Episode 30
Lucion returned to Rosent Castle using magic while holding Sophia in his arms. His face was pale, and the small girl in his arms was limp and lifeless. Naturally, chaos erupted in the castle.
“What’s her condition?”
“She’s burning up like molten lava, and she’s covered in cold sweat. It looks like she’s in a lot of pain. She occasionally convulses, but she’s unconscious.”
Serita, who had rushed out so quickly that she didn’t have time to finish dressing, was walking down the corridor with a servant, hurriedly putting her arms into her coat sleeves.
Please… She moved quickly, hoping she wasn’t too late, and soon opened Sophia’s bedroom door.
Familiar faces were gathered around Sophia, who lay on the bed, groaning in pain, her face contorted in agony.
Benjamin and Joshua lit up at the sight of Serita and made space for her right away.
But unlike them, Lorey and Lucion’s expressions remained grim.
Feeling a bit uneasy, Serita took the spot they cleared and calmly began checking Sophia’s condition.
“What on earth happened?”
“She’s been poisoned by a toxin from a flower called Salia.”
“Salia…?”
The unfamiliar flower name made her tilt her head. Lucion turned away, a look of anguish on his face—as though he could already see the future.
“She can’t be saved. Not by an ordinary physician.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The toxin is from a flower created by a magician. Unless treated with magic, there’s no way to improve her condition.”
Lorey silently nodded in agreement, and Lucion glanced once at Sophia before burying his face in his hands, unable to hide his frustration.
“Then…?”
“Payton Cell Meria.”
“…”
“No one else but him can save her.”
Joshua opened his mouth to argue, but Benjamin stopped him. An argument here would only put Sophia in more danger.
Serita quietly looked down at Sophia, who was clearly suffering so badly it was painful to watch. And yet… there was nothing she could do.
Even worse was knowing it was true.
She had never even heard of a flower called Salia, much less knew what kind of poison it contained.
Which meant… she had no idea what medicine to use or what course of action to take.
And on top of that, it was a magically created flower. The poison itself might be magic—what could she possibly do?
“I see…”
Frustration welled up inside her, and she clenched her fists. She was a physician, the court physician at that—yet there was nothing she could do?
“Still… still, I…”
She couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. That wasn’t right.
So Serita tightened both fists and spoke in a firm, unwavering voice.
“I don’t want to accept reality with a patient lying right in front of me.”
“…”
“I may seem like a realist, but I’m actually quite the idealist.”
If she believed someone could be saved, then she would move her body accordingly.
She gave her brightest smile, one so dazzling it felt impossible in this situation—like sunlight breaking through the dark.
From that day forward, she stayed up night after night caring for Sophia. Lucion had said she wouldn’t last a day—that she had inhaled the poison in one breath, so her death was already certain.
But Serita held on for more than a day. Then two.
Her eyes were swollen and sore, and dark circles formed under them, but she didn’t waver. She tied her tangled hair up and kept going.
Sophia’s condition hadn’t improved—but it hadn’t worsened either. It was like walking a tightrope, and Serita continued to endure.
“You can do it. It’s okay.”
Blinking her bloodshot eyes, she wiped the cold sweat from Sophia’s forehead.
“We still have books to read together.”
On the third day, a servant brought news to Benjamin, who had been helping Serita.
“There’s an unregistered carriage at the castle gate…”
“Why? Who’s in the carriage?”
“They say their name is Payton Cell Meria.”
Payton Cell Meria. As soon as the name was spoken, Serita and Benjamin turned to look at each other, confirming that they hadn’t misheard.
They were both shocked—so this had to be real.
Payton Cell Meria. The magician who, no matter the condition, could make someone feel like they’d never been ill in the first place.
“Grant entry. Immediately.”
“But…”
“You think the great lord is scared that Sophia’s identity will be exposed? If that’s the issue, I’ll take responsibility. Just hurry—!”
