Chapter 8 – The Limits of a Stolen Power
In the Fellum family, a special power has been passed down for generations.
It came from the first lord’s wife — a woman of the Spirit Tribe.
The Spirit Tribe disappeared from history over five hundred years ago, but one power from them still remained — inside the Fellum family.
This power is not chosen by the person but is granted at birth.
Among all types of powers, the most valuable one was the power of healing.
That power belonged to Hedia.
No — to be exact, she had stolen it from Everett.
Even though Hedia was not a direct descendant of the Fellum bloodline, her stolen power let her live in the Fellum mansion in the capital as a noble lady — the daughter of a baron.
But Everett had seen something strange.
On the day she married Viscount Ventink, Hedia hadn’t healed a small scratch Everett had made on her arm.
Everett thought back — she had never once seen a single wound or scar on Hedia’s body.
Hedia could easily heal a scratch with just a flick of her finger.
Yet that day, she hadn’t done it.
Each time Everett remembered that, her suspicion grew stronger.
“There must be a side effect.”
Because Hedia had stolen another person’s power, there had to be a price — a limit.
Now, Everett decided to test that theory.
“If my sister heals me, we don’t have to call the doctor, right?”
At those words, Charlotte instantly became defensive.
“Hedia’s power isn’t something you can just use whenever you want!”
“But… if we call the doctor, Father will be anxious. I don’t want to worry him.”
It sounded like she cared more about Regan Fellum, their father, than about herself.
Would he spend money to silence a doctor?
Or use Hedia’s power instead?
The answer was obvious.
“Fine,” Regan said. “Go and bring Hedia here.”
To Regan, his children were tools — emergency supplies to use when needed.
“Marquis, Hedia’s power isn’t fully open yet,” Charlotte said nervously. “She should use it carefully.”
“It’s fine,” Regan said coldly. “Better to use it when it’s needed than let it go to waste.”
“But still—”
“No more objections.”
Charlotte bit her lip and fell silent.
Just moments ago, she hadn’t wanted to call a doctor, and now she couldn’t even stop Hedia’s power from being used.
It was like choosing between two ways to kill Everett.
Soon, by Regan’s order, the butler brought Hedia inside.
It was still early morning, and she wore her silk pajamas, half asleep.
The contrast between her fine clothes and Everett’s plain maid’s nightgown was painful to see.
“Good morning, Uncle,” Hedia said, yawning.
“Welcome, Hedia,” Regan replied warmly.
Still rubbing her eyes, she asked, “What’s going on so early? I ran here without even washing my face.”
“It’s time for you to use your power,” Regan said. “Heal her wounds.”
“Huh? Whose?”
Hedia’s sleepiness vanished at once. Regan had never once called her to heal someone else — especially not at dawn.
When Regan stepped aside, she finally saw Everett lying on the bed, pale and covered in dried blood.
Hedia frowned, but quickly changed her face to look gentle.
“Oh dear, Everett. How did you get hurt like this?”
Pretending to care, she walked to the bedside.
The strong scent of her daisy perfume made Everett’s chest tighten.
It’s been a long time, sister.
Hedia was still as beautiful as ever — her soft reddish hair glowed like sunset, and her violet eyes looked deep and mysterious.
I used to admire you so much… not knowing you’d stolen everything from me.
Everett had never been jealous before.
She thought Hedia deserved all the love she received.
Maybe that’s why Hedia never shared anything with her.
I should’ve realized it sooner — when she refused to heal the nanny, Gemma.
When Everett had begged her to heal Gemma’s illness, Charlotte had only scolded her.
“Did you really ask Hedia to waste her power on a mere servant?” Charlotte had snapped.
“Then at least send a doctor!” Everett had pleaded. “It’s not a serious illness. Please, she’ll recover if—”
“Enough! Saving a commoner only makes them greedy for more. Don’t ever mention it again!”
Even after that, Everett had asked Hedia herself, but Hedia only hid behind Charlotte’s excuse.
To them, servants didn’t matter.
And Everett wasn’t much different in their eyes.
“You must’ve been in pain, Everett,” Hedia said softly — without a hint of real emotion.
She quickly turned her head away, as if the smell of dust and blood from Everett disgusted her.
“Mother, what happened here?” she asked Charlotte.
