Chapter 90
“Medicine is always just a temporary solution. The best way is for someone whose magical affinity matches yours to come into contact with you. The closer the contact, the better.”
Hearing this, the count’s expression darkened.
“So, does that mean we can hold out with this medicine until she reaches adulthood?”
“Yes, but the most important thing is to find a suitable partner for the young lady as soon as possible.”
“A partner? You mean someone she will marry?”
“Yes. By the way, the higher the man’s ability to control magic—S-rank, for instance—the higher the chance of compatibility.”
The family, having to consider a suitable match for a newborn, felt an incredibly heavy burden.
“…Understood. For now, just prepare the medicine.”
Because of this, Emily ended up having the magic-suppressing medicine mixed into her carrot soup.
The Count’s family worried that Emily might become depressed or disheartened if she learned about her condition. More importantly, because this illness could become a weakness if others found out, it was kept strictly secret.
Emily, who hadn’t realized how much her grandparents and parents had gone through for her sake, finally shed tears.
Thanks to them, she could grow up without worries, holding only truly happy memories.
Juliet, bringing up long-buried past stories, also had tears welling in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away and continued explaining.
“Since then, we’ve been adjusting the concentration of the medicine to maintain your magic at a C-rank.”
However, after Emily left the Sinofe territory, there was a period when she couldn’t take the medicine, which caused her magic level to rise. The magic that rose to B-rank could have reached A-rank if more time had passed.
“So that’s why I suddenly felt so strong.”
Only then could Emily understand the strange phenomenon happening in her body.
“The blue light you saw before collapsing is a warning sign of a magic surge. Your magical balance was disrupted due to severe stress. You were in real danger.”
Emily’s eyes widened at Juliet’s words.
“Then… is that why Emily dies in the original story…?”
Emily asked urgently.
“Grandma, what would happen if someone in my condition were pregnant?”
Juliet stroked her chin, lost in thought.
“Pregnancy does affect the flow of magic, especially for someone like you, who suffers from magical surges.”
“So… if someone threatens me, it would obviously be even more dangerous, right?”
Juliet, realizing the intention behind Emily’s question, chuckled lowly.
“That could happen if threatened. But as long as a compatible partner stays by your side during pregnancy, there’s no problem.”
“I see…”
Looking back, Emily realized that in the original story, she had been separated from her husband and in a life-threatening situation.
Instinctively, she must have had to bear the magical anomaly alone to protect the baby.
That alone seemed to have led to Emily’s death in the original story.
Startled by the sudden topic of pregnancy, Killian listened awkwardly to the explanation.
Juliet glanced at him before continuing.
“At first, I was relieved because the viscount was S-rank, so I thought he’d be a compatible partner for you.”
However, after the marriage, when Emily visited Sinofe territory, her magic had risen to B-rank.
Juliet then thought this was because Emily and Killian were incompatible.
“When you two hugged just now, Emily, I noticed your magic flow was remarkably stable. So it wasn’t that you were incompatible from the start… you just haven’t consummated the marriage yet, have you?”
Bluntly questioned, Emily and Killian both turned bright red, lost for words.
Seeing their silence, Juliet narrowed her eyes. The answer was obvious without looking.
“From now on, do it often. Emily, if you don’t want to eat that dreadful carrot soup.”
Flustered by Juliet’s blunt comment, Emily clenched her eyes tightly, trying to hold onto her sanity.
“Enough. Please leave now! I beg you.”
If she faced Juliet any longer, she wouldn’t be able to face Killian.
Emily hugged her pillow, turned her back, and lay down.
“Alright, I’ll leave.”
Juliet’s laughter continued until she exited the room.
Today, Emily felt her grandmother’s laugh was unusually witch-like, embarrassing and irritating, and she bit her lip tightly.
Once Juliet left, only the two of them remained in the room.
Killian, still hesitant, cautiously called Emily.
At his quiet voice, Emily flinched and shook her shoulder.
“…You haven’t left yet?”
“Were you telling me to leave as well?”
