Chapter 42…………
Can You Bear That Resentment?
When Millie first heard that Lea had collapsed after completely healing Miklok’s face, she stayed calm.
She believed that if Lea rested deeply for a day, she would wake up again, and showing William’s wounds then would not be too late. Lea would never ignore the injury of William, Miklok’s right-hand man.
That’s why, even while the families and lovers of other knights wept and lamented outside the reception room of the East Palace where the patients lay, Millie remained composed.
“Millie…”
“Yes, Sir William. Would you like some water?”
When William slowly nodded, she quickly brought the cup to his lips. Then she carefully wiped his face and hands with a cool wet towel.
Although doctors had prohibited all visits to keep the patients stable, Millie could stay by William’s side with her nursing assistant status.
Of course, she also had to help care for the other knights, so she couldn’t stay by him at all times—but simply being allowed to remain in the same space with him was enough.
Then suddenly, William was seized by high fever and convulsions.
“Doctor! Hurry, please, quickly!!”
William vomited up even the water he had drunk and struggled to breathe before finally losing consciousness. Millie turned pale.
The doctors, seeing William’s body shaking violently to the point that he might fall from the bed, tied him down first.
Then they opened the wound on his shoulder and arm. His flesh was rotting from the inside out.
“…We’ll have to cut it off, won’t we?”
“Yes. If we leave it, his life will be in danger.”
Hearing the doctors’ words, Millie’s face went white.
To a knight like William, losing an arm was the same as a death sentence.
“Please, I beg you, find another way. If you really cut his arm, when he wakes up he will never let it be. You know his personality.”
Though Millie wept and pleaded, the doctors only averted their gaze and did not change their decision.
“Be rational, Millie. We have no choice but to make the best decision to save his life.”
Realizing she could no longer rely on the doctors, Millie shot up from her seat and rushed toward Lea’s bedchamber.
Seeing Miklok’s guards stationed outside, she went to the nearest waiting room instead.
There, Sophie and Adele were waiting, ready to rush in at a moment’s call.
“Adele, how is Her Majesty? Has there been no improvement at all?”
Adele shook her head with a sorrowful expression.
“The court physicians have been monitoring constantly, but no news yet. Millie, how are the other knights?”
“Some are stable… some critical…”
Thinking of William, whose arm they planned to cut, Millie’s eyes filled with tears. Sophie sighed as she saw her.
“I can’t understand it. At first, there were rumors that Prince Miklok was gravely injured on the battlefield, but he was perfectly fine. And then Her Majesty, who had been healthy, suddenly collapsed.”
“And His Highness Miklok?”
“Of course, he hasn’t left her side for even a moment. He refused even when we offered to stay in his place.”
Millie longed to run straight into the bedchamber to check on Lea’s condition, but she didn’t dare storm in while Miklok was guarding her.
Then Sophie spoke in a fearful voice.
“There have been countless battles until now, but never have Fritan’s elite knights been struck down all at once like this.”
“That’s all because of that demon, Maon or whatever. Cowardly, holding children hostage and laying a trap.”
Adele clenched her fists, indignant.
“We’ve given a lot of attention to the Malau delegation on Her Majesty’s orders, but when it comes down to it, they’re demons too, aren’t they? I’ll never care for those creatures again.”
“Wait, do you hear that?”
Cutting Adele off, Millie pressed her ear tightly to the door connecting to the chamber.
She could hear nothing of what Adele and Sophie were saying. All she wanted was to confirm Lea’s state and beg her to heal William.
From inside came a soft, low voice. Clearly King Miklok’s.
Millie and Adele’s eyes met.
Has Her Majesty awakened??
Sophie and Adele quickly pressed their ears to the door as well.
A while later, faint laughter from two people spilled out.
“Her Majesty must have woken up!!”
Millie rushed to open the door. But Adele and Sophie immediately restrained her.
“Millie, we know you’re close to Her Majesty, but you can’t go in unbidden.”
“Yes, it would be against proper etiquette.”
Blocked by both of them, a wave of sorrow suddenly overwhelmed Millie.
“But… Sir William…”
Just saying his name filled her with dread. The world’s greatest knight, losing an arm—she couldn’t let it happen no matter what.
“Sir William? Why?”
The terror became unbearable, and Millie finally collapsed, sobbing aloud.
“Your Majesty, please… please, help us. Please save Sir William!!”
Startled by Millie’s cries outside, Mik and I quickly brought her inside.
Tear-streaked, she was nearly out of her mind.