Charlotte avoided her eyes. Hedia, sharp as ever, guessed her mother had something to do with it and quietly clicked her tongue.
“Use your power and heal Everett,” Regan ordered.
“What about the doctor?”
“We can’t call one right now, so you’ll have to do it.”
Hedia hesitated, her expression stiff.
Everett watched her carefully, gripping the edge of Hedia’s silk dress.
Hedia looked down at the pale hand holding her skirt. She wanted to slap it away but couldn’t — not in front of Regan.
“Please, sister. Father’s worried. Do it for him, okay?”
Everett’s words were polite but sharp — asking her to do it not for Everett’s sake, but for Regan’s.
Hedia bit the inside of her cheek.
Charlotte, who usually panicked about power use, was quiet now. There was no escape.
“…Of course,” Hedia finally said. “If it’s Uncle’s request — and for you — I’ll do it.”
Her voice was sweet, but her face looked as if she were walking to the gallows.
She reached out and lightly took Everett’s hand — but Everett clasped both hands around hers tightly.
“Sister, I’m counting on you.”
“Be quiet while I focus,” Hedia said with a forced smile, closing her eyes.
A white glow began to bloom from her palms.
The room fell silent. Even the maids stopped breathing.
To see Hedia’s famous healing power in person — it was a rare sight.
A soft wind stirred through the quiet room as the light spread.
“Just heal her enough to let her take medicine,” Charlotte warned.
Hedia only frowned slightly in reply.
The white light flowed from Hedia’s hand across Everett’s body, touching every wound.
Normally, the power would focus on the worst injuries and heal them fast, but Everett’s body was in such bad shape that it took longer. Sweat beaded on Hedia’s forehead.
So this is what it feels like, Everett thought.
She could feel her body repairing itself — her breathing calmed, her thigh wound closed, the dizziness faded.
It was like a heavy stone lifted from her chest.
Just as her head began to clear, Hedia tried to pull her hand away.
“That should be enough,” she said — but before anyone could speak, Everett began coughing violently.
“Cough! Cough!”
Her face flushed red, tiny veins bursting near her eyes.
“What’s going on?” Regan barked.
“I—I don’t know! The healing should be working!” Hedia stammered.
“Then continue!”
Hedia, looking frightened, kept forcing her power to flow.
Everett didn’t let go of her hand.
But finally, Hedia couldn’t stand it anymore. She yanked her hand free.
“Enough! I said that’s enough!”
Her hands and forehead were drenched in sweat. She was panting hard.
“Sister… are you hurting because of me?” Everett asked quietly.
“Who’s hurting? I’m just tired from not sleeping well, that’s all,” Hedia said quickly, forcing a smile.
Regan’s shadow loomed over her.
“Hedia, are you struggling?”
“N-No, not at all! I’m fine. Just a bit sleepy from staying up late,” she said nervously.
“Of course,” Regan said with pride. “Your power couldn’t possibly be weak. Even my foolish brother handled his without tiring.”
He insulted Hedia’s dead father — and she just laughed along, pretending not to care.
Watching them, Everett smiled faintly too.
“Thank you, sister,” she whispered.
Now I know for sure.
The truth she had wondered about for so long — the limit of a stolen power.
Later that day, Charlotte hurried to clean the room, afraid someone might find out she had locked Everett in the attic.
Thanks to that, Everett was allowed back into her own room for the first time in ages.
Her room wasn’t luxurious, but it was dry, and there was a large desk — good enough.
She stood in front of the mirror and took off her nightgown.
The deep scars remained, but her skin was healthy again, her color returning.
“So this is why Father was so obsessed with that power,” she murmured.
It truly was something no one could ignore — a power that could bring someone back from the edge of death.
Anyone would covet it.
“But sister, you can keep it. I don’t want it.”
Power was a double-edged sword.
With it, you could have everything.
Without it, you were nothing.
And Everett had seen that end — in Hedia.
A thin, cold smile spread across Everett’s lips.
When was Hedia’s coming-of-age ceremony again?
As a member of the Fellum family, Hedia would soon perform a ritual to fully open her power.
Everett’s eyes gleamed.
“Well then… since that power was mine to begin with, I’ll make sure it burns out completely.”
