her stop in her tracks.

nI can walk on my own, alright?

nThe others looked like they were itching to support me as well but instantly halted upon seeing that I'm unwilling and that I looked like I'm about to gnaw everyone's head in annoyance. Even Gwen wanted to hold me when I stood up from the chair.

nCalm down, me. They're just thinking about you...

nHonestly, I don't like being treated like I'm dying, when I'm not. For goodness' sake, I'm just feeling cold. It's not as if I'm vomiting blood or something.

n

"Let's go. I missed seeing the flowers--

"

nA chill wracked my body in shivers, halting both my words and my steps. My heart felt stuffy and there was like a huge hand squeezing it tightly, robbing me off of my breath.

nWhat the hell…?

n

"Nadia?

" I don't know who that is but I felt someone touching my shoulders, telling me something but I couldn't hear her that well.

nMy heart was beating so fast it felt like it's about to burst. I could feel a lump in my throat which felt rather uncomfortable so I tried to cough just to get rid of it. After doing that though, there was a metallic taste in my mouth.

n

"Nadia!

"

nI looked up and saw Gwen, staring at me in horror.

nWhat? Was she saying something to me? I didn't hear her.

nI was about to ask her when another cough punched me in the throat, so I covered my mouth to not be rude. It's unladylike to just heave like that, you know.

nErr… What was that sticky feeling?

nFrowning, I looked at my hands and saw red.

nHuh? Red?

nIs this… blood? Why am I bleeding…?

nAfterward, the people around me started losing their **.

nI felt something trickle on the side of my mouth as I stared at Gwen in confusion. And like a slow-motion, I saw her turn pale, covering her mouth in aghast.

nAs if coughing up blood wasn't enough, a migraine slapped me in the face. It was so severe it made me speechless. My head felt so painful that I doubled over and someone immediately caught me before I fell and felt them flinch.

n

"I can't touch her! She's icy cold!

"

n

"Quick! Get me that blanket!

"

n

"Send a message to the masters and find Doctor Haudie!

"

n

"My lady!

"

nUghh… What's going on with me?

nCrap. I feel terrible.

nHaaah. I might be truly dying this time…

nUhh, did I say I'm fine? Turns out, I'm actually not.

n

"My lady!

"

n

"Where's the doctor?!

"

nThe hand squeezing my heart and the other hand juicing my brain were in tandem in making me suffer. All I heard was chaos before I finally passed out from the pain.

n-------**

nThe door opens and Nathan comes in. He briefly glanced at the servants who were busy doing their jobs before his eyes went to the bed.

n

"Dad, how is she?

" He walked to his side and stared at the sleeping figure with gloom.

nThe marquis was clasping the woman's hand and had ignored the numbing pain on his palm, trying to bring her warmth. She was like an ice sculpture. So frigid and lovely.

nHis weary face looked even more gloomy as he sighed.

n

"The same…

"

nNathan gritted his teeth and glanced at the three people in white robes on the other side of the bed, except for one person, muttering a mantra he didn't understand. Their hands were emitting white light, aimed at Nadia.

nThey were the three holy priests that answered their request.

nHe anxiously watched at the sidelines, not daring to distract their ritual, and waited for the result. Hopefully, she'll be healed this time… Hopefully, she'll wake up this time…

nIt hasn't been a day when she collapsed. After receiving the news, both of them rushed home, abandoning their duties. Good thing that the priests were also on their way to help them and the marquis quickly led them to the mansion.

nOne of them was a magician and opened a direct portal to shorten their journey. Nathan had just arrived so he didn't know what happened but heard it from George.

nThe three priests stopped what they were doing and both father and son were vigilant. Looking at their faces, Nathan's heart fell.

nWhy are they frowning?

n

"What's wrong?

" Leon immediately asked after sensing their tension.

nThe youngest of them, who is the magician, answered.

n

"Her mana is fluctuating.

"

nThe two of them looked blank, not understanding what he meant.

n

"Mana?

"

n

"The seal on her mana core broke which is the reason why she vomited blood. As for the repercussions, because her body couldn't withstand the huge amount of mana, she unintentionally froze herself to stop it from damaging anything,

" his eyes glinted in awe,

"what great control…

"

nShe did not only freeze herself but also her core.

n

"But doing this will take a toll on her body sooner or later,

" he added.

nLeon heard this and paled, grasping her hand tighter.

nNot only him but also Nathan who was looking at his sister with a somber expression.

n

"Will she wake up? Will she be alright?

"

n