“Your Majesty, please… go to Sir William.”
“Calm yourself, Millie. What has happened to him?”
“If he isn’t treated immediately, they say they’ll cut off his right arm.”
Mik and I were both shocked by the news. Was his condition truly that grave?
Tense, Mik rose at once.
“I’ll go and see. You remain here.”
“I’ll come with you. I’ll be ready in a moment.”
“Lea, you’ve just recovered. You mustn’t overexert yourself again.”
“Mik, it’s Sir William.”
Mik fell silent, at a loss for words. Millie’s sobs grew louder.
“The doctors said they’ll amputate soon. Otherwise, his life will be in danger…”
There was no time to lose. I jumped to my feet.
“Millie, bring me my clothes and coat. Quickly!”
Still sniffling, Millie obeyed. I changed hastily into indoor clothes and pulled a coat over them.
Supported in Mik’s strong arms, I made my way to the reception hall where the wounded knights were.
The four less severely injured had already gone home, but the rest were still in critical condition. William’s seemed the worst.
Doctors had just set up a temporary surgery area with sealed magic stones for amputation. Seeing us, they rushed forward.
“May I take a look?”
They hesitated, but since they’d heard I had healed Mik, they soon removed the bandages to reveal the wound.
“Is Sir William unconscious?”
“We’ve put him under anesthesia.”
“Understood.”
I ordered everyone but the head physician, Mik, and Millie to leave the surgery area.
I raised my right hand close to William’s shoulder. Heat swirled within my lower abdomen.
The healing power seemed to surge stronger when faced with a grievous wound.
The rising warmth climbed his arm, transforming into an even fiercer heat than when I had healed Mik, before spilling from my fingertips.
Golden light enveloped his shoulder, circling before being drawn rapidly into the rotting flesh.
A surge of tremendous energy coursed through my hand, and I staggered backward under its force.
“Lea!”
Thankfully, Mik caught me firmly from behind, allowing me to pour out my strength to the end.
“Unbelievable… before our very eyes, new flesh has grown over the decaying wound.”
“Haa… thank goodness.”
The head physician’s astonished words kept me from slipping into unconsciousness.
Focusing again, the golden light spread from William’s wound to fill the entire surgery room—then even beyond, into the reception hall itself.
As William’s arm fully healed, the light faded from my hand.
Millie burst into tears once more, this time of relief.
“Incredible!!! Head Physician, you must see this!”
From outside, another doctor called urgently.
The head physician, still staring at William’s restored arm, rushed to another patient.
“Look—the deep thigh wound has completely vanished.”
“With no treatment at all?”
“Yes, and that one’s burns are gone as well!”
Mik looked at me in astonishment, but I had no words or strength left. It was the first time I had ever healed multiple people at once.
Sensing I was about to collapse, Mik wrapped me in his cloak, slipped his arms under my back and knees, and lifted me high.
“Examine the remaining patients carefully. Sort what you can heal from what you cannot, and report to me.”
“Rest assured. Thanks to Her Majesty’s healing, the immediate danger has passed for them all.”
The head physician’s voice trembled with joy and wonder.
“Then do not call for Her Majesty again for now.”
Carrying me firmly, Mik strode out of the reception hall—not toward the East Palace chamber, but another way.
“Mik, where are we going?”
“To the Queen’s Palace.”
“Am I being expelled from the East Palace?”
“You’re forbidden from entering until the knights are fully recovered. Otherwise, your desire to heal them will drive you to overexert yourself again.”
I wanted to deny it, but couldn’t. Even though I was exhausted now, I knew that once I regained a little strength, I would want to help again.
“If I rest, I’ll recover quickly…”
“No. Leave it to the physicians now.”
His stern gaze bore down on me. Lowering my head in dejection, I heard him sigh, then tighten his arms around me.
“The head physician has over ten dependents. Can you bear all the resentment if you take away his livelihood?”
At his absurd scolding, I couldn’t help but laugh softly. Feeling strangely at peace, I rested quietly against his chest.
“This was the first time I healed many people at once. It was much easier than expected. I think it’s thanks to you.”
“I don’t care. I just don’t like it.”
“There must be a more efficient way to use this power. If my mother were here, she would have taught me well…”
“You don’t need to know. Honestly, if it weren’t William, I would have forbidden it.”
At his stubborn words, I smiled faintly. Then I let myself rest peacefully in his arms.
And so, when he carried me back toward the Queen’s Palace, I failed to notice the cold, piercing gaze watching us from behind.
