Chapter 35
Sebastian was about to send someone to the Holy Nation.
Since Erica’s fever wouldn’t go down, he intended to bring a priest to examine her.
But fortunately, her fever finally began to subside just in time.
Before long, the girl recovered enough to sit up in bed.
However, the lingering cough wouldn’t go away.
‘It’s gotten worse than before.’
Erica quickly noticed the change in her throat.
How should she put it?
It had become much more sensitive than before.
Even the rattling of the prayer beads around her neck now felt much louder.
It seemed that she had lost a bit of weight while being bedridden.
At least her voice hadn’t changed, only become a little hoarse—that was a relief.
‘Still, I should be careful for a while, just in case.’
The news that Erica had woken up brought both Grand Duke Acliff and Sebastian rushing to her room.
Startled, Erica pulled the blanket up to her chin, and seeing her reaction, Felix instinctively held his breath.
Coming to his senses, the Grand Duke apologized politely.
“I’m sorry to have startled you. I was thoughtless.”
He then apologized for what had happened in the greenhouse the day Erica collapsed.
“I knew you weren’t at fault, but I acted poorly simply because you’re Blanche’s daughter. Can you forgive me for being so petty?”
Erica looked at Felix with wide eyes.
She had never met an adult who apologized—except for her mother.
Of course, the staff at the Grand Duke’s residence were different from the Blanche household.
They were more courteous and kind.
But high-ranking adults like Marquis Jonathan Blanche never admitted fault; they always dismissed or ignored their wrongdoing.
People like that acted as if acknowledging their mistakes would kill them.
So she had assumed Felix would do the same, and hadn’t expected much.
But here he was, sincerely apologizing!
Erica was genuinely surprised.
Her eyelashes fluttered slowly, and her eyes gradually widened.
Though Felix apologized, she wasn’t entirely at ease.
So she added quietly, not wanting to be misunderstood any longer.
“I only wanted to greet my father.”
Felix flinched slightly when she called him father.
He looked a little taken aback.
He touched his chin with his uninjured right hand.
“I know.”
“I won’t tell my father… I mean, the Marquis of Blanche… about you.”
“You can do as you wish.”
“I mean it.”
“I believe you. I won’t doubt you anymore.”
Felix still felt awkward, but Erica didn’t feel resentful.
She thought she might have doubted someone too, had she been in his place.
‘The Marquis of Blanche is a bad man.’
It was only natural for the Grand Duke to be wary of the daughter of such a man.
‘He probably had no choice.’
To avoid betrayal, it made sense to keep one’s guard up—to protect both his son and the people around him.
“If you want to punish me, I’ll accept it.”
“Punish you, Father?”
“I wronged you greatly. I should be punished.”
“Then… I’ll think about it.”
Erica postponed deciding Felix’s punishment, and the Grand Duke nodded.
Though she didn’t see him again after that day, each morning and evening, her room would be filled with the flowers and gifts he sent.
Through such gestures, Erica could feel his sincerity, and her heart gradually softened.
“Now, young lady, let’s have your meal. You’ll need it to take your medicine.”
“Okay.”
With Madam Alma’s help, Erica slowly sipped the thin soup.
“Cough.”
“Oh dear, is your throat very sore?”
“It’s okay.”
She barely managed to answer with a half-hoarse voice and smiled weakly.
It seemed her throat had been badly damaged from coughing up blood, as it kept stinging.
But if she didn’t eat anything, everyone—including Madam Alma—would worry, so she tried to swallow something even if it was forced.
Madam Alma, touched by Erica’s efforts, spoke gently.
“Young lady, I have something to give you after your meal.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
When Erica showed interest, Madam Alma smiled warmly and added with more intrigue:
“While you were sleeping, your father from the capital sent you a gift.”
“…My father?”
But Erica’s reaction wasn’t as happy as expected.
She looked too tense, which struck Madam Alma as strange.
Erica asked with a stiff smile,
“W-what is it?”
“You need to finish eating first.”
At Madam Alma’s words, Erica quickly picked up her spoon.
She ate so fast that she let out a small cough.
After finishing her meal and drinking all her water, she asked anxiously,
“Now please show me.”
“Here it is.”
Madam Alma carefully brought out the item she had kept safely for Erica.
As she opened the pouch and revealed its contents, Erica’s golden eyes instantly welled up.
“This is…”
She knew exactly what it was at a glance.
Tears pooled in Erica’s almond-shaped eyes, and warm streams ran down her cheeks.
“Oh my goodness.”
Madam Alma looked at her in shock.
She had thought Erica would be pleased, but never imagined she’d cry like this.
The head maid quickly wiped the tears off the young girl’s cheeks.
But Erica couldn’t stop crying.
Eventually, Madam Alma gave up trying to dry her tears.
“Come here, young lady.”
Instead, she opened her arms and hugged Erica tightly.
Her clothes were quickly soaked with warm tears, but Madam Alma didn’t care.
Erica clutched the item sent by the Blanche family in both hands, biting her trembling lips as she cried.
“Sniff, sob, sniff…”
The head maid gently rubbed Erica’s back and shoulders with warm hands, as if heartbroken by the sight of the small girl sobbing so silently.
That night.
Click. With a small sound, the door opened.
A small, chick-like girl appeared through the gap.
Erica.
“I knew this would happen.”
Sebastian, who had been leaning against the wall across from her room, sighed and straightened his posture.
Then he spotted her small, bare feet.
What if she hurt those feet?
Even the thought was upsetting.
Sebastian swallowed a sigh and quickly stepped into Erica’s room.
By the bed, her chick-shaped slippers sat neatly.
Without hesitation, he bent down and picked them up.
When he came back out, Erica’s figure was already visible just ahead.
Thankfully, she hadn’t gone far.
Using his long legs, Sebastian quickly caught up to her and let out another long sigh.
“What are you anxious about this time?”
Though he grumbled, he silently followed Erica.
Fidgeting with the fluffy slippers in his hand, he suddenly picked up the pace.
He stepped in front of her.
Still sleepwalking, Erica didn’t stop and bumped her forehead right into his chest.
Sebastian stared down at her with a troubled expression and spoke softly.
“Grab onto me.”
But Erica didn’t respond, as if she couldn’t hear him.
“Sigh…”
Sebastian exhaled again.
Finally, he gently took her small hand and placed it on his broad shoulder.
Then, without hesitation, he knelt on one knee in front of her.
Carefully, he lifted her ankle.
His clumsy fingers lightly brushed the dust from the sole of her foot.
Even in sleep, she must have been ticklish—her tiny toes curled slightly.
Sebastian found that oddly cute and couldn’t help but smile.
He slipped the chick slippers onto both of her feet, perfectly matching his own.
Only then did he stand up.
Erica’s eyes still lacked focus.
She hadn’t fully awakened.
“What now…?”
Sebastian tilted his head and sighed again.
Honestly, he could just pick her up and carry her back to bed.
He could watch over her until morning.
While debating, he noticed something in Erica’s hand.
“What’s this…?”
