“Uuugh…”
Groans escaped from Razli’s lips continuously.
“Milady… like this, she…”
Lazli’s pulse was getting faster.
Felix, too, was fidgeting with a worried look on his face.
“Just wait a little longer.”
Unable to watch any more, Lapis spoke up.
“How can you tell us to wait when Razli is suffering like this?!”
“Wait.”
Elia calmly stared down Lapis.
Her gaze was sharp and cold—nothing like that of a child.
Elia’s hand touched Razli’s forehead.
‘Branch, start.’
[All you ever do is work me to death.]
‘Now.’
[Fine, you damned master.]
At Elia’s command, Branch extended a small twig to her hand. The power of the World Tree began to flow into her.
The room tensed.
Lapis looked fierce, Felix was sweating anxiously, and Alexis stood leaning against the wall, eyes fixed on Elia.
He couldn’t allow Lapis to attack Elia.
Time passed slowly.
Razli’s groaning grew louder.
And then—something incredible happened.
A black aura began to rise from Razli’s body. It writhed like a living thing, forming shimmering heatwaves.
It was the poison that had been eating away at her from within.
Razli had been poisoned and infected with mana.
The combination of both had weakened her to the point she could no longer even walk.
The clashing of the poison and mana inside her small body had constantly worn her down.
That’s why Elia needed to detoxify the poison and treat the mana-induced blockages in her veins.
She had needed two rare herbs for that.
“Aaaaagh!”
Razli’s body arched like a bow—
Then collapsed limply onto the bed.
“Razli!”
Lapis cried out her name.
Branch tried to pull Elia away.
[Elly, that’s enough!]
‘No. If we stop now, it’ll be irreversible.’
[Your body’s still a child. What if you get seriously hurt?!]
‘It’s fine. I’m not going to die. So don’t stop.’
[You’re seriously—!]
‘Just do it.’
[Don’t come crying to me later.]
Knowing she couldn’t change Elia’s mind, Branch helped her.
Time passed.
And eventually, the black aura that had filled the room slowly began to fade.
Elia wiped the sweat from her brow and checked Razli’s condition.
Her breathing was returning to normal.
With a weak voice, Elia looked to Felix.
“Uncle Felix, please… check her pulse…”
“Yes, Milady!”
Felix quickly took Razli’s wrist and began reading her pulse.
“H-Her pulse is normal again! Her complexion too!”
Razli’s previously flushed face was now back to a healthy tone. And that wasn’t all—
“Her muscle strength is returning. If she gets some rest, she’ll recover fully.”
“Thank goodness.”
Elia looked at Razli and smiled brightly.
But then—
A sudden wave of dizziness struck.
“Huh…?”
Her vision spun and her body collapsed.
“Elly!”
She saw Alexis’ panicked face as he reached for her—
And then everything went dark.
As consciousness faded, she heard Branch’s scolding voice.
[I knew this would happen.]
That was the last thing Elia remembered.
Alexis gently lifted the collapsed Elia into his arms.
“I guess we can leave now.”
Lapis, still dazed, gave a small nod.
“Felix, come with us.”
“Huh? Ah, yes!”
As the three of them left the room, Lapis reached out with a trembling hand to touch Razli’s face.
“Razli…”
Even he could tell Razli’s condition had improved.
“She’s… really alive…”
Tears began to fall from his eyes.
“Razli…”
How long had he waited for this moment?
He would’ve given his life if it meant Razli could recover.
When he first came to the ducal estate, he had his doubts. But he had clung to a sliver of hope.
He hadn’t believed in the World Tree’s guardian.
He had suffered the despair of shattered hopes too many times to count—but he had resolved never to crumble again.
Yet this time, there was no despair.
Instead, a future with Razli awaited him.
“Ahh…”
Lapis held the sleeping Razli tightly and wept.
Tears of joy.
“Nngh…”
Elia groaned as she opened her eyes.
“Elly, are you awake?”
Alexis’s handsome face appeared before her eyes, making her jump.
“Duke…?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
His large hand touched her forehead.
“Good. Your fever’s gone.”
She turned her head to the side.
There was a damp cloth placed on the nightstand.
“You were out for three whole days.”
“Three days?”
She tried moving her hand.
Every joint in her body ached.
Branch sighed nearby.
[Foolish Elly.]
‘But I didn’t die.’
[You think that’s comforting?!]
[You really pushed yourself too far this time.]
Stella, who had been quietly watching, added,
[Sorry I wasn’t much help.]
‘Why are you sorry? I know you were helping me recover the whole time.’
She’d felt the warmth in her body even while unconscious.
[Thanks for noticing.]
Branch wasn’t done.
[If you weren’t bonded with a snake, you might not have recovered.]
So it was thanks to Stella that she’d woken up in just three days.
‘Yeah, yeah, so stop nagging already.’
[Did you just call it nagging?!]
Elia knew Branch was scolding her out of concern.
But too much concern becomes noise in your ears eventually.
When she tried to sit up, Alexis gently stopped her.
“You shouldn’t get up yet. Stay lying down.”
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
It was Meril.
Seeing Elia awake, she rushed over.
“Milady, you’re awake!”
“Meril…”
Meril hugged her tightly.
“You have no idea how worried I was!”
“Ah… sorry…”
“There’s nothing to apologize for.”
“Mm.”
“Meril, Elly’s probably hungry. Can you bring some food?”
“Ah, of course! I’ll prepare something right away. Oh, and Duke, there are guests waiting outside.”
“Let them in.”
It wouldn’t be polite to keep them standing outside.
Meril opened the door wide.
“You may come in now.”
“Thank you.”
“Thanks.”
Razli and Lapis both thanked her one after the other, and Meril smiled.
“Go on in.”
Lapis looked at Razli in her wheeled chair.
Razli smiled at him, then carefully stood up from the chair.
With Lapis supporting her, she walked slowly into the room. Though she needed help, she had walked in on her own feet.
Elia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Sis, you can already walk?”
“Only short distances for now. I’m practicing with Lapis.”
“That’s great. How’s your body feel?”
“All the pain’s gone. I feel so refreshed. Thank you so much, Elly.”
As Razli approached, Alexis let out a small sigh and stood up.
“Elly, I’ll be in my office for a bit.”
Through the open door, Elia spotted Norman holding a towering stack of documents and couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Alright. See you later.”
“Eat well. I’ll come back soon.”
Alexis gently patted Elia’s head. His touch was so warm.
Once Alexis left, Razli took Elia’s hand.
“You got hurt because of me…”
Lapis had told her that Elia collapsed—Razli had insisted on knowing everything.
“I’m okay. They said I’ll get better soon.”
Razli looked at Elia’s small body and her eyes welled with tears.
“Elly, why are you crying?”
“I just… feel so sorry…”
Elia wiped away Razli’s tears with her small hands.
“I wanted to help you. I’m just glad I could save you.”
“Thank you, Elly.”
Razli pulled Elia into a gentle hug.
Lapis looked like he was about to say something too—but at that very moment, a loud stomach growl echoed through the room.
Embarrassed, he quickly looked down.
Perfect timing—Meril walked in with food.
“Milady, you must be starving. I brought some potato soup.”
“Soup?”
“Sir Felix said you have internal injuries, so it’s better to eat something light.”
“Ah…”
“You must be hungry. Please eat up.”
“Thanks, Meril.”
Meril handed her a spoon.