“The lord has already given his approval.”
“What?”
That man—he gave permission just like that?
Her face twisted in disbelief. If he had refused, she had already planned to grab him by the collar, propriety be damned. But now that he had agreed so easily… she couldn’t understand.
He had been so adamant about not letting any outsider meet Sophia…
To make that unbelievable truth feel real, the door opened, and someone entered—his hair dyed in various colors.
“Huh? Isn’t this Sophia Benny’s room? That’s what Sion told me.”
With an unreadable but bright expression and eyes that shifted from sky-blue to cloud-white, the man stepped into the room with a cheerfulness that made him look far younger than he was.
“Payton…”
“Hmm? Oh! The top student from Rosen Academy! What was your name again? Anyway, good to see you!”
Payton cheerfully ran up to Serita and gave her a few hearty pats on the back.
“You look like you’ve shriveled up a bit…”
Payton’s smile faded once he looked at who lay on the bed. He stared hard at Sophia.
“Good. I didn’t come to the wrong room.”
Payton studied her for a moment—her fragile condition as though she were barely holding onto life.
He placed a hand on her forehead and muttered.
“She should be dead already. How is she still hanging on?”
With this much toxin, she should’ve died instantly. Lucion said she had survived for three days now… That alone was a miracle.
He continued inspecting her with fascination and suddenly caught a familiar scent.
“Oh, this scent—Robon. Someone used magical herbs.”
“Yes, just a little…”
“How’d you get this? No one sells it anymore.”
“I received some.”
“From Sion?”
She nodded slightly, which Payton caught from the corner of his eye. “I see,” he said as he turned back to Sophia. Even with magical herbs, surviving this long was incredible.
She hadn’t even slept in days, judging by her appearance.
“I thought this at the academy too, but you really are a once-in-a-millennium genius!”
For a normal person to accomplish this much was absurd. Of course she deserved praise.
“I’ll take over now. Go get some rest. I don’t want another patient on my hands.”
“I want to stay until the young lady recovers.”
“You’ll pass out before that.”
Sure, she was exhausted and in pain, but she believed she could hold out until Sophia recovered. As she opened her mouth to insist, Payton beat her to it.
“I’ll make sure she’s stable, then head to Bled for negotiations.”
“…What?”
“It’s going to take time, so you’ll fall asleep first anyway.”
What an infuriating thing to say.
He was going to use Sophia’s life as leverage in negotiations?
The urge to strangle him was strong. Serita quickly glanced beside her.
Benjamin was clenching and unclenching his fists, clearly angry but restraining himself. If it had been Joshua instead, he might’ve already pounced. The thought was terrifying.
Of course they were furious—but showing it would do no good. After three days with Sophia, Serita had learned something.
She couldn’t save Sophia on her own. She could delay death, but not prevent it entirely.
So they needed Payton. If they angered him now and he decided not to treat Sophia, it would be a disaster.
“It’s fine. I’m not going to ask for something outrageous. In fact, you’ll probably like what I have to say.”
That only made her more anxious. People usually say things like that when they’re hiding something bad.
Payton, seeing the distrust written plainly on Serita’s face, tilted his head in confusion.
“What the—why are you looking at me like I’m the bad guy? I’ve been doing physician work for free for decades, you know?”
A man so powerful he was nearly deified, who cared for people without accepting a thing in return—his words sounded believable.
But not enough to sway her.
‘If I could… just save her…’
At that moment, Payton flicked his finger against her forehead.
“Enduring is the best you can do. You’ll never save this patient.”
“….”
“It’s frustrating, I know. But what can you do? You’re just an ordinary human.”
Yes. It was frustrating. Infuriating.
Especially because the moment Payton touched her, Sophia’s furrowed brow relaxed, and her convulsions eased.
It was as if the universe was telling her there was no choice but to rely on Payton—and to simply pray that whatever deal he struck using Sophia’s life would succeed.