At that, Emily peeked out from under the covers.
“Then… what did you want to say?”
After a few seconds of silence, he finally spoke heavily.
“I want to apologize.”
“For what?”
Emily asked, her tone sharper than she intended.
She realized that she hadn’t resolved the lingering feelings with Killian yet.
Killian lowered his gaze, his expression dark.
There were countless things he needed to apologize for, enough to speak all night.
“…I don’t want to part with you.”
That was all Killian could manage to say.
Surprised by the unexpected answer, Emily slowly sat up on the bed and met his gaze.
Countless emotions passed through Killian’s eyes.
Seeing all his dark, anxious, regretful, and sorrowful feelings made Emily uneasy as well.
“Do you mean you don’t want a divorce?”
“Yes.”
Killian’s answer left no room for hesitation.
Emily’s heart eased considerably.
“Messina said you decided on the divorce to protect me.”
“That’s half true and half false.”
Killian revealed the complexity of his emotions.
“Messina doesn’t know everything. I want to explain it to you myself.”
He checked the time as he spoke.
Dawn was still far off.
“This is a long story. You must be tired, so rest for now.”
Emily glanced at the mirror while checking the time and paused.
She was curious about what Killian would tell her, but decided to wait.
She didn’t want to sit and face him for too long in this state.
“Then shall we have lunch together and talk during the day?”
At Emily’s question, Killian nodded with a faint smile.
Her heart fluttered.
She had missed Killian’s warm smile.
And Killian also missed seeing Emily smile at him.
He left the room, taking the image of Emily’s smiling face with him.
Finally, he could share his secret, feeling relieved but still heavy-hearted.
Because revealing it wouldn’t improve their relationship—if anything, hearing it could make Emily leave him.
Yet Killian decided to leave the rest to fate.
Back in his room, Killian pressed his face against the bed to ease the throbbing in his head. He was tired but didn’t think he could fall asleep easily.
Meanwhile, in the capital, an operation to attack the Juliano family was underway.
The Rejeta family caused chaos at a drug-fueled party in District 15, while the Gottio family attacked the largest illegal entertainment club owned by the Julianos in District 6.
Juliano had suspected another attack, but simultaneous strikes in different districts caught them off guard, causing significant damage.
Most importantly, they were focusing on kidnapping Emily, which made them especially alert.
Of course, the allied organizations were secretly delighted just thinking about how frustrated the Julianos would be upon learning they had failed.
“So, when is Killian arriving?”
Messina, elated from victory, asked Andymion with a relaxed expression.
“Probably before the committee convenes.”
“What? That late?”
“He seems to want to stay by his wife’s side until she recovers.”
Hmm, Messina crossed her arms.
“Then we should understand.”
Messina, who had been worried all along, was immensely relieved to hear that Emily was safe.
Andymion cautiously asked,
“Judging from the atmosphere, it seems they won’t divorce, right?”
“Of course not! Let them know it’s all thanks to me.”
At that, Andymion frowned.
Messina was used to claiming credit for everything.
She was shameless beyond belief.
“Still, even after all this, the Juliano boss hasn’t shown his face.”
“I didn’t expect him to appear yet.”
“Perhaps he’s preparing a counterattack before the meeting. If the meeting starts like this, the chairmanship of the committee is as good as lost.”
Messina replied nonchalantly.
“The committee meeting is right around the corner. How could the Julianos attack our three organizations before that?”
“So you think they’ll stay put until the meeting, Messina?”
“Yes. And I expect that the Juliano boss will show up exactly when we want him to, during the meeting.”
“What? Why do you think that?”
“Because I have a good sense for these things.”
Andymion frowned again at Messina.
He marveled at where such baseless confidence came from.
“What are you staring at?”
“I’m curious if it will really happen as you say, Messina.”
“I’ll make it happen, of course.”
“That’s not what I’d call a ‘good sense.’”
Messina gave Andymion a weary look, and he returned it with the same expression.
“Andymion, do you always nitpick like this?”
